Power is the lifeblood of your event. It is the #1 most critical requirement. It should not be overlooked.Â
How do we know when we do not have the right power?Â
- A breaker trips or a fuse is blown, which is the most common happening if we are lied to.
- Equipment doesn’t work correctly e.g. robotic lighting doesn’t want to move, equipment doesn’t turn on, equipment malfunctions, and/or throws a dim light beam at its maximum brightness.Â
- Equipment gets damaged. Most commonly due to a generator not being able to keep up with the power load.Â
- When the power is wrong during testing – it shows us that it is not grounded (the 3rd pointy prong), not working, not the right voltage, or is on the same circuit as another.Â
About Power
Circuits
We declare a “circuit” as “15-20A 120V AC power with an Edison receptacle.” This is the North American standard of power. This is what you will find in your house, in your walls.Â
But of course, some of our equipment requires different power, and we will work with you more closely to get that. In the case of the number of circuits, the more common ask we have, we elaborate on this below.Â
Edison is the name of the receptacle in the photo above. Specifically, that is a duplex Edison outlet that likely is carrying 120 volts (v) on a 15 to 20 amp (A) breaker.120V is the common American voltage found in household outlets. 20A is the amperage likely denoted on the breaker in the power panel. We declare a range of “15-20A” for amperage because most extension cables are only rated for 15A, generators typically only output 15A per circuit, spider boxes typically only output 15A per circuit, and many wall outlets are 20A. So we will only ever use 15A of the 20A regardless if it’s 15A or 20A breaker. Providing a 20A will not rollover the remaining 5A to another circuit. The excess 5A (if on a 20A breaker) should be there incase we do pull more than 15A.
Feeder
Feeder is typically higher power that can break out into multiple American standard circuits. For example:
The first image is 50A California Twist receptacle followed by a 50 Straight Blade receptacle, which both can commonly go into a spider box (via a California twist ending cable). Look for both of the first 2 receptacles around your event space if you are looking to fulfill our power needs that require multiple circuits.Â
This is 400A Cam-Lock that steps power down into California twist 50A, which is then broken down into standard circuits.Â
In order for us to utilize any type of feeder receptacle, we need to know ahead of time, to render and deploy the proper equipment, so please send us photos and even the NEMA names written on the receptacle. Also ensure the receptacle has power via power testing tools.Â
Circuit Need-To-Knows
No, you do not need to become an electrician, but there are a few things that you need to know when planning an event:
1. Circuit Quantity
The most common problem that we see at events is that there isn’t enough power or that power wasn’t thought about by the planner. On every equipment listing on our site, and when you purchase the equipment rental and service, we include the total number of circuits that we need and how far those circuits can be from where we need them. Don’t worry, you do not have to do the math and figure out how we got to that number – we do that.
However, we do expect there to be the required number of circuits by the time of our Set Up Time. We do work with the event location on your behalf, but it’s always good to check with them prior to securing the intended rental and service.Â
Common misconceptions:Â
- A single receptacle with a power strip attached does NOT make more circuits – it is still 1 circuit if there is nothing else on that circuit.Â
- A duplex outlet, when there are 2 receptacles on one power outlet, is NOT another circuit. It is still a 15-20A 120V circuit in most cases.Â
- 2 duplex outlets, when there are 4 receptacles on one box, is usually NOT another circuit unless explicitly written on there by the installing electrician.Â
- Outlets on different walls do not necessarily mean different circuits – they could be all wired together on one 15-20A 120V circuit.Â
2. Circuit Distance
Sometimes event locations have the power capacity e.g. have 120A in the wall outlets around the space and spread over 6x 20A 120V Edison receptacles. But to capture all 6 circuits, thousands of feet of cable may need to be ran, which can get expensive – especially if we need to have another team deliver us more cable and cable guards (day-of rental and day-of service addended).Â
We declare the power receptacles to be within 25′ of the center of the Production Area e.g. the stage, the DJ booth, etc.
Navigating Circuits
We take several steps to prevent power issues on-site, with your help:
1. Declaration of Power (by us)
We declare the number of circuits that we need to all power stakeholders. We perform this calculation based on the rendered production. This requirement will exists in Appendix B of the contract. Other special power may be required as well. Â
2. Proactive Planning (by you)
Ensure the event location has the necessary power for the rendered production. We’re happy to help as there may be many ways for us to tie-in. Nothing else can be on the circuit; otherwise, it’s not a full circuit!
We can also tie-in to venues that have 50A receptacles, CamLock 3-phase show power, or even run a generator and spider box system to get the power that we need and where we need it. We may need to render this additional equipment to do so.
3. Find, Test, & Label The Circuits (by you / the location)
The simplest method to identify circuits is to flip each 20-amp breaker in the power panel and note which outlets turn on/off. Doing this with a buddy can speed up the process greatly. Any outlets that shut off together are on the same circuit—label them accordingly (e.g., “Breaker #2″). Outlets that have the same breaker number are 1 single circuit. Continue to label each outlet until all outlets are mapped and labeled. Keep in mind:
Power Location: We require circuits within 25 ft. of the production area’s center. Our cabling is designed for this distance only. You will need to run extension from each of the circuits if the distance is longer than this. If your cable run is longer than 150ft, the power will be degraded and this circuit will not be usable—consider another closer power source or utilize feeder cable which can go further.Â
Power Runs:Â Even if the power location is within 25′ of the production area’s center, we will not run cable through areas with foot, vehicle, or cart traffic unless cable guards are provided or rented through us for those specific areas.Â
Labeling: Circuits must be labeled for quick reset if a breaker trips, and to confirm they are on separate lines.
Support: For local events, we can send a power technician to test and label circuits on your behalf.
4. On-Site Circuit Separation (by us)
When on-site, we strategically separate the circuits so that, in the event of a power failure, it is not detrimental to the continuation of the event. E.g. if the left side speakers go out, the right side is still active.Â
5. Backups (by us)
We offer battery backup solutions, and pre-include them on larger event Levels. So if a circuit did blow on a primary circuit e.g. the lighting control desk, we hope it will remain active until it can be fixed.Â
Concluding
If there is absolutely no way for us to obtain the power that we need by way of extra extension or appending a generator system, we will have no choice but to omit the purchased feature without discount or refund for the rental or service – please plan accordingly.Â
Next time you find yourself lost in the music at an event, take a moment to appreciate the unsung hero working tirelessly behind the scenes – the AC circuit. Its role in powering the amplifiers, lighting, and effects is indispensable, contributing to the immersive and electrifying atmosphere that defines a memorable DJ performance. So, as the beats continue to throb and the lights flash in perfect harmony, remember that it’s all made possible by the invisible dance of electrons in the AC circuit, and Clik.
