LIGHTING EQUIPMENT REPAIRS

If it isn't politically incorrect to ask, does anyone know of a reliable firm to repair things like dimmer boxes and lighting desks. We have had sad experiences with some of the larger firms and this is a pain when you are freighting things back and forth from a counrty town.

We are having trouble with a Jands Roadpak analogue dimmer box. Is this the sort of thing a competent licenced electrician should be able to fix?

Bill Macpherson
Busselton Repertory Club

Hello Bill

Most electricians would not have come across theatre dimmer racks so it would not be their forte.

You do need an electrical license to work on any mains equipment, I have an open restricted electrical license to allow me to work on 440 volts three phase equipment.

Here is a copy of one of my posts on the ALIA website with a link to a tech bulleting that you need to read:

"For those that are not aware of the failure of dimmer mains bypass capacitors used for inteference suppression, Jands have a Technical Bulletin Sheet TNJLT094 located on their web tech support area http://www.jands.com.au/download.nsf/getfile/E8AB225AE7424D2DCA256EFD001D0ED4/$File/tbjlt094.pdf that is also applicable to other brands of dimmer racks.

Usually if it is left untill after the capacitors have caught fire, the pcb is blackened and quite often not an economical repair.

Don
_________________
Lighting Designer and manufacturer of Theatre Electronics"

I subcontract to several Perth lighting companies including All Things Theatre, Pro design Lighting and Illusion Lighting so you can go through them if you want.

Being an ex Strand tech, I have a soft spot for JTM dimmers and maintain several venues, being fortunate enough to have obtained workshop manual with circuits.

There are other techs that look after the older gear, one works as a part time lecturer at WAAPA.

Hope that helps

Don

Great advice Don!
I hate to think of the amount of unlicensed electrical work that is bodgied up in theatre.
Especially from techs who have the belief because they have been doing it for years. Time alone gives them an assumed mantle of an licensed electrical worker.
Further while they may have a restricted &/or limited licence to repair equipment, cables or cords. They tend to blur how far they are allowed to go!
Involving themselves in areas, for profit or otherwise, that can only be performed under the supervision of a licensed Electrical Contractor, especially with electrical installations. Even if they hold an ‘A’ Class Fitter or Installer [mechanic] Trade licence qualifications.
One of the major issues in most theatres is were the Committee/Management, in their economical wisdom, place undue pressure on Techs to act beyond the legal limits.
I hope one day theatre is woken up, in this State, which will possibly only be done by the Electrical Authorities, the courts or possibly the fastest way is, by Insurance CompanyÂ’s refusing coverage &/or knocking back claims!
I know Don has pushed for Health & Safety over the years & WAAPA has also addressed this problem of unlicensed work in theatre & I applauded their efforts - especial Don, because I know he trys to keep a weather eye on venues he comes across, that have glaring problems. Even assisting those who listen & avail themselves of his wealth of empirical knowledge.
IÂ’m sure he has come across those who view assistance as a threat to them in some way or just play lip service & donÂ’t heed his excellent advise.
I tried before my strokes, to raise the level of electrical safety, but it was like spitting into the wind!
But what I did resent was being viewed as a sort of inspector who was only out to cost these WallyÂ’s money &/or DOB them in, if they didnÂ’t comply!
I realise Don, that it is like pushing ‘it’ up hill with your nose at times!
But keep on pushing mate!