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Replace dimmer racks


strand600X

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Hi everyone,

 

I am in the process of replacing our old permus dimmer racks for some nice new sensor sinewave racks from ETC. I am in the middle of writing a report to the local council why I need to change them. I have about half a dozen points at the moment. Just wondered if anyone had anything to add maybe something I haven't thought of. I must admit I am not the best at writing reports..

 

Cheers

bAz :P

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Hi everyone,

 

I am in the process of replacing our old permus dimmer racks for some nice new sensor sinewave racks from ETC. I am in the middle of writing a report to the local council why I need to change them. I have about half a dozen points at the moment. Just wondered if anyone had anything to add maybe something I haven't thought of. I must admit I am not the best at writing reports..

 

Cheers

bAz ;)

 

It would be an idea to post what you've already thought of..... :P

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What on earth are Opera North doing with Permus racks?!

Trying to replace them ;)

 

I suppose you've raised the electrical safety implications of having to trim the top-set of the modules with the covers off the rack while it's all live as it's impossible to do with the supply isolated, thus exposing people to uninsulated conductors carrying a potential 400V AC?

 

We're still on Permus here (we used to be called the Strand Theatre, where the company started) and I'm going to be starting the discussions for replacement in the next few months for some of the reasons you'll be posting up here when you return (won't you :P ?)

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What on earth are Opera North doing with Permus racks?!
Trying to replace them :P

I only ask because Opera North are primarily a touring company, as I understand it. And I can't imagine why a touring company would have Permus dimmers!

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Hi Gareth

 

Your right I have moved on. working nearly 90 hours a week was killing me. Your also right my profile does need updating. I shall get around to doing it shortly.

 

We have not decided on sine wave dimmers it's just an option if anyone knows any good reason why not please let me know.

Mind you I still have a soft spot for the LD90's.

We have an ETC congo so it should marry up with the dimmers nicely once we get the ETC net up and running properly.

 

 

As for the trimming of the permus racks, I (as I'm sure a lot of people out there) have been doing it "live" for as long as can remember especially with the "JTM's" and "STM's" but I'm sure in this day and age it's totally against all health and safety regs.

 

bAz :lock:

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As for the trimming of the permus racks, I (as I'm sure a lot of people out there) have been doing it "live" for as long as can remember especially with the "JTM's" and "STM's" but I'm sure in this day and age it's totally against all health and safety regs.

Agreed, we do it but Reg 14 of the Electricity at Work Regulations (referring to the 1989 edition anyway) says work should not be carried out on a live conductor (which the heat-sinks are) unless it is unreasonable for it to be dead, it is reasonable to work on it and suitable precautions are taken.

 

How many of us have a safe system of work in place for the task which was drawn up from a risk assessment and is then monitored for compliance? I suspect, even in this day and age, many of us just dive in and work on them.

 

I know it's possible for some dimmers to be almost bullet proof but with spares disappearing and components ageing, plus the fact some tasks require live working, I think it's reasonable to be investigating replacements.

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I was under the impression that the Sensor sine wave dimmers were a 120 volt unit for the US only and that the 230 volt market was catered for by the Matrix series of dimmers, but I could be wrong, it may be worth clarifying this.
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Your right I have moved on.

I'm going to be nosey, and ask where to! :blink:

 

When you decide what to do with the old Permus racks, let me know - we're still running on a mixture of STM and Permus (around 320 channels altogether), which in all likelihood will have to solider on for at least a couple of years yet, so spares are always useful ...

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Hi everyone,

 

I am in the process of replacing our old permus dimmer racks for some nice new sensor sinewave racks from ETC. I am in the middle of writing a report to the local council why I need to change them. I have about half a dozen points at the moment. Just wondered if anyone had anything to add maybe something I haven't thought of. I must admit I am not the best at writing reports..

 

Cheers

bAz :blink:

 

Dont go too over board on the technical side of things, if the report is going to the council, be sure to address issues that the council will be conserned about, like COST, SAFETY, RELIABILITY, SERVICING, SPARE PARTS, remember the councilors are not technical people,

perhaps talk to some one with council experience and get some insight, as too areas to be addressed.

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I was under the impression that the Sensor sine wave dimmers were a 120 volt unit for the US only and that the 230 volt market was catered for by the Matrix series of dimmers, but I could be wrong, it may be worth clarifying this.

 

I also thought that was the case. My tech specs for the racks we have say they'll only take 120/208V. If you go on the EU ETC website, you'll see they're not even offered as an option (conversely, the Matrix series isn't an option over here in the US). Perhaps it would be useful to talk to an ETC rep if you haven't already, to clarify what you might need?

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