[SML] Electrical Wire thru Pulleys

[Bruce Purdy]

mburris wrote:

> An upcoming production of Our Town needs a few electrified replica oil lanterns to fly in from the grid of a spot rigged house.  I have been asked repeatedly about the possibility of running the electrical wire thru a pulley while the same wire suspends the lantern gag.

	There are two issues here - supporting the light by the cable, and running the power cable over a pulley.

	I have often seen 120V pendant lights in kitchens and other places, hanging / supported by their power cord. assuming that these lanterns are light weight, I don’t think that part should be a problem if done properly.

	As suggested by others, a large enough diameter pulley MIGHT be OK, but what bothers me is how you would fly them in and out. Would you pull the power cord to raise them? And then, what … tie the power cord off on a belaying pin or cleat?

	What I would suggest is hanging them by the electric cable from a fixed place on the grid, then run a rope / tie line over the pulleys and use as an operating line. Tie the on-stage end to the pendant power cable about ⅔ of the way down from the grid.

Bruce
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Bruce Purdy
Central New York Magic Theatre Co.
http://cnymagic.com