Control/Dimming "New York" style distro wiring?

[gafftapegreenia]

So I was on a load in today and Audio kept tripping all the circuits on their power distro. Someone claimed it was because the rack was wired "New York" style, which someone later said is a different, non conventional socapex pin out.

Of course it could also have been some massive short as the whole distro tripped when someone plugged an XLR into a wedge.

So, thoughts?

 

[xander]

I cannot speak for the sound world here, but in turns of power, there is nothing different about our socapex. We use the same stuff as everyone else. Sometimes literally, because it all comes from the shops in Jersey and upstate where most of the northeast and a lot of national gigs get their stuff. There are some different kinds around, though, I wouldn't say there are any that are New York specific. Some use 12/14 cable, some 12/18. The pin outs are the same though. I think I remember reading on here somewhere that there are some weird (not 19-pin) Soca connectors out there, but I think they are from back in the day/rare.

-Tim

 

[Footer]

Never heard that or seen that .... now there are some weird 208 pin outs from Christie but that's all I know.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

[TimMiller]

I have seen audio companies run their speakers off of soco from the amps rather than using bundles of cable. Companies I saw reversed the run so there was a less of a risk in plugging it into a dimmer. But if they have breakers tripping especially when someone plugs in an XLR there are some very serious problems going on I would be afraid to touch anything. I read a story a whole back of a band was having a similar issue and rectified it by lifting a ground, all was going well until the guitar player touched the mic and his guitar he was electrocuted and pronounced dead on the scene. Closest thing I have heard is California / new York reverse, where on the feeder the ground and neutrals cam connectors are reversed so that you could not accidentally plug a hot leg into a ground or neutral and vice versa.

 

[derekleffew]

...Of course it could also have been some massive short as the whole distro tripped when someone plugged an XLR into a wedge. ...

I'd say this indicates a MUCH bigger problem than how the distro or break-out s are wired.

I've never heard of "New York Style" distro wiring, but can postulate two scenarios.
1. In the distro itself, there are two different ways of bussing the dual-pole breakers:

Ckt/Leg OR Ckt/Leg
1- AB _____1- AB
2- BC _____2- CA
3- CA _____3- BC
4- AB _____4- AB
5- BC _____5- CA
6- CA _____6- BC
and so on.


2. There are two different ways of wiring the female Socapex outlets, and each requires the same wiring in the break-out. This is to idiot-proof plugging a 120V BO into a 208V outlet, and is used by Christie and some others (like the Strand LightRack, as discussed here: https://www.controlbooth.com/threads/etc-sensor-or-strand-light-rack.15476/ )

The "normal" way:_____The "ChristieLites and Strand" way:
Pin# Ckt# Use: Phase:_Pin# Ckt# Use: Phase:
1 1-LOAD L1 A__________1 1-LOAD L1 A
2 1-LOAD L2 B__________2 2-LOAD L1 A
3 2-LOAD L1 C__________3 1-LOAD L2 B
4 2-LOAD L2 A__________4 2-LOAD L2 B
5 3-LOAD L1 B__________5 3-LOAD L1 B
6 3-LOAD L2 C__________6 4-LOAD L1 B
7 4-LOAD L1 A__________7 3-LOAD L2 C
8 4-LOAD L2 B__________8 4-LOAD L2 C
9 5-LOAD L1 C__________9 5-LOAD L1 C
10 5-LOAD L2 A________10 6-LOAD L1 C
11 6-LOAD L1 B________11 5-LOAD L2 A
12 6-LOAD L2 C________12 6-LOAD L2 A
13-18 GROUND -________13-18 GROUND -
19 N/C -_______________19 N/C -
(Phasing may not be accurate for all distros. Some go AB,CA,BC,AB,CA,BC... Others go AB,BC,CA,AB,BC,CA...)
The "normal" break-out can be used for either 120 or 208, one just has to change the six female outlets. The "other" offers the benefit of passing no power if a 120 is connected to a 208, as the potential difference between hot and neutral is zero.


Thinking on it some more, I'm not sure I've ever seen audio use Socapex cable for power, only for speaker lines. Most audio AC distros have L14-20 or 30 outlets; occasionally L21-20 or 30.

Going out on a limb here...gafftapegreenia, was this for an A/V company?

...I think I remember reading on here somewhere that there are some weird (not 19-pin) Soca connectors out there, but I think they are from back in the day/rare.

There are three different "Socapex" connectors used in our industry, see the wiki. You're probably thinking about Pyle-National 12/37 multi-cable.

 

[gafftapegreenia]

The incident occurred with a Meyer MILO line array. This one was set up to use L6-20 power and XLR signal, which is a factory option.

The rack is question was from Sound Associates, Inc, if that might make any difference. I did not get a maker plate off the rack.

The show was a large one-off in a local arena.