Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Anchoring Projectors and Sound Equipment In a Mobile Booth

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Topic: Anchoring Projectors and Sound Equipment In a Mobile Booth

Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99

posted 05-22-2000 05:12 PM

Russ, Pig tails may not meet code(OSHA or local). Even some local codes have outlawed clamp ons and pigtails. For instance,these cannot be used here in SLC. You have to have everything equipped with Cam-Lock connectors. These are similar to the Tweeco Connectors that welders use but are a lot better insulated and come in different sizes to accomodate different gauge feeder cable. They are also color coded.
Mark

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Russ Kress
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 202
From: Charleston, WV, USA
Registered: May 2000

posted 05-22-2000 05:39 PM

They are legal here so long as they (the tails) are connected to the source by the house electrician and have color code tape around the end of each tail for phase identification.

All of our booths passed the electrical final inspection using them on the xenon supplies.

I love taking inspectors through a theatre! It's supposed to be a formal ritual, but it always ends up more like a tour!

Inspectors were kids once too! They all wondered what was in the room where the picture came from!

So long as you use lots of "seal-tight" and have proper grounding, they are happy.

As far as I know, the traveling concert and stage play people are not having to use different power distro techniques in different areas. So long as the current ratings on the connectors are not exceeded, he should be fine.

This just came to me: Should he have some sort of cover for the port glass? I'm thinking that it could be chipped by road debris, rocks and alike while in transport.

Russ

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Randy Loy
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 156

Registered: Aug 1999

posted 05-22-2000 06:24 PM

Russ, I expect that we will have some type of cover for the port glass, both to protect the glass from flying debris and to better secure the booth when the truck is stored somewhere between presentations.

Speaking of security issues, we initially discussed whether we should have a large glass window for a port or the standard high and low ports like in a fixed booth. Although it might have been interesting to the public to see the equipment in operation, my recommendation to the group was to go with the smaller standard type ports in order to make it difficult for someone to simply break the window and climb in when the truck is parked and unattended.

Another thing we will need to consider is winterizing during the off-season since we will pretty much operate only during the warmer months. We'll have to use some of the tricks that drive-in operators use when closed for the winter. Things like removing the bulbs from the lamphouses, keeping the insides of the lamphouses warm and dry, etc.

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Gordon McLeod
Film God

Posts: 9532
From: Toronto Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 99

posted 05-22-2000 06:32 PM

In some locations camlocks are illegal as it is possible to break the ground before the hot leads
So the moral of the story check with each and every inspector and let them fight it out first

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Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99

posted 05-22-2000 06:57 PM

Gord,
If you can't use Tweecos or Camlocks what the heck do you use on double ought cable?
Mark

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John Eickhof
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 588
From: Wendell, ID USA
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 05-25-2000 12:36 AM

I would recommend the use of old style metal 12 x 12 inch ports, thus you would have metal
sliding covers that can be locked down for theft protection, also, use of glass on an outdoor situation unless it is the very expensive coated optical variety, will cut down on the picture quality and light on the screen. You could use drive-in port blower units to keep the bugs out of the booth and glass in the viewing ports...Just a thought...

Gordon McLeod
Film God

Posts: 9532
From: Toronto Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 99

posted 05-26-2000 01:43 PM

Mark
We have had to but a metal box with Bussbars and lugs in some locations for all location work. Especially in one area in NewYork state
In the US I have found the local inspector has far more interperative powers and more local codes than we have in canada

Russ Kress
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 202
From: Charleston, WV, USA
Registered: May 2000

posted 05-27-2000 01:45 AM

A correction...

The proper name for the connectors that I described earlier is "Cam-Lock".

"Twist-Lock" is just a West Virginia term!

The connections at the bus are made by a rather large, bolt-on, allen screw. I would imagine that this would not be kosher in a permanent installation, but rock and roll does it every day.

It is a temporary connection, which when made by a qualified electrician, is safe. They "twist-connect" the ground as well.

No one is allowed to access power until the connecting electrician says he's done.

Another example (I have no clue about this) would be travelling carnivals. How do they provide AC distro? They have huge rides that are temporarily connected to AC mains.

They might offer ideas as well.

Again, I like this topic!

Russ

Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99

posted 05-27-2000 05:28 AM

Hi Russ,
We do alot of lighting rentals too but I don't go on too many of those although I have known that our guys also pigtail stuff in sometimes. That seems kinda dangerous to me. I have almost always used cam-locks on location projection jobs though. I always tape the cam-locks together after hookup so they can't come apart. Only god can undo the gaffers tape we sell and also use!
Mark

Oscar Neundorfer
Master Film Handler

Posts: 275
From: Senoia, GA
Registered: May 2000

posted 05-27-2000 05:42 AM

Russ,

Most of the traveling carnivals I have seen have their own diesel powered generating systems for the rides and other things. They are pretty much self contained and self sufficient.

I don't know if this type of thing would be an option for the traveling booth. Noise is of course one problem related to this solution, so it may not be viable.

------------------
Oscar Neundorfer
Chief Engineer
SMART Devices, Inc.

oscar@smartdev.com

Tim Reed
Better Projection Pays

Posts: 5246
From: Northampton, PA
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 05-27-2000 09:13 AM

>>go with the smaller standard type ports<<

This is always a good proposition.

------------------
Better Projection Pays!

Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99

posted 05-27-2000 09:43 AM

Oscar,
When I do a movie in the park type of thing I always rent a movie type blimped crystal refrence generator. You have to about be on top of the things to hear em.
Mark

Randy Loy
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 156

Registered: Aug 1999

posted 05-27-2000 10:41 AM

As far as the power for our outdoor film presentations goes, the city has agreed to run a line for three-phase to the parking lot where we will set up our mobile booth. We will simply drive-in, park, and have an electrician hook us up. Pretty simple (I hope).

All times are Central (GMT -6:00)

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