Advice re 63A Audio/Visual Power Install

[ThomasElectric]

Hi Forum,

I had a quick look around an couldn't see what i was looking for so wanted to ask your thoughts;

A customer of mine has a new building that currently has a 3phase 60A incomer.

We have installed several single phase 32A commando sockets on different phases around the building for various audio visual kit that they are using as they are looking to transform the building into a fully fledged conference venue eventually.

They have said that eventually they want to have a 63A 3Phase socket into the main 'kit' area for future lighting / sound equipment that they, or various PA companies, are used to using.

What are your thoughts on what they need to do to get to this? Simple new 3 phase circuit or do I need to send them to the electrical distributor for an upgraded incoming supply?

Cheers Guys

 

[Knobhead]

You sure it's a 60A incomer? Given a decent incoming supply what problem is there with a 63A socket?

PS put the spelling right in your signature :6:

 

[Rockingit]

As someone who works in the events industry:

If you stick a 16/32/63/125 whatever socket on the wall, then visiting companies will take it for granted that it's capable of that rating, and for extended periods. They won't check to see if there are '1 of 3 available at a time', they'll just see three and use whichever(s) they fancy.

A 60/3 main incomer is WOEFULLY inadequate for this type of building/use, and sooner or later it will cause problems.

Some things to consider - phase balancing is near on impossible most of the time; what will happen is that a company will come in with their own rubber box distro with a 63/3 or 32/3 on the end of it, and a bank of ceeform 16/1's & 32/1's on the side. Then what happens is that they'll plug it up whatever way suits them according to the cables and adaptors that the warehouse put on the truck that day.

Very few companies have even heard of discrimination, let alone know what it means - so give good consideration to your venues upstream RCD's, make damn sure they are all S types. In fact tbh, I'd probably recommend putting a separate primary DB in just to feed these supplies, with each phase having an adjustable RCM/D (yes, I know it get's expensive). If you wanted to be purist you could even make that supply TT and split your earths to keep them as clean as possible for the audio boys.

Generally speaking - these are the kind of things the place might get asked for:

Projection / AV - typically 32/1 in a small space, expect it to draw around 20A
Sound - 32/1 depending on size and style of event, again expect to draw around 25A
Lighting - 63/1 in a small space, expect to be asked for 63/3 on a regular basis. Load depends on nature of event but remember that these boys use lamps rated in kW's each (although intelligent 'moving' lights are typically 1.5-2A)
Rigging - 32/3 for motor chain hoists

Hope that helps, feel free to PM me.

 

[ThomasElectric]

As someone who works in the events industry:

If you stick a 16/32/63/125 whatever socket on the wall, then visiting companies will take it for granted that it's capable of that rating, and for extended periods. They won't check to see if there are '1 of 3 available at a time', they'll just see three and use whichever(s) they fancy.

A 60/3 main incomer is WOEFULLY inadequate for this type of building/use, and sooner or later it will cause problems.

Some things to consider - phase balancing is near on impossible most of the time; what will happen is that a company will come in with their own rubber box distro with a 63/3 or 32/3 on the end of it, and a bank of ceeform 16/1's & 32/1's on the side. Then what happens is that they'll plug it up whatever way suits them according to the cables and adaptors that the warehouse put on the truck that day.

Very few companies have even heard of discrimination, let alone know what it means - so give good consideration to your venues upstream RCD's, make damn sure they are all S types. In fact tbh, I'd probably recommend putting a separate primary DB in just to feed these supplies, with each phase having an adjustable RCM/D (yes, I know it get's expensive). If you wanted to be purist you could even make that supply TT and split your earths to keep them as clean as possible for the audio boys.

Generally speaking - these are the kind of things the place might get asked for:

Projection / AV - typically 32/1 in a small space, expect it to draw around 20A
Sound - 32/1 depending on size and style of event, again expect to draw around 25A
Lighting - 63/1 in a small space, expect to be asked for 63/3 on a regular basis. Load depends on nature of event but remember that these boys use lamps rated in kW's each (although intelligent 'moving' lights are typically 1.5-2A)
Rigging - 32/3 for motor chain hoists

Hope that helps, feel free to PM me.

Great advice, thanks
I am going to have a look over the the system in detail soon and will get in touch if i need any other advice! thanks a lot