Most clubs just don't have enough power to run all the gear....and you blow the breakers. Recently we played at a place that had a 30Amp/240 Volt outlet at the back of the stage...but to use it we needed a "15 Amp power distribution box". This would have been great. The power books tell me to figure out your needs multiply Volts X Amps and this outlet would support 7200 Watts. Does anyone know where to locate these power converter boxes???
Most clubs have been standardizing on the NEMA 14-30 dryer or 14-50 range plugs (4 prong) to provide extra stage power beyond what is needed by the normal 120VAC (edison) outlets. Allota groups will run the stage lights from the distro and audio from the edisions. Some groups (like me) run the audio from the distro (common ground is nice) and use the edisons for the stage lighting. Some clubs even have the luxury of two 240VAC points for separate light and audio distros.
There are companies like Furman Motion Labs that build rack distro boxes that let you tap into the single phase 240VAC and split out various 120VAC subcircuits, each with a breaker and an edison recepticle.
A cheaper alternative is to have an electrician buddy build you a distro using a chunk of plywood and sundry electrical panel and outlet box parts. I do not recommend unlicensed persons attempt such a task.
Don't forget GFI type breakers if you have any intention of doing outdoor gigs with these distro's.
Beyond the 240VAC 50A service, you get into distros with Cam-Loc connectors and very beefy wiring. Definitly licensed electrician work at that point.
