Powering Up my truss.......

[DeckstarDeluxe]

Right so now i have the truss im starting to look at lighting fixtures to go with the moving heads. Now as its 99% likely that i will get a 250watt high discharge fixture properly four more and at least one laser what is the best way to power these units.

Currently on my four foot goalpost i have power cables to each which run down the back of the goal post and into a power unit that sits on top of the amp. This is great as it meant i can turn off a light just like that! however not such a good idea with high discharge lights!. Im thinking i'll be taking my imove dmx controller which can blackout lights so should i just run up a black 4 way block up to each end of the truss (as its 4m).

Thanks
Neil

[Excalibur]

You asked "best way". Got to be something like this, which Del Boy sold me. Great piece of kit.

http://www.djanddiscostuff.com/prodpage.asp?prodid=1925

[DeckstarDeluxe]

Yes well proplem is as i see it if i use my current method im going to have to buy a fair few really long power cables (so they run from my power unit at the dj booth, up a leg of the truss and along the bar to the middle). As it is im going to have to run a long dmx cable to the master unit and then daisy chain them but with high discharge fixtures i dont want to be blowing any circuits!

[Excalibur]

Yes well proplem is as i see it if i use my current method im going to have to buy a fair few really long power cables (so they run from my power unit at the dj booth, up a leg of the truss and along the bar to the middle). As it is im going to have to run a long dmx cable to the master unit and then daisy chain them but with high discharge fixtures i dont want to be blowing any circuits!

The one I linked to is in two pieces, both mains powered. Only one power cable up the truss, all others across the truss. Each unit individually switched. DMX I can't help, but bear in mind that there's no appreciable curent in DMX cables.

[501damian501]

ahh, from your dmx unit to your truss, any not wireless dmx ?

[DeckstarDeluxe]

not thought about wireless dmx What units do you use on your rig?

[501damian501]

not thought about wireless dmx What units do you use on your rig?

what do you mean units ?, is this directed towards me or peter ?

look at this http://shop.sparkillystudios.co.uk/epages/es114078.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/es114078_shop/Products/J38146

or this http://livedesignonline.com/news/lighting_wireless_dmx_wireless/

and this http://www.djsupply.com/manuals/chauvet/dmxdfi.pdf

[Bouncy Dancefloor]

you really dont need wireless DMX, move on and sort out your power

control your lights via DMX, and just hard wire the electrics as you normally would. You are right that you dont want to be switching Discharge lights on and off. a 4 Way block up each end of the trussing would suffice and then daisy chain your dmx lights

Personally, as you have 2 Imove 7's already, id get another pair and maybe a pair of Irock 7S lights, on demo now at your local DJ store :) Then a high power laser in the middle

[Danieleastwood.com]

Not being one to point out how silly these posts can become...

but Wireless DMX on a 4ft Deck stand?

[DeckstarDeluxe]

Not being one to point out how silly these posts can become...

but Wireless DMX on a 4ft Deck stand?

LOL no

I current use my light show on my 4ft deck start which is mainly led lighting

The point of this thread is ive now got a 4metre wind up truss so i wanted peoples ideas on best way to power up the rig without too many cables running everywhere.

[Grahame Case]

LOL no

I current use my light show on my 4ft deck start which is mainly led lighting

The point of this thread is ive now got a 4metre wind up truss so i wanted peoples ideas on best way to power up the rig without too many cables running everywhere.

best bet for power is 16amp Cform, using one of these on each power tail of the light :

http://www.stage-electrics.co.uk/product.aspx?code=636-3592

[DeckstarDeluxe]

Im just thinking as well........

These lights draw alot of power! How many can i safely get away with on one plug? Lets just talk about 250watt units for arguements sake.....?

[Grahame Case]

Im just thinking as well........

These lights draw alot of power! How many can i safely get away with on one plug? Lets just talk about 250watt units for arguements sake.....?

how many of them? i think you can get 3100w off one 13amp plug
edit : although the initial power on surge can be alot more on 250w fixtures as the ballast strikes.

[DeckstarDeluxe]

its dependant on budget really at the moment looking on flea bay at a few second hand irock's.............

On a 4metre truss i'd imagine i will work towards four moving heads and four scanners plus one laser and more than likely a strobe or two....

[Jiggles]

You will need more than one power cable then.

[Grahame Case]

2 13amp to 16 amp feeds should suffice

[DeckstarDeluxe]

You will need more than one power cable then.

oh i know that im just worried that two wont be enough! Proplem being is i guess if i have four/eight of these bad boys strobing at the same time (being dmxed) then that might draw too much?

[Jiggles]

Use three to be on the safe side.

[Tony Scott]

Discharge fixtures once powered down must be left about 10mins before powering up again so they must be DMX controlled if you want a blackout option.

A 250w discharge light will consume around 300w so 8 will use around 2400w.

2400w divided by 230v = 10.43amps, this leaves you a 2.5amp headroom from a single 13amp lead. Stagger the power up by 10seconds for each discharge fixture and you'll be ok.

You will need to add a second 13amp lead from a seperate socket if you need to add more lights...and a third for your sound/playout supply.

I regularly run 3x 13amp supplies without any problems. :)

[SilverlineDiscos]

I know this might sound a little off topic (again) but what happens if you only have access to a single or double power socket at the venue? How much can you draw from a single plug.

I managed to power a 200w sound system, 2 x 250w scanners, a 50w moonflower effect plus many other devices such as a DMX controller, a 12v light, another tiny mirror ball effect and a smoke machine from a single 240v socket using an extension reel.

Surely you'd need 3 power sockets from the venue for the scenario above??

[Tom]

I know this might sound a little off topic (again) but what happens if you only have access to a single or double power socket at the venue? How much can you draw from a single plug.

I managed to power a 200w sound system, 2 x 250w scanners, a 50w moonflower effect plus many other devices such as a DMX controller, a 12v light, another tiny mirror ball effect and a smoke machine from a single 240v socket using an extension reel.

Surely you'd need 3 power sockets from the venue for the scenario above??

230 Volts x 13amps = 2990 watts of power

240 Volts x 13amps = 3120 watts of power.


Running everything from one plug is not good at all. You really need 2 plugs minimum to keep audio and lighting seperate incase of any electrical spikes which could affect the audio side like amps for example.

If you want to work it out just add how many watts each item uses, then devide that by 230 then that will tell you how many amps you are using. If you are using more tha 13 amps then you need another output.

[Danieleastwood.com]

its dependant on budget really at the moment looking on flea bay at a few second hand irock's.............

On a 4metre truss i'd imagine i will work towards four moving heads and four scanners plus one laser and more than likely a strobe or two....

Can I ask why you want moving heads as well as scanners? It sounds like an awfull lot for mobile disco use. But then presumably you are aiming for an ability to do larger gigs???

Unless your intending to put the rig above everyones heads in the middle of the room, I would have thought moving heads a little 'wasted'.

Anyway, with regards power options, there are plenty of distribution options available. You would really need to decide on whether you are going to hard wire or go for a strike after every gig. Once you have decided that, then you will have a better idea on what to look for.

[DeckstarDeluxe]

yeah just to point out im not using my big rig at every gig! my 4ft goal post will more than likely be used for 80-90% of my work so if a customer is paying for the bigger rig then im sure its going to be a venue that can provide said power outlets.

The scanners will have to go on the truss but the moving heads can be used on the floor as well so will give me some flexiablilty. Plus if i dont think having moving heads go well with the irocks etc.. then i wont use them.

[Excalibur]

I know this might sound a little off topic (again) but what happens if you only have access to a single or double power socket at the venue? How much can you draw from a single plug.

I managed to power a 200w sound system, 2 x 250w scanners, a 50w moonflower effect plus many other devices such as a DMX controller, a 12v light, another tiny mirror ball effect and a smoke machine from a single 240v socket using an extension reel.

Surely you'd need 3 power sockets from the venue for the scenario above??

I count less than 4amps for that, unless there's a zero missing from the PA. :confused:
However, when using extension cables, always unwind them fully. Wherever possible, use more than one cable.

[SilverlineDiscos]

I count less than 4amps for that, unless there's a zero missing from the PA. :confused:
However, when using extension cables, always unwind them fully. Wherever possible, use more than one cable.
Haha sorry I forgot to say that I obviously use a AMP, mixer and CD players :D :D

Not sure what the cd players and the mixer draw but I know the AMP draws about 500w. Well, on the back it says 500w consumption. No idea what this means!!!

I ran a whole disco setup from one plug and it seemed fine. Thinking about it though, I don't really have a 'powerful' PA. Just a pair of 200w speakers and an AMP that weighs about the same as a house!! :eek:

[Jiggles]

The Mackies are 400W but draw 320W weird one that.

[DeckstarDeluxe]

i have ran my disco off one socket before because all the lighting was led so i was "fairly" happy i was ok. I usually try and use one for lighting and one for sound.

[rob1963]

i have ran my disco off one socket before because all the lighting was led so i was "fairly" happy i was ok. I usually try and use one for lighting and one for sound.

Everything off one socket here :D :D :D

[Bouncy Dancefloor]

this topic is petering out slightly

excuse the pun

8 discharge effects off one plug is fine

strobes should be on their own supply, as they surge alot, but then again, why do you want strobes? If you want a strobe effect, use your EIGHT discharge fixtures to do this. If you are worried about discharge lights surging whilst strobing, dont worry, because they dont, it merely covers the lamp and uncovers to do a strobe effect, much the same as putting a gobo in the way

[501damian501]

you really dont need wireless DMX, move on and sort out your power

its all part of the process, i think using a wireless dmx would be good in this case, what it would cost to purchase a nice long dmx cable plus to tape it down...

ok, wires arnt that expenisve, and you can buy a roll of tape for under £5 but all them £5 do add up over a 12month/24month period, plus theirs more flexibly in using a wireless system...

[SilverlineDiscos]

Actually, I bought a 6m proper DMX cable from a seller on eBay. High quality cable and I order 4:30pm and had it delivered at 10am the next day!!

All for just £8.10 - right bargin! :)

[501damian501]

Actually, I bought a 6m proper DMX cable from a seller on eBay. High quality cable and I order 4:30pm and had it delivered at 10am the next day!!

All for just £8.10 - right bargin! :)

its a shame its only 6meter, the wireless jobbys go 100meter plus ;)

[SilverlineDiscos]

its a shame its only 6meter, the wireless jobbys go 100meter plus ;)
I only need a 6m cable anyway. I just run it from my DMX controller into the back of the master scanner. Then a DMX cable from that to the other scanner.

Eventually I'd like to have DMX goboflowers to make a nice little light show :)

[Bouncy Dancefloor]

£180 for wireless DMX

or £10 for a 10metre cable and £4 for a roll of gaffa

tough choice

Damien, i presume you are using wireless DMX on your show, you are recommending what youve used personally right?

[DeckstarDeluxe]

£180 for wireless DMX

or £10 for a 10metre cable and £4 for a roll of gaffa

tough choice

Damien, i presume you are using wireless DMX on your show, you are recommending what youve used personally right?

which i already have peter

I wouldnt wait for damians response i take it you noticed hes banned :O

[Bouncy Dancefloor]

oh is he? whoops, i hadnt noticed

[DJMaxG]

Some of the newer fixtures have a power output to allow for daisy chaining, otherwise you can get an IEC distribution box. Just a block with one "Kettle Lead" Input, and about 4 outputs. Costs around next to nothing.

[Excalibur]

Some of the newer fixtures have a power output to allow for daisy chaining, otherwise you can get an IEC distribution box. Just a block with one "Kettle Lead" Input, and about 4 outputs. Costs around next to nothing.

Indeed they do. :D However.;) This appears usually to be found on LED units. Don't try to daisy chain filament units from here. Too high a current draw. ;)
I know, I was that numpty. :o :o :o :o :o

[Vectis]

Some of the newer fixtures have a power output to allow for daisy chaining, otherwise you can get an IEC distribution box. Just a block with one "Kettle Lead" Input, and about 4 outputs. Costs around next to nothing.

Neat solution BUT the IECs will probably limit the overall current per line to 10A.

[Dynamic Entertainment]

Have a look at:

http://www.mobilediscodirectory.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=17773

I prewired one of them boxes on each end of the truss with one PowerCon cable running down each stand and a DMX running in at one end then daisy chained along (with a connector at the break in the truss). Works great for me :)