show power question.

[chrisatpsu]

about ready to finally set up my equipment outside.

this is my power plan. I wanted to see what your opinions were in case i'm not doing it right, or forgot something
this is only for my AC power.

i have two new 20A circuits ran from the panel to near the back door.
one 40ft extension cord (3prong) running outside to each side of the yard (L and R)
a  three outlet yard spike plugged into each extension cord ( one L and one R)
one plug from a yard spike going into a TA200 enclosure (empty case that a ssr4 fits into)
from the TA200, i have spt wire running to each piece or Lynx equipment (wire from ta200 to express1, from ta200, to express2, etc. etc.)
inside of the ta200, i plan on having like conductors bonded with copper rings, then 2+ layers electrical tape.

then from each equipment, using spt1 wire to the wirestring, either spliced in, or using vampire plugs.

discuss   

[chrisatpsu]

also...   i have the sides of the yard balanced as far as Amperage used, and it is well under 15A, probably close to 8A per side max power

[kgustafson]

You should be fine.  The biggest concern I have is just making sure that water cannot get where I don't want it (aka shorting something).  This means either doing the US military thing of making sure all plugged connections are 2 feet off the deck or the non-military thing of wrapping your connections with something to keep the water out.  I am doing the latter and used gaffer's tape to well tape up each connection.  This does double duty of making sure that the connection stays connected as well as keeping out any extraneous water.

Kurt

[tbone321]

If all you are using is 16A then you have nothing to worry about.  I am pushing around 100A and that is when you have to load balance and watch how hot the wirs are getting. 

[sirloinofbeef001]

 Maybe I over killed the power. I have 8 controllers each with their own 20amp breaker and 20amp cgfi.  I ain't taking chances. My biggest draw is 13amps but that's ok. Each controller is only set up for 20amps anyway.( that's the way I built them).

[chrisatpsu]

inside my expresses, i have 12/2 conductors (black and white running from left side to right side as my temporary jumper, with my spt1 wire coming in to the left connector for power feed. that way if i have to seperate later, i just disconnect my 12ga wire.

[tbone321]

That's good but remember that a 20A breaker will not give you 20A forever.  The 80% rule applies here. 

[caretaker]

The thing to remember is SPT1 (18awg) wire is only good for 10 amps (or less) so if your Lynx Express is drawing over 10 amps at any time than your will begin melt down the wire. Also you didn't say what size then extension cord was from your outlet to the L or R side of the yard, it should be a minimum of 14 gauge but you would be better with a 12 gauge cord.  I have 6 20 amp outlets and 2 15 amp outlets for my show and I run a separate 14 awg cord to every controller box I have (most house either 2 D-light ACx8's or one Lynx Express)

[chrisatpsu]

my expresses are only running 0.8 -1.2 amps total across all 16 channels

[chrisatpsu]

this is my first year, my display is small potatoes compared to you guys

[caretaker]

my expresses are only running 0.8 -1.2 amps total across all 16 channels

Must be using LED's  your all good then!  I'm still using those energy hungry incandescents. 

[sirloinofbeef001]

my expresses are only running 0.8 -1.2 amps total across all 16 channels

Must be using LED's  your all good then!  I'm still using those energy hungry incandescents. 

80% incans for me also. I thought i heard the words "small potatoes" Thats me. 128 channels of the basics.

[chrisatpsu]

i'm using incans, and smart strings, which is a seperate power source, so it doesn't apply in my power plan.

mega tree uses 50ct incans

arches, and mini trees use 50ct incans

[chrisatpsu]

oops, my math is off, about 1.6A per Express

[sirloinofbeef001]

smart strings next year. this year had to many things going on for me to get any more stuff  (blinky)