Permanent Christmas Lights in Red Deer & Blown Up Meter Sockets
Hey there! Welcome back to the LumenTek Electrical YouTube channel. My name is Trevor, and I’m here with Ryan, the founder and owner of LumenTek Electrical. Ryan is an electrician serving central Alberta, including Red Deer, Black Falls, and all surrounding areas. If you need an electrician in these regions, give LumenTek a call—they’re here to help!
Today, we’re discussing meter sockets, what happens when they fail, and how to fix them, as well as some interesting garage projects and the ever-popular Celebrate® permanent Christmas lights in Red Deer. Let’s dive in.
Meter Sockets: A Case of Meltdown
Q: Ryan, tell us about the meter base issue you dealt with this week.
A: We got a call from a customer with no power in their house. When we arrived, we pulled the meter and found it was mostly melted. The issue was due to overtightened conductors. The plastic isolating the conductors cracked, causing improper connections. Over time, this generated excessive heat, which melted everything.
Q: How could this happen?
A: Likely, whoever installed it used an impact driver to tighten the lugs, which is a big no-no. Always use your hands or a torque wrench to tighten according to the specified settings for the type of conductor. If you don’t follow the torque specifications, you risk cracking the plastic and causing overheating.
Q: How did you fix it?
A: The meter base was too old, so we replaced it entirely. Luckily, the conductors were still in good shape, so we didn’t need to dig everything up to the street to replace the service line. That would’ve been a lot more expensive and time-consuming. Replacing the entire meter base and ensuring proper connections solved the issue.
Garage Electrical Work
Q: What else did you work on this week?
A: We did a couple of garages. One was on an acreage, where we ran service from a pole to the garage and then to the house. The other was a standard city garage.
Q: For the acreage, what was the setup?
A: They had a temporary board with a panel mounted to it for their service. We disconnected it, installed the garage panel, and then fed power back to the house. Permit-wise, we needed a garage wiring permit and noted the service change.
Q: Where’s the meter usually located on acreages?
A: It’s typically mounted on a pole, with the main breaker outside. This means you’d have to go outside—even in the middle of winter—to reset it if it trips.
Q: What’s the weirdest garage request you’ve received?
A: Someone wanted a hot tub installed in their garage because they didn’t want to go outside to use it. They essentially turned the garage into a pool room! I didn’t ask where they planned to park their car.
Celebright® Lighting: Permanent Christmas Lights
Q: Christmas lights are a busy season for you. Tell us about Celebright® lighting.
A: Celebright® lights are great because they’re discreet. The color-matched track blends into the soffit, so when the lights are off, you can’t even tell they’re there. When they’re on, they can do anything you want—like crazy LED patterns.
Q: Where do you typically install them?
A: Usually, just the front of the house, wrapping around the corners a few feet for a 3D effect. However, we’ve also done full houses, back decks, and fences. Essentially, anywhere that doesn’t move, we can install lights.
Q: Why do people love Celebright® lighting?
A: Customers often say they wish they’d installed them years ago. The scheduling feature is a big hit. You can program them for holidays, birthdays, or daily patterns, and they’ll repeat every year. They even adjust for your location, turning on and off based on sunrise and sunset times.
Q: Any unique setups?
A: We’ve done some creative installations, like wrapping decks and fences with lights. These setups look amazing, especially on vinyl fences that reflect the light beautifully. However, we’ve learned to avoid certain setups, like framing garage doors, since the light tracks can get damaged by vehicles or kids.
Wrapping Up
If you’re in Red Deer or central Alberta and need electrical work, whether it’s fixing a meter base, wiring a garage, or installing permanent Christmas lights, call Ryan at LumenTek Electrical. They’ll provide top-notch service and expert advice.
Thanks for tuning in! Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this video. Show your friends what Celebrate® permanent Christmas Lights in Red Deer can do, and give Ryan a call for your electrical needs. See you next time!
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