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Connector Types

  • Stage Pin Connector

    • Most common for 20-amp power circuits

    • Durable with 1/4-inch diameter brass pins, tough to break.

    • Ground pin is slightly longer, ensuring ground connection first.

    • Pin configuration:

    • Hot: on the far side

    • Neutral: closest to ground

    • Earlier versions lacked grounding and center pin.

  • Twist Lock Connector

    • Popular alternative to stage pin connectors.

    • Offers a positive locking mechanism through twisting by stagehands.

    • Connection can easily separate when pulled, unlike the more robust pin connectors.

    • Blades may bend and misalignment can occur without careful attention.

    • Available for 20 amp (most common) and 60 amp (rare) configurations.

Wiring and Connectors

  • Conductors and Breakouts

    • Multiple color-coded conductors within a wiring setup.

    • Breakouts separate conductors at cable ends for individual circuit usage.

    • Female Socapex connections often used in dimmer systems to eliminate breakouts, whereas "break in" connectors serve the opposite function (fan in/out).

  • DMX Protocol

    • Control protocol in the entertainment industry.

    • Utilizes two pins and a shield/ground; extra shielding is common.

    • Important to differentiate between connector types to prevent improper connections.

    • Examples of connections:

    • Category 5 ethernet cables (commonly referred to as CAT5) used for lightboard to dimming system communication.

    • Not for line voltage distribution, but for controlling line-voltage equipment.

Jumpers and Multi-Connectors

  • Jumpers

    • Used to connect lighting fixtures too far from circuit boxes.

    • Serve as extension cords specifically for lighting.

    • Theaters maintain readymade jumpers of various lengths to accommodate different setups.

  • Socapex Multi-Connectors

    • 23-pin connectors capable of supporting multiple circuits.

    • Allows running many wires simultaneously, especially useful in touring setups.

    • Capable of managing six separate circuits with individual power, neutral, and ground connections but leaving one pin spare.

Modern Lighting Connectors

  • XLR Connectors

    • Commonly used in contemporary lighting for control between boards and dimmer racks, moving fixtures, etc.

    • Smaller than high current conductors as they do not carry significant current loads.

    • Three-Pin XLR Connectors: Used for microphones and moving lights.

    • Four-Pin Versions: Utilized for color scrollers; two pins for data and the other two for motor DC voltage.

    • Five-Pin XLR: Employed for DMX transmission from control boards.

  • PowerCON Connectors

    • Newer connector type popular for linking multiple devices.

    • Allows daisy chaining via in/out connectors.

    • TRUE 1 version handles hot connections without issues and can manage electrical surges when connecting under power.

    • Somewhat resembles SpeakON connectors but serve different purposes.

Wire Specifications

  • American Wire Gauge (AWG) System

    • Determines wire size; smaller gauge numbers indicate larger wires.

    • Examples:

    • #20 gauge is smaller than #10

    • Largest commonly used: #0000 feeder cable, approximately the size of a roll of pennies.

    • Wires can be either solid or stranded; stranded wires are preferred for portability due to flexibility.

  • Insulation Types

    • Types SO and SJ are used in theater cabling.

    • SO: rated for 600 volts; heavier duty.

    • SJ: lighter, rated for 300 volts but may cause connection issues due to smaller size.

  • Ampacities of Different Gauges

    • Common gauge ampacities:

    • #0000: 225 amps

    • #00: 175 amps

    • #4: 80 amps

    • #8: 46 amps

    • #12: 20 amps (most common for dimmers)

    • #16: 13 amps

    • #20: 7.5 amps

    • #30: 0.5 amps

    • Recommended gauge for portable lighting: #12 due to its handling of a 20-amp load.