Business Signs: Repairs Made Easy
March 14th, 2011
Are you considering repairing your own business sign? Here are some tips on how you can take charge of your own sign repairs and save some money in the process. This will help help you extend the life of your sign and the reduce the total cost of ownership.
The first step when repairing a sign is to turn off the power. Neon signs and lighted channel letters carry the most powerful voltage and can give you a mighty shock. So when you turn off your sign, you can avoid your arm becoming numb from the electric shock.
If your sign does not light when you turn it on, there is a few things that can cause that including a lack of power. Check the circuit break panel and the wall switch. Some neon signs such as window signs are operated by a switch and plug directly into the wall. Automatic operation of a sign is most commonly controlled by a time clock which triggers night lighting with trippers. If the clock is not set correctly, the sign may be off at night. Check the door on the inside of the clock for instructions on setting the time.
Another issue could be the ending area of the neon and light bulbs. Black discoloration indicates that a replacement may be needed. Sockets for light bulbs should be checked and the wiring inspected. Shorted wires should be visible along with a distinct burnt scent from the insulation. Online retailers and local electrical parts suppliers can help you with replacing damaged wires and sockets. A local sign company with neon bending capabilities can help you with bad neon and save you money as well.
Finally, examine the light ballast and transformer to determine if that could be the cause. Replacement of those parts would cost you the most and should be the last items to check. Leaking insulation with a sticky black consistency from the transformer or ballast can oftentimes be an indicator. The result of the leak will be a shorted and overheated transformer. The transformer should provide some info to help you replace the part, and you can search for it locally or on the internet.
