BillESC
Well-Known Member
Dimmer per circuit vs. patch panels. Old argument with currently no new answers.
Just as every venue is different and every venues budget is different either method has its' place.
Example:
In a 60 seat dinner theatre I was asked to help in I found six Lightronics 4 - 1.2kW circuit dimmer packs in various locations across the ceiling. Some circuits had instruments plugged directly into the packs, some circuits had orange cords of up to 50' running to a fixture that happened to near a different pack. The place was a mess.
We stripped the ceiling and mounted all six packs next to the breaker panel back stage. We then created circuit cables to the first, second, third and FOH pipes, 48 in all. The 48 circuit tails hang next to the dimmer packs. In essence this is a patch panel system.
One town over is the middle school auditorium which has 196 - 2.4kW circuits and is dimmer per circuit. I design for both and both have their merits.
Just as every venue is different and every venues budget is different either method has its' place.
Example:
In a 60 seat dinner theatre I was asked to help in I found six Lightronics 4 - 1.2kW circuit dimmer packs in various locations across the ceiling. Some circuits had instruments plugged directly into the packs, some circuits had orange cords of up to 50' running to a fixture that happened to near a different pack. The place was a mess.
We stripped the ceiling and mounted all six packs next to the breaker panel back stage. We then created circuit cables to the first, second, third and FOH pipes, 48 in all. The 48 circuit tails hang next to the dimmer packs. In essence this is a patch panel system.
One town over is the middle school auditorium which has 196 - 2.4kW circuits and is dimmer per circuit. I design for both and both have their merits.