[RE-wrenches] PV powered music festival

[Jason Szumlanski]

We JUST had a request come in for powering an American Cancer Society
daytime event. They said the band requires a 75kW generator. Hogwash...
just another example of how most stage and band people have no clue what
their power/energy consumption is.

 

I bet the entire stage will be plugged into one or two 15A circuits when
I go to check them out.

 

Jason Szumlanski

Fafco Solar

 

From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Exeltech
Sent: Thursday, April 28, 2011 6:58 AM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] PV powered music festival

 

Hi Ray,

Problems?  Nope.  Never.

My "no tube amps" comment is a power consumption issue as you surmised.
Nothing more.  Fact is, if I had unlimited battery reserve, I'd prefer
tube amplifiers over solid state, but that's another topic.

I powered Earth Day in Dallas in 2002 with a much smaller set-up back
then (525 W PV, 4 kWh in battery, and a 4 kW Exeltech MX inverter).  My
equipment was the sole source of power at the event that day.  The last
band of the day had a 2500 watt class 'A' tube amp for (as you guessed)
their bass player.  It had a ~superb~ sound, but *idled* at 1700 watts.
Also needed a small army to move it.  They proceeded to run the 24V
battery system down to 19V.  Fortunately, the inverter under-voltage
didn't kick in and shut things down, but it was -> <- that close.

I'd be ok with a 100 watt tube amp at an event.  This is more of a
camel-in-the-tent comment.  It amazes me how many performers have
absolutely no clue what their equipment is rated or consumes.  Let a
small tube amp in, and a 3kW+ beast follows.

If you're ever in the Dallas/Ft Worth area around the end of April any
year, stop in.  I have a standing annual commitment to power the Fort
Worth Prairie Fest.  They have a Grammy award winning group as their
headline band every year.  I'll get you a front-row seat right next to
the Shuttle.


Dan



 

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