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

[Rob Graham]

Thank you everyone for your wisdom.  The short version is that because
they're reluctant to bring in a "paid consultant," I'm tasked with
revising specifications for the system.  I was sort of blindsided by
one vendor, and had a conversation which led to an update of a 5 year
old specification (written by a vendor) document made by someone who
was comfortable in, and seemed somewhat reluctant to leave the 2-scene
preset world.  I replaced that person; Since then, I've been told to
"figure out what it might cost" by the administration so we can start
to put together some sort of plan.

My dimming system is a D192 using a Status 12/24 2 scene preset board
speaking CMX, and the "new" board is a MC 24/48, also speaking CMX. I
expect the control heads on the D192s to die at any given moment; we
reboot them fairly regularly now, and I imagine that one day, they
just "won't come back on."

The vendors, understandably (it's their job), wrote "let me sell you
this" proposals. As I've begun to talk through them with
administration and physical plant, questions have come up and I'm
doing my best to bring them good answers.  It seems to me there is
compromise that can be found.  I think the traditional paned to dmx
controlled relay might be a smart solution, as could the ETC Echo
panels.

What I'm dead set against is an outright replacement of the racks with
traditional dimming and incandescent fixtures exclusively, which is
what the original document was.  That feels extremely "20th century
thinking" to me, and doesn't serve the long term production and
educational needs of the building.

I sincerely appreciate all of the great conversation and suggestions
being made here.

RG

On Thu, Aug 11, 2016 at 10:13 AM, dale via Stagecraft
<stagecraft at theatrical.net> wrote:
> Another important consideration is the location of the breaker panel in
> question.
>
> If it is located far away, at an inconvienent location, or in a locked
> electrical closet.... then remote control mechanisms becomes far more
> useful.
>
> If this is the case, then an approach I saw used once was having all those
> circuits coming from the panel in the locked power room went to a big array
> of ordinary light switches that was in the stage managers office.  Each one
> was labeled with circuit number and what it served.  This was done when the
> cost of remote switched control was super expensive.  And a light switch
> from regular sources was far less expensive than relays and control system.
> It's worth costing out this approach versus the suggested panel and control
> system.
>
> And what kind of control system does this suggested array of breakers use?
> That won't be free either, and inserts another point of failure into your
> system.
>
> Dale
>
>
>
> Sent from my Verizon 4G LTE smartphone
>
>
> -------- Original message --------
> From: Stephen Litterst via Stagecraft <stagecraft at theatrical.net>
> Date: 8/11/16 09:26 (GMT-05:00)
> To: Stagecraft Mailing List <stagecraft at theatrical.net>
> Cc: Stephen Litterst <litterst.stagecraft at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [SML] Relays vs. Traditional Circuit Breakers for LED Power.
>
> On 8/11/16 1:26 AM, Mt. Angel Performing Arts Center via Stagecraft wrote:
>>
>> Although this is not relevant to the discussion at hand many breakers
>> for branch circuits are specifically designed and rated to also serve as
>> switches - look for 'SD' (switch duty) devices.
>
> It's entirely relevant, because his campus electricians are suggesting
> they simply flip the breakers.
>
> I agree with the remote relays in some shape or form.  I'm adding LEDs
> into my rig this summer and am putting in a combination of ColorSource
> Relays (where there is no data present) and Sensor R20 modules to avoid
> having to switch things off in the dimmer rack or at the breaker.
>
> Steve L.
>
>
> --
> Stephen Litterst            Technical Operations Supervisor
> litterst at udel.edu           Mitchell Hall
> 302/831-0601                University of Delaware
>
>
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-- 
Rob Graham
photonguide at gmail.com