Free Redundant Lights

robtag | 16/12/2009 - 23:12

Now that Oliver Twist is finished and we have to move out it is a good time to go through our redundant equipment. If anyone is interested, there are about 18 assorted lights - mostly patt 23, fresnels and a couple of small floods - that are FREE to anyone that wants them. Most of these lights were in use until mid year.

PLEASE NOTE: They are fairly old (I think most date from when the theatre started in the 60's) and in varying degrees of poor condition, including broken locking nuts, stiff gates, etc. Lens & mirrors are still excellent & intact, though could do with a good clean. The plugs have also been removed, so if you want them you'll need to have them rewired and safety checked.

If you're interested come down to the Princess May Building (cnr Cantonment & Parry st, Fremantle) on Saturday morning, 19th December, from 9:30am. We could also do with more hands to help with dismantling the stage and proscenium too Smiling

Ciao
Rob Tagliaferri
Harbour Theatre

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FREE for limited time

Author: RobT (not verified)
Date: 18/12/2009 - 10:26

Hi again,

Just to clarify the time - please come by between 9:30am - 12pm. Any lights left after 12pm will be disposed of. Oh, and there's also a CD player and stereo amp too

Ciao
Rob

No. I don't think so.

Author: Terry Ja Donge (not verified)
Date: 19/12/2009 - 14:02

Dear Robtag

If you're giving electicals away. It is by law that you must have them check, wired & PAT Tested. Liability would land on your shoulders.

Terry
TJ Electrical Supply.
LA. CA USA

One wonders whether these

Author: Na
Date: 19/12/2009 - 14:36

One wonders whether these laws are applicable in Australia, the US, or both? ... Of course, it could just be that Terry is confusing "Theatre Australia" with some other country...

But actually, it's an interesting question? Are there such laws in Australia that require you to test and tag electricals before giving them away? (If so, it makes Freecycle very worrying...)

Goddess Shadow Puppet on sale at
Puppets in Melbourne

As Rob has stated the plugs

Author: jeffhansen
Date: 19/12/2009 - 16:54

As Rob has stated the plugs have been removed, the units are obviously not serviceable in their current state. A plug would need to be fitted by a licensed electrician, and testing then carried out by the new owner.
Indeed, someone may wish to hang them as a decoration in the foyer of their theatre, similar to the Constance Ord room at Old Mill.

Jeff Hansen
Service Manager
New Era Electro Service (WA).

www.meltheco.org.au

As Rob has stated

Author: Norma
Date: 19/12/2009 - 19:11

Decoration be damned- they are a nuisance and I wish someone would dispose of them.

(Hywel - are you reading this???)

Whats the problem with them

Author: JoeMc
Date: 20/12/2009 - 09:13

Whats the problem with them Norma?

Those old 'hayburners' lanterns are part of the 'Mills' heritage & a great talking piont for the punters!

What would be great is to display/hang more of the old lanterns to add to the theatre atmosphere, they are up in the air anyway!

Disposal of electrical equipment

Author: anothertech
Date: 19/12/2009 - 21:50

I know a lot of people do a lot of guessing and speculating on this site but in some areas such as electrical safety a little bit of googling will answer any questions without misleading information being offered.

There are Australian standards for the sale of secondhand electrical appliances and for the disposal of unsafe electrical appliances. Unfortunately you have to purchase Australian Standards, but the information contained in them is also available on state government web sites such as this SA one http://www.decs.sa.gov.au/docs/documents/1/ElectricalTestProcedure.pdf From the testing and tagging standard : 2.4.1 Non-compliant equipment ( AS/NZS 3760:2003) where in-service inspection or testing identifies equipment which fails to comply with the criteria given in this Standard, the equipment shall be appropriately labeled to indicate that the equipment requires remedial action and warn against further use, and withdrawn from service. The choice of remedial action, disposal or other corrective action shall be determined by the owner or the person responsible for the safety of the site.

Any repairs to faulty electrical equipment has to be done by a person with an appropriate electrical license. If an elctrical appliance is unsafe, it has to be disabled by removing the plug before disposing of it. You should also attach an Out Of Service tag. If the condition of the electrical appliance is unknown and you want to dispose of it, then same action.

Rob has carried this out, so why speculate when you do not know the rules and regulations ? You do not need any form of license to fit a plug to an electrical appliance as set out in DOCEPS web site, see http://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/EnergySafety/Content/About_us/Frequently_asked_questions.html "1. What type of electrical work requires a licence? All electrical work requires a licence except as listed in regulation 19 of the Electricity (Licensing) Regulations 1991. This generally means that extra low voltage (ELV - below 50 volts AC 120 volts DC - ripple free), communications work, cords and plugs work that is not for gain or reward, supply authority work or other work considered low risk because of the nature of the work or the way it is done. Refer to the electrical installation section for more details."

But you need to be competent to be able to wire the plug correctly and to be able to ensure the electrical appliance is safe for use and the person responsible for your work area/theatre etc has to be satisfied you are competent to carry out the work.

Dont guess or speculate, look it up and inform others or ask if you do not know.

Yes Don, it's a strange

Author: jeffhansen
Date: 19/12/2009 - 23:42

Yes Don, it's a strange rule, that one. You can fit a plug at home without a license, but not at work. You also don't need a license to test and tag electrical equipment. You need to be a "competent person".
Having seen some very dangerous things wired by incompetent people, if you have no training, don't mess with electrical stuff.

www.meltheco.org.au

I don't know if that's true

Author: Na
Date: 20/12/2009 - 09:19

I don't know if that's true of everywhere Jeff: in VIC you do need a license to test and tag.

Goddess Shadow Puppet on sale at
Puppets in Melbourne

Jeff H could you explain

Author: JoeMc
Date: 26/12/2009 - 10:20

Jeff H could you explain in simple terms, the new set up with the Electrical Licence sytem, that was brought in a short while ago.

I realise you did brush on this during the 'Aunty ITA' Ignite Expo. but I can't remember much about it?

This came up when I was working with Bruce Denny at the Garrick recently. Like me he alowed his Electrical Licence registration to lapse over the years.

Mine elapsed after the 5 year period mainly because of variuos Strokes, plumbing jobs to my dicky ticker & failing to notify them of change of adress.

My 'A' Cllass electrical Fitter & Installer Licences, with Austel/Cat 5 endorsements, aparently are regarded as 'Grandad' Licences these days & have been replaced with a new all encompassing licence arrangemt.

Not that I Have any wish or intentions to apply &/or attend, a Tech school 3 stage refresher course over 18 months at this stage. But it's not something I would not discount completely & I may even do it one day, before I'm body bagged?

Only if you have the time briefly to explain, as I'm as thick as a brick & twice as dence! This is only for my general interest & not a burning question as such.

I have been thru the cauntlet with those office flunkies at the Electrical Licensing Department & I have paid out on a few rides on thier department carousel. with little or no out come!

I'll give it my best shot

Author: jeffhansen
Date: 26/12/2009 - 12:24

I'll give it my best shot Joe.
This all refers to WA, as electrical licencing is still a state based system, though moves are underway to nationalise it.

I hold an A Class Electricians licence, and a Nominees licence.

When the new system was recently adopted, those holding a fitter/mechanic (fitter/installer to use the older term) converted to ELectrician, though my card still has fitter/mechanic, as it has not come up for renewal yet. The Fitter or Mechanic only licence has been "Grandfathered". i.e. the holder will continue to receive a Fitter or Mechanic licence, but no new ones of that title will be issued.

The nominee licence is similar to an electrical contractors licence, in that I am qualified to submit Western Power paperwork, and sign off on installations.

Restricted licences are still being issued where some basic electrical work can be performed as a normal part a tradesman's job, such as a plumber changing a hot water system. These licences restrict the holder to plug and lead work, and to disconnection and reconnection of like for like items.

You do not need to hold a licence to "test and tag". You must be a "competent person". You must have passed a test and tag course, or been deemed competent by someone with the appropriate qualifications.

There is indeed an allowance in the rule for the home handyman to fit plugs at home, or if you are performing the task for no reward. While you may argue that this lets you fit plugs and repair lanterns at your theatre, I'd be very nervous about letting someone with no electrical knowledge repair or rewire items that are used in a public building by people paying an admission fee.
I'm unclear as to the legalities of this.

Please don't take any of this as gospel, as it's all off the top of my head. While I hold an electrical licence, I don't pretend to be an expert on the minutia of the licencing system.
www.meltheco.org.au

You hit the target Jeff

Author: JoeMc
Date: 27/12/2009 - 13:22

You hit the target Jeff - Thanks. I remember I got my first 'Plug Cord' licence in 1960, I was 13 at the time. The licence cost the rincely sum of half a crown, which was almost a 1/4 of my weekly wage at the time. Chookas mate!

non-issue

Author: RobT (not verified)
Date: 20/12/2009 - 07:51

The lights are no longer an issue as no one came to collect them - but thanks for the advice. I shall keep it in mind for the future...

Ciao
Rob

Can't Harbour rejuvinate

Author: JoeMc
Date: 20/12/2009 - 09:26

Can't Harbour rejuvinate those lanterns, they are still very usefull & in fact for the most part, work better than a lot of the new breeds around.

Alll it takes is a wee bit of attention & maintance. To have them up & functioning again, either by making a good one out 2 or a few modifcations to bring them back up to scratch.

It can cost a lot less than forking out for new ones.

Techie gear depository?

Author: JoeMc
Date: 23/12/2009 - 10:58

It's a shame we can't orginise a depository or suppository for old used 'n abuse tech gear?

Rather than just chucking it all down the tip as landfill or whatever?

Maybe if some knows of an old unused shed or building, available on a peppercorn lease of course, where some of us old redundant techies could fix up old lighting gear or whatever. A lot of this gear can be reused in comeatres, saving costs to groups & even save our greatest reuseable resorces;- old techies as well?

Good idea

Author: Rapunzel
Date: 23/12/2009 - 14:40

We have custody of the original lighting board that was installed in the Adelaide Festival Centre...it was going to be chucked onto the tip (landfill).

If we lived in the same state I'm sure we'd join you Gaafa, in finding a place and stashing all the old gear. Husband has got quite a few old bits and pieces going again in the past, I know he'd like to do it again. Hope you find somewhere, you're right, it's a shame...

"Life is too short to stuff a mushroom"

Patt 23 aficionado

Author: Peter Probert
Date: 24/12/2009 - 03:18

Are the aforesaid lanterns still available please?

Condemned by many, they are collectors items - I have 17 which I use for their original intention - as profile spots - ideal for segregating acting (light/dark) areas (montages) and for wing booms........

Some of you have got the test n' tag story correct - it's the user who has to ensure safety.........

I could arrange their pick-up from a mate in Perth.......

Peter

Sorry, the lights are gone

Author: RobT (not verified)
Date: 02/01/2010 - 15:53

Sorry Peter,

I've been away for the last 2 weeks & the lights have been disposed of while away.

As for refurbishing them (as someone else suggested) virtually all had broken 'gates' (I think they're called) and I don't have the skill or the time to repair them, hence my initial post - they were superfluous to need due to the new lights we received through the Ignite grant - HUGE bugger we had to move otherwise we probably would have kept them as spares, but when you need to move the whole theatre you also have to rationalise what comes and what goes...

Ciao
Rob

Responsibility for electrical safety

Author: anothertech
Date: 24/12/2009 - 09:00

The Employer is responsible for electrical safety in the workplace:
SA Safework - introduction - http://www.safework.sa.gov.au/contentPages/docs/resElectGuidelinespdf.pdf
Qld - Employers and self-employed people must also ensure electrical equipment is maintained in a safe condition as part of fulfilling their obligations under the Electrical Safety Act 2002 (PDF, 788 KB). - http://www.deir.qld.gov.au/electricalsafety/workaround/electsafety/index.htm
All states have the same regs, just worded differently.

So for community theatres, the committee is responsible for electrical safety and the individual is responsible for their own actions.

How can we expect commitees

Author: JoeMc
Date: 24/12/2009 - 14:00

How can we expect commitees to worry about it, they are hard pressed finding time to attend to the more important things & whatever?

"That's the techies problem anyway!" .

What no techies -I wonder why?

Safety Management System(s)

Author: Peter Probert
Date: 04/01/2010 - 06:19

I am an advocate (professionally) of implementing both quality (of) management systems and safety management systems to ISO 9001 and AS 4801 respectively.

Whilst considered by many as bureaucratic and paper intensive in a small business - such as a theatrical company - it's not beyond one’s ken.

Risk management and the management of risk is what it's about and you couldn’t have a more fluid melting pot for risk exposure as in theatre - FOH, back stage and on the deck.

Electrical risk is always paramount and whilst left to the techies it behoves of the management entity (i.e. committee) to be aware of their responsibilities.

Implementing a basic system covering ISO 9001 and AS 4801 clauses is a good model to adopt - that's what the Standards are - models for implementing.

Test n' tag would feature in this system as something that has to be done and shown to be done...........

Cheers – Peter
Registered Lead Auditor RAB-QSA

Free Redundant Lights

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