Stage Pin Quad Box

[DMXpro]

Hi all,
I am making a stage pin quad box, but I'd like help before I start. Since all in/out connections are stage pin and therefore 20A, I know 12/3 SO or SOOW cable is required. Other than that, I need a stage pin plug and four female surface-mount receptacles. Are there plates that will accept stage pin sockets AND mount to a 2-gang box? Are they out there/legal? To boot, I have just read that metal quad boxes are a no-no for portable distros. (This makes no sense to me, but I'm not going to raise a stink about it.) Thus, what is a good, inexpensive solution? (And, where would I buy female stage pin outlets?)

Thanks.
PS-- An alternative option is to have one "half" Edison duplex (20A) and the other half stage pin.

 

[MPowers]

Don't make it, buy one from LEX.
PowerHOUSE™ Portable Distribution Boxes: 20 Amp "Break Out Box" with Tail Input to Edison and Stage Pin Receptacles | Lex Products

Before you actually build any of these yourself, do a bit more research on code and "why" the code, for portable (can be used outdoors) equipment. Also check out codes for proper sizing of feed cable for distro boxes, it will help you understand the whys and wherefores of the size requirements.

Metal is a No-Go for case material in outdoor use as it is a conductor. Get it wet (it does occasionally RAIN out doors) it can conduct a current from any internal lugs or contacts to the metal case, either shorting out or making the case lethally charged. High impact plastic of many various compositions is the answer.

Flush mount stage pin receptacles are available from any source that sells stage pin plugs and bodies. Plates can be obtained from companies like LEX but for shop built units such as you are describing and thinking of building, plates are custom made in the builders ( your shop) shop. High impact plastic can be easily machined with all cutting, drilling and milling tools including table saw, jig saw, band saw, drill (hand drill and drill press) routers, etc.

 

[DrPinto]

Am I understanding you correctly? You need 4 instruments with stage pin plugs that draw less than 20 amps total on the same circuit?

I would use a two-fer or three-fer instead.

 

[DMXpro]

four 575W instruments on a single 2.4kW dimmer, if the 1st electric is only twofered.

 

[DMXpro]

Well, I guess twofering each twofer would work, then.

 

[DMXpro]

Don't make it, buy one from LEX.
PowerHOUSE™ Portable Distribution Boxes: 20 Amp "Break Out Box" with Tail Input to Edison and Stage Pin Receptacles | Lex Products

Metal is a No-Go for case material in outdoor use as it is a conductor. Get it wet (it does occasionally RAIN out doors) it can conduct a current from any internal lugs or contacts to the metal case, either shorting out or making the case lethally charged. High impact plastic of many various compositions is the answer.

I wouldn't be using it outdoors, but that's a good point and thus I won't argue it. As for the LEX products, I need something that's more of a four-fer and less of pipe-mounted distro. I have no way to use socapex, unfortunately.

 

[DrPinto]

That's 2300 watts/115 volts = 20 amp draw on a 20 amp rated wire and plugs. There's no wiggle room there.

 

[DrPinto]

I think I found what you're looking for, only in a 3 circuit setup:

Altman 3 Circuit Plug Box with Pipe Clamps and Stage Pin Plugs | eBay

Personally, I wouldn't go over three 575 watt instruments or 15 amps on a 20 amp circuit just to be safe.

A 3-fer would do the same thing.

 

[DMXpro]

Yes, that's basically what I need, but with chassis-mount connectors rather than cable-mount. I drew a picture in MS paint (excuse my drawing "skills") of what i am picturing in my head with the 1/2 and 1/2 idea. Essentially, it's an "ambiguous twofer": I can use it as a stage pin twofer or an Edison twofer, depending on the present situation. It can be loaded for 20A total, (like a four-fer) but I only need it to act as a twofer.

 

[DMXpro]

Don't make it, buy one from LEX.
PowerHOUSE™ Portable Distribution Boxes: 20 Amp "Break Out Box" with Tail Input to Edison and Stage Pin Receptacles | Lex Products

Before you actually build any of these yourself, do a bit more research on code and "why" the code, for portable (can be used outdoors) equipment. Also check out codes for proper sizing of feed cable for distro boxes, it will help you understand the whys and wherefores of the size requirements.


Metal is a No-Go for case material in outdoor use as it is a conductor. Get it wet (it does occasionally RAIN out doors) it can conduct a current from any internal lugs or contacts to the metal case, either shorting out or making the case lethally charged. High impact plastic of many various compositions is the answer.

Flush mount stage pin receptacles are available from any source that sells stage pin plugs and bodies. Plates can be obtained from companies like LEX but for shop built units such as you are describing and thinking of building, plates are custom made in the builders ( your shop) shop. High impact plastic can be easily machined with all cutting, drilling and milling tools including table saw, jig saw, band saw, drill (hand drill and drill press) routers, etc.

Thank you. I figured I could always cut the plates of impact plastic to fit the 2P&G receptacles, but I just wanted to know if that was okay to do (ie, legal).

 

[gafftapegreenia]

http://www.unionconnector.com/pdf/Pin-Connector-Brochure.pdf

Item #G3255. It's a cable mount Stagepin 3-fer block.

The problem with metal J boxes is the knockouts can get punched in thus exposing the connections within. Lots of equipment uses metal bodies and boxes, properly grounded of course, just WITHOUT easily punched in knock outs.

 

[DMXpro]

http://www.unionconnector.com/pdf/Pin-Connector-Brochure.pdf

Item #G3255. It's a cable mount Stagepin 3-fer block.

The problem with metal J boxes is the knockouts can get punched in thus exposing the connections within. Lots of equipment uses metal bodies and boxes, properly grounded of course, just WITHOUT easily punched in knock outs.

So essentially, it's a stage pin cube tap?

 

[derekleffew]

... I need something that's more of a four-fer and less of pipe-mounted distro. ...

Sounds like any quad box wouldn't work so well. You can build a "four-fer" using 12/3 SJO cable. Don't try to stick four cables in the male; use only two and then do the same at two of the females.

I'll try some bad ASCII art:

F F M F F
_V_V_V_V
The V's are 18" to 5' lengths of 12/3 SJO cable

The male can be anywhere in the chain, although if it's at one end, the device may be mistaken for an ACL Harness. I once built four of these in custom lengths for a 4-color, 16-unit wash. Sure the same could be accomplished using three two-fer s, but that's a lot of extra connections, and jumper s will probably be needed also.

I can see these four (or more)-fers becoming more useful as low current draw LED units (those without power pass-thru) become prevalent.

Some NEC code issues to consider:
Strain relief on connectors is not listed, by NRTL for more than one cable.
If the device qualifies as an adapter or two-fer, limited in length to 1m (each leg).
If considered a break-out, maximum length from male to farthest female is 6m.

-----

...Personally, I wouldn't go over three 575 watt instruments or 15 amps on a 20 amp circuit just to be safe.

http://www.controlbooth.com/forums/question-day/9282-acceptable-put-4x-s4s-dimmer.html

 

[JChenault]

I'm missing something here.

Why do you want to make a distribution box instead of an appropriate number of Two-fer / Three-fers?

It would seem to me that making / purchasing three two-fer's - or a three-fer and a two-fer would be simpler, easier, and cheaper than making a custom box. It is not clear to me what a box is giving you.

As to the comment re four 575 watt instruments taking 20 amps. Note that this depends on which lamp you have in them. If the lamp is a 115 volt lamp this is correct, and if your mains voltage is greater than that, my understanding is that you could pull too many amps. On the other hand, if the lamp is a 120 volt lamp, you should have no problem ( especially if the mains voltage, is 115 volts).

 

[DMXpro]

I'm missing something here.

Why do you want to make a distribution box instead of an appropriate number of Two-fer / Three-fers?

It would seem to me that making / purchasing three two-fer's - or a three-fer and a two-fer would be simpler, easier, and cheaper than making a custom box. It is not clear to me what a box is giving you.

As to the comment re four 575 watt instruments taking 20 amps. Note that this depends on which lamp you have in them. If the lamp is a 115 volt lamp this is correct, and if your mains voltage is greater than that, my understanding is that you could pull too many amps. On the other hand, if the lamp is a 120 volt lamp, you should have no problem ( especially if the mains voltage, is 115 volts).

Please see the drawing above, it explains what I am trying to say a little better. Also, all lamps are 120V, so I figured I would be fine.

 

[gafftapegreenia]

I understand the desire to have such a box, as many new theatres are built with such boxes in the wings and floor pockets. However wouldn't a few adapters be far cheaper than a custom box? Anyway, http://www.oawindsor.com/ may already have the parts you need to build such a box. Perhaps a twofer made with a male Stagepin and two female Edisons would suite your needs?

Certainly one of the things that's always irked me is "wasting" a twofer to make a fourfer. There are seldom enough twofers to begin with let alone use in such a fashion.

And Derek, my college had some twofers and threefers built in that style (out of three individual rubbed covered wires, instead of cable. I wasn't ever able to see the code on them as it had rubbed off long ago) I found the twofers especially useful for cabling cyc lights. Certainly easier and much cleaner to tie up than the molded Y style.

 

[chausman]

Please see the drawing above, it explains what I am trying to say a little better. Also, all lamps are 120V, so I figured I would be fine.

Even then, can't you just use the correctly rated connector of your choice, in place of a 2P&G stagepin?

 

[DMXpro]

I understand the desire to have such a box, as many new theatres are built with such boxes in the wings and floor pockets. However wouldn't a few adapters be far cheaper than a custom box? Anyway, O.A. Windsor may already have the parts you need to build such a box.

Not if I already have most of the parts.

 

[DMXpro]

Even then, can't you just use the correctly rated connector of your choice, in place of a 2P&G stagepin?

Yes, but I'd like to have the option if I am using instruments fitted with stage pin. Or did you mean the male end?

 

[chausman]

Yes, but I'd like to have the option if I am using instruments fitted with stage pin. Or did you mean the male end?

I meant, do something like what Derek suggested, but use NEMA 5-20 on two ends, and Stagepin on the other two.