Tow Plant
Tow Plant is a larger generator that is connected by a tow hitch and then pulled by another vehicle. These generators have amperage capacities that include 500, 1200, and 1400 amps. Some of them may even be dual sets of generators.
They can run in two common configurations. This can be changed via a large switch inside the generator or via a front panel control.
- Single phase - This mode only has two hot legs, the red and blue cable, A netral which is white and a ground cable which is green. The voltage between a neutral and hot leg is 120 volts, while the voltage between two hot legs is 240 volts.
- 3 phase - This mode will have three hot legs, red, blue, and black. The voltage between a neutral which is white and the hot leg is 120 volts, while the voltage between two hot legs is 208 volts. The ground cable is green.
Uses
- A large power source when power is not available.
- When you need more than house power.
- If you want to feed house power with your generator instead of using the grid.
An example of this is portable buildings which are not connected to the grid, but instead of panels which can be fed power.
- Best practice: utilize the generator at 80% capacity.
Accessories
- Cable (Such as Banded, 2/0, 4/0, or Bates Cables)
- Distro Boxes
- Threefers
- Spider Boxes
- Lunch Boxes
- Gang Boxes
- Bates Splitters
- Snake Bites
- Camlok male/female Suicides
- Bonding kit
Troubleshooting
- Make sure the generator is 'online' and not idling.
- Are all of your cables connected properly?
- Are the cams patched in all the way and are their colors matching?
- Make sure the generator is level for accurate fuel amount.
- Use a multimeter to check voltage at the end of the run. The max allowable line loss is 3% from source to utility. At 120v this is 3.6 volts.
- Check to see if the breaker has been tripped.
The Set Lighting Technician's Handbook can be a helpful guide to learn how to setup power distribution systems properly so that you do not have problems on set.
Substitutions
- A tow plant with a larger capacity if the one that was requested is not available.
- Multiple lower capacity tow plants (ex. two 500a plants instead of a 1200a)
- If the amperage needed is low, you may be able to substitute multiple 7000w generators and 2k putt-putts.
How To
Never patch in cabling on your knees or one knee. Stay on both feet. Best to use rubber souled shoes.
Placement and leveling
Use your judgment on where to place the generator so that cable runs are not super long and that it's not too close causing sound issues.
- Make sure generator is chalked
Chalk the generator before it is unhooked from the towing vehicle.
- Wood under the leveling post
This gives you the option of having an isolated ground.
- Level the generator
Use the leveling hitch to level the generator front to back. use wheel leveling blocks to level the generator from side to side. Bull's eye level is an easy way to make sure it's level on all 4 sides. Leveling the generator is mostly for making sure the fuel reading is accurate also ideal for general use of the generator.
Running Power
- Put the generator in Proper Mode
Single phase or 3-phase.
- Do Not Patch in until run is Complete
Do not patch in until your distro system is capped off. Leave slack at generator to make sure you'll have enough cable to patch in.
- Run Power
Strategically place Distro boxes and run cable to them that will power the lights for the set. Distro Package
- Walk the Line
Walk your main line to D boxes and make sure you are capped off and there are no air gaps.
- Turn on Generator
Idle for 3-5min. then put it “online”
- Check Voltage
Go to the furthest Distro box from the generator and read the voltage before you start patching in. Usually, the Generator Op or the Best Electric will be at the generator and a technician is at the further d-box. the tech will say the voltage over walkie for both single leg reading and double hot leg reading. The Best Electric or generator op will bump the voltage at the generator if necesary, but this should only be done if you are within the safe zone for line loss, as doing this will only increase your problems. When things are in a good spot the Best will state over the walkie 'ready to patch in.
Balancing the generator
check hit legs readout for amperage disbursement. Ideally you want to be 10-30amps within each other. If there is a leg with 40 or more amps than the other legs. You’ll have to find an opportune time to repatch to a leg with lower amperage to balance out the legs as much as possible.Ghosting a fixture. Using a light as a way to help keep the generator balanced because of the amperage they produce. A common fixture to balance a generator with is a maxi brute 9 light tungsten fixture. You can turn on and off 1k bulbs to add or take away amperage to keep your system balanced.Managing the generator. As the day progresses and things change. Using less lights, ending up turning off a fixture since it’s not needed, especially a high powered unit) check the balance of the generator.Dedicate the red leg for the lowest leg. The courtesy outlets on the Dbox are on the red leg.