PRG DMX Reference Guide 5.4 - Manual (Page 25)

DMX512 REFERENCE GUIDE 17
EQUIPMENT POWER REQUIREMENTS
Overview
The first consideration when hooking up a lighting system is power. Power is provided by large transformers in most
permanent venues. Portable generators may be provided for other applications.
Consoles, luminaires, and repeaters operate off of a single phase of power, however, the system is commonly
connected to AC services that provide three phases of power. When connecting to a house service with three-phase
power, the power should be distributed evenly across the breakers on the ACS rack, mini-ACS rack, and Six-pack
chassis (refer to
"Phase Balancing" on page 20 ).
The following section provides guidelines for connecting VARI ❋LITE Series 200/300 equipment to an AC service.
Three-Phase Power Source
Delta/Wye Configuration
The system is commonly connected to a three-phase AC power source. Three-phase AC power is produced by
alternators which contain three separate windings designed so that the voltages induced in them are equal in
amplitude and out of phase with each other by exactly 120 degrees. The outputs can be connected in one of two
methods to produce a three-wire, three-phase circuit: wye-connected source and the delta-connected source.
Figure 1-5: Delta/Wye Configuration
In almost all cases the power source (house service) will be wye connected, but Series 200/300 equipment may be
connected either as delta or wye loads as required. The most obvious difference between delta and wye loads is that
a wye load uses a neutral and a delta load does not.
Note: The Series 200 powered outputs on the modular rack utilize the service neutral, and therefore must not be
used with a delta service, and requires the presence of a neutral, even when connected as a delta load.
Y
X
Z
DELTA SERVICE
(NO NEUTRAL USED)
WYE SERVICE
(FIVE WIRE)
Y
X Z
NEUTRAL
EARTH
GROUND
EARTH
GROUND