DG 1110.3.120
DESIGN GUIDE: MUSIC AND DRAMA CENTERS
JANUARY 1981
C H A P T E R 4: TECHNICAL PACKAGESTHEATER LIGHTING
F I G U R E 4-1.3
POWER CENTER DISTRIBUTION
memory systems, or both. Power levels are set
or behind the house. The remotely controlled
manually as the lighting plot is developed. These
dimmer bank is normally located in low-value
are recorded when satisfactory and a fade-du-
space under or alongside the house and between
ration established for cross fading from one
the control center and patch panel. It is prefer-
scene to the next. The operator can manually set
ably nearer the patch panel to minimize high-
the levels and durations during performance,
load wiring, but the location of power service
activating the sequence on cue, or the entire plot
entry of 300-800 KVA to the dimmers may rule
can be fed into a memory system that operates
the choice. The bank needs no access during
the cues and displays the status of the plot for
performance, but the patch panel is located on
on-the-spot adjustments. Except in very small
or near stage, again to minimize load-circuit wir-
systems the memory controls are less expen-
ing to the lighting positions. The patch panel re-
sive, more capable, and therefore preferred.
quires continuous access from the stage. Low-
voltage control circuits activate the dimmers
In any case, house lights, work lights and lecture
which feed load circuits selected at the patch
lights are separately controlled to avoid disturb-
panel and into which circuits the lighting instru-
ing console setups. Touring groups often travel
ments are plugged.
with their own lighting equipment, including
A more recent and economical development is
controls, and are provided a power takeoff and
the dimmer-per-circuit system. The interconnect
company switch in the stagehouse. This is an-
(patch panel) function takes place at the control
other reason for careful consideration of power
center in low-voltage circuitry. Dimmers are in-
service entrance location and selection of the
stalled in racks in or adjacent to the stagehouse,
most common compatible system interconnec-
one dimmer per loaded circuit into which instru-
tions to enable use of the facility's control center.
ments are selectively plugged. Remember that
dimmers make noise and should be isolated.
Power Consumption: By its very nature, stage-
Control center equipment: Controls include
lighting power demand tends to be related to the
acting area dimensions, as is the number of in-
manual and automatic preset potentiometers, or
4-5
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