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Topic: Collective knowledge of Film Tech members

Michael Schaffer
"Where is the
Boardwalk Hotel?"

Posts: 4143
From: Boston, MA
Registered: Apr 2002

posted 08-18-2003 04:10 PM

You could weigh the connectors and a piece of cable, then weigh the complete cables to quickly work out how long they are.

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Randy Stankey
Film God

Posts: 6539
From: Erie, Pennsylvania
Registered: Jun 99

posted 08-18-2003 04:26 PM

Okay, okay... Let me rephrase:

Imagine that you walked into a room and saw the above-pictured pile of cables. Can you infer the length of each cable (in feet) just by looking?

No need to unroll them. No need to measure or weigh them.
Weighing wouldn't work anyway! The cables are all made by different manufacturers. Equal lengths of cable wouldn't have the same weight.

An intelligent person with a little bit of knowledge in electroncics should be able to tell how long they are on sight in less than a minute.

(Counting on your fingers and mumbling something about "Bad Boys" is allowed if you need to. [Wink]

)

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Gerard S. Cohen
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 975
From: Forest Hills, NY, USA
Registered: Sep 2001

posted 08-18-2003 04:44 PM

Perhaps there is a color code corresponding to "dimensional" length of each cable, the way there are color codes for the value of capacitors and resistors?

I know the current capacity is usually written lengthwise, but the cable's linear dimension is usually specified on a tag or paper label when I buy them.

[ 08-18-2003, 08:54 PM: Message edited by: Gerard S. Cohen ]

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Stephen Furley
Film God

Posts: 3059
From: Coulsdon, Croydon, England
Registered: May 2002

posted 08-18-2003 04:50 PM

Leo wrote:

quote:

And if plumbing isn't sick enough for you I seem to remember that Film-Tech can also offer expertise on the design and operation of crematoria...

I remember some yrars ago reading in a local newspaper about a crematorium in London that had an open day, where visitors could view the facilities, and talk to the staff. It was said there are a fair number of people who wanted to see where their final journey would take them, many were said to be pleased to see the way thay the place was run, and that their remains would be treated with respect.

I can't say I had any wish to go; I've been to crematoria a few times to dispatch various members of the family, but I have no remaining relatives, so my next visit will probably be the one I won't know anything about.

Most of us would probably prefer not to think about these places, but they perform a very necessary service. In places like here, in London, large numbers of people die every year, and land is in very short supply, there simply isn't the space for burial for most people. Also, most people today seem to prefer cremation, rather than burial.

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Paul Mayer
Oh get out of it Melvin, before it pulls you under!

Posts: 3836
From: Albuquerque, NM
Registered: Feb 2000

posted 08-18-2003 05:12 PM

For Randy's cables from the foreground back:

50'
45'
20'
25'
20'

If my guess was correct, that's a pretty neat way to mark cables.

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Randy Stankey
Film God

Posts: 6539
From: Erie, Pennsylvania
Registered: Jun 99

posted 08-18-2003 06:29 PM

Bing!

That's it! Resistor/Capacitor color codes were used.
(AKA: E.I.A. Color code. )

Use the mnemonic device, "Bad Boys Rape Our Young Girls But Violet Gives Willingly", and you will remember the order of the colors in the code:

Black = 0
Brown = 1
Red = 2
Orange = 3
Yellow = 4
Green = 5
Blue = 6
Violet = 7
Grey = 8
White = 9

The first two bands in a three band code are the digits. The third is the "power of ten" multiplier. (i.e.: How many zeros on the end.)

In my case there are two variations on the code. First, as I mentioned above, I had to replace the color black with white because black tape doesn't show up very well on black cables. Second, we would rarely ever have a cable that's longer than 100 feet. There's no reason to have a third band. If I ever do end up with a cable over 100 feet, THAT cable will have a third band. (BRN-WHT-BRN)

Start reading at the end closest to the connector. First digit then second.

Another trick: The MALE end of the cable is the end that has the code on it. You can stand by the plug box on the wall or at the end of your fan-out and plug the colored end of the cable in. Then you can walk along and pay out the cable behind you. You'll know how far you can go because of the colors. When you get where you are going you have the correct end in your hand to plug right in. (Presumably to a microphone on a stand or something similar.) There's also a piece of black tie-line attached to the male end of the cable (timber hitch) for you to tie the cable up in a neat coil when you strike the show. Assuming you coil your cables properly, you should be able to literally plug one end in and TOSS the whole coil of cable toward your destination. It SHOULD pay out, mid-air, and land on the ground straight with no tangles... IF you coiled it up right, that is! [Wink]

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Stephen Furley
Film God

Posts: 3059
From: Coulsdon, Croydon, England
Registered: May 2002

posted 08-26-2003 07:48 AM

Leo wrote:

quote:
And if plumbing isn't sick enough for you I seem to remember that Film-Tech can also offer expertise on the design and operation of crematoria...

I couldn't help wondering how the subject would have come up in Film-Tech, so I looked up the old thread. Somewhere in it was the name of the company which built the equipment for the crematorium. It seems to be a reputable company, but there are a few slightly odd things on their web site.

In the FAQ section you will find the following:

quote:
How do I get started?
You have already taken your first step towards a rewarding career in the cremation industry by your inquiry.

They do not say in what way it is rewarding.

Also from the FAQ section is the following:

quote:

What size room do I need to have to house an IEE unit?
Generally, the size of the space required to house the unit depends on the unit and accessories. Commonly, there is space in the existing facility that may be utilized such as a garage. For new constructions a minimum size would be 20' x 30' with a 10' ceiling. Contact the factory for specific dimensions.

A garage,

, aren't crematoria normally purpose built, not just put into any old building which happens to be available.

Finally, in case you were about to place an order,

quote:

*IEE's products are created to serve the funeral, cemetery
and cremation industries. We do not sell directly to the public."

Is anyone actually thinking a installing a crematorium at home?

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Leo Enticknap
Film God

Posts: 7474
From: Loma Linda, CA
Registered: Jul 2000

posted 08-26-2003 01:56 PM

After the last funeral I attended (very sad: a colleague in my last cinema job who committed suicide aged 32) I did find myself asking how, exactly, one gets into the crematorium business. I could only come up with two answers: family connections (i.e. followed parents into the job), or making a sideways move from another local authority job. Without wanting to denigrate the people who operate crematoria in any way, I cannot think of any reason why anyone (without mental health issues) would actively want to get involved in running one. I suppose undertaking is a bit different - in some ways you could call it a 'caring profession' - but that hardly applies to spending 8 hours a day incinerating bodies.

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David Favel
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 764
From: Ashburton, New Zealand
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 08-26-2003 06:26 PM

Well, you have a steady supply of customers. Why not a cheap funeral service. Perhaps "EasyDead"
I know of a site in Milton on ....? that will be vacant.

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Gordon McLeod
Film God

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

posted 08-26-2003 09:13 PM

Customers don't talk back [Big Grin]

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Paul Mayer
Oh get out of it Melvin, before it pulls you under!

Posts: 3836
From: Albuquerque, NM
Registered: Feb 2000

posted 08-26-2003 09:21 PM

And they're just dying to get in to see you... [evil]

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Bruce McGee
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1776
From: Asheville, NC USA... Nowhere in Particular.
Registered: Aug 1999

posted 08-26-2003 09:27 PM

They'll be the last ones to let you down... [Big Grin]

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Gordon McLeod
Film God

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

posted 08-26-2003 09:32 PM

1.5million BTU eclipse burners usually don't

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Randy Stankey
Film God

Posts: 6539
From: Erie, Pennsylvania
Registered: Jun 99

posted 08-26-2003 10:23 PM

Yeah, but the competition is pretty stiff [Big Grin]

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John Hegel
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 166
From: Lake Mills, Iowa
Registered: Sep 2000

posted 08-27-2003 02:29 AM

Anyone have knowledge in keeping/maintaining a coral reef aquarium?

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