What to Consider When Planning Power for a Large Event
Power is the single most common point of failure at a large event, and the easiest to get right with a proper load calculation.
Event power planning
Image slotWhen an event fails visibly, power is usually the reason. The lights go, the sound goes, the screens go, and everything stops at once. It is also the most preventable failure on the list.
Calculate the real load
Add up everything that draws power, not just the obvious items:
- Sound system and console
- LED screens and projectors
- Stage and architectural lighting
- Air conditioning units and mist fans
- Catering equipment
- Site and back-of-house lighting
Air conditioning and catering are the two most commonly forgotten, and they are frequently the largest draws on site.
Size with headroom
A generator running at its limit is a generator about to become a problem. Specify capacity above the calculated peak load so the set has room for startup surges — motors and compressors draw far more on start than they do running.
Plan for redundancy where it matters
Some things can go dark for a minute. A main stage cannot. For large events, a second set covering critical circuits is not an extravagance; it is the difference between a moment and an incident.
Separate your circuits
Keep technical production on separate circuits from catering and climate control. When a fridge compressor trips a breaker, you do not want it taking the sound with it.
Get the physical details right
Generator placement affects noise and exhaust — both reach guests further than people expect. Cable runs need to be planned and covered along any route guests walk. Distribution boards need to be accessible to crew and inaccessible to everyone else.
Test under load before doors
Run everything simultaneously during the technical check, not one system at a time. A site that passes item by item can still fail the moment everything is live together.