Pulled a Blinder!

[gazzer1uk]

Dear all glowing buddies,

 

Engage brain before clicking mouse. Won an 8 cell par 36 thomas blinder, unused for less than a round of drinks at an expensive pub. Result... B-)

 

It's coming with a 16 amp type of socket with it.

 

I have a 4 channel DMS Showtec multi dim, unit which I beleive are 5 amps per channel, and a Showtec lite 8 DMX controller, with 2 on off switches as opposed to dimming sliders??

 

I don't think the dimmer pack is "powerful" enough to drive the blinder.....

:huh:

So how best might I drive the blinder, will I need a new dimmer pack, or is there a cunning way??

 

Be really grateful for answers,

 

Regards,

 

Garry

[Brian]

The normal lamp for blinders is the 120 volt, 650 watt, DWE.

 

In your case you'd have 4 series pairs giving you 4 x 240v x 1300W = 5200W @ 240v = 21A overall.

 

You *could* rewire the blinder as 4 separate series pairs each of around 5A with each one run from your existing dimmer but then you've still got to find a 16A or more supply.

[springgrove]

You need to check what lamps are fitted. Then you can work out power/current needs.

[Stuart91]

If you do have to add lamps (and possibly even the internal wiring) then you will wind up having to shell out a lot more than you paid for the lantern itself...

[gazzer1uk]

Cheers guys,

 

The lantern is coming with the lamps, so will need to see what is fitted and as you say then work out the requirements.

 

Let's say I don't use my current Showtec dimmer. What sort of dimmer device/switch device (being a blinder I guess really its going to be on or off) should I look for, assuming the lamps are the "norm" for now?

 

I have a mate who is a qualified electrician so we might be able to consider re-wiring the unit as suggested but I think it kind of defeats the purpose.

 

If as per usual (million dollar question) we end up in a pub, and only have single phase 13 amp sockets.... how do I try to get a 16 amp supply?? Is it feasible to take say an upstairs 13amp feed and a downstairs 13 amp feed (assuming are on different wiring looms) and combine them in some way in parallel or similar?

 

Don't worry, anything I do will be run past my mate but you guys have the experience and imagination to overcome such solutions!!!

 

Thanks for your help, if nothing else it will be a hanging ornament!!!

 

Cheers,

 

Gaz

[dmxtothemax]

Sorry no cunning tricks will help,

The only suggestion I can make is rewire the light for two inputs, 2 x 2600w.

You will need two power circuits.

Use the two on off switchs on your desk,

With a suitable DMX switcher unit.

Otherwise use it as a hotplate in the kitchen.

 

Dear all glowing buddies,

 

Engage brain before clicking mouse. Won an 8 cell par 36 thomas blinder, unused for less than a round of drinks at an expensive pub. Result... :D

 

It's coming with a 16 amp type of socket with it.

 

I have a 4 channel DMS Showtec multi dim, unit which I beleive are 5 amps per channel, and a Showtec lite 8 DMX controller, with 2 on off switches as opposed to dimming sliders??

 

I don't think the dimmer pack is "powerful" enough to drive the blinder.....

:P

So how best might I drive the blinder, will I need a new dimmer pack, or is there a cunning way??

 

Be really grateful for answers,

 

Regards,

 

Garry

[Brian]

Take the lamps out; put the blinder up on eBay and sell it; buy a couple of these with the proceeds...

 

[niclights]

An 8-cell would normally be split into two circuits running from 2x10A dimmer channels. 2-cells can run off 5A channels. Technically they draw slightly too much power but it seems to work ok. There are no alternative lamps that give the same effect as the 650W DWE.

 

As for using in a pub. Are you mad?! Maybe some of the 2-cells Brian suggests, yes. They can look great as silhouette through haze just glowing. Note that these lamps get extremely hot and are not designed for prolonged use at full.

[matt_beal]

Is it feasible to take say an upstairs 13amp feed and a downstairs 13 amp feed (assuming are on different wiring looms) and combine them in some way in parallel or similar?

 

No... wiring them like this would make you a very dangerous piece of kit referred to as a "widowmaker" which as the name suggests is lethal. It should never be used as if you (or someone else who knows no better) unplug one plug, the pins will still be live from the supply at other plug hence making it pretty likely that you will get a nasty jolt. There is no way to provide protection in this situation, and no way to ensure that someone won't come along and unplug one end... there is no safe way of making one of these leads.

 

All the best,

[gazzer1uk]

Thanks for responses.

 

Am I mad, well, impetuous hence the purchase, mad, not quite as I am a good listener!

 

Widowmaker, understand that one!

 

Pub, well that was kind of really to illustrate the problem, chances are we will only be using this kind of stuff at larger venues. However, even at those I have struggled to work out how to get more power, safely (key word here) .

 

Maybe it will go back whence it came, however, never say never, it will be here soon so might as well try to make use of it, but if it is not safe, it will get dusty!

 

How do you guys bring more power in to a smaller venue, is it a matter of a number of extension leads, can you make up a master distribution board, or given the widowmaker comment, do you just put up with cables and when there is not too much available, you just do it more in the dark?

 

Cheers,

 

Gaz

[niclights]

How do you guys bring more power in to a smaller venue

Tailor the show/fixtures to the available power. LED is particularly useful in low power environments.

[Stuart91]

Am I mad, well, impetuous hence the purchase, mad, not quite as I am a good listener!

 

I wouldn't say mad. (I bought a pallet of 14 a while ago - that was certainly impetuous!)

 

You've just made the jump up to a different level of equipment and are hitting a fairly steep learning curve. I wouldn't beat yourself up too much about it.

 

The important thing is to learn from what you read here - if forums like this had been around back when I was a student I'd have saved myself a lot of expensive mistakes. (I spent a lot of time and money building things which I would be utterly embarrassed by today)

 

I'm generally a fan of blinders, and an 8-lite in a pub would certainly have some punch. :P If you wired the bulbs in horizontal pairs rather than vertical fours you would have the option of running just four out of the 8 when your power is limited. This would look a bit less weird than only having one side turned on, with the added bonus that you could run it off 5 amp dimmer channels. MultiDims are cheap (in every sense of the word) so adding another so you don't overload the supply wouldn't be ridiculous.

 

I did a show last weekend which had a total of 12 8-lites at it, for a total of 62,400w. We were in a medium sized town hall so it was quite a memorable effect...

[Jamtastic3]

A blinder in a pub!? What happened to the good old 300W garden floodlight set-up? :P

[dmxtothemax]

How do you bring more power into a venue?

Yes you can run various extention leads of to various different circuits.

But it has to be done very carfully, by someone who knows the dangers,

and the implications of the many variables involved.

As you understand all venues are different and the amount of variables involved are large,

So its not a simple question to answer.

But an electricain who is familiur with that venue can always find more power,

and do it safely.

 

Thanks for responses.

How do you guys bring more power in to a smaller venue, is it a matter of a number of extension leads, can you make up a master distribution board, or given the widowmaker comment, do you just put up with cables and when there is not too much available, you just do it more in the dark?

[Stuart91]

A blinder in a pub!? What happened to the good old 300W garden floodlight set-up? :P

 

You surely can't deny that everyone using the garden floods would prefer to have banks loaded with DWEs... :D