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[Michael Montag]

Pretty new to the world of Power Distribution.  Recently purchased a line array that comes with an amp rack that has power distribution on board via a 30amp twist lock plug.  My question is what to do when I'm at a smaller venue or park where this is not possible.  What if I only have access to standard 20AMP standard plug circuits?  Is there a safe way to convert this?

[Mac Kerr]

Pretty new

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Mac

[Scott Helmke]

Pretty new to the world of Power Distribution.  Recently purchased a line array that comes with an amp rack that has power distribution on board via a 30amp twist lock plug.  My question is what to do when I'm at a smaller venue or park where this is not possible.  What if I only have access to standard 20AMP standard plug circuits?  Is there a safe way to convert this?

There's not a reliably safe way to connect one twist lock to two or more wall outlets.

[Nathan Riddle]

There's not a reliably safe way to connect one twist lock to two or more wall outlets.

Doesn't have to be two wall outlets though. Depends how this 'twist lock' is wired.

[Don T. Williams]

You can wire a 30A TL connector to a 15A "Edison" cord set, BUT if your system draws more that 15A (or 20A if a 20A plug/circuit) the circuit breaker will function - IT WILL KILL YOUR POWER!  In the middle of a show, it is more than just inconvenient.  I have Crest Pro 9200 amps that came factory wired with 30A TL's.  I used the 30A TL with my distro, but have rented the amps to customers with 15A Edison adapters with no problems, but these customers are never connecting more than a stereo 4 ohm load to the amps. To the best of my knowledge, they have never had any problems.  Even a mid sized line array is another story.

My most recent event with a well know and respected "Red Dirt" act in a 2500 seat arena gave me a chance to measure the current draw during the performance.  I was using 12 DB Tech T12's, 4 T8's, and 6 S30N subs for audio, and 32 LED 100 watt hex wash lights, 8 ADJ PARZ1003K's for spots, 3- 360 watt LED blinders, and a dozen 300 watt LED movers.  The typical draw was just under 20A per leg 120/208 three phase.  This included stage power for the band, but no foggers or haze machines, as per the band's request.  This wasn't a really loud band but typical of country acts.  I was surprised!!!  Much lower that expected!

[Mac Kerr]

My most recent event with a well know and respected "Red Dirt" act in a 2500 seat arena gave me a chance to measure the current draw during the performance.  I was using 12 DB Tech T12's, 4 T8's, and 6 S30N subs for audio, and 32 LED 100 watt hex wash lights, 8 ADJ PARZ1003K's for spots, 3- 360 watt LED blinders, and a dozen 300 watt LED movers.  The typical draw was just under 20A per leg 120/208 three phase.  This included stage power for the band, but no foggers or haze machines, as per the band's request.  This wasn't a really loud band but typical of country acts.  I was surprised!!!  Much lower that expected!

I have measured a 3ø 400A service that was powering a good sized V-DOSC rig with 40 Crown MA5000VZ amps, with a pretty loud band at full tilt boogie. An amp clamp on the separate feeder legs read about 40-50 amps/leg. This included all sound power.

Mac

[Stephen Swaffer]

So 40 X 5000 = 200,000

200,000/8=25,000 watts

Measured was 50 X 208 x 1.73 = 17,992

Hence the 1/8 power rule of thumb?

[Mac Kerr]

So 40 X 5000 = 200,000

200,000/8=25,000 watts

Measured was 50 X 208 x 1.73 = 17,992

Hence the 1/8 power rule of thumb?

Could be. All I know is it was LOUD. 40 V-DOSC, 24 SB218 subs, 12 dv-DOSC down fills, plus, at the artist's insistence, 12 S4 subs, and a loud Clair monitor rig. All this pre IEMs. The FOH mixer thought it sounded great, better than their regular tour rig, but wouldn't admit that to the production mgr. Did I say it was loud? Blow the doors open in a 10,000 seat arena.

Mac

[Keith Broughton]

I have measured a 3ø 400A service that was powering a good sized V-DOSC rig with 40 Crown MA5000VZ amps, with a pretty loud band at full tilt boogie. An amp clamp on the separate feeder legs read about 40-50 amps/leg. This included all sound power.

Mac

Was this average or peak?

[Mac Kerr]

Was this average or peak?

This was with a Fluke 8020a. AFAIK it's average,  but it was with all those amps pretty much full out.

Mac

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