Protecting LED equipment on tour: DjemLED’s Choice
As an AV rental company, especially when LED screens are your specialty, you work daily with expensive equipment that needs a lot of power. But how do you best protect this equipment against the unpredictability that electricity brings? This was exactly the challenge that Joost Moerbeek from DjemLED set out to solve in 2022. Since then, DjemLED has invested in multiple StageSmarts C12 and C24 units to better streamline and safeguard their LED projects.
About DjemLED
Joost first entered the event world through DJ-ing at parties and events.
“When I started my company in 2007, it didn’t take long before I purchased the first LED screens. The demand for LED projects grew so much that I didn’t have any time left for DJ-ing. As our portfolio grew, we slowly became involved with bigger festivals again – only this time from the AV project side,” Joost says.
Choosing the right power distribution
With so many LED projects on the schedule, properly preparing for the demanding power requirements of these productions became a priority for DjemLED. Joost explored several power distribution brands, but none fully matched his expectations. Whether it was about available safety features or the structural integrity of the unit, he still hadn’t found the right fit. That’s when he turned to Rolight, StageSmarts’ distributor in the Netherlands, and discovered StageSmarts.
“One of the most important things I’ve learned since working with StageSmarts equipment is that the power coming into the distribution unit is just as, if not more, important than the power leaving the unit. Additionally, the quality of the power supply, at a venue, for instance, is not a given,” says Joost.
Smarter monitoring and control with StageSmarts
Joost invested in his first C12 and C24 units and hasn’t looked back since.
“With my C-units, I can see on the monitor at a glance which load is connected to which channel. The modular design and intuitive interface allow me to keep a clear overview of which channels are in use and where problems are occurring, and I can even solve them remotely through the web interface. It’s also possible to get insight into the total power usage of a production. This is useful knowledge to have if you want to know the total emissions of an event, for example.”
Preventing loss of neutral
One of the key advantages of StageSmarts equipment, according to Joost, is the loss-of-neutral sensor. This protects against a dangerous situation where the neutral line can’t accommodate the returning current – causing overload and potential damage to connected equipment. The built-in sensor in StageSmarts PDUs prevents this by automatically disconnecting the equipment when there’s a risk of overload.
Beyond this, the StageSmarts units also feature hydraulic-magnetic breakers that manage inrush currents and earth leakage effectively, without compromising performance. The built-in sensor in StageSmarts PDUs prevents this by automatically disconnecting the equipment when there’s a risk of overload.
Beyond this, the StageSmarts units also feature hydraulic-magnetic breakers that manage inrush currents and earth leakage effectively, without compromising performance.
“My StageSmarts units are an insurance for the rest of my equipment,” says Joost. “The projects we work on require a lot of power, and a lot can go wrong. You want to avoid risking your equipment because of a cheap power distribution unit or a low-grade power setup – at any cost.”
Supporting large-scale LED projects
DjemLED’s portfolio today spans both corporate events and festivals like Soenda Indoor and other dance festivals. These larger events come with more complex setups.
“Instead of one screen like at corporate events or congresses, we usually need many more screens at festivals. The power has to be distributed properly. For these applications we typically use a C24 with Harting outputs, which makes it easy to distribute groups to various locations,” Joost explains.
When investing in power distribution, Joost offers this advice:
“Make sure you understand your power distribution needs and choose a unit that fits them. I handle most of my projects with my C12, but if you already know your projects will grow in size and complexity, don’t hesitate to go for a C24 instead.”