Electrical Nightmare

[Gareth]

I have done some discos in dives before but tonight took the biscuit. I attended a local venue of mine tonight and was shocked to find what they wanted me to plug my equipment into. There was 2 13a plug sockets. Oh sorry I almost forgot to mention the 25 Christmas lights (yes 25 plugs plugged into various rope lights) plugged in on extensions to these! They wanted me to plug my equipment into the extensions! I could'nt believe it and obviously said no took the deposit and left - that was that.

Has anyone else experienced this at christmas time?

Cheers

Gareth

[Cowlinn]

You say 'took the deposit and left' did the client not try to make you stay, put up a fight?
Or did you literally run :sofa:

[Gareth]

Ha sorry. The sdeposit was collected about 3 weeks ago but run hell yeh! I didn't want to blow myself up lol!

Gareth

[A1DL]

There was 2 13a plug sockets. Oh sorry I almost forgot to mention the 25 Christmas lights (yes 25 plugs plugged into various rope lights) plugged in on extensions to these! They wanted me to plug my equipment into the extensions!

Your terminology is confusing - what exactly do you mean by "25 plugs plugged into various ropelights?" and "25 Christmas lights"?

Do you mean festoon lighting with 25 lamps, or 25 sets of "fairy lights"?

Before refusing to connect, did you calculate the current draw of the existing load and check the rating of the MCB for the circuit in question and determine that your equipment and the existing load would exceed the rating of the circuit?

Did you explore if other sockets were available, on different circuits?

My point being, sometimes things can "look" disastrous, when in fact they're perfectly safe, if you bother to think it through or do the maths. Like the 1.5mil 63/3 to single 13 (for a quick brew when arriving on site), some people shreik at this jumper but think it through and there's absolutely nothing unsafe about it.

[A1DL]

I didn't want to blow myself up

How would that happen? :confused:

An overload condition generally trips an MCB on the distribution board, rather than setting fire to nearby persons and creating a fireworks display.

[Gareth]

I meant 25 of these :

http://www.getprice.com.au/images/uploadimg/880/350__1_SANTA-PLANE-SMALL-2.jpg

Sorry if a bit misleading but all these connected to multiple adapters. I will be honest I could not if a I tried work out the actual load on there but it was obviously not calculated by them.

Gareth

[Gareth]

How would that happen? :confused:

An overload condition generally trips an MCB on the distribution board, rather than setting fire to nearby persons and creating a fireworks display.

I thought that was obviously exagerated...

[A1DL]

I meant 25 of these :

http://www.getprice.com.au/images/uploadimg/880/350__1_SANTA-PLANE-SMALL-2.jpg

Sorry if a bit misleading but all these connected to multiple adapters. I will be honest I could not if a I tried work out the actual load on there but it was obviously not calculated by them.

Gareth

Provided each one uses less than 120w then a single 13a outlet @ 230v will provide sufficient power to 25 of these. In reality a little more, as most places are closer to 240v.

Why is it obvious the venue did not calculate the load? Were all 25 units working?

[NKR]

Apologies if I am being a bit thick here.

Did you think of asking them to unplug it all so you could use the required power to run your rig. You have lighting so they wouldn't need the flashing santa's

Thats what I would have done. If they refuse then you can start discussing options with them for alternative power.

[Excalibur]

Hmmmm, emotive subject. I always ask for exlusive use of two 13a sockets, and I've seen Marquee operators take this to mean I get the last two 13a all to myself. After the venue lighting has had its pull! :bang:

As a general rule, I'd have tried to get my gear into the wall sockets, and then add the Santas/whatever after me,out of my cables, so I could disconnect a few if necessary. Not always an easy decision, when faced with what looks like a nightmare, but as Tony says, sometimes isn't. Tricky.

[jc light and sound]

I have to say in all my years of djing i have never let a client down even when there has been a problem of this nature.
1,As previously said you could have requested them to remove there plugs explaining politely if you thought there was a power draw issue.
2,By leaving your client with no disco your reputation will be damaged.
3,Did you not have a heavy duty extension lead to run from a another power source.
4,You should only refuse to carry out your contractual duties if there is a genuine health and safety problem which CANNOT BE OVERCOME i think in this case however you could have done more.
Just my opinion but it takes years to build a reputation and five minutes to destroy it some learning to be done.

[Excalibur]

Remind me to tell you about some of my experiences with Marquees, extension cables, and numpties. :D

[Spirits High]

Had a similar problem last night doing a Christmas ball for a TA mess in Chilwell. On arrival the only plug available was one double socket which had xmas tree lights in it. Not a drama in it self but this was also for the 7 piece band :eek:

When I pointed out that really the band would probably want more than than 1 plug, they went and laid 2 mega long extensions for them. It seems they were running out of time setting up and thought it would be ok.

Don't ask, you don't get ;)

[Excalibur]

Had a similar problem last night doing a Christmas ball for a TA mess in Chilwell. On arrival the only plug available was one double socket which had xmas tree lights in it. Not a drama in it self but this was also for the 7 piece band :eek:

When I pointed out that really the band would probably want more than than 1 plug, they went and laid 2 mega long extensions for them. It seems they were running out of time setting up and thought it would be ok.

Don't ask, you don't get ;)

Plan A: Wrench out anything not related to Venue Safety from the nearest suitable wall socket. Plug your kit in. Then start negotiations as to finding power for anything else. :D :D

It's amazing how many folk think that the current carrying capability of a wall socket is infinite, and like an USB system, you can daisy chain 256 items. :bang:

[andyw]

Has anyone else experienced this at christmas time?

Cheers

Gareth


expirienced similar on various occasions, but always found alternative plugs or been able to unplug the xmas lights.(touch wood ) never had to let anyone down yet though and would do best not to. i would always get the person in charge of the venue and the client together and express my concerns, and talk through all the various options that i can think of and listen to any they have. then make a decision of what to do
ps
excalibur please tell us about some of your experiences with Marquees, extension cables, and numpties