Cable and plug types for stage jumpers

[derekleffew]

How about L6-20 "V" twofers? Legal/not legal? Anyone make a L6-20 male plug modified to accept two 12/3 SJOW cables? I, too, dislike Y-style twofers in almost every application.

[Charc]

To tell you the truth, I'd never heard of Y style twofers before this thread.

We have a stockpile of ancient V style twofers. Actually of them seems really messed up. I can't remember if I left it in the air, or took it out of use. I don't think I ever looked to see what the problem was, but basically, this thing got HOT. Not a burning hot, I mean you could still hold it, but it was HOT. This thing could keep your coffee perky, or your fast food delicious with that melty fresh-made taste. (I lived off of Burger King's Double Bacon Cheeseburgers for a week on the past show.)

Edit:
Possible resistance due to build up on pins? I'll investigate with my new pinsplitter next week.

[STEVETERRY]

[QUOTE=charcoaldabs;63223]To tell you the truth, I'd never heard of Y style twofers before this thread.
We have a stockpile of ancient V style twofers. Actually of them seems really messed up. I can't remember if I left it in the air, or took it out of use. I don't think I ever looked to see what the problem was, but basically, this thing got HOT. Not a burning hot, I mean you could still hold it, but it was HOT. This thing could keep your coffee perky, or your fast food delicious with that melty fresh-made taste. (I lived off of Burger King's Double Bacon Cheeseburgers for a week on the past show.)
Edit:
Possible resistance due to build up on pins? I'll investigate with my new pinsplitter next week.[/QUOTE

Loose pins, or just as likely loose screws on the inside of the connector. 60 Hz vibration and heat-cycle loosen them up.

ST

[Jezza]

Originally Posted by charcoaldabs

To tell you the truth, I'd never heard of Y style twofers before this thread.
We have a stockpile of ancient V style twofers. Actually of them seems really messed up. I can't remember if I left it in the air, or took it out of use. I don't think I ever looked to see what the problem was, but basically, this thing got HOT. Not a burning hot, I mean you could still hold it, but it was HOT. This thing could keep your coffee perky, or your fast food delicious with that melty fresh-made taste. (I lived off of Burger King's Double Bacon Cheeseburgers for a week on the past show.)
Edit:
Possible resistance due to build up on pins? I'll investigate with my new pinsplitter next week.

Spread those pins! No really, that's what I always check first, that and the rattle. Rattle in the connector = BAD. How much are you drawing when the connector gets that hot?

[Charc]

Originally Posted by Jezza

Spread those pins! No really, that's what I always check first, that and the rattle. Rattle in the connector = BAD. How much are you drawing when the connector gets that hot?

Two WFL 500W PAR 56s lamps...

So 1000 Watts... I'll be spreading and cleaning pins though, and looking at internal connections.

[derekleffew]

Originally Posted by derekleffew

How about L6-20 "V" twofers? Legal/not legal? Anyone make a L6-20 male plug modified to accept two 12/3 SO or SJO cables?...

Intentional necropost as my question remains unanswered.

[Les]

Seems like I read something on this board that said the only twofers that are legal are the molded type. My guess is because you technically shouldn't have two cables coming out of one strain relief as it defeats the purpose. The adjacent cable will continue to compress as you tighten down the strain relief, thus it never really gets tight. I bet if they invented a male connector with two strain reliefs coming out the back it would become legal. Seems like I had some of these V twofers at one time. Had these two gray 12 gauge cables coming out of the one male stagepin connector. Not for sure if it was 12 gauge cable, but it sure was thinner than your typical stage jumper or molded twofer. Looked like it was mass produced in a factory which makes me think they were legal at one time (if they are in fact illegal now). Keep in mind I'm talking about stagepin connectors and not the L6-20 male plugs. I guess these could be two entirely different issues.

Of course, I could have dreamt all this up one night... But I definitely had the V twofer in high school.

[derekleffew]

Les, this post indicates V-style 2P&G two-fers, using 12/3 SJ, are acceptable, but I'm still unsure about other types of connectors. (Now I've really intertwined the threads.)

Originally Posted by STEVETERRY

...
2. Article 520 acknowledges that a V-style twofer is a standard tool of the theatre by its allowance of SJ cord for this specific purpose, so two cables into the same strain relief are OK in this application.
...
ST

I tend to think not, as two 12g conductors don't fit so good in the hole of a TwistLock connector. And we're back to that "plug as a junction device" problem.

[mrb]

Originally Posted by derekleffew

Les, this post indicates V-style 2P&G two-fers, using 12/3 SJ, are acceptable, but I'm still unsure about other types of connectors. (Now I've really intertwined the threads.)

I tend to think not, as two 12g conductors don't fit so good in the hole of a TwistLock connector. And we're back to that "plug as a junction device" problem.

2 cables would not be ok into a single connector, unless the connector is listed for such purpose, which twistlocks are not.

[ship]

Originally Posted by mrb

2 cables would not be ok into a single connector, unless the connector is listed for such purpose, which twistlocks are not.

Still of the opinion that a plug is not an interconnection device. While Bates for stage pin I have been pointed out produces some forms of double cable strain relief plugs, and the holes on a stage pin do fit a dual 12ga wire if really careful and used without the ferrule, this much less other plugs will often accept two SJ "V" type cables in dual wires fitting somewhat into the clamp - I'm not a fan of it.

"Y" type twofers are rated for the amperage and provide for one plug per cable. No slop in attempting otherwise in fitting in or as against code modifying a plug. Attempting to do a stringer of outlets, sure modify away given nothing on the market to do so if needed until something else will become a solution to a need. Don't like ML-3 connectors in how they clamp/cut cables, modify away within reason. This is within reason and specific purpose in no other way of doing so. When it's not absolutely necessary... why fight a battle to solve a problem that's already solved with "Y" twofer?

Yes SO cable where appropriate. Heck, SO Twofers in the Y' molded style from Woodhead and others are also better than SJT type twofers by way of lasting and heat.

Fitting two wires into a plug = bad Karma for doing so properly much less carrying full current so why bother?