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#1
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Outdoor Generator Power
I am currently running an outdoor event that uses a generator.
I haven't seen the generator up close, but it is a trailer about 7 foot long. (How's that for specs?). I have some strange problems with the sound including excessive EMI Hum in my mic lines and power amp output fading in and out. When I originally told the electrician that I required 2 circuits on the same phase, he looked at me funny and said he could not guarantee phase. The electrician is unable to get his lights running properly, so he may be creating problems. I am using 2 circuits off the dimmer rack that individually check out OK (Hot, Neutral, Ground). But when I measure Hot to Hot, I get 60 volts. Can anyone shed some light on using generators or what I should look for? Thanks Joe Boerst |
#2
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In article ,
Joe Boerst wrote: I am currently running an outdoor event that uses a generator. I haven't seen the generator up close, but it is a trailer about 7 foot long. (How's that for specs?). Find out what it is. Manufacturer, model number. How much current? Who are you sharing it with? I have some strange problems with the sound including excessive EMI Hum in my mic lines and power amp output fading in and out. When I originally told the electrician that I required 2 circuits on the same phase, he looked at me funny and said he could not guarantee phase. The electrician is unable to get his lights running properly, so he may be creating problems. I am using 2 circuits off the dimmer rack that individually check out OK (Hot, Neutral, Ground). Wait, you are sharing a power distro with the dimmer rack? Bad, bad news. But when I measure Hot to Hot, I get 60 volts. Can anyone shed some light on using generators or what I should look for? If you measure hot to hot, you should get zero volts if they are both on the same phase, or 120V if they are on different phases of a 240V system. Is this a 208V three-phase system? A 120V system? Is there one ground stake at the generator? Is the system impedance-grounded or statically grounded? What is this event? What is on the generator? Does the electrician know what he is doing? Is your equipment insured? How much current do you really need? --scott -- "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis." |
#3
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Is your stuff all 120 Volts or is some 240 Volts? Mark |
#4
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On Thu, 14 Jul 2005 12:43:55 -0400, Joe Boerst
wrote: But when I measure Hot to Hot, I get 60 volts. Can anyone shed some light on using generators or what I should look for? If you said 160V, I would have said yoy were looking at the stinger lead (phase A-C or C-B) of a 3 phase, 240V, Delta wired rig (unusual for off the shelf PORTABLE power). 120/208 is normal 3 phase portable rigs 30KVA - Up I agre! Light rack and audio do not belong on the same phase (IMH or generator). I would also run from this 'electrician' who can't tell you what phase lead you load is connected to. Duh! read the outlet breaker number fer cri'n out loud and count by phase leads. 1,3,5 or 2,4,6 (or phase multiples)for A,B,C phase . What other bozo things has he done? Like failure to attempt a phase ballance? , _ , | \ MKA: Steve Urbach , | )erek No JUNK in my email please , ____|_/ragonsclaw , / / / Running United Devices "Cure For Cancer" Project 24/7 Have you helped? http://www.grid.org |
#5
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Steve Urbach wrote:
On Thu, 14 Jul 2005 12:43:55 -0400, Joe Boerst wrote: But when I measure Hot to Hot, I get 60 volts. Can anyone shed some light on using generators or what I should look for? If you said 160V, I would have said yoy were looking at the stinger lead (phase A-C or C-B) of a 3 phase, 240V, Delta wired rig (unusual for off the shelf PORTABLE power). 120/208 is normal 3 phase portable rigs 30KVA - Up Lots of portable generators can usually be configured for delta as well as wye... but why anybody would want to do this is beyond me, unless it's for emergency power to an existing delta-wired install. Then again, I have seen a lot of misconfigured generators at events. One event that I often work used to have a 15 KVA generator for the main stage. But somebody decided that they needed more power, so this past year they went to a 25 KVA generator. Unfortunately, the 25 KVA generator was three-phase, and when providing power to their split-phase distro had to be derated to 14 KVA. So they got higher gas consumption and much higher rental costs, for less actual current capacity. I agre! Light rack and audio do not belong on the same phase (IMH or generator). That being the case, careful grounding can probably let you get away with it. Also it helps to use high grade dimmers that don't throw so much trash on the line. I have seen folks do it and be happy, but it wasn't easy and it involved a lot of very good audio gear that had excellent RF rejection. I would also run from this 'electrician' who can't tell you what phase lead you load is connected to. Duh! read the outlet breaker number fer cri'n out loud and count by phase leads. 1,3,5 or 2,4,6 (or phase multiples)for A,B,C phase . What other bozo things has he done? Like failure to attempt a phase ballance? I think you have put your finger on the problem right here. --scott -- "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis." |