[SML] Relays vs. Traditional Circuit Breakers for LED Power.

[Bill Conner]

I would never design a modern stage lighting system, basically
distributed data and power, without the ability to easily de-power the
circuits, relays somewhere.

De-powering electrical gear not in use and no one present just makes
safety sense.

Requiring a technician to flip a bull switch or individual breakers
seems rude and disrespectful.  What ever you think, it won't be on the
the tech's route - both current and future techs - in and out of the
building.

While the quiescent power consumption is small, its not zero.  More
importantly, while the LEDs are shown to last a long time, the power
supplies have no such record.  And these are everywhere.

I don't know what was proposed to Robert, but relays are not that
expensive.  A 24 circuit main lugs Echo panel is $4800.  Assuming an
average of 5 LED units per circuit, that's $40 per fixture, each of
which is probably $800 to $2500.  And a substantial part of the total
cost of eh work is installing the panel, whether a dumb circuit
breaker panel or a smart mains lug panel.

Simpler solution for some, go ahead and distribute constant circuits,
and use something like ETC's Colorsource relay - $225 - and it will
control power for up to 10 units typically.  Or save on data distro
and use the wireless version - now a DMX out at every relay.

Never want a remotely - from console - switched circuit  for anything?

And I always have a relay panel for work and utility lights anyway (or
have had - as more of those are LED with means to switch with data or
low voltage.)   Again, it seems rude and disrespectful to make someone
go to a dozen wall switches at catwalks, grids, etc.

Its just too small of a cost to not do relay control of otherwise
constant power lighting circuits.

As far as what you are looking at, I will forever believe that going
to a vendor for major system design is stupid from the start, just too
much likelihood for non-objectivity.  They have biases for the
products they sell and in selling them.

-- 
Bill Conner Fellow of the ASTC