Power Distribution

Power distribution allows you to map out the quantities and placement of distro equipment, based on the amount of power needed to support your set.

• Set the power system for a Diagram

• Add a Power Source such as a generator or power drop

• Run Cables and connect them to Boxes and Splitters

• Plug in Fixtures or add Power Load items to calculate electrical load

Diagram region settings

You work in different places, so each Diagram has its own settings for “Region.” In the Diagram editor, open the Details sidebar with no item selected to see the Diagram details. In the Region section, choose two properties:

• Power system - which standard is your power?

  • Choose between America (120V 60Hz) and Global (230V 50Hz)

• Length units - how do you measure your equipment?

  • Choose feet or meters

  • This applies to the measurements of equipment on your List, but does NOT determine the measurements you see on the Diagram itself (that’s still the setting in the Visibility sidebar)

Auto-detect

Power Sources, Boxes, and Cables have the “auto-detect” property: the ability to read what’s plugged into them, and automatically choose the size required to handle the amperage.

• On - recommended if you can order any equipment you want, based on your power needs. Items will size up and down based on load.

• Off - better if you’re working from a preset gear list or existing distro run. Displays warnings and alerts, instead of changing size.

Calculations and labels

Each item can show its own amperage values, because amperage is calculated at every point in the distro run.

• To view calculated values, display the item’s text label

  • Three-phase Cables will display the calculated Neutral amperage as well; others will only display Hots’ amperage

• Hiding the text label will not display amperage, but overages will still be calculated (and show warnings), and assigned phases will be displayed as dots

• Cable and Splitter labels are hidden by default; Boxes and Power Sources are visible

Warnings and alerts

Items will display a warning (yellow color) or alert (red color) if:

• Amperage is exceeded (alert at max, or a warning at 90%+ of maximum)

• Voltage is out of acceptable range (warning at 5% under or over; alert at 10% under or 6% over base voltage)

• More than 3% voltage drop from line loss (warning only)

• Cable ports are not compatible (warning only)

Connecting items

Connecting power distro items follows the same rules as connecting other items: to connect, the feature must be enabled (use the N key), or you can hold Shift to enable it temporarily while you drag.

See Snap, Targeting, Connection for more details.

Power Source

The heart of your distribution is your power source – or in many cases, sources. You can add as many as you need on a Diagram, and they determine the settings for the entire distro run that gets connected to them.

• Size - the capacity of the generator, measured in total amps

  • Select “Custom” to define a more specific amperage that’s not listed in the drop-down

• Housing - the form factor of the generator (trailer, van, etc … or an abstract box)

  • Different housings are available for different amperage ranges

• Distribution system - configure the available phases

  • All Sources can have single-phase for the America standard, and most have 3-phase available

  • 100-200amp power drops on the America standard also have 120/240V split-phase available, for household power

• Adjust - most generators allow adjusting the source voltage, to counteract line loss from a long initial feeder run

Power Sources can be positioned, rotated, and scaled, and then connected with Cables to other items.

Box

Boxes represent distro boxes, which take larger line-side Cables and break them out into smaller load-side Cables. They provide a way to convert between different cable ports, and strategically prepare for power needs.

• A Box has one line-side Cable port, and various load-side Cable ports. These determine “port compatibility” based on common Box configurations.

  • Incompatible ports will show a warning, but will not prevent you from connecting Cables. It’s flexible, but pay attention to any yellow boxes you see!

• These are represented by quick-add blue buttons that appear when you select a Box; to add a Cable, click and drag one of these (you can drag it directly to where you’d like to attach it).

• Moving or rotating a Box will move all attached Cables’ endpoints.

• Deleting a Box will delete all its connected Cables.

Cable

Cables connect all other item types together. They behave like Arrows as multi-point paths, so you can ensure that they’re run exactly where they need to go.

• Drag either end to scale the whole Cable, and plug into compatible items.

  • The line-side can plug into Power Sources, Boxes, and Splitters

  • The load-side can plug into Boxes, Splitters, Fixtures, and Power Loads

• Cable lengths - select what lengths of Cable this run can use

  • The chosen lengths will be used to make up the Cable’s distance, favoring the longest possible; the end of each length will be marked with a plug symbol

  • Units of measure are defined by the Diagram’s region settings

  • These lengths will be counted to build your gear list (see below)

• Cable phase(s) - like picking which port to plug into

  • Available phases are determined by the line-side cable, which is ultimately defined by the Power Source

  • When plugging in new Cables to a Box, they’ll automatically be assigned to the phase with the lowest amperage

• Add control points using the (+) buttons, and choose their style from the bottom actions:

  • Curve (default)

  • Corner

  • Figure 8 - if you want to plan to keep slack available

  • Ballast - show a ballast or other box inline, without adding extra items

Integrated wiring

In some cases, showing wiring on the Diagram is unnecessary, but calculating amperage is still valuable. (For example: wall outlet wiring in houses, or fixtures integrated in the set.)

• In the Cable Details, enable the “Integrated wiring” switch

• The Cable will be hidden, unless a connected item is selected (then the Cable will be shown and can be selected)

Splitter

Details are important, and showing up without the right splitters can be catastrophic for the whole set.

• Splitters connect to both Boxes and Cables, as needed

• Break out multi-cable like Socopex, or twofers like Bates or CEEform

Contextual menus

Based on their cable ports, all items have a certain set of compatible items. When building distro runs from Power Source, working towards the load side,

• Right-click or long-press to show the contextual menu

• At the top, view options to add any Box, Cable, or Splitter that’s compatible with the selected box

Connecting fixtures

The total amperage on a distro run is the sum of the amperage pushed by connected Fixtures.

• Each Fixture has a wattage value (for both built-in and Cloud Library Fixtures)

• Amperage is calculated based on the voltage (after line loss)

• To connect a Fixture:

  • Right-click on the Fixture and select “Plug In” to create a Cable

  • Drag the load-side of a Cable from a Box to connect it

Power Load

There are some cases where a specific item isn’t required, but you know you’ll need to account for power draw. (For example: Kraft Services, HMU)

• Add a Power Load from the library and plug it into the distro run

• Set the amperage for the Load (note the Load resizes based on amperage)

• This will be included in your calculations

Items on lists

One of the most powerful reasons to build your distro this way is to get accurate counts for equipment lists. If your distances are correct, you’ll know exactly what Cables, Boxes, and Splitters you’ll need to do your setup; plus, how large a generator you require.

• See Lists for how to connect to Diagrams

• Build your distro run from scratch, or from a pre-existing List

• Scenario will automatically build your List (if auto-updating), or compare with an existing list (if manually-updating).

  • This includes counting all Cable lengths as they get used in different places