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saffwood View Drop Down
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    Posted: 29 April 2012 at 5:12pm
I'm looking to buy a 1500w strobe which uses a 16a plug. My current equipment uses only 13a or less plugs so I was wondering whether using one of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PRO-ELEC-IS1053-16A-INDUSTRIAL-SOCKET-TO-13A-PLUG-/250976806773?pt=UK_BOI_Materials_Supplies_Electrical_ET&hash=item3a6f622775#ht_500wt_1156 is safe? And would it work seeing as it would be coming originally from a 13a source. I'm also quite mystified by power distribution in general. When equipment is used in halls etc is it powered from wall plugs (which would presumably by 13a) or is there some form of distro you need to buy for  when equipment demands 16a+ fuses. Replies will be appreciated, Joe.
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James Tengo View Drop Down
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Current draw isn't like voltage which should be fairly stable, think of these plugs as up to 16a. If the 1500w strobe was a constant 1500w load (such as an electric heater) then you would expect a current draw of 6.25a at 240v. It doesn't matter if you had a 13a, 16a or 32a plug on it, it would only draw 6.25a. Unfortunately strobes don't draw power constantly like electric heaters, and can have quite high spikes of current, so require more careful attention to the electricity supply. Try it with a 13a to 16a adapter, you may find you need to limit the way you use it in practice (top setting intensity, rate and duration to keep the current draw down) to keep it to the supply available.
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amlu View Drop Down
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Edited by amlu - 29 April 2012 at 5:39pm
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haymere View Drop Down
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Points: 400 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote haymere Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 April 2012 at 5:46pm
Gentlemen, point of order. As of the 17th edition (2008) of the electrical regulations, 230v is the nominal UK voltage. The 1500w would equate to 6.52 amps
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a1dl View Drop Down
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Originally posted by saffwood saffwood wrote:

When equipment is used in halls etc is it powered from wall plugs (which would presumably by 13a) or is there some form of distro you need to buy for  when equipment demands 16a+ fuses. Replies will be appreciated, Joe.
 
Many venues will have BS4343 "ceeform" power outlets, to which a temporary distribution board is connected.   In the UK, these come in single phase (blue) or three phase (red) variants and in sizes of 16a, 32a, 63a and 125a.
 
Above 125a, large venues use "powerlock" connectors, which are individually cabled, eg: 5 separate runs of cable on powerlocks for L1,L2,L3,N & E
 
The distribution board steps down to multiples of smaller sized, protected outlets, for different purposes.
 
Often on stage in a medium sized stage or ballroom, you will find a 63/3 or 125/3 supply for lighting and a 32/1 or 63/1 supply for sound.
http://www.eventpahire.co.uk
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shagnasty View Drop Down
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Points: 4449 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote shagnasty Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 April 2012 at 7:29pm
Again the use of the regs ain't a good idea, the 230 bit isn't what you are desling with in most case's it will be 240V.
On clever stuff the extra 10V means you draw less current on some stuff it means you draw more, so forget the regs (again) and work with what you have not with what some dumb book says you should have....
But back on topic 1500W off a 10A IEC would be fine let alone a 13A or a 16A will be more than fine.
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dylan-penguinmedia View Drop Down
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Points: 1903 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote dylan-penguinmedia Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 April 2012 at 9:48am
Originally posted by haymere haymere wrote:

<div style=": rgb255, 255, 255; margin-left: 2px; margin-top: 2px; margin-right: 2px; margin-bottom: 2px; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb0, 0, 0; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.4; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; -: none; ">Gentlemen, point of order. As of the 17th edition (2008) of the electrical regulations, 230v is the nominal UK voltage. The 1500w would equate to 6.52 amps



As mentioned, what the big green book says in this instance means nothing.
You must allow +10/-5% in your calcs if you're not going to do it by plugging a voltmeter in the wall - its pretty rare you'll find exactly 230v at a socket.
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haymere View Drop Down
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Points: 400 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote haymere Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 April 2012 at 1:34pm
OK lets be straight here. The big green book is a set of guidelines

Yes Dylan what you say is correct, and yes I am pinickity but every week i see far more serious disregard for the regs and for electrical safety and I do refer to a thread on here with a pic of someone using 63A to 2 x 32A cable splits.

This forum is quite strange in that some on it are sparks or "competant" yet a lot on it are without knowledge or experience so we who do know should always be correct and take the high ground. In this situation it means little change but people are getting used to doing the right thing
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