Maintenance: how to do it properly

1. TIDY UP

The first thing to do is to tidy up.

Take your time to open and empty all your flight-case in the warehouse (you can't imagine what you can find inside them), divide material in the different categories and then tidy it up. This step will allow you to save time and effort on your next work. For exemple you can divide interconnect cables from current carrying cables or be more precise separating audio-cable ( XLR ) from DMX cable, multi-core cable from multi-socket and so on. In this way you will have a perfect organization of your material and you can go ahead with the most important but boring step: the test!

2. TEST

The second step is the most important because it allows us to check the situation of our instruments.

By using them, instruments can wear out or spoil and it is important to set up a precise and effective test phase to avoid loss of time during soundcheck for example (how many times has it happened that a cable is faulty and creates problems?) or having to change a cable of the PA once the structure is at a high altitude, etc. Sometimes you just need to use a cable-tester ( for example the Botex CT-6) which allows to quickly test the passage of the signal of the single pins, to avoid problems while working. 

It is not enough to check individual cables, you also have to test mixer and console (also called switchboard or controller ), which usually only needs to be cleaned (to blow dust, sand, insects, …).

We also suggest you to check the wear of DMX panel connectors that may have been damaged due to the continuous insertion of the cable, and sliders (or fader) that may have impurities inside or be damaged with use.

Concerning the lighting fixtures, the most delicate and complex product is the moving head. In this case we suggest to test the mouvement and the brightness. Maybe you can link together several units so that you can see more easily if there are differences.

As for moving head we suggest to:

• Check the operation of fan and clean them;
• Check the operation of motors and of the shutter;
• Check working hours of discharge lamps and of the lampholder and in case substitute them;
• Check the operation of the ignitor of the discharge lamp (if you have already substitute the lamp more then 3 times, we suggest to change it);
• Clean the base to remove dirt on power supply circuits (sometimes we have also found flying insects that cause short circuits);
• Clean dichroic filters and sensors;

You can also have between your fixtures some theatrical projectors or photoflood. In this case we suggest to:

• Check the operation of the reflector glass, of the lampholder, of the fresnel lens o pc (antihalo) and of the optics for focusing;
• Check electrical wiring usually composed by sylicon cable (more soft and flexibles) with a section of 3x1,5mm or 3x2,5mm;

• and to make a general cleaning with air jet to eliminate impurities (dust and flying insects that can cause short circuit).
  
  

We can't close this section without talking about flight-case, precious housing that allows us to move lots of material in an easy and safety way.

They are often mistread, loaded on our vehicles in a hurry, suffering shocks, vibrations, dragged on the most disparate surfaces (cement, stones, pavet, sand,...). A good maintenance and the timely replacement of some important elements such as wheels, hinges and handles allows to make them last forever without spending lots of money.  

3.UPDATE

To be ready for the next season, it is important to take stock of the state of your equipment.

Is it new or old? Do I need to substitute damaged or  wear material? Are there innovations that can help me in my job? Do I have equipment that I haven't used or that I have used less then what I I've planned? Answering these questions can help us completely update our warehouse. The end of the season is the perfect period to evaluate new purchases or sell that material that we don't need or that we have used little compared to our work standard.

4. RECUPERATE

There are a lot of things to do and time is probably not enough. Anyway to be ready for the next season it is important to relax and recuperate.

So take your time, go on vacation, turn off your mind and relax. That's the secret to recharge battery before a new season starts.