![]() ![]() Once the lantern has a dimmer number, the socket number is no longer relevant, unless the lantern needs specific attention. ![]() The numbers are only relevant when you’re working out the dimmer numbers and physical location of the lanterns. Patching describes the act of connecting different parts of the lighting or sound system together.įor example, some stage lighting installations have dimmers which are wall-mounted above a row of plugs, which can be used to connect any plug into any dimmer.Ī lighting system can generate a lot of data, so it’s important to be aware of the following, and to make notes of the numbers where relevant.Įach socket in the lighting rig should be separately identified. Lighting rigs then started to need non-dimmed (constant) power feeds to moving lights, as well as DMX512 networks to control them. The early moving lights (such as those from Vari*Lite) used their own protocol, and it was only in the early 1990s that DMX512 started to be used to control them. A DMX512 signal would go to a scroller control box, which converted DMX into a proprietary protocol for each scroller manufacturer. Colour scrollers, which evolved from the semaphore colour changers, tended to use their own cable, consisting of a 24 volt power feed as well as a data feed. Multiplexed control systems, introduced in the 1980s, first enabled a single cable to link from the control desk to dimmers, and once DMX512 was introduced in 1986, it was a short step to controlling other devices. There was a separate set of wiring to the colour changers, so it wasn’t a fully integrated system. In the National Theatre’s Lightboard, introduced in 1975, the controls for colour change were brought into the control desk for the first time. Initially, these mechanical devices had their own control box, which wasn’t part of the lighting desk. This started to shift when electrically powered semaphore colour changers appeared. The control side of things only went between the control desk and the dimmers. A large electrical supply went to the dimmers, which fed power to the lanterns. The two parts of the lighting system, power and control, were separate. Variety of possible places you can rig a lantern and connect to electrical cablingĭifferent types of lantern produce different qualities / intensity of light.ĭifferent gels can be placed in front of each lantern to vary the effect of the lightĬonnects the dimmer packs to the control deskĮnables the lighting operator to remotely control the dimmer levels. Vary the amount of electrical power fed to the lighting rig under the control of the lighting desk.Ĭonnects the dimmer packs to the lanterns ![]() Supplies sufficient power to the different elements of the stage lighting system, and provides protection to ensure the system is not overloaded. Lighting system using Socapex cable to connect dimmers to lanterns (c) 2018 Touring Lighting SystemĮlectrical generator supplies 3 phase power over CamLok cables to a distribution board, which provides a separate power supply (with circuit breaker) to each of the dimmer racks, each of which feeds a different physical part of the rig. If 15A plugs / sockets are used as part of a hot power / constant power system, to provide power to LEDs, moving lights etc, then there should be a fuse easily accessible at the source of the power before the first 15A connection. When a lamp fails, often accompanied by a bright white flash, a large current can flow, which usually causes the fuse to blow – if there were multiple fuses in plugs between the dimmer and the lighting bar, it would be very time-consuming each time this regular event occurs. Every dimmer circuit that feeds a stage lantern is protected by a fuse (usually 10 Amps) which means that in the event of a fault or if a lamp blows, only one fuse will need to be replaced. These use round pins, and are more suited to heavy duty use, and do not have a fuse in the plugtop. Many theatres still use the older-type 15A plugs and sockets. ![]() The 3-pin plugs have a built-in fuse, which protects the appliance and cable in the event of a fault. In the UK, 13A sockets and plugs are used for most purposes around the home / office environment. (See Flexible Lighting Installation below for more) 13A or 15A Using a single multicore cable is far easier than running 6 separate 15A cables all the way from the dimmer racks to the lanterns. One rack (12 dimmers) shown below. The dimmer racks connect to the lighting bars via multicore ‘Socapex’ cables. Basic lighting system connections (c) 2018 Small Theatre Lighting System (UK)ģ x 12 way dimmer racks give you 36 dimmer channels. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |