Disco in the House!

[2Groove]

I've recently had request to provide a Disco for weddings in the Bridge and Grooms house, and on both occasions they've enquired about the chances of the rig tripping the electrics.

I've only done 1 house aprty before, and it was never an issue but is this something to be aware of?

Any insite would be great!

[NKR]

I've recently had request to provide a Disco for weddings in the Bridge and Grooms house, and on both occasions they've enquired about the chances of the rig tripping the electrics.

I've only done 1 house aprty before, and it was never an issue but is this something to be aware of?

Any insite would be great!

Just work out your load and as long as it doesn't go over 13 amp you shouldn't trip anything.

[discomobiledj]

Just work out your load and as long as it doesn't go over 13 amp you shouldn't trip anything.

What he said!

If the load needs to be split, then do it, don't chance it!

The good things with house parties is that you don't need anywhere near the normal amount of equipment.

[2Groove]

Sorry if this is a daft question, but how do i find out how many Amps my rig will produce? I assume that the harder i push the amp, that will draw more power..

[A1DL]

Sorry if this is a daft question, but how do i find out how many Amps my rig will produce? I assume that the harder i push the amp, that will draw more power..

Barry

Your lighting is more likely to require more power than your sound system. If you are using just a couple of amplifiers and playing at normal mobile disco levels in a private reisdence, you should be able to run them from one 13a socket with no problems. You would be surprised how little current a reasonably efficient sound system draws when playing "normal" music (drum & bass, dubstep, etc. excluded as that's neither "normal" nor "music" IMHO)

Lighting is much more power hungry - add up the wattage of each unit (or lamp + 10% for motorised effects if you are unsure), divide the total by 230v (to err on the side of caution) and that will give you the current draw in amperes.

General tips for private residences include;
1. run sound and light off two separate sockets, spearate ring main circuits if possible.
2. be mindful of what else may be going on - probably not a good idea to draw power from the kitchen, as this ring is more likely to be close to the capacity of the MCB

hope this helps

Tony

[Kernow]

Hopefully MaxG will be along with some advice soon, playing in the house is his area of specialisation. ;)

:D :D :D

[discomobiledj]

Hopefully MaxG will be along with some advice soon, playing in the house is his area of specialisation. ;)

:D :D :D

:rofl:

You might get a :callumburns: if you do!

[Kernow]

You might get a :callumburns: if you do!

Even with power locking sockets & RCD's :eek: :confused:

;)

[A1DL]

Hopefully MaxG will be along with some advice soon, playing in the house is his area of specialisation. ;)

:D :D :D


House DJ "Maxwell House" only plays in the bedroom though, doesn't he?

:)

[rob1963]

Simple answer: You can draw 3,000 watts from a single unshared socket.

The instruction manuals for your various bits of kit should have a spec page showing how many watts each item draws from the mains, so write them all down & add them up.

If the total is no more than 3,000 watts, a single standard socket will be sufficient.

[yourdj]

if you have led lighting and a small rig you will have no problems with one socket but i would split them incase.

at the end of the day if it does go off all they have to do is flick it back on.

Not like its gatecrasher or anything LOL

[A1DL]

Simple answer: You can draw 3,000 watts from a single unshared socket.


Rob, unfortunately there is no "simple answer", particularly in a domestic residence, where you are unlikely to have a dedicated spur.

As I have already indicated, if you were to draw 3,000watts from the kitchen, all may be well and good until someone switches the kettle on.

[2Groove]

Cheers Tony - thats fantastic advce, just what i was after!

with the rig that i was thinking of using, using those calculations both the lights and amp should be under 6 amps which shouldn't cause an issue (fingers crossed!)

Lights
1 x EFX500 (250W)
2 x SCX300 (2 x 150W)
2 x Sunray Tri LED

Sound
QSC GX5 Amp - Running 2 x EV SX300's

[simonp]

Hopefully MaxG will be along with some advice soon, playing in the house is his area of specialisation. ;)

:D :D :D

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[rob1963]

As I have already indicated, if you were to draw 3,000watts from the kitchen, all may be well and good until someone switches the kettle on.

I was just trying to simply things as much as possible for the OP.

Obviously the further away from the maximum you are, the better.

My own gear draws up to 2,500 watts, I only ever use one socket (at public venues as well as private houses) and I've never had a problem.

[A1DL]

I was just trying to simply things as much as possible for the OP.


Sorry, Rob, but in this instance, your (over) simplification could lead to an MCB tripping, if the OP connected to any 13a outlet without a little thought.

[rob1963]

Fair enough.

[Kernow]

House DJ "Maxwell House" only plays in the bedroom though, doesn't he?

:)

May include an en-suite ? ;)

[NKR]

Sorry, Rob, but in this instance, your (over) simplification could lead to an MCB tripping, if the OP connected to any 13a outlet without a little thought.

Yes because the house will likely be on two dedicated ring mains and various other spurs for high load items such as cookers.

You would need to add up the load on the entire ring to ensure you didn't push it too hard.

I have split rings :eek: OUCH in my house since we extended it to ensure it doesn't get overloaded. So I have two downstairs ring mains as oppossed to the single most people will have.

Basically use kit appropriate for the job. I did the boxing day party in our house, but only used a 500 watt amp and smaller cabs as its all it needed. That kept the pull down. Don't use traditional par cans or anything silly like that.

[DazzyD]

As a matter of personal choice I prefer to run sound and lighting off different sockets anyway.

From the house parties I've done in the past (there have been a few despite the fact I'm not a big fan of them!) I've never had a problem with power supplies. I think you'll be alright!

[Kernow]

DJ "Maxwell House" only plays in the bedroom though, doesn't he?

:)

Hope you're not trying to stir it ? ;)

Should be OK with Ground loop isolator and Instant start :D :D

[simonp]

Hope you're not trying to stir it ? ;)

Should be OK with Ground loop isolator and Instant start :D :D

groan :Tumble:

[DJMaxG]

Good Evening People,
The thing we have to remember is the power is fully dependant on the MCB/Fuse (under the assumption the entire board isn't being overloaded with stupid amounts being drawn, such as ovens, showers etc, all being ran at once).

The circuit is likely to have a 32A breaker for most circuits within the house.

I don't think it will blow or trip anything, unless you run a massive rig, on a general (non scientific) note.

IMHO, the only appliance (non faulty) that has tripped the electrics here, was a professional carpet shampoo company that ran a rather large looking machine, trolley mounted.

I did notice that the trolley had 2 mains cables and plugs running from it, but the operator only connected the one to the wall, and it tripped twice, straight away. So he went back to HQ to change it for another machine.

[A1DL]

The Master has spoken...


Good Evening People,
The circuit is likely to have a 32A breaker for most circuits within the house.

I don't think it will blow or trip anything, unless you run a massive rig, on a general (non scientific) note.


Maxwell, you have failed to grasp my point. Even the smallest rig could be enough to overload a circuit if there is a lot of other activity on that circuit. In the case of a party in a private residence, it would not be unusual for the kitchen circuit to have 26a being pulled at times throughout the evening. Just a couple of kettles for coffee will pull 26a.

Also, when it comes to electricity, there's no "general (non scientific) notes", the laws of physics always apply.



IMHO, the only appliance (non faulty) that has tripped the electrics here, was a professional carpet shampoo company that ran a rather large looking machine, trolley mounted.
.

When this happened were you by any chance having it large on the decks with your Jammos pounding the bedroom walls?

[Excalibur]

Also, when it comes to electricity, there's no "general (non scientific) notes", the laws of physics always apply.
?

As a great and wise man once said: " Ye cannae change the laws of Physics" ;) ;) :D :D

[simonp]

As a great and wise man once said: " Ye cannae change the laws of Physics" ;) ;) :D :D

Scotty - Star Trek - I fail to see the wise man angle ;)

[discomobiledj]

Good Evening People,
The thing we have to remember is the power is fully dependant on the MCB/Fuse (under the assumption the entire board isn't being overloaded with stupid amounts being drawn, such as ovens, showers etc, all being ran at once).

The circuit is likely to have a 32A breaker for most circuits within the house.

I don't think it will blow or trip anything, unless you run a massive rig, on a general (non scientific) note.

IMHO, the only appliance (non faulty) that has tripped the electrics here, was a professional carpet shampoo company that ran a rather large looking machine, trolley mounted.

I did notice that the trolley had 2 mains cables and plugs running from it, but the operator only connected the one to the wall, and it tripped twice, straight away. So he went back to HQ to change it for another machine.

We're not worthy of your knowledge Maximus. You truly are the master of all things electrical.

[DJMaxG]

Maxwell, you have failed to grasp my point. Even the smallest rig could be enough to overload a circuit if there is a lot of other activity on that circuit.

But wouldn't the DJ hook to the living room supply, or where the disco is taking place, which is definately going to be on a seperate circuit, and it would be unusual for other appliances to be running in that room during a wedding reception.



When this happened were you by any chance having it large on the decks with your Jammos pounding the bedroom walls?

nope, this was years ago (about 1999)

[Babybob]

But wouldn't the DJ hook to the living room supply, or where the disco is taking place, which is definately going to be on a seperate circuit, and it would be unusual for other appliances to be running in that room during a wedding reception.

You will always find him in the kitchen at parties. ;) :D

[DeckstarDeluxe]

As a matter of personal choice I prefer to run sound and lighting off different sockets anyway.

From the house parties I've done in the past (there have been a few despite the fact I'm not a big fan of them!) I've never had a problem with power supplies. I think you'll be alright!

same here. :D