Control/Dimming stage plug outlets

[rawlands]

New to the forum. I am installing a lighting system in a Middle School. They want stage plug female outlets installed in 4000 wiremold. Does wiremold make a bracket/cover to accept a panel mount 2P&G outlet? Or, how else would one do it?

 

[MPowers]

IF, repeat, IF you really have to use Wiremold for this ( bad idea) you would need to punch or cut custom faceplates similar to:
Legrand - Wiremold S4000 Rectangular Receptacle Device Cover - Steel Raceway - Legrand - Wiremold S4048R - WiremoldProducts.com

You will find it FAR less expensive to get a standard raceway from ETC, LEX or SSRC. It will be wired with the receptacles installed and all you have to do is mount it. Here are a couple of examples, note it is shown with both flush mount and pigtails just for the catalog pic. both are available in white and custom color.

http://www.etcconnect.com/docs/docs_downloads/datashts/Connector_Strips_vC.pdf
http://www.ssrconline.com/sl.pdf

How many outlets are they looking for on how many circuits and what length of raceway?

Are they looking for an off white or some custom color?

Strictly, IMHO, even though that model Wiremold is steel, I do not believe it will hold up to even light (no pun intended) use as a stage raceway. YMMV.

 

[rawlands]

They want 48 outlets on 24 circuits (12 dual dimmers 2.4kw). 50'-60' long. White or off white. front of house. 16 outlets on 8 circuits 50'-60' long any color stage front.

 

[MPowers]

Re Color, black is standard, White is a little more $$$. I'd love to sell you some raceways but Gopher, Gopher Stage Lighting and Secoa SECOA — Site Under Construction are right there in your back yard. 50' to 60' raceways are common, 24/48 are common. See if they would like a couple of constant power Edison receptacles (they should even if they don't know it). raceways come completely pre wired with DMX if you want, and folded at the joints. Unfold, fasten the joints, call the licensed electrician to hook up the terminal box. If you do go to either of them, let them know who sent you. I like to keep on good terms with my competitors.

 

[ship]

Wiremold covers are a little thin in sheet metal gauge to properly grip to a stage pin panel mount. Highly advised that you don't use this style of wireway stystem to mount your panel mounts on. The common Bates or Rosco style panel mount simply won't grip the thin gauge of cover punched sufficiently. Also punching such a cover is simply not possible short of something very expensive .75"x2" knockout custom - I have tried. Time with the jigsaw is the only way to get it done short of a computer machine to make it.

 

[rawlands]

Re Color, black is standard, White is a little more $$$. I'd love to sell you some raceways but Gopher, Gopher Stage Lighting and Secoa SECOA — Site Under Construction are right there in your back yard. 50' to 60' raceways are common, 24/48 are common. See if they would like a couple of constant power Edison receptacles (they should even if they don't know it). raceways come completely pre wired with DMX if you want, and folded at the joints. Unfold, fasten the joints, call the licensed electrician to hook up the terminal box. If you do go to either of them, let them know who sent you. I like to keep on good terms with my competitors.

Thanks, Mpowers. I will check them out and mention your Co. They did want 3 Edisons, also. Its good to know this stuff. Thank you all for the useful info! I'm from the old lighting days when you set up on a friday night in a different bar. Bring in the dimmer packs, lights, extension cords and presto, light show! Now, Im an electrical contractor upgrading a system. So, you said there can be a terminal box installed so I'll just need to bring the required drop to one end of the bar? Or would there be multiple feeds to it?

 

[jhochb]

These are just distribution raceways. You need to run HOT & NUETRAL for each circuit from your dimmer rack.

 

[MPowers]

.......... So, you said there can be a terminal box installed so I'll just need to bring the required drop to one end of the bar? Or would there be multiple feeds to it?

Yes, That is correct, each raceway has either a terminal strip in the last section of the race way or a large terminal box, depending on the number of circuits and receptacles, and assuming that by "required drop" you mean a dedicated line/hot and a dedicated neutral for each circuit and each of those is a home run to the respective dimmer. Grounds may be common for more than one circuit, some local codes vary on how many. Thus a fixed raceway which doesn't move is fed via conductors in conduit and a moving raceway, one mounted to a dead hung or a moving line set would be fed by one or more multi cables such as:
http://www.ssrconline.com/multiconductor_cable.pdf
http://www.ssrconline.com/cables.pdf .

Here's a link to the installation manual for ETC raceways.
http://www.etcconnect.com/docs/docs_downloads/manuals/Connector_Strip_Assembly_Instructions_RevC.pdf
Go to this address and click on connector strip specs for more info.
Lighting solutions for Theatre, Film & Television Studios and Architectural spaces : ETC

Other possible options:
Altman Lighting - 450 Power & Data Distribution Strip
http://www.ssrconline.com/bal.pdf
http://www.ssrconline.com/sl.pdf
http://www.ssrconline.com/HLV_strip.pdf

 

[RickR]

Not very many years ago I did some rough estimation for wall mounted circuits. Outlet boxes and conduit are cheaper for receptacles over 3' apart. Closer than that (or hung in mid-air) connector strips win.
Wiremold loses every time.

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