Burnin' the house down

[kb0nes]

Years ago I was working with some local bar bands, handling some of the sound and lighting duties. I owned a 120 foot long hank of 4 conductor 4awg SO portable power cable. We were playing one show with a bigger headliner band. We had the wise idea that we'd just hang all the lights from both bands. Most all the cans were PAR64's with 500 or 1000 watt lamps, there were about 50-60 fixtures along with a few small pin spots etc.

About 1/2 way through the show, I was doing a walk around and checking up on things and I grabbed the cable and it was HOT, not so as you couldn't touch it but over 100 deg F for sure. This cable is about 1-1/4" in diameter. I did some quick mental math and figured the total lighting load to be around 30,000 watts. This would mean about 125 amps per hot in that cable! The even more crazy part was that I was connected into an open 200m main panel with Mueller clips (photo) directly to the bus plates.

I don't disagree that it always is a good idea to err on the side of caution, especially if the wiring is used when unsupervised. But just because there is a little cable warming, doesn't mean there is a problem. I worry more about the plugs and outlets, that is often were the concentrated resistance is and why your vacuum cleaner plug sometimes feels warm when you unplug it.

 

[gusherb]

Phil

What you said gives me chills down my spine. Not the cord being hot but dealing with that much power and getting it from the bus bar of the panel like that, and it's amazing the main breaker didn't trip assuming there was other loads on that panel. Oh and not to mention how the meter must've been spinning!

I wasn't at all concerned about the cord overheating, those cords are usually 16 gauge I think and most cords coming out of space heaters are 16 gauge. I'm concerned about the plug making poor contact and the fire starting there, those cords don't have very strong contacts. I have had an outlet with a window A/C plugged into it start smoldering on me because the contacts weren't gripping tightly enough.

 

[abcomatic]

Cuffs

I know what you are going through. My house was built in 1897 as a wedding present.
When I move in here, I had a 40 amp service! My brother is an electrician and we rewired this place. The only knob and tube that is still used is in the light fixture in the dining room, foyer and the back hall light upstairs from the kitchen.
We have electric candles in every window and use extension cords that are much larger than needed, none of which are walked over. So far so good. Have a good Christmas and happy lighting. Gary

 

[tolivac]

Hippo clips in a main panel!!!???This is an accident waiting to happen.Most bands today bring a genset with them to power lights and equipment.Much safer than trying to tap into the buildings system.If the group doesn't have a generator-it is easy and cheap to rent one for the show-and saves potential grief.

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

Those hippo clips look like something someone nearby me on another street in my neighborhood must have--not just to over-decorate his Christmas lights (everybody does THAT sort of competition!) but actually his HALLOWEEN display...

 

I can imagine someone going to that house maybe one day, or a couple or more days after, wanting to see all that turned on--and the stuff blowing every fuse, if not on the block--surely "powerless" that house... --The owner would probably not wisely give in; and supposedly can do all that safely and constructively, year-after-year...

 

I've gotten the lecture about an extension cord going from one room to a next (and I think the irony of it being OK buried under a rug--or did I get a hollerin' about it being there?!)... I had a heater plugged into a light-duty extension cord just to see the plug gradually attempt to break away from the rest on the cord, (yes from the type of use, load & heat) then wisely stuck that cord for it right into the wall! (I was such fun, flinging boogers into it--and saw an ANT go into a frenzy getting it to hang around one of the vertical heating elements as I'd turned it on...) Somehow at work I wanted to use a fan and a co-worker got on me for plugging a heavy duty cord into some light duty one going to the workplace's outlet--to which I told her: "It's a small TABLE FAN, not a FREEZER!"...

 

 

-- Dave

 

[mixguy]

Exploding House

There was a house today that exploded due to a gas leak. The neighbors smelled gas and called the utility company in the morning and the house exploded in the afternoon before the utility crew arrived! Why was this not handled more promptly by the utility company??? CNN turn this into a news story saying the neighbors should have called 911 !!! Are you kidding me!?!

Which is correct? Why I have my own thoughts I am curious about reading other opinions. Will post my thoughts after a few days have lapsed. Thanks!