Company switch distro box

I have a 400 amp company switch in our new PAC main stage. What type of portable distro Box will I need to service University music, theatre and dance deptartments?

Well that depends. What do you need to do with it? Is there a lighting system in the room or do you need to power dimmers? Same question about LEDs and movers. Is there a house sound system or do you need to power a PA. How about monitors? Does your switch have camlocks on it or do you need tails? Who is responsible for the tie in?

All those questions really need to be answered before you buy anything. That being said Motion Labs and Whirlwind make all sorts of stock and custom PDs, just depends on what you need.

We are going to need more info. What sort of equipment will this be feeding? What PD gear do you own already? What sort of connectors do the local rental houses use for their gear? If they use 32 amp Cee for motor distros you might think about adding some of those, if they use 50 amp twist you'll need a few of those. That way when you need to rent some motors you won't need to tie in their distro for one thing.

I like how you can set up TMB's rack however you want and the breakers are on the opposite side from the cables (looking at you Motion Labs) https://tmb.com/propower-rpd/

I would want a mix of L21-30, 120V soco and 240V soco. At least 6 120V 20 Amp outlets built in with some 208V in whatever flavor you use for 208. Then you will need the cables, break outs and stringers to go with it.

We are fully powered for audio and lighting, as well as our motorized line set system. We don’t have tieins or cams yet. I don’t know what the rental houses have and I don’t have a specific machine we might use.

I am basically looking for a well equipped, versatile hook up for most needs.

Generally the company switch is for providing power for touring gear that will be used instead of your installed systems. The touring company should be bringing their own distro(s) and cable.

If you have a house system, then the switch is all you should be providing for the touring company. It is up to them to bring their own distro system. For safety sake, you should have a house electrician that looks at what is being brought in. (I have seen sound companies bring in 6/5 with cams and plug it into a 400 amp switch!) Beyond that, the needs are just too diverse. Also, anything you supply you become liable for. And of course with touring companies, it is always "your fault."

I agree with everyone else. Any outside production should be bringing their own distro if they need it. And even if you end up renting something like a moving like package to supplement what you have for your own production then you can just add the appropriate distro to the rental. Anything else is really going to depend on your venue and what you find your needs to be. For instance the space I work in only has 2 20 amp circuits on the back wall, and one on each side downstage. So we have a small distro with a dozen 20 amp circuits and enough cable to move it around to a few different convenient spots. Give it some time and get a feel for what your needs actually are. You may find that you don't need anything at all. Or that you need something pretty specific.

I agree. If you have house lighting and sound systems the switch is primarily for touring groups who should have their own distro. You might use it for a one time automation need. One high school I consulted on was used for a local cooking show on local access. They used switch for electric ranges. That would be hard to predict and justify having on hand.

Andrew Johns said:

I have a 400 amp company switch in our new PAC main stage. What type of portable distro Box will I need to service University music, theatre and dance deptartments?

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You want to think a bit about the requirements of those departments. 120 volt Edison outlets ?, 208v twist ?, running moving lights or LED's, or just wanting to power up projectors, computers, etc.... ?.

Lex Products makes a distro that can tap into your existing company switch with CamLok connectors. This model gives you 12 - 20 amp Edison duplex receptacles. Is this what you are envisioning ?.

http://www.lexproducts.com/products...-12-gfci-duplex-receptacles-weather-resistant

You might also consider the Whirlwind SKB series and the Whirlwind stringers:
CAM Breakout
DISTRO
STRINGERS

Andrew Johns said:

I have a 400 amp company switch in our new PAC main stage. What type of portable distro Box will I need to service University music, theatre and dance deptartments?

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Our PAC's concert hall has a pair of 400A 120/208 three phase company switches and a 200A version of same. They power no part of the venue LX, audio or other systems; they exist to provide temporary power for road show use or occasional venue maintenance.

No one has mentioned them, so Indu Electric. The Cube and Lunchbox series are nice and compact, and they have formats for different inputs and outputs. I used these for three years on a holiday lighting gig outdoors with very few issues. They were good enough that the company I was working for purchased a bunch to replace spider boxes for gigs that had 50A power. I've seen them survive Burning Man as well, so that's a major vote of confidence in my book.

Chase P. said:

No one has mentioned them, so Indu Electric. The Cube and Lunchbox series are nice and compact, and they have formats for different inputs and outputs. I used these for three years on a holiday lighting gig outdoors with very few issues. They were good enough that the company I was working for purchased a bunch to replace spider boxes for gigs that had 50A power. I've seen them survive Burning Man as well, so that's a major vote of confidence in my book.

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For a long time I thought Indu was a west coast/grip truck thing but I'm seeing more of them on tour now.

I think @Andrew Johns was trying to see if he was overlooking something the venue should have to go with the company switch.

One of my company switches powers my line arrays, so we have one of these

It has 3 circuits of regular edison and then 4 soca connections. I'm using 2 for house sound. That leaves 2 open for touring soca on that side of the stage BUT we have tees between the switch and my lunchbox for a tour to use so we can bypass my system with whatever gear they bring in. A real tour that needs that kind of power is likely going to be bringing what they need and just want the switch. We at least have a backup, but it is never needed.