Chapter 3
Volts, Amps, and Watts
Before I go any further, I need to cover the basics of electricity, electrical loads, and managing power requirements. Lights are pretty hefty power users, so it’s essential at least to understand the rudiments, even if you never intend to take apart a connector or touch a wire end. Basically, you need to have an idea of how many lights you can plug into what outlets without causing a fire or blowing breakers!
Several months ago, I had a conversation with one of the managers of a major lighting manufacturer. He related to me a phone call he had received from a customer who bought a 5000-watt (5K) fresnel and was complaining because he couldn’t plug it into a normal household outlet! (If you’re new to this, a ...
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