Labelling permanent lighting rig

[Borrower]

Hi, I need some advice as to how best label a permanent lighting rig installed in a small theatre environment.

6 lighting bars were installed (2 in front of stage and 4 above stage) with 12 GPOs on each bar. Each of those points end up in a patch panel ready to be plugged in when needed.

The biggest problem is how to label these in the best possible way. I’m not up with the “professional” way of doing it and haven’t had a chance to see other permanent set ups close up.

When a fixture is hung and plugged into the nearest power outlet one has to look at the patch panel and plug each cable into an adequate dimmer channel one at a time to find it. Once it’s found we’re good to go, but the time it takes to do this is a matter of chance: you could find it straight away or you could end up plugging and unplugging until the cows come home.

Another side issue is the mess this patch panel is in, since there are half of the cables unplugged and just hanging doing nothing…

Have you come across the ideal labelling system which allows for quick access to the right light?

I’ve thought of a colour system or a numbering system, but don’t want to spend hours on it if there’s a better way of doing it.

Thanks.

[RonK]

Back in the day...worked in many a patch-panel theatre...fond memories of spending many a four-hour crew call in the patch bay patching 500 dimmers while the crew hung the lights...

What's more important than the method you choose to label is the paperwork method you use to track them. Numbering works just fine, is more straightforward than letter/ number combinations, and doesn't have the inherent limits of color coding.

How you number...there'll be as many opinions as there are electricians out there. Most electricians prefer the numbers to run from Stage Left to Stage Right, so that as you are on-stage hanging or focusing they are oriented naturally. Many designers prefer House Left to Right, so the numbers are oriented for them sitting in the house. (But they aren;t the ones patching, now are they?) Typically number 1 is the farthest downstage, out in the house front lighting position, and the highest number is all the way upstage, or in floor/ wall pockets.

The more important part of tracking the info can be done by the labeling of both ends, a simple lighting plan showing the circuit locations throughout the theatre, and a dimmer hookup sheet. This is basically a spreadsheet with columns for circuit number, dimmer number, and control channel number (if different than dimmer #), as well as info on the fixture, purpose, color, etc. (You can find examples in a book called "Backstage Forms", or you can use software like Lightwright for this as well) Arrange the sheet by channel number, list the fixtures to be used in that channel, and as you circuit lights, write down the corresponding circuit numbers. Add the approriate dimmer numbers (if diff than channels), and patching becomes a breeze.

Have fun!

[Esoteric]

In the professional lighting world we label circuits on the pipe (usually on the box) and then I take a piece of white board tape and label the other end of the circuit (in the patch bay). Then you number lights left to right and identify them by their placement. So it would look something like the attached form.

Mike

[waynehoskins]

Oh, the joys of working a pin patch. (patch panel would mean a pin patch, right?) We had a slider patch in college; I still kind of miss that old beast.

In any event, number your circuits. Usually SL to SR across each position, DS to US, so circuit 1 is your SL-most circuit on the DS-most position, and 2 is beside it, going SR along the pipe. The same number that's written on the raceway should be written on the plug in the pin patch.

Then once the rig is hung and circuited, you can patch it from the paperwork, and it's ready to rock.

[theatre4jc]

Originally Posted by Esoteric

In the professional lighting world we label circuits on the pipe (usually on the box) and then I take a piece of white board tape and label the other end of the circuit (in the patch bay).

Everyone is dead on with this advice. One thing about what Mike said. I wouldn't use board tape to label. I'd find a nice label maker and print it out with the largest font possible and get some clear shrink wrap. wrap the cable with some gaff tape to give it enough thickness for the shrink wrap then put the label on the gaff. Shrink it in place and you'll never have to worry about the label falling off or the ink degrading. Used this method all the time for labeling cable lengths. Works great.

[Esoteric]

Originally Posted by theatre4jc

Everyone is dead on with this advice. One thing about what Mike said. I wouldn't use board tape to label. I'd find a nice label maker and print it out with the largest font possible and get some clear shrink wrap. wrap the cable with some gaff tape to give it enough thickness for the shrink wrap then put the label on the gaff. Shrink it in place and you'll never have to worry about the label falling off or the ink degrading. Used this method all the time for labeling cable lengths. Works great.

Yes it does. That is the absolute best solution. I do that at all my installs. But I don't even think about recommending that to most churches. Good call.

Mike

[Steve Vanciel]

Originally Posted by waynehoskins

(patch panel would mean a pin patch, right?)

Pin patch used to refer to a method of physically patching fader channels to the submasters on a console (like diode pin patch). Now, this is done with computer processors.

The distinction is between "load" and "control" patching. Patch panels typically connect various possible load circuits to various possible dimmers and is a physical connection. It may be a three conductor connector or a single "pin" connector like found in a touring rack with patchable Socopex lines. Control patching deturmines which faders will control which dimmers. Somehow this difference seems to confuse people who are just starting out in lighting. I suspect it comes back to a language issue since the term patching is used for both practices without the benifit of adding the qualifier terms.

SteveV

[waynehoskins]

Good point on the multiple meanings, Steve. I was talking about the single-pin hanging-cord load patch that used to be seen in patch cabinets -- same animal as in the touring racks. Then again, I've also seen at least one theatre where the circuits terminated in the dimmer room in stage pin tails that plugged into dimmer outputs on a panel beside them too.

I've got an old Leprecon LP-1000 with the submaster diode-pin-matrix patch too.

[theatre4jc]

Originally Posted by waynehoskins

Then again, I've also seen at least one theatre where the circuits terminated in the dimmer room in stage pin tails that plugged into dimmer outputs on a panel beside them too.

Used one of these in my college's studio/black box theatre. Hated the thing!!!! I love soft patching!!!

[Esoteric]

Originally Posted by Steve Vanciel

Pin patch used to refer to a method of physically patching fader channels to the submasters on a console (like diode pin patch). Now, this is done with computer processors.

The distinction is between "load" and "control" patching. Patch panels typically connect various possible load circuits to various possible dimmers and is a physical connection. It may be a three conductor connector or a single "pin" connector like found in a touring rack with patchable Socopex lines. Control patching deturmines which faders will control which dimmers. Somehow this difference seems to confuse people who are just starting out in lighting. I suspect it comes back to a language issue since the term patching is used for both practices without the benifit of adding the qualifier terms.

SteveV

We call it "soft" and "hard" patching these days. Although hardly anyone "hard" patches anymore.

Mike

[Steve Vanciel]

Originally Posted by Esoteric

We call it "soft" and "hard" patching these days.

Load = hard patch, soft = control patch. Called it that in those days too, once microcomputers came into play way back in the 70's.

Although hardly anyone "hard" patches anymore

Every time you plug cables into a portable dimmer pack you are doing a form of hard patching. Also, there are still a lot of old systems out there in the world that use hard patch bays or even slidder patch panels. Not everyone has upgraded to a dimmer-per-circuit system yet.

SteveV

[Esoteric]

Certainly, I should have clarified that almost all new installs today do not use patch panels. You are correct that many portable packs do, but those are often set and forget unless something goes wrong.

Mike