Floor pocket requirements

[Blah067]

You put phone and TV in so when somebody says "I want a TV on stage" you can say, plug it in here. (as opposed to running 500 feet of cable).

I'm pretty sure I'd request the water stuff in a separate box as the electrical...pretty sure there's a code regarding this?

[mstaylor]

You have to remember we do a lot of conventions and trade shows which is why we have the phone and cable. I have another building I work in that has the water/drain in the floor pockets.

[Lightguy48]

One recommendation I have is make sure they're deep! I can't count the number of times where I've been in a building and the pocket was too shallow, the connectors stick up and get stepped on breaking the connector or the mounting plate.

Make certain the pockets are deep enough that physical connector is below grade when plugged in.

I certainly second the CAT5 and RG6 coax. Also, make sure any spare conduits have pull string installed for when additional wire is installed. I would at a minimum have double-gang pockets because with the correct plate a double-gang box will support up to 12 cables, 6 per gang.

[mstaylor]

I concur with all your points. Our current pockets are deep enough but require them to be partially open to allow wires in and out. I have fought this since we opened in late
'79. I was insistant that they have some means to allow cable entrance but still be flat. I gave them a list of pockets that would work but I don't know what the final choice is. The same goes for the center trough. I want it to be able to be entered and exited at any point in the run.

[Chris15]

Adding to what others have said, you need to build a degree of future resistance in. Don't install Cat 5 or 5e, go 6 or 6a - it will give you better longevity. I wouldn't bother with phone cabling, just add another Cat 6 or two...

I'd seriously consider fibre connections - some of these trade shows have the bandwidth demands to warrant it.

I'd spec comms to every pit, otherwise, sure as anything on the first show you'll want it at one of the other pits... I'd prefer dual input tie lines (back to a patch panel) and an output also. Run it all in AES spec cable. Consider also 3GHz or 4.5 GHz coax drops to each box to support SDI video etc as may be needed, also being useful for MADI, word clock, etc.

[mstaylor]

Originally Posted by Chris15

...I'd spec comms to every pit, otherwise, sure as anything on the first show you'll want it at one of the other pits... I'd prefer dual input tie lines (back to a patch panel) and an output also. Run it all in AES spec cable. Consider also 3GHz or 4.5 GHz coax drops to each box to support SDI video etc as may be needed, also being useful for MADI, word clock, etc.

You are now over my head. I have the whole light guy, not sound guy, thing going on.

[museav]

What Chris is basically saying is suggesting to use digital rated cable for audio and video. Cable rated for AES audio or SDI/HD-SDI video will work for analog audio and video as well and using it leaves open the option for digital signal use.

I want to reiterate for others, convention center type floor boxes are very different than stage floor boxes as far as size, connectivity, load capacity, etc. They typically have to handle all the utilities that multiple displays or vendors may require (communications, power and in some cases, water, sewer (thus the drain) and perhaps even gas. Yet they have to be able to be driven over by forklifts, cars, etc., which is why terminations on posts and walls where possible rather than in the floor is quite common.

[mstaylor]

Thank-you and that is a good synopsis of what is unique to a CC floor pocket.
I am being asked to specify the exact connectors and cable to be used, any suggestions?

[FMEng]

I would also add Cat 5, 5e, or 6. It can be used for data (internet and LAN), line-level audio, intercom, telephone, and medium resolution video.

I would also put a few single and multi-mode fiber optic cables in. Many of the digital audio snakes are using fiber, and it can also be used for high resolution video, wideband RF (like TV and satellite IF).

If you add those to the system, you'll seldom ever have to run anything over the floor. It's cheap and easy to put it in now. Hard and expensive later.

[Chris15]

Ok so exact cables and connectors...

Say we do 2 female and 2 male audio line per pocket. Either or both male can be used for comms by relevant patching. That makes nicely for a 4 way audio snake. Something like Eurocable SSAD04C would work nicely. Connectors - Neutrik NC3FD-LX for female, NC3MD-LX for male. If you are doing the assembly, append -M3 to the end fo each for pretaped threads, If someone else is, that bit is optional.

Cat 6 - whatever the contractor wants to use. Connectors: Neutrik Ethercon. (Can Brad or someone comment on the mating of a Cat5e ethercon into a Cat 6 ethercon socket - they look to be opposite genders, if so great work Neutrik.)

Coax - Belden - 4.5 GHz. I don't have the part number handy. Connectors: Neutrik NBB75DFIB-P. I wouldn't be sure of performance from a solder connector at 4.5 GHz...

RF - RG6 with F connectors (which can be a right pain)

Fibre - consult someone who knows what they are talking about. Neutrik Opticalcon will take a standard LC connector as well as the rugged Neutriks. Make sure they clearly mark which is single mode fibre and which is multimode (get both installed)...