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X-Real-To: stagecraftlist [at] theatrical.net Received: by prxy.net (CommuniGate Pro PIPE 4.2.10) with PIPE id 34469909; Wed, 06 Sep 2006 03:01:35 -0700 X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=-0.9 required=5.0 tests=AWL,BIZ_TLD, MAILTO_TO_SPAM_ADDR,NO_RECEIVED,NO_RELAYS,SARE_SPEC_PROLEO_M2,TW_HM autolearn=no version=3.1.5 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.1.5 (2006-08-29) on localhost X-ListServer: CommuniGate Pro LIST 4.2.10 List-Unsubscribe: List-ID: Message-ID: From: "Stagecraft" Sender: "Stagecraft" To: "Stagecraft" Precedence: list Subject: Stagecraft Digest #938 Date: Wed, 06 Sep 2006 03:00:32 -0700 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1" Content-Disposition: inline X-TFF-CGPSA-Version: 1.4 X-prxy-Spam-Filter: Scanned For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see --------------------------------------------------- Stagecraft Digest, Issue #938 1. chipboard floor by kupfer [at] post.tau.ac.il 2. Beauty and the Beast - Atlanta by "Eccleston, Mark" 3. Re: Remodling... by "CATHERINE BRUMM" 4. Re: color blind cue lights by "Matthew Breton" 5. Re: Cue Lights by Brendan Quigley 6. Re: Battery Question by StevevETTrn [at] aol.com 7. Re: chipboard floor by "Delbert Hall" 8. Re: chipboard floor by MissWisc [at] aol.com 9. Re: Battery Question by Clive Mitchell 10. Wagon question by Kevin Holly 11. Re: Wagon question by "Brian Munroe" 12. Re: Freezing Dance Floor (slightly OT) by Jerry Durand 13. Re: Wagon question by KEITH ARSENAULT 14. Re: chipboard floor by Jerry Durand 15. Re: color blind cue lights by Jerry Durand 16. Re: Batteries by "Paul Guncheon" 17. Re: Wagon question by "Delbert Hall" 18. Re: Cue Lights? by June Abernathy 19. Re: Cue Lights? by Jerry Durand 20. Re: Wagon question by 21. Re: Telex 6 pin to ClearCom 3 pin by "Jeffrey Kanyuck" 22. Re: Cue lights: by CB 23. Re: Off the Shelf - Cue lights by "Paul Puppo" 24. Re: Cue lights: by CB 25. Re: cue lights by CB 26. Searching for a penny-farthing bicycle... by Anna 27. Dance question by Anna 28. New Black Box Theaters by "Patrick Immel" 29. Re: Way off topic- for you science nuts by Stuart Wheaton 30. Re: Batteries by Clive Mitchell 31. Re: Cue Lights? by Clive Mitchell 32. Re: color blind cue lights by Clive Mitchell 33. Re: Off the Shelf - Cue lights by frankwood95 [at] aol.com 34. Re: Battery Question by frankwood95 [at] aol.com 35. Re: Cue lights: by "Brian Munroe" 36. Re: Batteries by Dale farmer 37. Re: Wagon question by "Jon Lagerquist" 38. DMX Tester Recommendations by Stuart Baulch 39. Re: DMX Tester Recommendations by Herrick Goldman 40. Re: Searching for a penny-farthing bicycle... by Stuart Wheaton 41. Re: DMX Tester Recommendations by "Douglas McCracken" 42. ESTA Electrician exam confusions by John Huntington 43. CD-80 Dimmer Pack flickering Problems by Charlie Fraser 44. Re: ESTA Electrician exam confusions by "Bill Nelson" 45. Re: ESTA Electrician exam confusions by John Huntington 46. Re: CD-80 Dimmer Pack flickering Problems by Steve Shelley 47. Re: CD-80 Dimmer Pack flickering Problems by "Bill Nelson" 48. Re: CD-80 Dimmer Pack flickering Problems by "Bill Nelson" 49. Re: ESTA Electrician exam confusions by "Bill Nelson" 50. Re: CD-80 Dimmer Pack flickering Problems by "Chris Warner" 51. 220V dimmers in USA by "John D. Palmer" 52. Re: CD-80 Dimmer Pack flickering Problems by Charlie Fraser *** Please update the subject line of your reply to use the subject *** line of the message you are replying to! Please only reply to *** one message subject in each reply. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message-ID: <1157453403.44fd565b94afc [at] webmail.tau.ac.il> Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2006 13:50:03 +0300 From: kupfer [at] post.tau.ac.il Subject: chipboard floor This isn't exactly stagecraft, but I thought it might relate because I wo= rked once with a flamenco dancer who used a floor made of Masonite, as she had called it in S.Africa; chipboard, I think, made of pressed chips of wood.= Now I found this floor not on stage but in a home: I have a friend who claims t= he floor of his newly rented apartment is made of that stuff, or else of pre= ssed chips of cardboard (which sounds unlikely?). Anyway he is at a loss how = to clean it, feeling that if he mops it with water that will cause damage. A= nybody know about this? Thanks Judy ---------------------------------------------------------------- This message was sent using IMP, the Internet Messaging Program. ------------------------------ Message-ID: From: "Eccleston, Mark" Subject: Beauty and the Beast - Atlanta Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2006 07:09:37 -0500 Hi, Is anyone on the list affiliated with the touring production of Beauty and the Beast in Atlanta? I will be there on Saturday, September 9th to see the 8:00 p.m. performance and am wondering if it would be possible to get a quick backstage tour of the show. We are going to be putting the show on in February 07. The director and I will be there and would love to see some of the scenery and costumes closer up. If this can be arranged, please contact me off list at: Mark S. Eccleston Technical Director Huntsville High School Huntsville Alabama 256-694-8575 meccleston [at] drs-tem.com ------------------------------ Message-Id: Date: Tue, 05 Sep 2006 08:31:46 -0400 From: "CATHERINE BRUMM" Subject: RE: Remodling... The theater consultant who worked with New Hanover County Schools on the Minnie Evans Arts Center is Robert Long out of Chapel Hill rhlong2 [at] aol.com p) 919-929-7443. Catherine K. Brumm, General Manager Minnie Evans Arts Center Wilmington, NC P) 910-790-2360 x821 F) 910-790-2356 cbrumm [at] nhcs.net www.geocities.com/nhcscbrumm/index.html All e-mail correspondence to and from this address is subject to the North Carolina Public Records Law, which may result in monitoring and disclosure to third parties, including law enforcement. ------------------------------ Message-ID: In-Reply-To: From: "Matthew Breton" Subject: RE: color blind cue lights Date: Tue, 05 Sep 2006 09:03:28 -0400 >>Just be sure that none of the actors or crew are Red/Green color blind... > >Well, you could put a picture of a little stagehand in the light, walking >or standing still, as they do in traffic (or maybe pulling a rope vs tying >it?) Or, make overlays like an Exit sign has -- ("SBY" and "GO"?) -- or one of those scrolling LED signs, in which case you can write which cue it is, or which action to perform.... In the modern world, we should have a fully ADA-compliant backstage cuing system, with accomodations for folks with visual or hearing impairments. Anyone want to tackle this? -- Matt ======== _________________________________________________________________ Search from any web page with powerful protection. Get the FREE Windows Live Toolbar Today! http://get.live.com/toolbar/overview ------------------------------ Message-Id: <936B3207-3DBB-464F-8B14-ACF7832F3646 [at] earthlink.net> From: Brendan Quigley Subject: Re: Cue Lights Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2006 09:30:49 -0400 Howdy y'all ... man, a couple of posts from me in the same week ... how unusual ... > First: June your response (as always) was terrific. I have to agree; I was trying to come up with a response, and June beat me to it. Really well done ... thanks for your hard work June! Second: During this thread we have established that cue lights are a valuable communication tool in the theatre. >SO....If it is communication, is the sound department >responsible for cue lights? Ummmm ... negative. >OR since it plugs in and lights up is it the >responsibility of the electrics department? It's power, it flows, it's LX. AS someone mentioned earlier, members of the sound department "technically" are assistant electricians. On my last touring extravaganza, the cue lights were built into the system (or their cable was). Conductor and FOH Sound lites were built into the sound cable package,and terminated DSR where we fed them. We ran a mult and breakout to the rail where we either fed house lights, or ran and fed our rope light. All the cue lights in the ladders were built-in, so no worries there. Automation had four lights on their service truss which was fed from a cable crossover, and we were done. We were able to plan for all those cue lights in the shop, so implementing them in the system wasn't difficult. The Motion Labs gear made it simple though. Kind Regards, Brendan C. Quigley Head Electrician / Vari*Lite Technician WICKED - A New Broadway Musical ------------------------------ From: StevevETTrn [at] aol.com Message-ID: Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2006 09:30:47 EDT Subject: Re: Battery Question bigclive writes: >I tested them on a capacity timing test rig. I am curious about your test rig. Is it a DYI or commercial device? What sorts of batteries does it test? What kind of data does it provide? Steve Vanciel Orlando,FL ------------------------------ Message-ID: Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2006 10:03:50 -0400 From: "Delbert Hall" Subject: Re: chipboard floor In-Reply-To: References: What type of "finish" is on the floor? -Delbert On 9/5/06, kupfer [at] post.tau.ac.il wrote: > Anyway he is at a loss how to > clean it, feeling that if he mops it with water that will cause damage. Anybody > know about this? > > Thanks > Judy -- Delbert L. Hall 423-773-4255 ETCP Certified Rigger - Theatre ------------------------------ From: MissWisc [at] aol.com Message-ID: <326.b34c493.322ee5f7 [at] aol.com> Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2006 10:38:47 EDT Subject: Re: chipboard floor kupfer [at] post.tau.ac.il writes: << ...I think, made of pressed chips of wood. Now I found this floor not on stage but in a home: I have a friend who claims the floor of his newly rented apartment is made of that stuff, or else of pressed chips of cardboard (which sounds unlikely?). >> "Particle Board" is used as subflooring in some places. I wonder if the tile or carpet was removed and not replaced. Since he's renting, I suggest he contact his landlord to ask how the owner want the place cleaned. Kristi ------------------------------ Message-ID: Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2006 16:13:27 +0100 From: Clive Mitchell Subject: Re: Battery Question References: In-Reply-To: In message , StevevETTrn [at] aol.com writes >I am curious about your test rig. Is it a DYI or commercial device? >What sorts of batteries does it test? >What kind of data does it provide? > DIY. It's a simple arrangement of a reed relay wound to load a 1.5V cell at 500mA and drop out when the voltage drops to about 0.75V. This then simply enables a quartz clock mechanism with the face calibrated in Ah. You set the hands to zero then insert the test battery and the clock stops at the Ah rating. Simple but a good indication of the capacity of AA cells. -- Clive Mitchell http://www.bigclive.com ------------------------------ Message-Id: In-Reply-To: References:

Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2006 11:29:03 -0500 From: Kevin Holly Subject: Wagon question I have a question about the very thin looking wagons used in tracks seen regularly on Broadway or in B'way type touring productions. You've seen it many times- the wagon rolls on with the table and chairs for the small intimate scene. Are these wagons made from triscuit platforms? Maybe with steel? Do they travel with air casters or wheels? If wheels what type? I've had no luck in searching the archives, I keep getting a timed out error. Thank you for any insight anyone can give me. -- Kevin Holly Technical Director Libertyville High School ------------------------------ Message-ID: Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2006 12:44:04 -0400 From: "Brian Munroe" Subject: Re: Wagon question In-Reply-To: References:

> I have a question about the very thin looking wagons used in tracks > seen regularly on Broadway or in B'way type touring productions. > You've seen it many times- the wagon rolls on with the table and > chairs for the small intimate scene. Are these wagons made from > triscuit platforms? Maybe with steel? Do they travel with air casters > or wheels? If wheels what type? Mostly solid plywood with some sort of low friction glide on the bottom - carpet or uhmw feet. If they need to carry a lot of weight, you can make them from 3/4 or 1" tubing with low profile rollers. If it is being pulled onstage by a winch, carpet is usually fine. If it is being pushed/pulled by stagehands, the uhmv pads or low rollers would be a better choice. Brian Munroe bpmunroe [at] gmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 05 Sep 2006 09:51:24 -0700 From: Jerry Durand Subject: Re: Freezing Dance Floor (slightly OT) In-reply-to: Message-id: <7.0.1.0.0.20060905094956.01f51bf8 [at] interstellar.com> References:

At 12:57 AM 9/5/2006, Dorian Kelly wrote: >Thats the conclusion I came to. The multicore was fine. DK Also, if you press on ice it will flow. So, if there was something sitting on top of the cable it could have cold-flowed into the ice. BTW, that's how ice skates work, the ice melts from the pressure and acts as lube. It re-freezes behind the skate. -- Jerry Durand, Durand Interstellar, Inc. www.interstellar.com 219 Oak Wood Way, Los Gatos, California 95032-2523 USA tel: +1 408 356-3886, USA toll free: 1 866 356-3886 Skype: jerrydurand ------------------------------ In-Reply-To: References:

Message-Id: <823B8D22-4BB3-4228-A3D2-CE0A7F057882 [at] aol.com> From: KEITH ARSENAULT Subject: Re: Wagon question Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2006 13:20:22 -0400 every low profile wagon on a show motion deck I have worked with has been made of steel tubing with "dumb" rollers built into the unit, the rollers are about 1" in diameter, 3/4" up "inside" the wagon with only about 1/4" exposed out the bottom On Sep 5, 2006, at 12:44 PM, Brian Munroe wrote: If they need to carry a lot of weight, you can make them from 3/4 or 1" tubing with low profile rollers. Keith L Arsenault Tampa, Florida 813 831 3465 office 813 205 0893 cellular iaeg [at] aol.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 05 Sep 2006 10:39:29 -0700 From: Jerry Durand Subject: Re: chipboard floor In-reply-to: Message-id: <7.0.1.0.0.20060905103748.01f22a48 [at] interstellar.com> References: At 03:50 AM 9/5/2006, kupfer [at] post.tau.ac.il wrote: >This isn't exactly stagecraft, but I thought it might relate because I worked >once with a flamenco dancer who used a floor made of Masonite, as she had >called it in S.Africa; chipboard, I think, made of pressed chips of >wood. Now I >found this floor not on stage but in a home: I have a friend who claims the >floor of his newly rented apartment is made of that stuff, or else of pressed >chips of cardboard (which sounds unlikely?). Anyway he is at a loss how to >clean it, feeling that if he mops it with water that will cause >damage. Anybody >know about this? That should be the sub floor, you clean the stuff on top of it. I assume the apartment was meant to be carpeted or something. I wouldn't have a clue how to clean that stuff, I'll bet it's not outdoor grade so water will make it swell and go soft. -- Jerry Durand, Durand Interstellar, Inc. www.interstellar.com 219 Oak Wood Way, Los Gatos, California 95032-2523 USA tel: +1 408 356-3886, USA toll free: 1 866 356-3886 Skype: jerrydurand ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 05 Sep 2006 10:41:28 -0700 From: Jerry Durand Subject: Re: color blind cue lights In-reply-to: Message-id: <7.0.1.0.0.20060905104034.01f7aa88 [at] interstellar.com> References:

At 06:03 AM 9/5/2006, Matthew Breton wrote: >In the modern world, we should have a fully ADA-compliant backstage >cuing system, with accomodations for folks with visual or hearing >impairments. Loud buzzer with flashing strobe light (flashing at an ADA appropriate frequency) and robot waving flag? -- Jerry Durand, Durand Interstellar, Inc. www.interstellar.com 219 Oak Wood Way, Los Gatos, California 95032-2523 USA tel: +1 408 356-3886, USA toll free: 1 866 356-3886 Skype: jerrydurand ------------------------------ Message-ID: <002401c6d113$33a716d0$0202a8c0 [at] HUNKACRAP> From: "Paul Guncheon" References: Subject: Re: Batteries Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2006 07:46:20 -1000 <> So why is it that if I leave batteries in any device they ALWAYS leak. I don't mean maybe sometimes, or often... I mean "always". I usually remove them after each use but sometimes I forget or think that I'm going to use the device agiain the next day. I have had to throw away so many flashlights, tools, vibrat... er no, ummm. Is it the environment here (I live about 100 yards from the ocean)? Or just my natural success rate with things electrical. Another continuing problem is corrosion on contacts... the number one reason by far why battery things won't work. Is there a chemical that will remove heavy corosion ? Ususally I resort to abrading the stuff with sandpaper, emery boards, and the like. Is there a contact sealer I could apply after I scrape the corrosion off to prevent it from returning? Laters, Paul "Anyone who amperes our work will be sent ohm" said Tom lightly wired. Side note: <> I owned a 1969 Jaguar XKE, I had always dreamed of owning one of these beautiful cars but I hated it from the first day I drove it. In any event, the wiring was coded "brown with blue stripe", "brown with white stripe", etc. The "stripes" were the thickness of a generous red hair, and after 20 years, every wire became the moral equivalent of "brown with brown stripe". ------------------------------ Message-ID: Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2006 13:59:55 -0400 From: "Delbert Hall" Subject: Re: Wagon question In-Reply-To: References:

There was an article in Tech Briefs on how to build low profile wagons. I am working at home this afternoon and my Tech Briefs are in the office. I seem to remember that their design used 2 layers of 3/4" ply and the casters were (maybe)1.5" dia. Delron rods cut and drilled to make the wheels. If no one else post the info, I will look it up tomorrow morning and post it then. -Delbert -- Delbert L. Hall 423-773-4255 ETCP Certified Rigger - Theatre ------------------------------ Message-ID: <20060905182952.37222.qmail [at] web34512.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2006 11:29:52 -0700 (PDT) From: June Abernathy Subject: Re: Cue Lights? >I think I put up the highest power cue light I've >seen used. It was a 1K par can gelled red to signal >to the assembled military personnel to >salute when a member of the royal family made an >appearance. It was so bright that they ended up >using it to add an extra splash of colour to >one of the acts. >Clive Mitchell What did you do about all those poor guys saluting through the act? June Abernathy IATSE #321 (Tampa, FL) FOH Electrician The Lion King National Tour (Gazelle) __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 05 Sep 2006 11:39:49 -0700 From: Jerry Durand Subject: Re: Cue Lights? In-reply-to: Message-id: <7.0.1.0.0.20060905113930.01f7afc0 [at] interstellar.com> References: At 11:29 AM 9/5/2006, June Abernathy wrote: >What did you do about all those poor guys saluting >through the act? He turned the light up to full, of course. This IS Clive. :) -- Jerry Durand, Durand Interstellar, Inc. www.interstellar.com 219 Oak Wood Way, Los Gatos, California 95032-2523 USA tel: +1 408 356-3886, USA toll free: 1 866 356-3886 Skype: jerrydurand ------------------------------ Subject: RE: Wagon question Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2006 14:57:38 -0400 Message-ID: In-Reply-To: From: Jon Lagerquist had an elegant low profile skid with UHMD rollers built into the stresskin platform. They are described on one of the USITT Tech Expo journals. He is o this list and might be able to assist. Steve Rees, SUNY-Fredonia=20 -----Original Message----- From: Stagecraft [mailto:stagecraft [at] theatrical.net] On Behalf Of Kevin Holly Sent: Tuesday, September 05, 2006 12:29 PM To: Stagecraft Subject: Wagon question For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see --------------------------------------------------- I have a question about the very thin looking wagons used in tracks seen regularly on Broadway or in B'way type touring productions.=20 You've seen it many times- the wagon rolls on with the table and chairs for the small intimate scene. Are these wagons made from triscuit platforms? Maybe with steel? Do they travel with air casters or wheels? If wheels what type? I've had no luck in searching the archives, I keep getting a timed out error. Thank you for any insight anyone can give me. -- Kevin Holly Technical Director Libertyville High School ------------------------------ Message-Id: Date: Tue, 05 Sep 2006 15:55:27 -0400 From: "Jeffrey Kanyuck" Subject: Re: Telex 6 pin to ClearCom 3 pin About the Telex to Clearcom conversion. We've got a Telex base station with a lot of Telex beltpacks in one theater and all Clearcom gear in the other theater. I've been told by Telex and Clearcom that their equipment is compatible. I've followed all the directions by both companies while actually on the phone with their tech guys and I was able to get opposing gear to work on the various base stations.. HOWEVER, I was never able to get the different belt packs to actually talk to each other. So, we've gone ahead and switched out the Telex gear to Clearcom, and are selling the Telex gear to a rental house. Jeff Kanyuck ------------------------------ Message-Id: <3.0.6.32.20060905131037.00c4b298 [at] pop.west.cox.net> Date: Tue, 05 Sep 2006 13:10:37 From: CB Subject: Re: Cue lights: >SO....If it is communication, is the sound department >responsible for cue lights? >OR since it plugs in and lights up is it the >responsibility of the electrics department? This is the argument that got us comm, and we've already taken video (which is, without question, a light emitting piece of kit, and 90% of the boxes used for video have no speakers on them, much less audio going to them) in exchange for being able to borrow a few electricians to tilt the console. With the advent of digital consoles and smaller footprints, diesel fuel going up and trucking space getting smaller, audio will start to have much smaller consoles. Video will become the purview of lighting by the simple fact that lighting instruments will start heading towards being projectors, with a digital signal being sent for color information (and image/gobo/kukaloris/barndoor info as well!) instead of just power. Ask the guys in the business (here on the list, too) and they'll tell you. So, trying those lil tricks to get almost as much sit-down time as the sound guys will end up biting you in the butt. Whose gonna explain the new lights to ya if you piss off sound!?! ; > Chris "Chris" Babbie Location Sound MON AZ Delete key training and post trimming done by appointment. Rates negotiable, will trade for typing lessons/ADD treatment... ------------------------------ Message-ID: <3998154b0609051329g68e134a1j9b84d2e93cb94a9c [at] mail.gmail.com> Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2006 13:29:25 -0700 From: "Paul Puppo" Subject: Re: Off the Shelf - Cue lights I ran across these Australian Cue Lights... They look pretty well thought out... Paul Puppo ILLUMINEERING http://www.Nifty-Gadgets.com ------------------------------ Message-Id: <3.0.6.32.20060905131834.00c4b298 [at] pop.west.cox.net> Date: Tue, 05 Sep 2006 13:18:34 From: CB Subject: Re: Cue lights: >Of course, on union shows sound is technically part of the electrics >department. The Sound guys pink contract will say "assistant >electrician" And has cause far more problems than it has solved. Being in the electrics dept means that we have only one car rented on the road for the dept, which means that I have to show up with the electricians. It also means that I get electricians to load in sound, sometimes having to explain that an 'XLR' is just like a 'DMX Connector', nad the speakers will want to face the audience. I had this in a city that shall remain nameless, and there were two guys (I discovered on the out) on the lighting portion of the electrics crew that had their own sound company on the side. This, and the lack of a Tony, will keep the sound dept segregated from the rest of theatre, and working hard to stay that way. Present company excepted, of course. Of course, one of my contracts said "Assistant Electrician/Assistant Carpenter". I may have that one framed... Yes, I sent that one back with two paychecks in the contract. They sent it back with a blue line through both... Chris "Chris" Babbie Location Sound MON AZ Delete key training and post trimming done by appointment. Rates negotiable, will trade for typing lessons/ADD treatment... ------------------------------ Message-Id: <3.0.6.32.20060905132312.00c4b298 [at] pop.west.cox.net> Date: Tue, 05 Sep 2006 13:23:12 From: CB Subject: Re: cue lights > Just teach them to touch their tongue to the ends to see if it is the >ground lead or the hot lead. If they survive, that was the ground lead. Now that was just cruel. Making fun of people just because they have a bit of a handicap. Do you know how hard it was to stop laughing? Chris "Chris" Babbie Location Sound MON AZ Delete key training and post trimming done by appointment. Rates negotiable, will trade for typing lessons/ADD treatment... ------------------------------ Message-ID: <20060905204334.86371.qmail [at] web37207.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2006 13:43:34 -0700 (PDT) From: Anna Reply-To: Anna Subject: Searching for a penny-farthing bicycle... In-Reply-To: For an upcoming production of G&S Iolanthe, our director wants to use a penny-farthing bike (the one with the giant front wheel and a little back one.) We've located one to rent locally that won't be allowed to be ridden. Has anyone come accross rental shops (bike or prop) within driving distance from Boston that might have a functional penny-farthing bike? Thank you, Anna Labykina Technical Director The Boston Conservatory 617.912.9129 office 617.388.5656 mobile ------------------------------ Message-ID: <20060905204857.9438.qmail [at] web37212.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2006 13:48:57 -0700 (PDT) From: Anna Reply-To: Anna Subject: Dance question In-Reply-To: I am full of questions today - has anyone on the list ever done Martha Graham's "Night Journey"? Lit it? Walked past the set? Seen it in performance doesn't count, I have a video... I have some questions about the scenery for the piece. Please contact me off list if you may be able to help. Thank you, Anna Labykina Technical Director The Boston Conservatory 617.912.9129 office 617.388.5656 mobile ------------------------------ Message-ID: Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2006 16:16:24 -0500 From: "Patrick Immel" Subject: New Black Box Theaters Hello All, I have been tasked to do some benchmarking (my university likes that word!) regarding institutions that have recently (in the past 3-5 years) built a black box or studio theater. Specifically, I am looking for the $ / sq. ft. cost. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks! Pat -- Patrick Immel Lighting and Scenic Designer Northwest Missouri State University patrickimmel.com ------------------------------ Message-ID: <44FDF005.7030008 [at] fuse.net> Date: Tue, 05 Sep 2006 17:45:41 -0400 From: Stuart Wheaton Reply-To: sdwheaton [at] fuse.net Subject: Re: Way off topic- for you science nuts References:

In-Reply-To: Fred wrote: > > If any of you Heinlein fans haven't been reading John Varley's stuff, > you should. > > Fred > Thanks for the heads up! Maybe it's just the one I picked up (Golden Globe), but sort of like Heinlein writing a Stainless Steel Rat novel. So far, I love it! Stuart ------------------------------ Message-ID: Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2006 22:40:31 +0100 From: Clive Mitchell Subject: Re: Batteries References:

In-Reply-To: In message , Paul Guncheon writes >So why is it that if I leave batteries in any device they ALWAYS leak. >I don't mean maybe sometimes, or often... I mean "always". I usually >remove them after each use but sometimes I forget or think that I'm >going to use the device agiain the next day. I have had to throw away >so many flashlights, tools, vibrat... er no, ummm. Is it the >environment here (I live about 100 yards from the ocean)? Or just my >natural success rate with things electrical. It depends on the batteries you use. If you use the vile zinc carbon ones then yes, they will leak every time. > >Another continuing problem is corrosion on contacts... the number one >reason by far why battery things won't work. Is there a chemical that >will remove heavy corosion ? Ususally I resort to abrading the stuff >with sandpaper, emery boards, and the like. Is there a contact sealer I >could apply after I scrape the corrosion off to prevent it from returning? Theoretically speaking a very thin smear of Vaseline would keep the oozing electrolyte away from the contacts. -- Clive Mitchell http://www.bigclive.com ------------------------------ Message-ID: Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2006 22:36:23 +0100 From: Clive Mitchell Subject: Re: Cue Lights? References: In-Reply-To: In message , June Abernathy writes >What did you do about all those poor guys saluting through the act? They were too busy doing Kung Fu to salute at that bit. We did contemplate all the things that we could make them salute involuntarily with the light. :) -- Clive Mitchell http://www.bigclive.com ------------------------------ Message-ID: Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2006 22:38:03 +0100 From: Clive Mitchell Subject: Re: color blind cue lights References:

In-Reply-To: In message , Matthew Breton writes >In the modern world, we should have a fully ADA-compliant backstage >cuing system, with accomodations for folks with visual or hearing >impairments. Anyone want to tackle this? Yeah, it's called a maroon. :) -- Clive Mitchell http://www.bigclive.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 05 Sep 2006 18:21:19 -0400 Message-Id: <8C89F50BF20C629-820-73A [at] mblk-d13.sysops.aol.com> From: frankwood95 [at] aol.com References: In-Reply-To: Subject: Re: Off the Shelf - Cue lights I ran across these Australian Cue Lights...=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 They look pretty well thought out...=C2=A0 =C2=A0 They are. A sad tale follows. Before our last refit, we had such a=20 system, more or less. All analogue, but the facilities were much the=20 same. Then we bought a new SM desk, and now we are back in the ark. The=20 project manager for this bit was a psychology graduate, who understood=20 nothing about writing a specification for a supplier. He tried to tell=20 them what equipment to supply, rather than what facilities were needed.=20 They took him at his word, and supplied it. As a result, we now have a very much less versatile system than we did,=20 and a seriously alienated engineering team. Over twenty years or so, we=20 had added facilities to the original SM desk as required by shows. Now=20 we are back to square one, but with one important difference. The=20 goodwill, experience, and talent of our engineers has gone. I could, I=20 think, restore the lost facilities. But with an ignorant, pedantic,=20 indecisive and incompetent bumpkin in charge, I am unlikely to offer my=20 services. ________________________________________________________________________ Check out AOL.com today. Breaking news, video search, pictures, email=20 and IM. All on demand. Always Free. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 05 Sep 2006 18:48:43 -0400 Message-Id: <8C89F5492E5D715-820-95F [at] mblk-d13.sysops.aol.com> From: frankwood95 [at] aol.com References:

In-Reply-To: Subject: Re: Battery Question In message , StevevETTrn [at] aol.com writes=C2=A0 >I am curious about your test rig. Is it a DYI or commercial device?=C2=A0 >What sorts of batteries does it test?=C2=A0 >What kind of data does it provide?=C2=A0 >=C2=A0 =C2=A0 DIY. It's a simple arrangement of a reed relay wound to load a 1.5V=20 cell at 500mA and drop out when the voltage drops to about 0.75V. This=20 then simply enables a quartz clock mechanism with the face calibrated=20 in Ah. You set the hands to zero then insert the test battery and the=20 clock stops at the Ah rating.=C2=A0 =C2=A0 Simple but a good indication of the capacity of AA cells.=C2=A0 =C2=A0 Mine was, as you might expect, rather more elaborate. It consisted of a=20 set of cam-driven switches to simulate the load cycles, as described to=20 me by a user. Standby, Record, Rewind, and Replay. The battery voltage=20 was monitored by a pen recorder. The loads were set for our most common=20 application, but were easy to change. But cell manufacturers keep on changing things. Not that show in the=20 published parameters, but that does in such a test. Prices also figure=20 into the equation. When you figure that we were using maybe 600 or more=20 'D' size cells a day, when working hard, this is not a trivial cost.=20 And the best buy varied every week. Sometimes Varta, or Ever-ready, or=20 GE. ________________________________________________________________________ Check out AOL.com today. Breaking news, video search, pictures, email=20 and IM. All on demand. Always Free. ------------------------------ Message-ID: Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2006 19:30:54 -0400 From: "Brian Munroe" Subject: Re: Cue lights: In-Reply-To: References: . > Of course, one of my contracts said "Assistant Electrician/Assistant > Carpenter". I may have that one framed... Yes, I sent that one back with > two paychecks in the contract. They sent it back with a blue line through > both... That is so you can help load the carpentry trucks after you are done with sound, instead of heading for the bus lounge. Seriously, how did the carpentry department let a sound guy in? Never had a contract with two titles before. I did hold 2 contracts for seperate shows on the same day once. Needed special dispensation from the Pope for that. Brian Munroe bpmunroe [at] gmail.com ------------------------------ Message-ID: <44FE1B83.5090609 [at] cybercom.net> Date: Tue, 05 Sep 2006 20:51:15 -0400 From: Dale farmer Subject: Re: Batteries References:

In-Reply-To: Paul Guncheon wrote: > For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see > --------------------------------------------------- > > < Maplin bulk pack battery so no surprise there then.>> > > So why is it that if I leave batteries in any device they ALWAYS leak. I > don't mean maybe sometimes, or often... I mean "always". I usually remove > them after each use but sometimes I forget or think that I'm going to use > the device agiain the next day. I have had to throw away so many > flashlights, tools, vibrat... er no, ummm. Is it the environment here (I > live about 100 yards from the ocean)? Or just my natural success rate with > things electrical. > > Another continuing problem is corrosion on contacts... the number one reason > by far why battery things won't work. Is there a chemical that will remove > heavy corosion ? Ususally I resort to abrading the stuff with sandpaper, > emery boards, and the like. Is there a contact sealer I could apply after I > scrape the corrosion off to prevent it from returning? > > Laters, > > Paul > > "Anyone who amperes our work will be sent ohm" said Tom lightly wired. > > Side note: > > < ground. However severe their colour blindness, you can't miss the=20 > stripes. >> > > I owned a 1969 Jaguar XKE, I had always dreamed of owning one of these > beautiful cars but I hated it from the first day I drove it. In any event, > the wiring was coded "brown with blue stripe", "brown with white stripe", > etc. The "stripes" were the thickness of a generous red hair, and after 20 > years, every wire became the moral equivalent of "brown with brown stripe". > Salt air is bad for anything that corrodes. You actually get a fine mist of salt water in your air when the water gets rough and the wind picks up. This mist then lands on everything, and leaves a salt deposit, which attracts more moisture from the air, leading to corrosion. Basics out of the way, onto solutions. Buy gear that is inherently corrosion-proof. Plastics, stainless steel, and gold plating are your friends. Look for gear that says it is "marine grade" or sold for the boating/diving market. Next you do what you can to keep the salt water deposits out and wash them away. Keep those O rings and rubber seals in good shape and lubricated with a little bit of silicone grease. Buy packages of dessicant and keep them inside of the various things to absorb any airborne moisture in the thing after you open it up. Wash things out periodically with distilled water and dry thoroughly. (You may want to depower them during this process.) Dehumidify the air in your shop and storage rooms, and keep them clean. Vacuum up the superfine salt particles on the floor, getting one of those air filter appliances to catch airborne salt. There are sprays you can get that leave a coating of airtight gunk on electrical contacts. Auto parts stores carry them under the name battery terminal coating. I think it is some form of wax. Sacrifical anodes. Go to the boating supply places around and find the little lumps of solid zinc that they use on boats. The zinc will corrode in preference to the iron and so on. Auto parts stores also have a spray on form of zinc in an areosol can. (Warning, this sprayed on coating IS conductive, so care is indicated using it around electrical conductors, unless you are davie dimmers.) There is the time honored sailors eternal profession of constantly chipping and repainting everything. ANother approach is to use the cheapest whatever it is you need, and consider them expendable items. Disposable flashlights and so on. For major equipment and structures, investigate active cathodic protection systems. Hope this helps. --Dale ------------------------------ From: "Jon Lagerquist" Date: Tue, 05 Sep 2006 18:41:08 -0700 Subject: Re: Wagon question Reply-to: jon [at] lagerquist.com Message-ID: <44FDC4C4.13548.688DEC2 [at] jon.lagerquist.com> In-reply-to: References: The unit that Steve referers to was a deck made of 1" tongue and groove ply and 1.5" "cut to length" castors. It had a total size of about 14' by 34'. The thickness of the ply allowed us to route the mountings into the ply and eliminated the need for any other framing. We mostly end up with carpet or UHMW. In general UHMW has half the friction of carpet. But makes more and different noises. Soft wheels are hard to find under 2" diameter which with speed of movement can limit the wagon or pallet thickness. I have gone down as far as laminating two layes of 1/8" to get really thin. The trick is then not ripping the mounting out of the wood. > Jon Lagerquist had an elegant low profile skid with UHMD rollers built > into the stresskin platform. They are described on one of the USITT > Tech Expo journals Jon Lagerquist Technical Director [at] South Coast Repertory Costa Mesa, CA ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2006 22:10:00 -0400 Subject: DMX Tester Recommendations From: Stuart Baulch Message-Id: <1157508604.58F379C [at] bb12.dngr.org> I think that I'm in the market for a DMX tester and I'm looking for recommendations and/or warnings from the list. The standard (at least in this neck of the woods) seems to be the MicroTech DMX Tester, but these two both looks interesting: Swisson X-MT-100 www.tinyurl.com/hac3h Showtec DMX Tester www.tinyurl.com/pxhmr Just wondering what you might recommend. Thanks, Stuart B ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 05 Sep 2006 22:20:38 -0400 Subject: Re: DMX Tester Recommendations From: Herrick Goldman Message-ID: In-Reply-To: Also look at www.anidea.com it's an interesting product. I'm not saying its better. Just interesting. On 9/5/06 10:10 PM, "Stuart Baulch" wrote: > For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see > --------------------------------------------------- > > I think that I'm in the market for a DMX tester and I'm looking for > recommendations and/or warnings from the list. > > The standard (at least in this neck of the woods) seems to be the > MicroTech DMX Tester, but these two both looks interesting: > > Swisson X-MT-100 > www.tinyurl.com/hac3h > > Showtec DMX Tester > www.tinyurl.com/pxhmr > > Just wondering what you might recommend. > > Thanks, > Stuart B > -- Herrick Goldman Lighting Designer, NYC www.HGLightingDesign.com 917-797-3624 "To the scores of silent alchemists who wreak their joy in darkness and in light bringing magic to life, we bow most humbly. "-CDS ------------------------------ Message-ID: <44FE3256.3040108 [at] fuse.net> Date: Tue, 05 Sep 2006 22:28:38 -0400 From: Stuart Wheaton Reply-To: sdwheaton [at] fuse.net Subject: Re: Searching for a penny-farthing bicycle... References: In-Reply-To: Anna wrote: > For an upcoming production of G&S Iolanthe, our director wants to use > a penny-farthing bike (the one with the giant front wheel and a > little back one.) We've located one to rent locally that won't be > allowed to be ridden. Has anyone come accross rental shops (bike or > prop) within driving distance from Boston that might have a > functional penny-farthing bike? Thank you, Somebody makes one. About 6 years ago, we bought a reproduction for a show. You don't want to try to ride it. They are death on wheels! DAMHIKT! If you do decide to ride it, wear your Hockey pads and helmet, and do it on grass! NOT in the gravel parking lot! Do NOT Under any circumstances ride it in the shop near hard things like table saws! If your shop is old and has a cracked sloping concrete floor this goes double! Again...DAMHIKT! The penny-farthing has the following serious design flaws. 1. The thing puts the rider up so high no sane person should ride it. 2. The damn things have NO BRAKES!!! 3. You can't turn the wheel very far, because the wheel hits your legs and tries to either remove your feet from the pedals or toss you off the tiny patch of leather they call a seat. 4. If your feet get knocked off the pedals, you can't stop it! (You can't speed up either, but no SANE person would ride fast on these anyhow!) 5. Have I mentioned that they have a center of gravity just slightly above the top of the rider's head. If you can get one...I'll see if we have the info on where it came from...seriously consider making it a tricycle. Cutting off the tiny rear wheel and adding a second one with a spreader bar upstage by about 18 inches went a long way to making a ride across stage survivable. We also had a spotter who paced the bike to help in a crisis. (Or to shove the wreckage away from the cyc before it got torn...depending on who you ask.) When do you need it? I believe the one we modified is no longer in use. David Wetmore would know the current status, but I haven't seen him here in a few months. I should see him next week, I'll try to remember to ask him. Stuart ------------------------------ Subject: RE: DMX Tester Recommendations Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2006 16:27:54 -1000 Message-ID: From: "Douglas McCracken" This one looked neat. Compact as well. http://www.tmb.com/products/ProTester/=20 Aloha, Douglas McCracken Lighting Designer International Convention and Event Services douglasm [at] iceshawaii.com -----Original Message----- From: Stagecraft [mailto:stagecraft [at] theatrical.net] On Behalf Of Herrick Goldman Sent: Tuesday, September 05, 2006 4:21 PM To: Stagecraft Subject: Re: DMX Tester Recommendations=20 For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see --------------------------------------------------- Also look at www.anidea.com it's an interesting product. I'm not saying its better. Just interesting. On 9/5/06 10:10 PM, "Stuart Baulch" wrote: > For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see=20 > > --------------------------------------------------- >=20 > I think that I'm in the market for a DMX tester and I'm looking for=20 > recommendations and/or warnings from the list. >=20 > The standard (at least in this neck of the woods) seems to be the=20 > MicroTech DMX Tester, but these two both looks interesting: >=20 > Swisson X-MT-100 > www.tinyurl.com/hac3h >=20 > Showtec DMX Tester > www.tinyurl.com/pxhmr >=20 > Just wondering what you might recommend. >=20 > Thanks, > Stuart B >=20 -- Herrick Goldman Lighting Designer, NYC www.HGLightingDesign.com 917-797-3624 "To the scores of silent alchemists who wreak their joy in darkness and in light bringing magic to life, we bow most humbly. "-CDS ------------------------------ Message-ID: <44FE3B83.5050402 [at] fastmail.net> Date: Tue, 05 Sep 2006 23:07:47 -0400 From: John Huntington Subject: ESTA Electrician exam confusions References:

In-Reply-To: When Mr. Wheaton posted his question below, I forwarded it onto Ken Vannice, who is the Subject Matter Expert chair for the examination (I was one of the Subject Matter Experts). Here's Mr. Wheaton's original question, and Mr. Vannice's response. Ken is not a member of this list, so I am posting this for him. -------- Original Message -------- Subject: ESTA Electrician exam confusions Date: Sat, 02 Sep 2006 11:47:54 -0400 From: Stuart Wheaton Just was looking at the PDF version of the Electrican certification booklet. http://www.etcp.esta.org/candidateinfo/electricalexams/docs/ETCP%20Handbook%20Electrical%20Full.pdf First, page 14 section 1.a.7-9 have operations misspelled. Can somebody pass that on to the people who can fix it. Second, I was confused by sample question 3, is this a specific language type thing, ie. Grounded vs. Grounding, or could a reasonable person not read the question as assuming that the equipment to be worked on is powered from one breaker in the panel and thus making answer b correct. If one assumes the equipment has a breaker, shutting down the whole panel strikes me as serious overkill. If the work is in the panel, then panel becomes equipment, and the logical shut-off is still the feed to that panel. Can anybody help me understand whether I just don't get it, or is the phrasing of the sample question a mistake like the spelling error? From: Vannice, Ken [mailto:KVannice [at] leviton.com] Sent: Tuesday, September 05, 2006 4:26 PM To: sdwheaton [at] fuse.net Cc: Katie Geraghty; stagecraft [at] theatrical.net Subject: ESTA Electrician exam confusions Dear Stuart, I have been asked to respond to your posting on the Stagecraft list regarding ETCP Electrical Certification. First of all thank you for your interest and thank you for your comment. We are aware of several typographical errors in our Handbook that escaped our proof readers. We will be fixing them everywhere in our next printing. You have questions regarding our sample question #3. I will try to answer you. All employees and their employers are required to comply with OSHA safety regulations (OHSA in Canada). OSHA made an agreement with the NFPA, the authors of the National Electrical Code, to create an NEC for use in the workplace numbered NFPA 70E. All employees and their employers are required to comply with 70E regarding electrical safety. This Code has a two-level set of safety requirements regarding opening electrical equipment and exposing electrical parts. The safest it to first remove all sources of energy which is loosely called lock-out/ tag-out. While we are more concerned about electrical hazards the actual lock-out/tag-out requirements require the lock-out/tag-out of all sources of energy, electrical, air pressure, stored mechanical energy like in a spring, etc. The next level of safety when lock-out/tag-out isn't possible is to use a collection of personal protective equipment including such things as natural-fiber (not synthetic) clothing, insulated tools, goggles, etc. and follow additional rules. The question was not what you thought was safe enough. The question was what does OSHA require for safety. The statement about no personal protective equipment (PPE) directs you to the lock-out/tag-out solution. D is a statement of what OSHA requires. The other answers might sound reasonable and safe but they are less than what OSHA requires. As an employee of a theatrical operation you are required by law to know what OSHA and NFPA 70E requires before opening any electrical panel. I hope this helps. Kenneth Vannice Engineering Lighting Management Systems Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc. Tualatin, OR, USA ------------------------------ Message-ID: <44FE3F9A.4060300 [at] charliefraser.com> Date: Tue, 05 Sep 2006 23:25:14 -0400 From: Charlie Fraser Subject: CD-80 Dimmer Pack flickering Problems All, I am running an old CD-80 12 X 2400 which a switchcraft connector (Is is showing it's age yet?) I have a Mantrix 2 board attached to it. We went into tech last night and I noticed flickering which appears intermittently. The flickering is most evident when the intensity is down to 20-30%, sometimes it just happens intermittently. I switched out the dimmer board to my spare and this condition still exists. Before I call Century in the morning I don't suppose there is an easy fix to this problem? Being hopeful . Charlie ------------------------------ Message-ID: <3089.205.215.255.100.1157513121.squirrel [at] webmail.peak.org> In-Reply-To: References:

Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2006 20:25:21 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: ESTA Electrician exam confusions From: "Bill Nelson" > When Mr. Wheaton posted his question below, I forwarded it onto Ken > Vannice, who is the Subject Matter Expert chair for the examination (I was > one of the Subject Matter Experts). Here's Mr. Wheaton's original > question, and Mr. Vannice's response. Ken is not a member of this list, > so I am posting this for him. Thanks for your concern, and for contacting Mr Vannice. The question is "WHY is D correct?" Telling us that the code requires it does nothing to further our understanding. Most of us know that all activating energy sources must be locked out if suitable protective gear is not available. Bill ------------------------------ Message-ID: <44FE4463.6070806 [at] fastmail.net> Date: Tue, 05 Sep 2006 23:45:39 -0400 From: John Huntington Subject: Re: ESTA Electrician exam confusions References:

In-Reply-To: Bill Nelson said the following on 9/5/2006 11:25 PM: > The question is "WHY is D correct?" > > Telling us that the code requires it does nothing to further our understanding. Most of us know that all activating energy sources must be locked out if suitable protective gear is not available. Well, obviously not enough know about this since there was such a debate here. :-) However, in this case, D is correct >BECAUSE< that's what's in the code. Please notice that each of the sample questions represent an area of the Content Outline. That particular sample question is designed to test section 2. A. 2. which is: 2. REGULATIONS, CODES, AND LIFE SAFETY A. ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH LOCAL, STATE/PROVINCIAL, AND NATIONAL LAWS, CODES, STANDARDS, AND PERMITS 10 1. NFPA 70 National Electrical Code (US) / Canadian Electrical Code (Canada) 2. NFPA 70E Standards for Electrical Safety in the Workplace So the question was >about NFPA 70E<. As to why this rudimentary, common-sense idea is spelled out specifically in this way in 70E, you'd have to consult the NFPA. Obviously, 70E represents a consensus of that group. There are 150 questions on the test, you can see the number of questions in each general area in the Content Outline. John Huntington (speaking for myself, not ESTA/ETCP) ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 05 Sep 2006 23:51:59 -0400 Subject: Re: CD-80 Dimmer Pack flickering Problems From: Steve Shelley Message-ID: In-Reply-To: Hi charlie; Call strand. 201-791-7000 They are in new jersey. They will quickly solve your problem, provide you with the parts you need to restore the dimmer pack to full functionality, and they can get the parts to you overnight. When it comes to strand/century hardware, they have saved my bacon several times over the last five years. HTH, shelley On 9/5/06 11:25 PM, "Charlie Fraser" wrote: > For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see > --------------------------------------------------- > > All, I am running an old CD-80 12 X 2400 which a switchcraft connector > (Is is showing it's age yet?) I have a Mantrix 2 board attached to it. > We went into tech last night and I noticed flickering which appears > intermittently. The flickering is most evident when the intensity is > down to 20-30%, sometimes it just happens intermittently. I switched out > the dimmer board to my spare and this condition still exists. Before I > call Century in the morning I don't suppose there is an easy fix to this > problem? > > > Being hopeful . > > > Charlie -- Steve Shelley SoftSymbols Designer MrTemplate [at] Earthlink.net www.fieldtemplate.com ------------------------------ Message-ID: <3102.205.215.255.100.1157514753.squirrel [at] webmail.peak.org> In-Reply-To: References: Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2006 20:52:33 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: CD-80 Dimmer Pack flickering Problems From: "Bill Nelson" > All, I am running an old CD-80 12 X 2400 which a switchcraft connector > (Is is showing it's age yet?) I have a Mantrix 2 board attached to it. > We went into tech last night and I noticed flickering which appears > intermittently. The flickering is most evident when the intensity is > down to 20-30%, sometimes it just happens intermittently. I switched out > the dimmer board to my spare and this condition still exists. Before I > call Century in the morning I don't suppose there is an easy fix to this > problem? If you were on the list a couple of years ago, you may remember that I had the same problem. The most likely cause is an intermittant or high resistance connector contact. In my case, the Pin 1 connection on the back of the panel mounted Mini-XLR connector was failing. The lights would only flicker at certain level settings and the frequency would change somewhat depending on the precise level set. Since you swapped the control board (I assume that is what you mean by "dimmer board"), I would suspect either the connector on the data cable feeding the dimmer pack or at the Mantrix 2. Other possibilities are that the data cable has been damaged; some strong noise source has been moved so that it puts interference on the data lines; the Mantrix 2 is failing. The most remote possibility is that the CD-80 is failing. This is very unlikely if more than one dimmer is being affected. So, whether there is an easy fix depends on the cause. Bill ------------------------------ Message-ID: <3112.205.215.255.100.1157515095.squirrel [at] webmail.peak.org> In-Reply-To: References:

Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2006 20:58:15 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: CD-80 Dimmer Pack flickering Problems From: "Bill Nelson" > Call strand. 201-791-7000 Good idea - IF it is the pack. If there is an identical pack around, it might be possible to determine this by swapping in another pack and seeing if the problem still exists. There are no guarantees that this will work - as the data signal may be marginal and work fine on one pack but not another. Bill ------------------------------ Message-ID: <3131.205.215.255.100.1157516908.squirrel [at] webmail.peak.org> In-Reply-To: References:

Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2006 21:28:28 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: ESTA Electrician exam confusions From: "Bill Nelson" >> Telling us that the code requires it does nothing to further our >> understanding. Most of us know that all activating energy sources must >> be locked out if suitable protective gear is not available. > Well, obviously not enough know about this since there was such a debate > here. :-) However, in this case, D is correct >BECAUSE< that's what's > in the code. Please notice that each of the sample questions represent > an area of the Content Outline. That particular sample question is > designed to test section 2. A. 2. which is: The problem is what is meant by "panel" in the question. It does not specify if that panel feeds only that piece of equipment, whether it feeds other equipment as well, or if the panel itself is the "electrical equipment" that needs work? If D stated something similar to: "Lock out and tag out all sources of energy in the panel that go to the electrical equipment to be serviced, before the equipment is opened", then I would agree that D is correct. For example, at ACT, the dimmer packs are fed off the main distribution panel. If I am going to work on the packs, then I believe the code requires me to lock out and tag out the circuits powering the dimmer packs. It does not require me to lock out the whole distribution panel. Please correct me if I am wrong here. All the above is why I stated that the question is ambiguous and confusing. Bill ------------------------------ From: "Chris Warner" Subject: RE: CD-80 Dimmer Pack flickering Problems Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2006 23:39:42 -0700 Message-ID: <005a01c6d17f$3d214480$6801a8c0 [at] CHRISLAPTOP> In-Reply-To: I have a larger version of a CD80 in my care that has a flashing lamp at the same point... Here is the troubleshooting steps I take: 1) I the modules are separate move one to another slot and see if the problem moves or stays (I have a 96x2.4 with the dimmers in 48 modules) 2) IF the problem doesn't move (this would be especially if the control is completely analog) check the calibration of your power supplies. I believe it's 13.2Vac True RMS... being that this rack is express -> etc connect -> Cd80 (at AMX192) I know the problem is not likely to be control related. Hope I'm not sending you down the wrong path. Good luck. Chris. > -----Original Message----- > From: Stagecraft [mailto:stagecraft [at] theatrical.net] On Behalf Of Charlie Fraser > Sent: Tuesday, September 05, 2006 8:25 PM > To: Stagecraft > Subject: CD-80 Dimmer Pack flickering Problems > > For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see > --------------------------------------------------- > > All, I am running an old CD-80 12 X 2400 which a switchcraft connector > (Is is showing it's age yet?) I have a Mantrix 2 board attached to it. > We went into tech last night and I noticed flickering which appears > intermittently. The flickering is most evident when the intensity is > down to 20-30%, sometimes it just happens intermittently. I switched out > the dimmer board to my spare and this condition still exists. Before I > call Century in the morning I don't suppose there is an easy fix to this > problem? > > > Being hopeful . > > > Charlie ------------------------------ Reply-To: From: "John D. Palmer" Subject: 220V dimmers in USA Date: Wed, 6 Sep 2006 00:46:46 -0700 Organization: Palmer & Co. Message-ID: Hello everyone, I am trying to source a rental of a 220V dimmer rack. ie. 220V per phase in and 220V out of each module. I need 36 dimmers, but I would like to have a 48X2.4kW rack. I am really interested in an ETC Sensor Switchable Touring Rack with the European modules. Does anyone know of any of these in rental stock? I need it in Southern California on Sept. 22nd. While I am at it, I need some Clay Paky Stage Zooms and Clay Paky Stage Colors as well. Thanks, John John D. Palmer Palmer & Company Design & Production (213) 453-1547 ------------------------------ Message-ID: <44FE86C7.6040807 [at] charliefraser.com> Date: Wed, 06 Sep 2006 04:28:55 -0400 From: Charlie Fraser Subject: Re: CD-80 Dimmer Pack flickering Problems References:

In-Reply-To: I actually meant Strand not Century ;-) And yes I will be calling them. But thanks for the number you saved me the trouble of looking it up. Charlie Bill Nelson wrote: > For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see > --------------------------------------------------- > > >> Call strand. 201-791-7000 >> > > Good idea - IF it is the pack. > > If there is an identical pack around, it might be possible to determine > this by swapping in another pack and seeing if the problem still exists. > There are no guarantees that this will work - as the data signal may be > marginal and work fine on one pack but not another. > > Bill > > > > ------------------------------ End of Stagecraft Digest #938 *****************************