Table Of ContentCover Page Page: i
Half-Title Page Page: i
Title Page Page: iii
Copyright Page Page: iv
Dedication Page Page: v
Contents Page: vii
Preface Page: xiii
Acknowledgements Page: xvii
What's New in This Edition Page: xviii
CHAPTER 1 Foundations of Electrical Systems Page: 1
Pulling Back the Veil of Mystery Page: 1
Electricity Behaves Like Water Page: 2
Voltage, Current, and Resistance Page: 2
Resistance Page: 4
Voltage Page: 5
Measuring Voltage Page: 6
Current Page: 7
Measuring Current Page: 9
Power Page: 11
Measuring Power Page: 11
Understanding Electrical Concepts Page: 12
CHAPTER 2 Circuits and Circuit Laws Page: 15
What is a Circuit? Page: 15
Conventional Current Flow Page: 15
Circuit Basics Page: 16
Circuit Laws Page: 17
OHM's Law Page: 22
Voltage Drop/Line Loss Page: 26
Resolving Excessive Voltage Drop Page: 29
Series Resistance Page: 30
Parallel Resistance Page: 31
Series/Parallel Resistance Page: 32
Short Circuits and Ground Faults Page: 33
Resistance and Heat Page: 34
Understanding Circuits Page: 35
CHAPTER 3 DC Power Page: 39
Electrical Power Page: 39
The DC Power Formula Page: 40
The West Virginia Formula Page: 42
Understanding DC Power Page: 45
CHAPTER 4 Introduction to Alternating Currents Page: 47
Magnetism Page: 47
Electromagnetism Page: 48
The AC Generator Page: 50
RMS Values Page: 52
Average Versus RMS Page: 54
Transformers Page: 55
Transformer Taps Page: 58
Understanding Alternating Current Page: 59
CHAPTER 5 3-Phase Power Page: 65
Wiring Color Codes Page: 65
3-Phase Transformers Page: 67
3-Phase 4-Wire Plus Ground Wye or Star Connection Page: 68
Partial Phase Cancellation Page: 71
Single-Phase Three-Wire Earthed Midpoint Page: 76
3-Phase Three-Wire Delta Page: 77
3-Phase 4-Wire Delta High Leg Page: 78
Single-Phase Two-Wire Earthed End of Phase Page: 78
Load Balancing Page: 78
Understanding 3-Phase Power Page: 79
CHAPTER 6 Resistive, Capacitive, and Inductive Loads Page: 83
Capacitors Page: 85
Inductors Page: 87
Reactance Page: 90
Power Factor Page: 91
AC Power Formula Page: 92
Displacement Power Factor Page: 94
Non-Linear Loads Page: 95
Distortion Power Factor Page: 97
Harmonics Page: 97
Effects of Harmonics Page: 99
The Skin Effect Page: 102
Power Factor Correction Page: 103
Complex Power Page: 105
Feeder Transformers for Non-Linear Loads Page: 108
K-Rated Transformers Page: 109
Harmonic Mitigating Transformers Page: 110
Understanding Resistive, Capacitive, and Inductive Loads Page: 111
CHAPTER 7 3-Phase Power Calculations Page: 115
3-Phase Power Calculations Page: 117
Balanced 3-Phase Load Calculations Page: 121
Unbalanced 3-Phase Load Calculations Page: 123
Quick Check Page: 126
Understanding 3-Phase Power Calculations Page: 127
CHAPTER 8 Portable Power Generators Page: 129
Generator Specifications Page: 131
Generator Power Factor Page: 136
Portable Power Generator Maintenance and Operation Page: 137
Operating Procedure Page: 139
Monitoring the Operation of Portable Power Generators Page: 143
Load Balancing Page: 144
Portable Power Generator Grounding/Earthing and Bonding Page: 144
Lightning Protection Page: 145
To Drive a Rod, or Not to Drive a Rod? Page: 146
Multiple Generators Supplying Power to a Single Location Page: 151
Operating Three-Phase Generators in Single-Phase Mode Page: 151
Understanding Portable Power Generators Page: 151
CHAPTER 9 Battery Power Page: 155
Battery Chemistry Page: 155
Lead-Acid Batteries Page: 156
Nickel-Based Batteries Page: 157
Lithium-Based Batteries Page: 157
Primary and Secondary Batteries Page: 158
Battery Capacity Page: 159
Battery Safety Page: 159
Electric Shock Hazard Page: 160
Transporting Lithium Batteries Page: 160
Proper Disposal Page: 161
Understanding Power Sources Concepts Page: 161
CHAPTER 10 Electrical Safety Page: 165
Electric Shock Page: 165
Effects of 60 Hz Electrical Current Passing Through the Chest Page: 166
The Impedance of the Human Body Page: 166
Electrical Safety Page: 171
Lockout/Tagout Page: 172
Simple Lockout/Tagout Versus Complex Lockout/Tagout Page: 173
Arc Flash and Arc Blast Page: 175
Working Live Page: 177
Shock Protection Boundaries Page: 177
Arc Flash Boundary Page: 180
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Page: 185
Arc-Rated Clothing Page: 186
Hand Protection Page: 189
Foot Protection Page: 190
Other PPE Page: 191
Metering Safely Page: 192
Categories of Meters Page: 193
True RMS Versus Average Reading Meters Page: 195
Understanding Electrical Safety Page: 197
CHAPTER 11 Grounding/Earthing and Bonding Page: 201
Grounding/Earthing and Bonding Page: 201
Grounding/Earthing Page: 202
Zero-Volt Reference Page: 203
Types of Grounding/Earthing Electrodes Page: 204
Grounding/Earthing Separately Derived Systems Page: 206
Grounding/Earthing Electrode Conductor Page: 211
Main Bonding Jumper Page: 213
Equipment Grounding Conductor/Circuit Protective Conductor Page: 214
Grounded Versus Grounding Versus Bonding Page: 216
Ground Loops Page: 217
Isolated Ground Page: 218
Balanced Power Systems Page: 219
Grounding/Earthing Electrodes for Isolated Grounding and Tech Power Page: 220
Understanding Grounding/Earthing Concepts Page: 221
CHAPTER 12 Overcurrent Protection Page: 225
Fuses Page: 225
Current Limiting Page: 227
Low-Voltage, Low Current Fuses Page: 228
Circuit Breakers Page: 229
Circuit Breaker Ratings Page: 230
Single-Pole, Double-Pole, and Three-Pole Circuit Breakers Page: 230
Thermal Circuit Breakers Page: 231
Magnetic Circuit Breakers Page: 233
Residual Current Devices Page: 234
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters Page: 235
Class A GFCIs Page: 235
Class C, D, and E GFCIs Page: 236
Understanding Overcurrent Protection Page: 237
CHAPTER 13 Dimming Systems Page: 241
LED Dimming Page: 242
Phase-Controlled Dimming Page: 243
Reverse Phase-Control Page: 246
Sinewave Dimming Page: 248
Dimmer Curves Page: 249
Understanding Dimming Systems Page: 250
CHAPTER 14 Portable Power Distribution Page: 253
Portable Power Distribution Units Page: 253
Flexible Cords and Cables Page: 256
Branch Circuits or Final Circuits Page: 256
Breakouts or Spiders Page: 260
Branch Circuit Conductor Ampacities Page: 260
Ampacity De-Rating Factors Page: 261
Cable Voltage Ratings Page: 262
Weather Protection Page: 262
IP Ratings Page: 262
NEMA Enclosure Ratings Page: 264
Device Connectors Page: 264
Stage Pin Connectors Page: 264
NEMA Connectors Page: 266
Powercon and True1 Connectors Page: 269
15-Amp Plugs Page: 269
CEE-Form (Pin & Sleeve) Connectors Page: 270
IEC Connectors Page: 271
Schuko Connectors Page: 271
Australian Connectors Page: 271
Two-Fers Page: 272
Feeder Cable Page: 273
Single-Pole Connectors Page: 278
Neutral Conductor Sizing Page: 279
Understanding Portable Power Distribution Page: 281
CHAPTER 15 Show Prep, Setup, and Monitoring Page: 283
Equipment Schedule Page: 283
Shop Prep Page: 289
Prior to Load-In Page: 289
Safety Meeting Page: 291
Load-In Page: 291
Tying In Page: 292
Turning on the Switch Page: 295
Metering the Voltage Page: 296
Monitoring the Power System Page: 297
Turn Out the Lights, the Party's Over Page: 298
Understanding Show Prep, Setup, and Monitoring Page: 299
Appendix 1: The Physics of Electricity Page: 301
What is Electricity? Page: 301
Electrons in Motion Page: 302
The Atom Page: 302
Subatomic Particles Page: 303
The Law of Electrostatic Attraction and Repulsion Page: 303
Conductive Properties of Materials Page: 306
Current Convention Page: 307
Summary Page: 308
Understanding the Physics of Electricity Page: 308
Appendix 2: The History of Alternating Current System Page: 311
Why We Use AC Instead of DC Page: 313
Is AC More Deadly Than DC? Page: 317
Appendix 3: A (Very) Short History of Portable Power Distribution Page: 319
Rock and Roll Road Shows Page: 319
Welding Cable in Live Event Production Page: 321
Appendix 4: International Systems of Units (Si), Prefixes, and Scientific Notation Page: 325
SI Prefixes Page: 325
Scientific Notation Page: 325
Engineering Notation Page: 325
Appendix 5: Worldwide Voltages and Frequencies Page: 327
Appendix 6: Unbalanced 3-Phase Loads Calculations Page: 341
Appendix 7: IP Ratings and NEMA Ratings Page: 345
IP Code Page: 345
NEMA Ratings Page: 347
IP Versus NEMA Page: 349
Appendix 8: Useful Formulas Page: 351
Appendix 9: Answers to Practice Problems Page: 353
References Page: 379
Index Page: 381
Description:Now in its third edition, Electricity for the Entertainment Electrician & Technician is a comprehensive, practical study guide for aspiring and working professionals in live event production. The book covers every aspect of power distribution from the fundamentals, like basic circuits, to 3-phase power, power calculations, grounding and bonding, electrical safety, portable power generators, and battery power. With ample photographs and illustrations, practice problems and solutions, and real-world examples from experience and first-hand accounts, it provides readers with the knowledge to safely design, set up, and monitor power distribution systems. The third edition expands on grounding and bonding, portable power generators, balanced and unbalanced 3-phase power calculations, battery power, and more. The last chapter walks readers through the process of prepping for a show, setting up a portable power distribution system, and monitoring every aspect of the system, including voltage, current, and heat using an infrared camera, explaining in detail best practices and the logic behind them. Covering topics that are listed in the content outline for the ETCP Entertainment Electrician Certification exam as well as the ETCP Portable Power Distribution Technician Certification exam, this reference supports practicing technicians and provides new technicians the assistance they need for a successful career in the entertainment industry. Additional resources, including conversion tables, voltage spreadsheets, articles from Lighting & Sound International, Lighting & Sound America, and Protocol, and animations and illustrations depicting electricity and electric power distribution developed for the author’s workshops, can be found on the companion website www.electrics.tech.
