davilbac Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 Hi guys,I may seem really dumb asking this but I'll ask anyway,On stage lighting I always notice that the plugs are not the same as like standard english ones....1. Do they have a special name??. Whats the reason for this??PLEASE REPLY Davil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david.elsbury Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 Do you have a picture of the plugs you mean? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timsabre Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 Theatre lighting in the UK often uses 15A plugs like thishttp://cpc.farnell.com/productimages/standard/en_GB/42262280.jpgI am not sure why, back in the 1950's this used to be the standard plug used in house electrics so maybe it is a hangover from them.The advantage now is that it stops people plugging normal things into dimmer outlets, which could damage the dimmer and the thing you plugged in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew C Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 The advantage now is that it stops people plugging normal things into dimmer outletsAnd there are no fuses in inconvenient places. If you go back far enough, lighting also used 5A fuses for sub-kilowatt lanterns. This was a PITA as you needed bucket loads of 15 - 5 adaptors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timsabre Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 If you go back far enough, lighting also used 5A fuses for sub-kilowatt lanterns. This was a PITA as you needed bucket loads of 15 - 5 adaptors. 5A plugs you mean. Indeed my school was kitted out with a mixture of 5A and 15A sockets on the installed circuits. And the lanterns had a mixture of 5A and 15A plugs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin D Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 I've found many different socket outlets on dimmer circuits including the said 5amp, 15amp and reversed unfused 'Walsall' outlets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kerry davies Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 The idea behind schools limiting lantern power through use of only 5A made sense back in the day to reduce hazard levels. Greg of R&G (now MDR) in the Forest of Dean must have kitted out hundreds of school theatre rigs right across the UK with nothing but 5A kit. I suspect that it was once a D of E specification or recommendation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew C Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 5A plugs you mean.Low caffeine levels... http://www.blue-room.org.uk/public/style_emoticons/default/huh.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart91 Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 Yeah, I was handed a couple of lanterns at the weekend that had come out of a school. Still with 5amp plugs on them. They're relatively recent models (Selecon Acclaim) but presumably had been added to an existing installation. There's probably a "chicken and egg" scenario where new installations still have 5amp outlets available because that's what's on the lantern stock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timsabre Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 Yeah, I was handed a couple of lanterns at the weekend that had come out of a school. Still with 5amp plugs on them. They're relatively recent models (Selecon Acclaim) but presumably had been added to an existing installation. There's probably a "chicken and egg" scenario where new installations still have 5amp outlets available because that's what's on the lantern stock. The problem is usually that old installations with 5A plugs only have 5A wiring so you can't just change the plugs and sockets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J Pearce Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 A nuance I have seen missed in several installations where newer dimmers have been installed with standard 10A fuses/MCBs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Lewis Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 "Stage lighting" covers a multitude of sins.... You might find various flavours of "IEC" connector, 15A, 16A and Powercon in use, and possibly American 110V two pin (perhaps a bit naughty) and Wieland mains patch leads... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timsabre Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 "Stage lighting" covers a multitude of sins.... You might find various flavours of "IEC" connector, 15A, 16A and Powercon in use, and possibly American 110V two pin (perhaps a bit naughty) and Wieland mains patch leads... ...in the UK - the original poster does not say where he is from so it could be anywhere in the world, which makes the possibilites somewhat wider. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alistermorton Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 The only thing that makes me think based in UK is reference to not like standard English ones, as opposed to not like any other standard. If, as david.elsbury asked, they could post a photo, we'd have a decent chance at a stab at location. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Lewis Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 The only thing that makes me think based in UK is reference to not like standard English ones, as opposed to not like any other standard. That was my assumption too... a worldwide connector survey might take a little longer! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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