Birdies

[stevieboi]

Hi All

 

I'm looking into buying some 240v birdies for an upcoming event.

 

Does anybody have any suggestions of a suitable (small) mains voltage connector for them?

 

My only thought at the moment is IEC, but I am wondering if there is anything else!

 

Dont want to use XLR 3pin or 4pin as they could quite easily get confused with mic / scroller.

 

cheers

[Ynot]

DO NOT use XLR for anything mains!

Although I believe they MAY be able to cope with the current involved, using these can be VERY dangerous as there will ALWAYS be someone out there (if not now but in the future) who picks them up and extends them with a mic lead! And mic lead is most definitely NOT mains rated!

 

IEC is probably the only reasonably priced easily available small-ish sized option for you so I'd go with that.

 

If you scour the CPC catalogue or others, you'll no doubt find all sorts of alternatives but I doubt they'll beat IEC for cost.

(E2A that all our mains birdies are on 15A like everything else dimmable. The problem with using IEC or other connectors is that you'll then need to run an adaptor to get it to a 15A dimmer circuit).

[bruce]

Dont want to use XLR 3pin or 4pin as they could quite easily get confused with mic / scroller.

.. and, of course, XLRs are NOT rated for mains voltages.

[Brian]

ST18 connectors (aka Wieland). Used for exhibition stand lighting and other commercial applications. Cheap and very easy to use.

[paulears]

I find these quite functional.

http://www.earsmedia.co.uk/birdie.jpg

[J Pearce]

Powercon? Expensive but locking and small.

[mrcog]

I find these quite functional.

 

I hope you've got adequate strain relief on those... :)

 

James

[Brian]

Powercon? Expensive but locking and small.

No inline female connector.

[J Pearce]

Unfortunate. I thought they'd come up with something akin to inline female speakons, but perusal of their website confirms my overactive imagination...

 

Still a coupler or small termination box with panel mount powercon would work just fine.

[Andrew C]

No inline female connector.

Didn't they show a socket at ABTT two years ago, or have I mis-remembered something I may, or may not, have seen?

[J Pearce]

I thought that too. Maybe we're both mad?

[TomHoward]

Not listed on the Neutrik website, but you can get a double-female barrel thingy akin to the old style speakon couplers.

[tom_the_LD]

Would it be possible to get a powercon chassis socket and somehow screw that into the back shall of a birdy - then simply plug a powercon cable into that? Or would the birdie be too small? My thoughts are saying it would take up more room than I'm thinking!

[J Pearce]

Or a small box on the yoke, similar to a ballast on a MSR light.

[dunk_1984]

Not listed on the Neutrik website, but you can get a double-female barrel thingy akin to the old style speakon couplers.

 

Did you mean these?

 

http://www.neutrik.com/uk/en/industry/210_...M-1_detail.aspx