Date   : Mon, 31 Aug 2009 22:22:24 +0100
From   : dllm@... (Dave Moore)
Subject: Leccy @ Acorn World '09

Evenin' all

When Joel and I made the trip up to Huddersfield Cedar Court the other week,
we were advised that only the Presidential Suite had a beefy 3-phase power
supply (which is where the main 'Retro Reunited' event will be staged).

Now I'm *still* waiting for the Hotel to confirm the electrical credentials of
the Emley Suite (e.g. max load in amps, whether all sockets are on the same
ring etc) but it's quite possible that every socket in the room is indeed on a
single 30A ring main (in fact, I'm probably going to ask a local Electrican to
go and do a survey for me). 

Anyway, if it turns out that 30A is all we have to play with, then my original
grand plans
<http://www.acornworld.co.uk/prep/AcornWorld2009_Power+Sockets+WiringPlan.png>
will need need to be toned down a bit (as I think we'd have been looking at up
to 55 amps).

So here's an alternative, less-ambitious proposal:
http://www.acornworld.co.uk/prep/AcornWorld2009_Power_Reduced_Sockets+WiringPlan.png

Would this still be pushing it? (I'm not an electrician so would welcome any
input). Bear in mind that across the other side of the room you'd have a
laptop, projector and PA.

If we're still overdoing it, then I guess we'd either need to 'rotate' some of
the similar exhibits, or hire a generator w/ distribution boxes (though this
could amount to ?300+ for the hire so best avoided if poss). I did ask about
trailing a couple of sockets on a long extension from another ring main, but
they (the hotel) didn't seem keen. :(

Incidentally, I''ve been advised that the sockets in the lobby belong to a
separate ring main, which is shared with part of the kitchen. So this is why
I've provisionally relocated Rob's socket-hungry BBS setup to the lobby area
(alongside the 'new' Econet area).

Lastly, as the Econet/BBS setups would be sharing electrics with another
function of the hotel, I don't think we'd be too popular if we were to max out
the entire capacity ourselves. Therefore, if folks bringing Econet gear can
bring:

a) monitor sharers [e.g. to enable 2-4 Beebs to share one screen]
b) mono monitors (instead of colour monitors) where possible

... that might be prudent! ;)

-- 
Dave.