Warranty & Neon FAQ'S

Table of Contents

1. General Product Description
2. Describe the four types of special lighting effects that may be used in neon art pictures
3. How long do they last and what happens if they fail?
4. How can I hide the cord coming from the AC wall adaptor?
5. What is the warranty on the neon art pictures? And how can I obtain service if needed?
6. Troubleshooting Tips; When the pictures don't light up properly

General Product Description

Neon art pictures are framed wall art enhanced with special lighting effects including Neon, L.E.D. lights, 'Mini-Lights' (screw-in incandescent bulbs) and fiber optics. These lights are installed permanently into the picture and generally accent the appearance of lights and other objects featured in the actual scene. Not all pictures feature every lighting effect. Each picture is powered by a small AC wall adaptor (included) that plugs into any standard household electrical outlet. The plug and the cord are white in color to blend in with most walls. Neon art pictures have been safety tested by Underwriter's Laboratories and bear the UL mark for safety. Generally two picture sizes are available: The small "Mini Pic" size (12" x 18") and a larger size (generally 21" x 30" or larger). Not every image is available in both sizes. For more details you may contact us by telephone at (815) 258-7514 or by email at: zedds@sbcglobal.net.

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Describe the four types of special lighting effects that may be used in neon art pictures.

A) L.E.D. lights - stands for "light emitting diodes". These are small colored lights similar to the lights used in cell phones, clock radios, etc. Colors are generally limited to red, yellow or green. These lights are soldered together internally behind the picture face and can only be replaced at the factory. L.E.D. lights have an approximate lifespan of 100,000 hours or 10 years of continuous use.

B) Mini-Lights - Some pictures (i.e. Brassai and Nature's Majesty Lighthouse) have miniature screw-in light bulbs which screw into the front side of the picture just like a regular light bulb. The bulbs you'll need, along with one extra spare bulb are placed in a small plastic bag taped to the rear side of the picture. Replacement bulbs can be purchased through Radio Shack.

C) Neon Tubes- These are tubes containing a small amount of actual neon gas just like the lighting seen on many commercial store fronts and window signs. Neon gases are naturally occurring rarified gases contained within a glass tube that when electrified produce colorful characteristic glows. These gases occur naturally in the atmosphere and are not toxic or harmful. The neon tubes are powered by an internal UL approved solid-state transformer. Each tube is generally very sturdy however when broken they can only be replaced at the factory.

D) Fiber Optics- This lighting effect is created by the reflection or "internal transmission" of light through an optical fiber. One end of the fiber points to a light source, contained inside the picture, and the other end pokes visibly through the picture face.

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How long do the lights last? And what happens when they fail?

Neon art pictures use up to (4) different kinds of lights -- Fiber Optics, L.E.D.s, Miniature Incandescent Lights and or Neon. They all last quite a long time so their lifespan should not be a great concern. See the table below for individual lifespan ratings. These are figures based on factory design and testing. Note: the expected life span is not the same as the product warranty.

A) Mini Light Bulbs (screw-in): 3-5 years lifespan, you can replace on your own with Radio Shack 12volt lamp - part #272-1143.

B) L.E.D. Lights: 10 years lifespan, permanently installed. After warranty may be returned for repair at customer's expense.

C) Neon Tubes: 5-10 years lifespan, permanently installed. After warranty may be returned for repair at customer's expense.

D) Fiber Optics: 10 years lifespan, permanently installed. After warranty may be returned for repair at customer's expense.  

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How can I hide the cord coming from the AC wall adaptor?

As mentioned above an AC wall adaptor plugs into the back of the picture and has a thin white power cord that hangs down the wall. This is how the lights in the picture get their power. The cord is white to blend in with most wall decor and avoid an obvious appearance. If you prefer another color for the cord it is perfectly OK to paint the power cord to match your wall color. Use any standard latex paint. For those who still wish to hide the cord altogether there is another option. At your own risk, you can make a hole in the wall directly behind the planned picture location and run the cord down on the opposite side of the wall to a nearby electrical outlet. Or, you can run the cord down "inside" the wall - making another small hole in the wall at floor level so the cord can reemerge and then route to the nearest electric outlet. In this manner, the cord is completely hidden. Note: Care must be taken to avoid (vertical) studs in the wall and "cross-blocks" which are small pieces of wood that are normally positioned horizontally between the studs at various positions. An inexpensive "stud finder" is available at most hardware stores and can be used to detect the locations of wood or metal studs within a wall. The user must also be careful to avoid existing electrical wiring which can be concealed within the wall. A hole drilled into a wall, directly on top of a concealed electrical conduit, for instance, could create a dangerous shock and or fire/hazard potential. End users are therefore cautioned to undertake this process carefully and at their own risk. For those who are unfamiliar with the construction of their home or have little experience with home improvements neon art strongly recommends the hiring of a trade professional (i.e. Carpenter or Electrician) for assistance.

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What is the warranty on the neon art pictures? And how can I obtain service if needed?

Neon products sold by Zedd's Online Catalog are warranted for one year from the date of purchase. During this time Zedd's will repair or replace, at its option, any products which fail during normal use as a result of defects in materials or workmanship. To exercise the warranty, you must call Zedd's Online Catalog at 815-258-7514. If the item is not covered under warranty you will be contacted promptly with our advice and options regarding the problem. We cannot repair scratches or cosmetic damage of any kind that result from consumer use or return shipping. Please note: the products are for indoor use only. There are no user serviceable parts inside. Opening the picture voids the product warranty and is discouraged for safety reasons. You must return the item in it's original box so save the packaging for the duration of the warranty.

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Troubleshooting Tips; When pictures don't light up properly the following information will be useful:

Try these suggestions when the picture does not light up at all (NO LIGHTS WHATSOEVER):

A) Generally, the cause is because the picture is not getting power for some reason. Check to make sure the adaptor is plugged into a wall socket that is a working 110v electrical outlet - and also that the adaptor is firmly plugged in to the jack on the back of the picture. If the adaptor has a built in Dimmer control, make sure the slide switch is not in the OFF position or one of the low power positions.

B) Make sure the push button switch located on the bottom of the frame is pushed in (ON position).

C) Verify that you are using the right adaptor. The larger adaptor for Neon Pictures (see label) should not be used with any other kind of picture. The plug on this adaptor has a slightly larger internal diameter and does not make a solid connection when plugged into any picture that does not have neon.

D) It is possible that the adapter is not working (i.e. bad adaptor) - another cause for the picture not receiving power. If possible, check the picture with an adaptor that is known to be working and plugged into an outlet that is known to be active.

E) If none of these remedies are successful then the picture may have an internal problem that requires factory repair. Call Zedd's for further instructions.

Try these suggestion when the picture does light up - but some lights do not come on:

When some of the screw-in light bulbs do not work this is often because they are not screwed in all the way. Sometimes a light bulb will not screw in perfectly straight and therefore not make contact with the bottom of the socket. When this happens unscrew the bulb 1-2 turns and screw the bulb back in. To better grip the bulb use a damp napkin or paper towel between the thumb and index finger. This will allow you to grip the bulb much more tightly and turn the lamp firmly into or out of the socket. Another suggestion is to try switching bulbs with another socket. This will help verify whether or not the problem is merely a bad bulb. If problems with the miniature screw-in bulbs continue or if some of the multi-colored L.E.D. lights are not working then this may a sign of an internal problem with the picture that will most likely require a return to the factory for repair. Call Zedd's at 815-258-7514 for further instructions.

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