Lights and Sound: Stage Lighting Distro Panel Hookup

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Stage Lighting Distro Panel Hookup

Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Lights and Sound
Forum Discription: Technical discussion
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4317
Printed Date: 5/06/25 at 12:55am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 8.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: Stage Lighting Distro Panel Hookup

Posted By: colugino
Subject: Stage Lighting Distro Panel Hookup
Date Posted: 11/06/09 at 11:23pm

Does anyone know where to find instructions online for hooking up a distro panel for stage lighting; specifically how to wire into the main circut panel of our theatre? We have a licensed electrician installing it, he just wanted to know ahead of time what he is getting into. I have been scouring Google and other sites but cannot find anywhere that gives the instructions on how to wire it into the main circut panel. Thanks!!

Replies:

Posted By: David McCall
Date Posted: 11/07/09 at 11:51am

At least you have an electrician on hand to do it for you. I'm not up on code so you may need to have your electrician check up on it. The cheapest I might go would be a set of tails with Cam-lock connectors that has it's own fuses or breakers that match the maximum power you expect to be drawing, then plug your racks or distro into that. Most of the large equipment you might rent will come with Cam-lock connectors. The best way isn't to use tails, but to have a separate panel with surface mount Cam-lock connectors that are set up in such a way that all of the covers are mechanically linked. You have to connect the ground first, then the common can be connected followed by the hot leads. Code may require it to be that way these days. Of course that will be many times the cost of just putting in a set of tails. The contacts on the Cam-lock connectors are recessed so you have to make an effort to zap yourself or short them out, but you can put fingers or other things into the holes. For that reason, you should probably make sure the tails can be in a locked up when not in use if you do try to get by with the tails.

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David M

Posted By: Gaafa
Date Posted: 11/10/09 at 7:57pm

In most venues here they just have 2 x 3 Phase flush mounted outlets, which the dimmer racks plug into. These are all IP56 rated 5 wire [Star connected for unbalanced loads] switched outlets.

The sparky would only need to install the amount of 3 phase runs required to the the switched outlets, direct into your mains or fed from a stage sub panel near the location. Being a sparky I doubt he would have any problems installing 3 phase outlets of the required amperage.

But as David suggested a wee bit more info might help!

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Joe
Western Gondawandaland
turn right @ Perth.
Hear the light & see the sound.
Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"}
May you always play
to a full house}

Posted By: colugino
Date Posted: 11/11/09 at 7:56am

Thanks for the replies. Sorry, I thought I put a link to the panel we are looking at:

http://www.mainlight.com/index.php?option=com_mtree&task=viewimage&img_id=305&Itemid=54 - http://www.mainlight.com/index.php?option=com_mtree&task=viewimage&img_id=305&Itemid=54

Posted By: David McCall
Date Posted: 11/12/09 at 11:08am

What you are showing is a portable distro panel. Hooking it up is simple you connect the 5 cam-lock cables and match the colors. The part I thought you were asking about was what the other end of those cables connect to. Your electrician should know what local code requires for that.

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David M