SupportThe Holiday Season truly is the most wonderful time of the year. We look forward to spending time with loved ones, nostalgic movies, and dazzling Holiday lights. For industrial Holiday lighting events, such as the Rockefeller tree in NYC. Simply using residential electrical infrastructure for a task like that would just be insufficient. Residential outlets are typically 15 amp or 20 amp. However, codes recommend that you never exceed 80% of the maximum load capacity of a circuit breaker. According to NBC New York, the tree uses 1,297-kilowatt-hours per day and will be lit up with more than 50,000 multi-colored LED bulbs on November 30th! This temporary power display is all possible due to the help of hundreds of solar panels located atop the Rockefeller Center buildings.
Why Is Temporary Power A Good Choice?
Temporary power is an excellent option for powering large holiday light shows and events. Generators provide portable power that is independent from the grid. Temporary power generally uses a system of power strips, timers, and extension cords. For these products, staying under 20% of the maximum amp rating is advised. Having the proper generator accessories are critical for performance. We often recommend implementing a Generator Docking Station at your temporary power site to act as a “generator junction box” and offer a convenient method to connect your generator to a load. A Docking Station combined with generator feeder cables, a transfer switch, and your preferred Generator brand is a great solution to be sure your site is safe and connected when you need it. If you need to be sure that your temporary power setup will not fail, we recommend incorporating our brand new TruOne Automatic Transfer Switch by Power Assemblies. This Automatic Transfer Switch is equipped with Series 16 Camlocks and a Human-Machine Interface on the exterior of the enclosure to make operation of the switch safe and intuitive.
Understanding Electrical and Temporary Power Codes
It is also important to take National Electric Codes into account while designing your temporary power system. For example, Article 590 outlines time constraints for temporary power installations. In section 590.3(A) through (D), The National Electrical Code states that temporary power installations used for holiday decorations can’t stay installed for more than 90 days. Article 230, Parts I through VIII, Section 590.4(B) states that all feeder cables must have overcurrent protection. This overcurrent device also needs to be regularly inspected to make sure that it doesn’t have any damage that could lead to a dangerous situation. Finally, all wires and flexible cords must be secured to the enclosure box or specialized fittings. Once you understand the importance of these codes, you should also make note to schedule regular check-ups of these cables and connectors to make sure there is no visible damage in your electrical system. Properly phasing your cables or using color-coordinated connectors is an excellent way to ensure that every wire is installed properly. All of our Feeder cables come standard with a color coordinated camlock connector to match your voltage requirements so you never accidently plug it into the incorrect phase. The team here at Temporary Power supply wishes you and your loved ones a cheerful and safe holiday season! For questions or concerns regarding our equipment, please email us directly at [email protected] or head over to our Contact Us page.