rec.arts.theatre.stagecraft

On Feb 8, 7:43=A0am, "David McCall" wrote:
> You would probably get away with it because the voltage at zero is pretty
> small.
> However, it would certainly be considered bad practice by anyone here.
> As long as the circuit is connected, there is a always the possibility tha=
t
> the
> circuit could become live and hurt someone. I would have the lamps connect=
ed
> to a dimmer, but have an easily accessable conection off stage that could =
be
> unpluged before anyone had to touch it. Being Am-dram, I might have the
> person that could be in danger pull the plug personally before he enters
> if he is off stage at the time.
>
> Did you really mean to say 50 volts? I'm from the other side of the pond
> and have never heard of mains power at 50 volts. 250 is more likely.
>
> David
>
> "Bob Nixon" <...@> wrote in message
>
> news:$@...
>
>
>
> > Hi all
> > Like to pick your experienced brains
> > I am an Am-dram SM and we are in the UK doing "Absurd Person Singular Al=
an
> > Ayckbourn " =A0There is a point in the play when the female character is=

> > constantly trying to sincerely commit suicide by various means other
> > characters mis-read her actions as her struggling to do something
> > One action is to climb on the table with a rope (washing line) to attach=

> > the rope to the light flex in order to hang herself, to accomplish this
> > she removes the lampshade and bulb having already turned off the power a=
t
> > the wall switch [There has to be two fittings so that one remains "on"]
> > She then ties the rope at the top of the flex and pulls twice and it hol=
ds
> > However on the third pull it slides down the flex and pulls off the bulb=

> > holder exposing the bare wires, Someone misunderstanding her action thin=
ks
> > she is trying simply to change the bulb and offers to do this realising
> > the bare wires he tries to refit a bulb holder but he is very poor at
> > doing this and someone comes in and not thinking turns the power back "o=
n"
> > so giving the man an electric shock
>
> > My question
> > 1) The light fitting needs to originally be operational (How can I secur=
e
> > the bulb holder so that it will be sufficiently attatched to safely
> > operate correctly and light the bulb BUT loose enough to be pulled of
> > easily when she pulls the rope first time after the third pull (ie pull =
1
> > + 2 hold, then pull three pulls off bulb holder at one pull)
>
> > 2)WHAT VOLTAGE WILL THERE BE AT THE =A0bulb when the LX operator pulls t=
he
> > fader to zero =A0( Our LX guys very experience amateur operators / desig=
ners
> > feel the will be virtually no voltage not enough to give a shock (we are=

> > on DMX system)
> > I feel it is unsafe, but don't want to cause unrest and loss of friendsh=
ip
> > and trust not knowing the correct situation first However If my theory i=
s
> > correct I will make the safety first decision and over ride their ideas
>
> > We have a 50v system with 50v bulbs could this be attached to the DMX
> > channel as a switch rather than dimmer circuit.
>
> > Sorry for long winded question- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

This is what relays are for!
A dmx controlable relay, or a stage hand operated switch will cut ALL
current. Just because it is plugged into a dimmer doesn't mean the
dimmer does all the work.

RickR