20 amp plugs and other power concerns

[jjochems78]

I was curious about what the proper procedures and precautions and soundguy should take when you start getting into higher amp watts. Like the QSC RMX5050 for example. How are generally going to be able to set up 20 amp plugs at any venue you might arrive at?

[Indrestudios]

This would actually be a great thread:

"Securing proper power at the venue"

Remoteness can probably confirm that in our business two the most common hurdles are PARKING and POWER. - MC

[Remoteness]

Well, first of all, pre-production is key. I would contact the folks at the venue confirming what power facilities are available for you.

You also want to ask if this resource is shared by anyone or anything else. This is a very important question to address. As you gathered, if you’re asking for a 20 amp service because you need 20 amps, you must make sure no one else is on this circuit.

Furthermore, I would check to see if the circuit is wired properly. Carrying your own multi-meter, AC checker plug and stuff is a must. I would through a few different types of circuit breakers in your tool box if and when you need to use them -- A dedicated circuit may not be available for you.

If you want to go a step further, consider carrying your own distribution box to tie directly into the venues power panel via Camloks, Tricos or bare ends. Even if it’s a small box with one or two circuit breakers it could be a lifesaver.

Many facilities have 20 amp circuits with Edison duplexs or quad boxes. But, the question is: Are those circuits shared or totally independent?

Park (or Load in), Power and ESU is indeed three most important parts of a successful location recording

[jjochems78]

Im a bit ignorant. Can you elaborate a bit on what the job of the distribution box is? It sounds a bit self evident but just wanted to be sure

[Remoteness]

Any box that can take in voltage from a power source and distribute it to multiple outlets is a dirstibution box.

They come in all sizes and shapes from your standard power strip to large panels (or boxes) with buckets of breakers...

Your Furman, ETA, Juice Goose rack mountable power strips are considered distro boxes.

Your distro can have outlets, breakers, conditioners, XFMRs, all sorts of inlets and outlets from standard edisons to twistlock multipins to Camloks and such.

I use "the" Google!


I hope this helps!

[zarembo]

Originally Posted by Remoteness

Park (or Load in), Power and ESU is indeed three most important parts of a successful location recording

Hi Steve, this is a fascinating thread to me and I have a question about this:

I get park and power, but what the heck is ESU ?

extra set up?

thanks as always

[Remoteness]

Good guess.

It's Electronic Set Up.

[nathanvacha]

man steve, i'm gonna hit you with another connector question. you helped me out in my thread about multipins, but as long as we're on power issues, you or anyone ever used the neutrik power plugs? they look kinda like speakons as i recall, but i think they fit their panel mounts.

do you guys run a separate rack for distro, or just breakers on the backs of amp racks? Any noise issues the second way?

[Remoteness]

Those Neutrik power connectors are very cool but, I have not incorporated any of my own into my projects because I felt if I lost or damaged a cable it would be next to impossible to replace them on the fly.

I have (purchased) equipment that use them -- and believe it or not I lost (more like it walked off) one on a gig and it was a complete drag. You have to keep a few in your adapter locker if you want to be safe.

We use separate racks for power distribution. Sometimes a few breakers in a panel works really well too. I will try to post some pictures of the various systems we have in operation.

[aussie_techie]

Originally Posted by jjochems78

I was curious about what the proper procedures and precautions and soundguy should take when you start getting into higher amp watts. Like the QSC RMX5050 for example. How are generally going to be able to set up 20 amp plugs at any venue you might arrive at?

how many RMX5050s? a single 20 amp circut will run you 1 amp

some aps such as camcos will sence the power available to them and will only pull what they can, its good they will never trip a breaker or starve other amps but it means that once eveythign gets going they wont put out the power you need.

with medium to high power shows you need dedicated 3-phase with your own GPO sperate from lighting oe anyone else in the venue.

[Remoteness]

Originally Posted by jjochems78

Im a bit ignorant. Can you elaborate a bit on what the job of the distribution box is? It sounds a bit self evident but just wanted to be sure

Here's a couple of picture of Jethro's power distro and such. We have three power sections on Jethro (built in the summer of 1987.)

The main Camlok input and safety switch with an additional aux power distribution box with two L5-30 connectors; The curbside Tech panel that handles all technical equipment; and the Aux Panel that handles everything else.

[valleysound]

www.Motionlabs.com is one of the top power distro manufacturers. They offer large 200 amp main distros all the way down to 30 and 50 amp Racpacs. Check them out. I personally use a 50 amp Racpac to power my PA. It has a single phase 50 amp/220 volt input and splits it to (6) 20 amp circuits with breakers.
As for the Neutrik "Powercon" connectors, there are some powered speaker cabinets that have these locking inputs only.

[bishopthomas]

We just bought that very model for our small "C" rig PA system. I will use it for the first time tomorrow and I'm looking forward to not searching for circuits off the walls.

[cbarrett92]

Remoteness,

In your picture, the top example has two cables feeding it and above the receptacles have switches entitled "ground lift." Could you elaborate on what these switches do in this situation?

I am familiar with ground lift switches on things such as DI's, but have never seen them in this situation.

[Remoteness]

They do exactly what the ground lift switches do on those familiar DIs; they lift (or disconnect) the ground from the circuit just like a cheater plug does.

Originally Posted by cbarrett92

Remoteness,

In your picture, the top example has two cables feeding it and above the receptacles have switches entitled "ground lift." Could you elaborate on what these switches do in this situation?

I am familiar with ground lift switches on things such as DI's, but have never seen them in this situation.

[tourtelot]

All this being said, and it probably goes without saying but "tying in" to house power is not for the untrained, or faint of heart. It doesn't take much voltage or much amperage to KILL you. Be careful! I have seen vice grip pliers welded between a hot and a case (which shut down the whole building which was NOT appreciated) and have taken a chunk out of my stainless steel watch band because I was not paying enough attention to a similar job. I am grateful to still be kickin'.

D.

[Remoteness]

This is true.


Something to that affect happened to me when I was in my early 20s, but with a heavy-duty ratchet wrench...

I was untrained and unfamiliar with tying in to power.
The ratchet wrench got fused (welded) in between the two hot legs.
My friend and I got thrown across the room.
There were sparks flying every time I tried to bang the wrench off the lugs with this piece of wood.

We had to come back the next day to get our tie-ins and such and noticed that it took a 1/2 thick bite out of that electrician's expensive ratchet wrench.

That wasn't the last time I screwed myself with power.

You must know what you're doing; you must concentrate and pay close attention to what you're doing...

As you could imagine; I finally learned my lesson and taught myself about power and how to deal with it when you're tying in live.

Originally Posted by tourtelot

All this being said, and it probably goes without saying but "tying in" to house power is not for the untrained, or faint of heart. It doesn't take much voltage or much amperage to KILL you. Be careful! I have seen vice grip pliers welded between a hot and a case (which shut down the whole building which was NOT appreciated) and have taken a chunk out of my stainless steel watch band because I was not paying enough attention to a similar job. I am grateful to still be kickin'.

D.

[ChrisJohnsonUK]

Originally Posted by nathanvacha

man steve, i'm gonna hit you with another connector question. you helped me out in my thread about multipins, but as long as we're on power issues, you or anyone ever used the neutrik power plugs? they look kinda like speakons as i recall, but i think they fit their panel mounts.

Excuse me if i jump in:

Powercons are great (as they are called by Neutrik), i use them a lot in high density situations, mainly to replace IEC connectors since the neutrik ones lock.

However, they are often no substitute for Ceeform connectors (or other industry standard professional grade power connector) for a number of reasons:
1. They aren't industry standard! (as steve said)
2. They have no ingress protection against moisture (bad for remote trucks)
3. They are not rated for live disconnect! now ideally we don't disconnect anything under load - but it does happen!
4. They don't couple without a coupler! this means you cant just join cables, which can be a pain.