Running from a generator - Any special considerations ?

[rMuD]

3500W Generators usually don't have grounding rods, unless your going to put it on metal that is grounded to something else your equipment is isolated. I've seen Multiple Arctos projectors in the 10's of Watts each running off a single "Consumer" grade Generator. Now when the electrician hands you jumper cables that he slung over the power lines.. then you need to worry.

[greenalien]

If you're sharing a genny with a sound system, then the bass beat will modulate the power, which might cause beam modulation or disturb the scanner pattern - running your laser via a UPS should prevent any problems, and will also let you keep running for a short while if the system should trip. You don't need a big UPS for a laser of the size you're planning to operate, something like http://cpc.farnell.com/trust/pw-4055...ust/dp/CS15663 will be fine. Connect a 4-way adaptor and you can run laser, DAC mains adaptor, laptop and touch screen, for example.

[heroic]

If you're sharing a genny with a sound system, then the bass beat will modulate the power, which might cause beam modulation or disturb the scanner pattern

If your projector has decent PSUs, it bloody shouldn't!

More likely to be a problem is ground lift. Because of the way mains power works, the ground level at one end of a long run of extension cord is unlikely to be the same as the level at the other. This can play merry hell with long USB cords and is even a problem with ILDA cables, despite the fact that they're *supposed* to be differential signalling.

[greenalien]

If your projector has decent PSUs, it bloody shouldn't!

If the PA system transient demand exceeds the available power from the generator, even the best switchmode power supply can't 'magic up' the missing 'leccy. Hence the UPS.

[heroic]

If the PA system transient demand exceeds the available power from the generator, even the best switchmode power supply can't 'magic up' the missing 'leccy. Hence the UPS.

A decent SMPSU, run within its design rating, should be able to handle a brownout down to 70 volts, frequency down to 30 Hz, and a break in supply of at least 5 complete cycles without any deviation from its specified supply rail voltages.

[greenalien]

A lot depends on the music source - pop won't be a problem; some drum'n bass might be!