TuckerD
Well-Known Member
I recently read an article in Fall 2010 edition of Protocol by Steve Terry (@STEVETERRY) titled Understanding the hidden electrical diversity in entertainment lighting systems. Electrical diversity is something I knew absolutely nothing about until I read the article but it left me with some questions. I understand what the diversity requirements mean for drop cables but I'm not sure what sort of diversity restrictions I should be following in the system I typically use.
As far as I know our distribution system is like this:
From there the power might flow directly into the cable for a fixture or it might connect to a long extension cable that is restricted to 15A @ 120v or a cable restricted to 20A @ 120v. If I were to split that out and power three conventional fixtures totaling a load of 2000w am I exceeding some diversity restriction I missed along that circuit (assuming the cable was a 20A cable and all of electrical load bearing devices were being used past their restrictions? I could describe them in more detail if someone things I should)
I ask because the article only addressed drop cables at the "Rialto" and I am not sure if anything in my circuit counts as a drop cable and only the conduites between blocks should have more than three conductors in them. Unfortunately I do not have a copy of the NEC and I have no money to purchase one (is there an online resource I can use?) that I could look for the answers in.
Thanks in advance for taking the time to consider this,
-TuckerD
As far as I know our distribution system is like this:
- We have some dimmer racks with 2.4kw (120v) capacities. They are fed from a large breaker and have a diversity restriction of 41%. This gives my whole system on the stage a limit of 41% (right?)
- From there there is some conduit going to the stage and connecting to all sorts of circuits, those circuits come through boxes like the following
From there the power might flow directly into the cable for a fixture or it might connect to a long extension cable that is restricted to 15A @ 120v or a cable restricted to 20A @ 120v. If I were to split that out and power three conventional fixtures totaling a load of 2000w am I exceeding some diversity restriction I missed along that circuit (assuming the cable was a 20A cable and all of electrical load bearing devices were being used past their restrictions? I could describe them in more detail if someone things I should)
I ask because the article only addressed drop cables at the "Rialto" and I am not sure if anything in my circuit counts as a drop cable and only the conduites between blocks should have more than three conductors in them. Unfortunately I do not have a copy of the NEC and I have no money to purchase one (is there an online resource I can use?) that I could look for the answers in.
Thanks in advance for taking the time to consider this,
-TuckerD