Weekend Warrior Stage Lighting Discussion

[Jason Stock]

How are you flying the truss?

 

[Mike7300]

It would just be 4 separate vertical ones rather than having a horizontal connection between them, if that’s what your asking.

 

[Jason Stock]

Gotcha, makes sense. So the ones you linked to are only 1 meter, so you can attach two together to get some height. As you are not connecting them together with any cross spans, you will want a larger base plate for them to stand on (with the moving lights on top, it will be needed) At the cost of the lighting you are getting you will want to make sure it does not fall.

Should be a cool look you are designing.

 

[Mike7300]

Actually they have a 2m.
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the base plate is the only thing that worries me a little….this is the only one they have that connects to it and it sounds like it’s not very heavy.

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[Jason Stock]

For me, transporting 2M truss lengths would not work, but awesome for you if it does.

16" base plate is the size they list on the web site. It would all come down to weight at the top versus weight of the base and truss. Have to do some "maths" to calculate the stability.

 

[Mike7300]

Luckily my bandmate has a van, my car would not be able to transport the 2M either. Hmm yes I’ll have to do the math.

 

[Jason Stock]

Nice.
Only other thing you should consider is how high you want the lights to be. At 2M you are not very high up. This will work for mood/crowd lighting, but not so much on highlighting the players in the band. Not saying you can't do it, just give it consideration.

Also, how "clean" is your stage? If you are running IEM, no amps etc, then not an issue, but if you have a bunch of amps and cabinets (especially taller ones like an 810 or a guitarist will a full stack) The lighting might get lost at only be 6ft off the ground.

Just things to consider. I like the design you are going with and it should provide a cool look.

 

[Mike7300]

Hmm good point…. We do IEM but we have three amps. Bass player has the tallest amp which is about 3 feet and I know the colorbands are about 2.5 feet long vertically so that only leaves a foot for the other two. I could mount the colorbands horizontally if needed to solve that issue.

 

[Mike7300]

Agreed won’t be as much light on the band from the back with these being setup lower but I think I’m ok with that.

 

[Mike7300]

What would be the best way for me to power all 12 of these lights (3 per truss) and use the least amount of outlets? I know my colorbands have powercon ins and outs. Haven’t decided on the spots or pars yet so not sure on those.

 

[Jason Stock]

Get lights that have in and out so you can daisy chain them. Seeing as you are doing 4 "towers" so to speak, you only have one cable running up/down the tower. You can buy shorter jumpers for between the lights. If you plan on never changing your set up, I guess not all three lights need to have in/outs, just two. Then get a power bar and some extension cords. Always bring extra as you never know the club/venue.

 

[Mike7300]

I need to make sure the other lights I buy use powercon correct since my colorbands only have that type of connection?

And then I’ll end up with one power connection from each truss that I’ll need to plug into a power bar, so I’ll need 4 free outlets. That sound correct?

 

[JohnMCA72]

What would be the best way for me to power all 12 of these lights (3 per truss) and use the least amount of outlets? I know my colorbands have powercon ins and outs. Haven’t decided on the spots or pars yet so not sure on those.

A lot of lights recommend limits on daisy chaining power. I try to avoid it. I have 2 4-PAR64 T-bars all prewired for power & DMX, with only the DMX daisy chained from one fixture to the other. Power is by IEC Y cords, all combined into a single plug per T-bar.

 

[Mike7300]

Yea agreed, I would only need to do 3 fixtures at a time daisy chained together for power.

To put lights on vertical truss I can still use the same clamps as if they are going on horizontal or no? For instance would a half clamp work or would that just slide down the bar ?

 

[EdO.]

A lot of lights recommend limits on daisy chaining power. I try to avoid it. I have 2 4-PAR64 T-bars all prewired for power & DMX, with only the DMX daisy chained from one fixture to the other. Power is by IEC Y cords, all combined into a single plug per T-bar.

I run power to all of my lights from one single source. Two 4-Bars on either side, 6 par 64s on the rear truss. Source to nearest 4 Bar, plug the 2nd on that side into the first. Run an extension cord across stage to the two on the other side, extension cord from there to the truss, daisy chain the 6 par 64s together. Never a problem and the entire setup draws maybe 10 amps total if that and it all runs off basically one outlet.

 

[Jason Stock]

as EdO. said, I always try to run my lights from a single source (anyone remember when that was way too much power unless you had 220 and a distribution box?)... not always possible depending on the stage size, but almost never a problem.
Regardless, your back lights of 4 truss towers can be run off one plug. Get good extensions and power bar(s)

As for clamps.....your choice, I personally would not attach any of what you are planning on using with anything other than full wrap clamps.

 

[JohnMCA72]

I run power to all of my lights from one single source. Two 4-Bars on either side, 6 par 64s on the rear truss. Source to nearest 4 Bar, plug the 2nd on that side into the first. Run an extension cord across stage to the two on the other side, extension cord from there to the truss, daisy chain the 6 par 64s together. Never a problem and the entire setup draws maybe 10 amps total if that and it all runs off basically one outlet.

I was referring to the AC daisy chain from one fixture's AC socket to another fixture.

I also run all lights from a single power source. I use a "star" configuration rather than a chain whenever possible. I had big control problems in certain venues running the controller off a different circuit until I went wireless (no 100' DMX cable to have to deal with, either).

 

[Mike7300]

Ok I have a few of the furman SS 6B power strips. For clamps I was going to use the full wrap clamps. I also intend to use wireless, all my fixtures so far have the D Fi USB. I live in a city so hoping I don’t get interference.

 

[Jason Stock]

A huge shout out to having Wireless DMX! I bought a single send and three receiver kit and it has been a huge space and time saver.

 

[JohnMCA72]

...

To put lights on vertical truss I can still use the same clamps as if they are going on horizontal or no? For instance would a half clamp work or would that just slide down the bar ?

You might be putting things are under stress in ways they're not designed for by doing that. If something falls & wasn't used properly, there can be big consequences. I'd ask the clamp mfg-er at least (should be able to PM a question) or run it past a qualified/certified rigger if you can. Seems like an OK idea, but that doesn't necessarily mean it is.