Par Cans

[discoian]

Anybody got any advice here for the best way to route power and signal around a venue. I have an event coming up in a week or two and the client requires 56 LED Par 64's routed around a huge venue. I've done a recon and there are absolutely no power sockets of any description around the perimeter of the room.

 

So, has anyone got any advice they can offer for a newbie?

 

Your advice would also help when doing smaller runs of say 20 or so.

[dunk_1984]

There is no easy way to do this, just make sure the cables are pressed to the edge, our LED cans have T-lines on them so you can hide this behind the par can itself, obviously being LED you can get them all on 1 16A run. Data however, if they are 4 channel you will be OK, however if they're 5 channel, then you will require 2 universes and as such a second DMX line.

[smalljoshua]

Are all of these lights going to be evenly spaced around the room? If they are. There is going to be only one way to route the cable effectively. That will just be a big ring.

 

How much power cable do you have? Where are the sockets located in realtion to the cans? Can the room be split up into zones with an equal radius around each socket. Therefore splitting each socket evenly up to the par cans neerest to it. Do you have a room plan?

 

Josh

[peternewman]

Data however, if they are 4 channel you will be OK, however if they're 5 channel, then you will require 2 universes and as such a second DMX line.

You will of course need a splitter/buffer of some description either way, as you have more than the 32 receiver limit for the DMX line. Going in opposite directions from this splitter and the control position around the room may be a suitable way to run it.

[dunk_1984]

Just noticed I made a slight error in my previous post, you won't exceed DMX channels, I was thinking DMX had 256 channels not 512 for some reason.

However as Peter says you will exceed the number of fixtures.

[discoian]

There is no easy way to do this, just make sure the cables are pressed to the edge, our LED cans have T-lines on them so you can hide this behind the par can itself, obviously being LED you can get them all on 1 16A run. Data however, if they are 4 channel you will be OK, however if they're 5 channel, then you will require 2 universes and as such a second DMX line.

Why 2 universes? And yes they are all 4-channel.

 

Are all of these lights going to be evenly spaced around the room? If they are. There is going to be only one way to route the cable effectively. That will just be a big ring.

 

How much power cable do you have? Where are the sockets located in realtion to the cans? Can the room be split up into zones with an equal radius around each socket. Therefore splitting each socket evenly up to the par cans neerest to it. Do you have a room plan?

Well, equal spacing...yes and no. For the majority they will be down long walls, but there are also some pillar washes as well so they kind of break my 4m spacing rule.

 

You will of course need a splitter/buffer of some description either way, as you have more than the 32 receiver limit for the DMX line. Going in opposite directions from this splitter and the control position around the room may be a suitable way to run it.

I intend to split as they do not meet, or go round in a ring.

 

 

Just noticed I made a slight error in my previous post, you won't exceed DMX channels, I was thinking DMX had 256 channels not 512 for some reason. However as Peter says you will exceed the number of fixtures.

Ahh right gotcha, but yes, I am splitting.

 

I did see some combined power/data cable on CPC. Does anyone have any idea how good it is?

[dunk_1984]

I did see some combined power/data cable on CPC. Does anyone have any idea how good it is?

 

It has been discussed before with powered speakers in mind, the outcome was that the cable was suitable for use.

[Davethsparky]

Anybody got any advice here for the best way to route power and signal around a venue. I have an event coming up in a week or two and the client requires 56 LED Par 64's routed around a huge venue. I've done a recon and there are absolutely no power sockets of any description around the perimeter of the room.

 

would it be right to assume you mean floor mounted? What sort of room is it that has no sockets in it? If it is possible then I would use T-lines on the pars and use cables that are tailored to the distances you require to avoid having to lose the slack anywhere. keep your cables runs as tight to the edges of the room as possible and if there is any chance of peoples feet getting near them fix them down so you don't trip them up. Avoid cabling across main access ways and fire exits.

You may need to take some measure to stop them getting turned off if sockets are scarce or the supply comes form somewhere you can't keep an eye on or don't have control over.

LED pars have a reputation for puttign gremlins into the DMX line so I would use a properly isolated splitter, not connect any pars to the data through of the splitter and keep the number of pars on each split low to make it easier to find any one which is being naughty. And don't forget to terminate each line.

[gareth]

use cables that are tailored to the distances you require to avoid having to lose the slack anywhere

Oh, come on! It's simply not practical to be making up a set of bespoke cables for each and every job. We use the closest available standard stock length and make a neat job of losing the escess. Custom cables for every situation simply isn't economically viable.

[mac.calder]

It is very easy to get rid of excess without it looking messy - either by using a small group of coils near one of the fixtures, or by using one big coil, then stretching it out along the wall (if you are not worried about kinks - though the kinks work themselves out over time)

 

In Australia, generally you would just use piggyback-able extension leads or Y-splits... or we would go for LED pars with power-con ins and outs.

[Davethsparky]

Oh, come on! It's simply not practical to be making up a set of bespoke cables for each and every job. We use the closest available standard stock length and make a neat job of losing the escess. Custom cables for every situation simply isn't economically viable.

 

We worked with a company over the summer who were doing the power over large sites who turned up with drums of arctic and boxes of quick fit plugs for all the 16amp and 32amp cable runs. they then cut the plugs off at the end of the gig and dumped the shorter cables and kept the longer for re-use.

Also I have custom made cables where they are going to be seen on jobs where aesthetics are important.

Plus the OP was asking about combined data+power cable which would suggest he is custom making the cables for this job anyway.

[tokm]

Something I always try to mention to people to watch out for when dealing with large numbers of LED cans..

 

Make sure you check to see if they can be addressed higher than 128! A few brands of Chinese LED pars don't physically have a 128 or 256 dip switch, so I've often had to spread them all over multiple universes as your only able to use up to the first 128 channels of each 512 set.

 

Course if your not wanting individual control of all the cans, this probably won't be a issue.

 

Good luck with the event!

 

T

[sirrus]

If money is the issue then you could always use cat5 cable or something.

 

Or indeed wireless DMX it...

 

Do each wall into a DMX wireless repeater or something then have a nice FOH somewhere tidy with no network of cable going to you...

 

 

Something like this: http://www.zero88.com/en/products/3/96