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Re: Theater Lighting / Audio System Help




Sorry Brad, I came across wrong with that,

I was referring more to the concept that sound & lights can co-exist on a the same service even if hooked up unintentionally to that service.  They can also co-exist in the same little equipment closet or even (gasp!) in the same rack.  (not recommended but I have had to service systems I've found like that)

Yes, service and panel issues need to be addressed asap -and honestly it's very easy for an installer to verify with a few minutes with an electrician just walking around and opening panels if they aren't already open.    -They never like that though, but usually once they've gotten a tour of the "cool & fun" equipment I'm installing they warm up to it (Sound & Video always excites the electrical trades after they've been doing hvac all day!)


I was more politely trying to lean the direction of it being an audio system problem and not a lighting problem.  Filament dimmers are what they are.  they will dump crap on the neutral no matter what.  I've seen and worked on audio rigs surrounded by worst-case situations that are studio-quiet and others with iso ground distribution and special service transformers that are noisier than an abused Fender twin.  This is not to say that there isn't something wrong with the lighting, just don't assume the audio system is perfect and waste a whole bunch of hours chasing your tail with the lighting rig. 

My odds are highly on the side of audio wiring being the primary fault (-just from my experience.)  And it could be something really simple or a manufacturer screwup that would have even the most competent installer scratching their head (Like the neutral/ground reversed molded IEC cable on the primary system DSP I found once -or the entire patchbay wired hot/gnd reversed :-)

And by no means am I also saying that it's easy!  You hope you can find the problem fast but sometimes it can double your install labor hours unfortunately.