Revised Expanded Definition of Socapex

Standard

DEFINING SOCAPEX

Parenthetical Definition

Synonyms: Soca, 19-pin, multiconductor cable, a large power connecting cable ranging from 25 to 500 feet.

Sentence Definition

Socapex, or Soca, is a large multiconductor power cable with 19-conductive prongs; it is often used in film, television, and stage lighting to connect lighting fixtures on stage to power distribution equipment off stage.

Expanded Definition

What is Socapex?

Socapex, also known as Soca, 19-pin and Multiconductor cable for its characteristic multi-prong connection design, is a large, multicore power cable containing 6 individual 20 A (Amp) circuits (Box 353; Cadena 67). The 19 pins on the male end of the cable are the conductive pieces that connect with the 19 holes on the female end.

The foundations of Socapex’s design is like a household extension cable with 3 prongs: consisting of 1 neutral, 1 live and 1 ground on the male end, that connects to the female end (see Fig 1). Socapex differs with its 19-pin design consisting of 6 neutral, 6 live, and 6 ground pins, with its 19th pin, used purely to aid alignment when connecting “the male end of the connector with a female receptacle” (see fig 2 for alignment and pin formation) (P3connectors.com).

Figure 1 Close up on the male and female ends of a household extension cable from:

Figure 2 Close up of 19 pin configurations on the tail ends

 Fig 1 soca

 

Where is it Used?

This heavy-duty cable is often used in film, television, and stage lighting to connect lighting fixtures on a stage rig, a truss section with fixtures connected to power and data, to the power distribution centre off stage (see fig 3 and 4 for examples of a stage rig and power distro). There are two ratings this cable falls under #12 AWG (American Wire Gauge) for 20 A per circuit or #14 AWG for 15 A per circuit, which fulfills power demands for a variety of fixture types (Box 356).

Figure 3 Portable power distribution centre with 8 Socapex power outlets.

Figure 4 Stage Rig Diagram displaying hung lighting fixtures connected by a breakout cable to the Socapex cable from the power distro.

 How Do You Use it?

To properly distribute power from Soca, you use a breakout splay. This attachment simply divides the 6 circuits carried within the cable into 6 individual outlets; that is why they often “breakout” into conventional household outlets, know as AC or Edison (see fig 6) (Cadena 68).

Figure 5 True1 power connection breakout splay

Figure 6 Edison connection breakout splay

These 6 circuit breakouts can be adapted to a variety of connections such as Edison, a standard AC outlet (see fig 6); PowerCON, a twist-lock connection, and universal plug; True1 (see fig 5), the newest standard plug that offers voltages from 120 to 208 volts (Monk).

Example 1: Setting up 3 moving lightings on an 8ft piece of truss (based on fig 4).

An Elation 5 R requires 2.9 A at a standard 120 Volt service (see fig 7).

Figure 7 Elation 5 R Beam Fixture

There are 3 on one truss requiring 50ft of Socapex cable to reach the truss at height, 30ft on stage while also reaching the power distro below the stage, another 20ft.

To break out the 6 circuits of Socapex to service the 3 fixtures, you will use circuit 1, 2 and 3 to power each fixture with a standard 6 circuit, female end, Edison splay (see fig 6).

This fixture will use PowerCON adapters to connect the fixture to the Edison circuit provided by the Socapex breakout (see fig 8). These adapters work the same way as an extension cable just with the required ends: PowerCON to the fixture and Edison to the breakout splay.

Figure 8 PowerCON to Edison cable


In this case, 3/6 circuits will be used leaving 3 circuits, 4-6, available to be used by other fixtures, if added to the rig.

Precautions to Take?

A principle to follow when balancing power across Soca circuits is the 80/20 rule. This principle asks you to never put more than 80% of the total available amps on one circuit. For example, a 20 A circuit should never have more than 16 A on it at a time, leaving 4 A to allow room for the heat energy produced not to affect the conductivity of the cable. This practice is called de-rating current-carrying conductors based on the number of current-carrying conductors in contact with each other (Cadena 67).

Example 2: Calculating the load on a circuit (continuation from example 1 based on fig 4).

An Elation 5 R Beam lighting fixture draws 2.9 A to power all functions (“Elation Platinum Beam 5R”).

The breakout circuit we are using is 20A.

If we do not want to put more than 16A on the circuit, we can do simple math

20A – 2.9A = 17.1A available on this circuit.

Therefore, we have plenty of room to string together multiple fixtures on one circuit.

How many?

16A ÷ 2.9A = 5.5 therefore, we can put up to five 5R beam fixtures on one circuit, with a remaining 5.5A for current to fluctuate.

It is important to remember to balance how you distribute power across the circuits, as it is rare to put all of one type of fixture on one circuit; we often pair lights with nearby low drawing fixtures to minimize Socapex runs, usually no more than 2 to a truss line.

Conclusion

Overall, this cable offers a variety of ways to bring power to fixtures on a stage, in a theatre, or on a remote site with no infrastructure at all. While the overview presented here is very basic compared to the field, its principles are the same: Socapex carries power from a power distribution centre to a breakout splay that divides the current into useable circuits to service a group of lighting fixtures.

 

Works Cited

Box, Harry C. Set Lighting Technician’s Handbook: Film Lighting Equipment, Practice, and Electrical Distribution. Focal Press, 2010, www-taylorfrancis-com.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/books/9780080928081.

Cadena, Richard. “Stage-Lighting Systems Overview.” Routledge, 2018; 2010;.

Monk, Elliott. Personal Interview. September 23, 2019.

P3connectors.com. (2019). Socapex Diagram for Wiring Circuits | 19 Pin Circular Lighting Connector. [online] Available at: https://p3connectors.com/Socapex-19-pin-circuit-drawings-wiring-diagram/ [Accessed 29 Sep. 2019].

Figures

Figure 1 “Extension Cable.” Alibaba. Nema Common Use Usa Bulk Extension Cord – Buy Bulk Extension Cord, Common Use Usa Bulk Extension Cord, Nema Common Use Usa Bulk Extension Cord Product on Alibaba.com. [online] Available at www.alibaba.com/product-detail/NEMA-common-use-USA-bulkextension_60762528720.html?spm=a2700.7724857.normalList.2.678c6cd87UH6q&s=p. Accessed 29 Sep. 2019.

Figure 2 “Socapex 19 Pin 1.5mm2 Cable.” Christie Lites. www.christielites.com/Socapex-19-pin-cable/230w4w36w155w657. Accessed September 30, 2019.

Figure 3 Portable power distribution centre with 8 Socapex power outlets from: Cadena, Richard. “Stage-Lighting Systems Overview.” p. 65, fig 3.13.

Figure 4 Stage Rig Diagram displaying hung lighting fixtures connected by a breakout cable to the Socapex cable from the power distro. From: Cadena, Richard. “Stage-Lighting Systems Overview.” p. 51, fig 3.1.

Figure 5 “True1 14/3 Break-in.” Christie Lites, www.christielites.com/true1-splays/228w2w17w148w1013. Accessed September 23, 2019.

Figure 6 “5-15 12/3 Edison Break Out.” Christie Lites, www.christielites.com/5-15-12-3-edison-splays/228w2w17w85w1017. Accessed September 23, 2019.

Figure 7 “Elation Platinum Beam 5R.” Christie Lites. www.christielites.com/elation-platinum-beam-5r/228w2w10w8w313. Accessed September 29, 2019.

Figure 8 “Stage Right by Monoprice 16 AWG NEMA 5-15p to PowerCON Connector 1.5FT.” Monoprice. https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=14557. Accessed September 29, 2019.

 

Link to Original

What is Socapex?

Link to Peer Review

Peer Review of “Socapex”

Docx File

301 Morgan Brandt 3 Definitions Revised

A Letter of Application

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September 15, 2019

 

To my colleagues in English 301: Technical Writing,

 

Over the last week, I have been reading your blogs and biographies, getting a wonderful idea of the eclectic personalities and writing styles in this online classroom. Accordingly, so many of you have so much to offer my learning experience as writing team members, and I would like this time to formally apply as a professional writing team member amongst you.

 

My academic background in cultural studies caters to observing different positions with a critical and analytical gaze. In high school, I attended an advanced placement course called English Language Composition, which was a wonderful precursor to the material we cover in this class regarding audience, tone, clarity, and function. This class provides a strong foundation in rhetoric that has been well rounded through the various critical theory and analysis courses I have taken in my Undergraduate. One class I took in my third year, Geography 359 in Ethnographic Research, uses a team-based learning model that matches groups with an eclectic combination of people with complimenting strengths and weaknesses in the activities we carried out from our syllabus. This is something I would like to replicate in the writing team I will be a part of, as I found it a beneficial exercise in actively listening to other members’ feedback on my work, especially when creating a formal proposal as a team.

 

What I have to offer a team is a strong sense for framing and tone when catering to an audience as I peer review many works written by colleagues of different faculties, especially as a private tutor for the last six years. However, my strengths as a collaborator and editor do not mean I do not have areas to improve upon in my own writing. What I want to improve upon with a writing team is concision in my work. While I have a talent for helping others narrow their own ideas into a concise thesis, I have always tended to pick a thesis for a masters than a thesis for a comparative analysis essay. But having inspiration that fulfills a topic is never the challenge, so refining it will be a joyous process.

 

My professional experience as a team member goes beyond the academic forum. Outside of the university I work with teams of people from various departments, seniority, and expertise to put on concerts, festivals, and creating experiences for a clientele. Being an Audio-Visual Technician requires time management and dedication to a vision that is not always our own, but always requires detail-oriented analysis and coordination to carry out. Every department I work with, be it audio, video, or lighting, has an opportunity to learn something from the people who work outside your regular study.

 

Now I apply this learning philosophy to all group work as well. Learning should not end outside the classroom but should thrive because the most beneficial thing is to have eyes that haven’t been through the same degree as you read your work, they are the most objective sources you can find when reading concepts, you have worked with for years. If you share the same learning philosophy or perhaps compliment my own learning strengths and weaknesses, it would be an honour to work together learning from each others’ experiences in writing, audience, and tone.

 

Thank you for taking my application into consideration for your writing team. you can reach me at morganbrandt1@gmail.com and I look forward to learning from your work over the course of the term.

 

Respectively yours,

 

 

 

Morgan Brandt,

 

P.S. Below is the attached docx file of this post.

301 Morgan Brandt Application Letter