Newsletter July 15, 2007 Newsletter July 15, 2007
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Emergency Service, Rentals, and Deliveries available 'till Midnight - 7 days on non-show nights. Direct Phone: 407-832-3196 Last minute Wedding Photography available on open dates. Hey! It's been awhile.Hopefully, you are reading this and it made it past your "Spambox" LOL! I have had some people over the last year or so ask whatever happened to the bi-weekly (or so) newsletter that I used to send out in the past. Well, I have some time in the slow summer months to get back on that task. I hope to update you with what we have been doing as well as (maybe) dropping some tidbits of technical knowledge that TE.C (Tim Eggers.com) has been fortunate enough to learn over the 25 years or so in Event design, sometimes the hard way. The web site is going through a renovation during the Hot Florida Summer months. There will be better shortcuts directly to where you want to go as well as a whole bunch of new Event and Venue photos from the last few shows. I do try to photograph all venues to visually document what they look like. It does make it easier in the planning stages for the next event! Those photos are in the Venues section of the site. TE.C TIPS, a weekly column - Fun with Power! Add em up!I have had the pleasure of designing and managing shows for a long time and it is strange sometimes how important the BASICS are when installing an event. Here's a good one I use all the time. I keep a running tally of Power for every circuit in my events. Let's generally define a "circuit" as all power needs that are wired to the electrical panel on one circuit breaker. Generally, there are dozens of "circuits" (or circuit breakers) in a power panel. Don't ever get the term "wall receptacle" and "circuit" mixed up! Read on. Tidbit Number1: Did you know that for every 1000 watts of lighting (or other), it will require 9 amps (amperes) of power? So? You ask. It's easy to figure out if a circuit breaker (at the panel) will "pop" by asking the owner of the equipment needing power, "How many watts are you going to need?" (a bands' small light show, for instance, or heating lamps for the Roast Beef). Rule of thumb - never exceed 17 amps (just under 2000 watts - I stay under 1750 if possible) on a standard 20 amp circuit. Most standard circuits in most event facilities are 20 amps. Here is the important distinction. You should never count on a standard wall receptacle to be free of other power draws of which no one is aware. I was at a venue once where there were 8 wall receptacles wired into1 single 20 amp circuit breaker! Of these 8 receptacles 6 were in another room that I was unaware of (and being used) until later! Never trust (read this: put your reputation on) a SHOW CRITICAL house circuit/receptacle that is not part of your own dedicated Power Distribution System. Tidbit 1a: Usually, on the back of all major appliances - like food ovens, popcorn machines, snow cone makers cotton candy machines (sound familiar yet?) - there is a plate or a sticker that states exactly how much power that machine will require. Sometimes a Vendor will know how much they truly need, but I have found that it is better to check than to have a power failure. If the tag gives you the power rating in Amps - Remember the formula: Watts = Volts(120 in the United States) x Amps. Easy math! Tidbit 1b: Once you heat up (pop) and pop a circuit breaker, it will tend to break at a lower power amp/watt value than the previous time it tripped. You will most likely have to decrease the power draw (redistribute some electric from that circuit) to stop that breaker from tripping continuously. You can do this by removing ANY power draw on that "Circuit". It can be from any receptacle (or other type of power draw) on that circuit. Just do it as quickly as possible. You can bet money it will "pop" again and at the worst possible moment. I'll have a newsletter on Band Lighting and Power Distribution Systems in the future! Although most of you are not directly responsible for a power loss, sometimes a little detective work can side step a small crisis and make you a hero! Future "TE.C Tips" Columns:
Services:
Rentals:
Recent Event - Lighting Design by TE.C : Ft Lauderdale - Festivals of Speed - Show Producer: Joe Sabatini
I hope you find my mailers useful and maybe some of the things I mention in these mailers will divert you from a "situation"! I'm going to try to get these out every two weeks or so. If you would prefer not to receive this mailer, no problem! Just reply with "Cancel email" or something nice and witty - in the subject and I will be happy to remove your name. I will not ever give away (or sell) any email addresses. Free estimates. Call me with any question or needs. If I can't fill your need, I will happily refer you to someone who can. I hope to talk you soon! Tim Eggers |
