Which 50A receptacle should we install for you???

[Marlow Wilson]

Re: Which 50A receptacle should we install for you???

Around these parts (Northern CA), the CS connection is showing up at a lot more venues. If you have an amp with a 30a plug (many larger amps do), you should have the ability to plug it into a proper 30a outlet, which could be on a 50a fed distro. Multiple 20a will be a compromise for these. The CS cables are also rentable at local tool rental facilities, along with spider boxes if you need to distribute power. I have CS fed 50a rack packs in my amp racks, because I don't require 3 phase, and the cs connections are more prevalent. They come stock on generators and are showing up on walls of many venues. I agree with others that a proper 100a main switch with the ability to tie in cams would be of great benefit as well.

Another point is that either the 14-50 or CS are pretty easy to change out for the other if it's clearly the wrong choice. I'm not saying that should be necessary, but it's not the end of the world and either would be better than nothing if likely to be used with any frequency. Adding either where none exists is, in most cases, prohibitively expensive (i.e. "but everyone has always just used those outlets".....)

Tim's idea is spot on, and that layout is also very flexible for any unanticipated future needs. Having helped with some multi-use spaces from inception to build, those 'good' ideas are not always followed! I remember pointing out that a venue had made their walk-in fridge too small to hold enough beer for two events at 75% capacity. It never occurred to them that the deliveries only happened once a week! That was just the tip of the iceberg and I could write a book about how a $1 million was wasted on that project. (As is customary for any botched project, PA contract was awarded to the lowest bidder and many parts were destroyed, lost or stolen before the DR PA was thrown out a a Soundweb and other essential pieces put - or bolted - in place).

It's good to see you're fighting the good fight!

 

[Brian jojade]

Re: Which 50A receptacle should we install for you???

Since there is no 'standard' you can make up your own mind what to put in. Personally, I would much prefer to see a company disconnect that I can tie into for most cases. However, if all you have available is the 50 amp service, a plug is fine. And in the budget, just include enough for an adaptor so you can have both. (or multiple adaptors, if you want to be even more accommodating!)

 

[Nick Simon]

Re: Which 50A receptacle should we install for you???

I guess none of you guys have ever been in a venue where they told you "y'all can plug in over there in that socket by the pool table"..... (for the whole production):roll:

 

[Spenser Hamilton]

Our venue has 100A 3P for audio, 400A 3P for lighting, plus a few 30A twist and 1 50A range for good measure.

Range is what I most commonly see out in the wild.

 

[Ivan Beaver]

Re: Which 50A receptacle should we install for you???

I guess none of you guys have ever been in a venue where they told you "y'all can plug in over there in that socket by the pool table"..... (for the whole production):roll:

I cut my teeth in MANY of those places.

And that same outlet ALSO had the cash register on it (some old ones throw some nasty spikes on the line)-Other lighting and so forth. So you don't even have a full 15A to work with.

I just love it when an extra cooler has been plugged into the same breaker.