New Installation

Hi Paul,
I second what kiwitechgirl said in the previous post. We have had two powerpacks for the past 5 years and have never had any problems with them. We have also just bought two more packs for our hall. I would recommend getting these over the other Theatrelight dimmers because from the info I've got from the website it looks like they will be the most useful for what your application.
Hope you're enjoying your Kiwi holidays :)
Aidan
 
Not sure if I've been misunderstood but the space I was talking about for the dimmers is actually part of the building not a makeshift rack. I think the architect who has redesigned the space originally saw it as a storage cupboard but we're looking at utilising it for the dimmers. The dimmers we've been looking at are wall mount theatrelight comets.

Paul

Blah067 it was my post that probably caused the confusion.
What I meant was they could use prebuilt patch panels available off the shelf or have a custom built panel made.

Brent
 
Hi Paul,
I second what kiwitechgirl said in the previous post. We have had two powerpacks for the past 5 years and have never had any problems with them. We have also just bought two more packs for our hall. I would recommend getting these over the other Theatrelight dimmers because from the info I've got from the website it looks like they will be the most useful for what your application.
Hope you're enjoying your Kiwi holidays :)
Aidan

I am with Aidan and Kiwitechgirl on not using the commet packs.

I agree with her that the comet would be a waste.
For a start just to get the 12 channels you want to start with you land up using two 3 phase outlets. If yo wanted only 6 channels then I would go for the Satelite packs as opposed to the Comet packs. I put two in a church a few years ago because at the time there were supply problems with a 12 channel digital pack. They have worked well.

And having the plugs at the back of the dimmer might make it hard for the students.
I am not sure of the age of the students but the packs would probably land up scratched.
If I was going to put in that sort of pack I would have them rewired so there weren't sockets on the back but the channels were brought out to the patch panel. Which would add cost to a patch panel.

The Powerpack means that you can start with your twelve channels for day to day use.
But then when you do a show most hire places will have this style of dimmer so you just put them on top of your existing one hookup the DMX, power and away you go.

A community theatre I was involved got some new packs. They were the rack mount versions. While they worked well, it was awkward to plug up at the back of the pack. But we were lucky a supplier took them back and replaced them with the PowerPack version.
The theatre already had the Pre-DMX version of these packs so everything just stacked up OK.

The Meteor packs would be nice but probably priced out of your range.
Also you probably wouldn't use some of the extra features such as Non-dim, inductive loads etc often enough to justify the extra cost.

Brent

Ps

The shool probably already has a suitable ladder / scaffold to reach the lighting bars but if
not you need to budget for one. When I did the church install they just went down the road to hire a ladder. But I pointed out to them there was no point in spending thousands upgrading the lighting if you couldn't change the lighting around easily. They got a ladder.
 
Thanks All

Sorry - got that all wrong. It was the Meteor I was looking at with the optional patch panel not the Comet.

The Powerpack is actually an item which I had looked at right at the start but was talked out of, this is cheaper than the Meteor when you include the Meteor patch panel.

Which would I be better off with?


Paul
 
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Paul

Which is better is a bit of a hard question to answer.

If you had the budget to buy all the dimmer packs right now I would probably go for a Meteor install with a minimum of 36 channels.

But because you can only have the budget to get the dimmers piecemeal I would go with the PowerPack. A new PowerPack can be installed by anyone, a Meteor is an electrician's job.

Also if a PowerPack fails you can hire another one while while the faulty one goes away to be fixed. With the Meteor you would need a technician to come to the school and Tauranga probably won't have a qualified theatrelight trained one.

So I am still in favour of the PowerPack units.

Brent

Ps Did you get my PM?
 
Hi Brent

Yes, received your PM, sorry haven't replied yet. Not in the office til Tuesday to look at diary.

Another question that came up earlier in the thread (which I'm sure I'll regret asking!)

The other point I am not seeing discussed here is any kind of wall pocket or floor pocket.

I know what these are - we're planning on installing one on the side of the stage to start with - I had planned mainly for audio with 8 connectors, and one power point. I guess I probably should add another powerpoint, DMX and data?

Are these best in the floor or the wall?

I know one is not enough - we've designed the stage so that we can get access in the future to install more - conduits in wall with access panels too.

Does anyone know of a supplier in NZ for these or abroad that will ship internationally? Also, the Neutrik connectors we are looking at for the lighting dmx cabling etc are panel mount - I can't find a panel supplier either?

Thanks

Paul
 
Blah067 it was my post that probably caused the confusion.
What I meant was they could use prebuilt patch panels available off the shelf or have a custom built panel made.

Brent

Not what I was referring to. I was under the impression some type of makeshift rack was being used to enclose the dimmer, as opposed to a steal/metal rack.
 
Not what I was referring to. I was under the impression some type of makeshift rack was being used to enclose the dimmer, as opposed to a steal/metal rack.

The type of dimmers we are suggesting (Theatrelight New Zealand Ltd) are portable and don't need a metal rack.

A well made wooden bench works just as well.
The discussion is about the best way of putting the dimmers in a purpose designed cupboard, while still providing good ventilation and access to patch panels, power etc etc.
Unfortunatley in this situation the dimmers need to be recessed to save space and prevent unwanted access.

Brent
 
Hi Brent

Another question that came up earlier in the thread (which I'm sure I'll regret asking!)

I know what these are - we're planning on installing one on the side of the stage to start with - I had planned mainly for audio with 8 connectors, and one power point. I guess I probably should add another powerpoint, DMX and data?

Are these best in the floor or the wall?

I know one is not enough - we've designed the stage so that we can get access in the future to install more - conduits in wall with access panels too.

Does anyone know of a supplier in NZ for these or abroad that will ship internationally? Also, the Neutrik connectors we are looking at for the lighting dmx cabling etc are panel mount - I can't find a panel supplier either?

Thanks

Paul

There are a lot of New Zealand suppliers.
It is a matter searching for them.

In Tauranga there is a place that does AV installs. (Audio Visual Concepts, Tauranga)

So they should be able to help you source a lot of the stuff although they may do it on an install only basis.

Jansen's in Auckland sell a lot of stuff although their website doesn't show pictures for all the stuff.
(Jansen Your Specialist Professional Audio and Lighting Shop)

Waikato Sound and Lighting does installations. Look under their contact details for the installation guy.
(Waikato Sound & Lighting - Hire - Sales - Repairs - HOME)

There's plenty of others Like Barton Sound and Occenia Audio in Auckland.
The suppliers you have been talking to about lighting might also be able to supply parts.

Volt Electronics is an online shop I have just come across and they carry XLR connectors.
I found a 1 unit high rack mount plate pre-punched for 12 XLR connectors.
These are meant to go into rack mount cases. But I have seen professional companies just make wooden alcoves to the 19" size and screw things like this on.
Rack Panel 19" 12 Way XLR - 1U : Discount Electronics

Even your electrican may be able to get some of this stuff from his wholesalers.
230 volt power plugs for floor mounting.

Depending on the use you will put this hall to I would probably have a wall mounted power socket inside the proscenium on both sides. Also a floor mount one center near the front of the stage. Data ie internet can be useful if the school will let you connect.
Are you planning on a fixed projector from the ceiling? If you are then adding a cable jack for this on stage can be useful.

This gives flexibilty for presentations. Some people will be on the sides especially if using a projector, others dead center.

Now you have brought sound into it the postings that should be almost a new topic started under "sound".

With the sound there's more to consider then for the lighting in someways.
E.g. will there be a permanent sound desk postion in the hall etc.

Getting the panels and connectors won't be that hard. The hard part is working out what you actually need.

Brent

P.s Do you have a usage description for this venue?
Eg School assemblies, plays. Community meetings, sports - Badminton, indoor bowls etc?
 
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P.s Do you have a usage description for this venue?
Eg School assemblies, plays. Community meetings, sports - Badminton, indoor bowls etc?

All of the above!

It is currently a community hall - shared by a small school. We are refurbishing the existing hall (typical old NZ hall) and adding on a stage, storage rooms, and community room. It will be used for all of the above plus playgroup, school music lessons etc.

We are starting the building work next week - I've been held up on the lighting and sound by conflicting advice (until I found CB).

I'll start a 'sound' topic as suggetsed. Hopefully I've got this pretty much sorted already.


Thanks

Paul
 

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