Wiring to a dancefloor lighting system

Status
Not open for further replies.
S

stephenw

Member
Just thought I would throw it out there since I've gotten several different answers from several different electricans.

We are a sizable nightclub looking to add some new recepticles for lighting fixutures to our lighting system. All figures are hung on a truss system. Currently, many of our fixtures are fed via extension cords, as they were installed before I become the "owner" of the system. Now, to my point.

I need a bunch of outlets, both 120v and 208v, ran from the panel box. These are exposed outlets, but well above peoples heads. Do they need to be fed via conduit or can they run armored cable (bx or whatever its called). What type of conduit should be specified? I want the outlets ran across the ceiling (cement) -- also, I need about 12 outlets ran to each side of our stage from our dimmer rack -- my house electrician seems to think they can share a neutral and I said absolutely NOT; but it does seem like a waste when they are lower amp loads (500W per circuit) --

Can anyone fill me in?
 
Re: Wiring to a dancefloor lighting system

Stephen, what do the electrical contractors suggest? After all, they will be the ones doing the work.

Roger
 
Re: Wiring to a dancefloor lighting system

We have an inhouse electrician, and a contractor. The inhouse guy says we can use bx, the contractor said we need to use conduit. We currently have a mix of both.
 
Re: Wiring to a dancefloor lighting system

Originally posted by stephenw:
We have an inhouse electrician, and a contractor. The inhouse guy says we can use bx, the contractor said we need to use conduit. We currently have a mix of both.
Click to expand...
Now hold on, I have often run into guys in the entertainment business calling themselves "The Electrician" "The House Electrician" or even "Master Electrician" and when I press them on this I find it is only a 'work title' and that they do not have any license or true NEC training at all.

My gut says go with the contractors as they will be the ones doing the work and will likely be more familiar with the NEC.
 
Re: Wiring to a dancefloor lighting system

Welcome to the wonderful world of night life. I keep my nose clean of how the politics work, I just want my outlets, and want them to work. But it makes life so much simplier if I can specify what I want, thus there is no arguement or grey area.
 
Re: Wiring to a dancefloor lighting system

Yeah, I second that for sure. The theatrical "electrician" and an electrician employed by an electrical contractor are two different types of electrician, indeed. The theatrical electrician is often just the guy that hauls around cartloads of cords and spider boxes and plugs things in. Quite different than the more common tradesman.
 
Re: Wiring to a dancefloor lighting system

Originally posted by stephenw:
-- also, I need about 12 outlets ran to each side of our stage from our dimmer rack -- my house electrician seems to think they can share a neutral and I said absolutely NOT; but it does seem like a waste when they are lower amp loads (500W per circuit) --
Click to expand...
A sub-panel near the receptacle location might be in order here, depending on the distance to the existing panel(s). Your mention of "the waste" suggests the distance to be substancial.

Plus, the "house DJ" might agree that this might provide a small amount of isolation between lighting noise and the audio equipment.

[ January 08, 2006, 11:48 PM: Message edited by: LarryFine ]
 
Re: Wiring to a dancefloor lighting system

Larry loves a good sub panel. :D

Originally posted by stephenw:
I need about 12 outlets ran to each side of our stage from our dimmer rack --
Click to expand...
Originally posted by LarryFine:
A sub-panel near the receptacle location might be in order here,
Click to expand...
Larry it will be tough for the dimmer rack to control individual loads through a sub panel. ;)

Of course depending on the layout it might make sense to place the dimmer rack closer to the loads.

Originally posted by stephenw:
my house electrician seems to think they can share a neutral and I said absolutely NOT; but it does seem like a waste when they are lower amp loads (500W per circuit) ----
Click to expand...
Stephen, It is possible you house guy is right, it also possible he is wrong.

There are many variables we do not know, the dimmer manufacture may or may not allow sharing neutrals. The NEC may or may not allow sharing neutrals depending on the phase layout.
 
Re: Wiring to a dancefloor lighting system

Stephan to get deadly serious here for a moment please, whatever you do, have the work permitted and properly inspected.

If your area does not have permitting and inspections please hire someone familiar with club lighting and the NEC required wiring methods.

It very likely your club is considered a "Place of Assembly" by the NEC and as such has much tougher rules to follow. Places of Assembly even have there own code Article

ARTICLE 518 Places of Assembly

518.1 Scope.
This article covers all buildings or portions of buildings or structures designed or intended for the assembly of 100 or more persons.
Click to expand...
"BX" is slang for "AC Cable" which is not allowed in many areas of a place of assembly. Type MC cable may be used.

Pipe and wire is the preferred method.

Bad decisions at this club resulted in 100 people lost and 65 children who lost one or both parents. :(

Station Fire Memorial Foundation

The Station Family Fund
 
Re: Wiring to a dancefloor lighting system

MC cable should be ok.Other than for looks its usually as safe as a pipe job.A call to your building department should be made first as they might have amendments.The cost will be far less.
 
Re: Wiring to a dancefloor lighting system

Originally posted by jimwalker:
MC cable should be ok.Other than for looks its usually as safe as a pipe job.
Click to expand...
And you know that from his description of the installation?

What do you know that the contractor on site doing the work does not. :confused:
 
Re: Wiring to a dancefloor lighting system

Pipe will look better but from other than that i see no violation given what he told us.It is out of reach and that is a biggy assuming some drinking.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top