ELECTRICAL SERVICES

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

“Electricity is measured in terms of amperage, voltage, and wattage. Amperage (amps for short) is a measure of the amount of electricity used. Voltage (volts) measures the pressure, or force, of electricity. The amps multiplied by the volts gives you the wattage (watts), a measure of the work that electricity does per second.

“Think of it this way: Electricity flowing through a wire is like water flowing through a garden hose. The amount of water (amps) that can fit through the hose depends on the diameter of the hose. The pressure of the water (volts) depends on how far open the faucet is. The amount of work that can be done (watts) depends on both the amount and the pressure of the water (volts x amps = watts).”

To remember the simple formula, think of the West Virginia rule: W = VA (watts equals volts times amps). This formula comes in handy when you fill out your electricity forms, because different venues may ask for your order in different units.

The electrical form in your exhibitor kit will ask you to compute your power needs for everything you’ll need to plug in for your exhibit, from equipment and products to your cell-phone charger and laptop. To compute your power requirements, check the silver CE label (which stands for Conformité Européene, and signifies that the product meets certain electrical standards) on the back or bottom of your equipment, which states the electrical usage in amps or watts, voltage, and phase requirements. (Power comes in either one or three phases. Small equipment requires one phase, and heavy equipment can require three phases.) Wattage is also printed on light bulbs. Then compute the requirements into the correct unit of measurement at 120 volts, the U.S. standard for household and office wiring.

Generally, small equipment such as lighting and computers will run on 120 volts, but large products such as manufacturing equipment may require 208 volts. To leave room to accommodate power fluctuations, plan to use 80 percent of a circuit’s capacity. If you’re unsure of what your equipment will need, don’t hesitate to call the show’s head electrician. I believe electricians are the most helpful of all labor you’ll meet on the show floor.

There’s a lot of confusion surrounding electrical requirements, so here are non-technical answers to exhibitors’ most frequently asked questions.

1.  How do I know whether power will come from a floor or wall outlet, or drop from the ceiling?
Start by reading your exhibitor kit and looking at the floor plan. The electrical order form from the show’s electrical contractor usually provides this information. If not, call the number listed on the electrical order form. Your floor plan might also show floor ports as small rectangular boxes, usually on 30-foot centers — fuse boxes built into the floor about every 30 feet throughout the exhibit hall. A “drop” is wherever the electrical terminates with an outlet into which you can plug your electrical cord.

2. Where will my electrical outlet(s) be placed in my exhibit?
If you’re using a linear or peninsula exhibit, your electrical outlet will be placed at the center of your back wall unless you inform the electrical contractor ahead of time that you want it somewhere else by providing the contractor with a scaled floor plan of your exhibit.

For an island exhibit, you need to submit a scaled floor plan, showing the exhibit’s position and orientation in relation to the front of the hall, aisles, and other booths; the location of the main drop; and the exact location and amount of power required at each outlet. Label each location with dimensions showing how far the drop should be from the outer edge of the exhibit in two perpendicular directions. The minimum 120-volt electrical drop is 500 watts per location, and the maximum is 2,000 watts per location.

3. Do I need to supervise my electrical installation?
The electrical order form in your exhibitor services manual will give you the option to check a box specifying “Supervised” or “Proceed without supervision,” which allows you to indicate if you want electricians to lay your under-carpet electrical before you arrive on site. You should also provide detailed drawings for more complicated layouts.  Without the orientation (surrounding booth numbers) it is possible for the electricians to flip the layout of our exhibit’s electrical wiring by 180 degrees. This creates headaches for the exhibitor and added work for the electrician.

If you are renting show carpet, note on your carpet order that you don’t want the carpet laid until your electrical or other under-carpet wiring such as Internet or camera cable is completed. If the carpet is taped down before your electrical cords are placed underneath, your electricity will either be laid on top of the carpet — an unsightly trip hazard — or “fished” underneath the carpet using a pole with a hook on the end to try to place it correctly. In this case, the electrical cannot be taped flat to the floor and can again create a ridge and a trip hazard.

4. Am I permitted to plug in my own equipment in my exhibit?
Union jurisdictions vary from city to city. But, in most cities, an exhibitor can plug exhibit properties and equipment into 120-volt outlets and can interconnect equipment. When in doubt, read your exhibitor services manual for specifics. If you’re still not clear, call the number on the electrical order form and ask to speak with the show’s head electrician.

5. Do I need to use surge protectors in my exhibit?
To protect your equipment, use good-quality surge-protector strips between extension cords and your equipment and lighting.

Most convention centers allow you to use your own surge protectors rather than forcing you to rent them, but make sure yours are Underwriters Laboratories (UL) rated and have three prongs (the third is for grounding.

6. Can I use my own extension cords rather than rent them?
Always check with the facility or contractor’s electricians before assuming you can provide your own extension cords. The most common specifications require flat (not round) cords if used under carpet. Specifications also typically require that all cords are three-wire, grounded, Underwriters Laboratories (UL) rated, and have a minimum 14-gauge wire.  Any cord laid under carpet or inside a wall is required to be provided and installed by the electrical contractor due to insurance reasons.

7. Do I need 24-hour power? How much does it cost compared to standard power?
The standard power on the show floor is generally turned on an hour or two before show opening and turned off as quickly as a half-hour after show close. Check the electrical section of your exhibitor-services manual to determine the specifics for each show. If you need power in your exhibit beyond this timeframe, order 24-hour power, which is usually double the standard cost.

8. How will I be charged for my electrical power?
You’ll be billed for the following:

The actual electrical power you order/use at either the pre-show discounted rate or the full non-discounted rate, available in 120 volt, 208 volt, and 480 volt, and one and three phases.

Any materials used to install your electricity, including wiring and connectors.

Rental items, including cords, surge protectors, lifts, and light fixtures.

The electricians’ labor hours billed at straight time or overtime. Exhibitors are generally charged actual time for installation, and automatically charged half the installation time for tearing out the wiring during dismantle.

9. How can I save money on my electrical bill?
Consider the following tips to help avoid unnecessary expenses.

Plan ahead so you can meet the discount deadline noted on the electrical order form. This can save you up to half of your cost of electrical power.

Draw an accurate, scaled floor plan of your exhibit showing where you need power and how much you need in each location. Call the show electrician to review your needs and the most economical way to meet them.

 

How much power do I need?
Power requirements are based first on voltage, then on the total wattage or amperage of the lighting and/or equipment to be connected.
120 Volt

Any piece of equipment that plugs into a standard wall outlet found in a home or office (in North America) will require 120 volt power. The wattage or amperage of that equipment is noted on a name plate or stamp usually located on the back or bottom of the equipment. (If there is no name plate please refer to the Electrical Usage Guide for typical equipment brought to shows.) Simply add together the wattage of each piece (if power usage is rated in amps convert into watts 1 amp = 100 watts).

For lighting, simply total the wattage of the bulbs.
Add the equipment and lighting wattages together for the total power requirement. Exhibitors can order any outlet which exceeds that number. E.g. – 800 watt total requires a 1000 watt outlet but would also work with a 1500 watt outlet.

208 Volt & Higher
Equipment requiring higher voltages range from heavy machinery to industrial cooking devices. It is usually rated at 208 volt but could be 220 or 230 volt. Orders may also be placed for 480 volt for heavy industrial (American), 380 volt (European), or 600 volt (Canadian).

Refer to the name plate or stamp on the bottom or back of the equipment to determine the voltage, amperage and phasing. The term wattage is typically not used with higher voltage equipment.

Examples of some name plate readings are:

1. 208 Volt, 30 Amp, Three Phase (3Ø)
2. 230 Volt, 20 Amp, Single Phase (1Ø).

Power usage for 208 or higher voltage is specific and cannot be combined. A separate connection must be ordered for each individual piece of equipment.

If 220 or 230 volt power is required, a transformer will be required to “boost” the power to the higher voltage. The transformer order is always placed in addition to, not in place of, a 208 volt order. When an order is placed for a B&B transformer it is assumed that the customer has requested the proper equipment for their machine. If a customer is inquiring about 220 or 230 volt power for their piece of equipment it should be recommended that they check with their electrician and/or engineer to determine if the unit will function properly with 208 volt power before ordering. Heating appliances will normally function fine (unless the unit has sensitive electronics). It will just take longer for the unit to heat up.

Is the price for power per day?
Outlet or connection prices are typically for an entire show.

How many places will I have to plug in? How many things can I plug in?
For 120 volt connections, exhibitors are provided with a duplex receptacle (two sockets) much like a home or office outlet. Whether the exhibitor utilizes one or both sockets on the receptacle the total wattage of the equipment they are plugging in must not exceed their order.

Example – An order is placed for a 500 watt outlet. A track light with 4 – 100 watt bulbs is plugged in, using 400 of the 500 watts. Any lighting or equipment now plugged in to the second socket may not exceed 100 watts.

Exhibitors who require more than the two connection points should be advised to rent CTS plug strips or provide their own to ensure that there are enough sockets to connect their equipment. Advise the exhibitor, however, that the power usage is the dictating factor not the number of places to plug in.

All orders exceeding 120 volt/20 amps provide one connection point only and usually require labor for installation.

 Where will my power be located?
In-line and peninsula booths will find their main power source on the floor at the rear of their booth. Island booths need to submit a floor plan noting the location and quantity of the power. The surrounding aisle or booth numbers should also be indicated to provide orientation of the booth.

Example