ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************

I agree with everything Erich wrote, but I would make one more 
suggestion. Twist-Lock plugs are almost a requirement for ceiling plugs. 
I have seen the weight of a normal plug pull it out even with strain 
reliefs, and you don't want to have to get up there to plug it back in 
in the middle of the exhibit.

We were looking at something kind of similar for a dropped lighting grid 
in our exhibit hall, but using coiled or reel retractable cords was just 
too expensive, so we stayed with custom making black extension cords 
(twist lock on one end and normal female on the other.) We just recycle 
the cords we can and use the plugs for new ones when we can't.

Elton

-- 
Elton K Prater		[log in to unmask]
Exhibits Manager	Phone 806.745.2525 X 229
Science Spectrum	Fax   806.745.1115
2579 S Loop 289
Suite 250
Lubbock, TX 79423


Erich Rose wrote:
> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
> *****************************************************************************
>
> 20-30 feet is a long ways down.  If you want that coiling look you don't
> want to stretch them too straight.  You end up with a pretty heavy
> weight hanging from the outlets.  So make sure the boxes are secured
> with heavy duty fasteners.  That includes the actual boxes and cover
> plates.  Make sure the electricians know how these will be used in the
> end and specify the type of fasteners used to secure both the boxes and
> conduit.  You probably also need a simple strain relief system.  There
> are manufactured versions or you can put a loop in the cord at the top
> and then a heavy duty wire tie attached to the outlet box.  You could
> replace one of the outlet face plate screws with an eye bolt.
>
> If the space will be changing out exhibits on some regular basis you
> might want to consider having a second set of straight cords. Maybe
> black to disappear when the "hi-tech" look is not appropriate.
>
> We drop power in our main gallery. Our grid is at 15 feet and is a light
> track with 20 amp circuits for maybe every 16 feet of track. That has
> been plenty for both lamps and power, with the drawback being sometimes
> you have to turn the lights off to deal with a power issue. We just go
> out and buy a big bundle of 12 gauge-3 conductor and bunch of heavy duty
> male and female extension cord ends. It's easier to snake just the cord
> thru the exhibit and then attach a female end inside the cabinet.
>
> Erich Rose
> Exhibit Manager
> Austin Children's Museum
> 201 Colorado Street
> Austin, TX 78701
> 512-472-2499 x207, fax 512-472-2495
> [log in to unmask], www.austinkids.org
>  
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Informal Science Education Network
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Eric Siegel
> Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 10:46 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Flexible power
>
> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology
> Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
> institutions.
> ************************************************************************
> *****
>
> Hello, all:
>
> We are modifying an exhibition area in the 1964 section of our  
> building to make it more flexible.  We can't install power in the  
> floor so we are planning to make a ceiling mounted grid from which we  
> can drop power lines.  We want to avoid rigid conduit, so we are  
> looking for a system that will allow us to drop power 20-30 feet on  
> flexible cables.  We have seen cables that spiral downward that are  
> reasonably attractive, so we are interested to know if anyone has used  
> a system like this for making flexible exhibition spaces.
>
> Thanks in advance to the ISEN hive-mind!
>
> Eric
>
> Eric Siegel
> Director and Chief Content Officer
> New York Hall of Science
> 47-01 111th Street
> Queens, NY 11368
> www.nyscience.org
> 718.699.0005 x 317
> esiegel at nyscience dot org
>
>   

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