Hanging DR280's Revisited....

Message

kjacobs · #1 Post by **kjacobs** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 2:49 pm

Now that concert season is over for the most part, its time to start thinking NOW (not next summer) about hanging DR280's. We are already getting wind of a show for next summer that is going to make us have to step it up a notch (or two or three). With 4 DR280's under our belt, we had an incredible concert season with them, no problem cover 1500-2000 people. This new show, however, will be covering a high school football stadium with potentially 5000 or more attendance.

It's time to hang these things!

I will most likely be using 5-6 DR280's per side plus subs on the ground. I have a couple ideas for hanging that qty of cabs, but would like others input here. Obviously it has to be safe, not put stress on the top box to hold the other 5. At 55 pounds each, 6 cabs isn't a HUGE amount of weight, but it still some weight.

Ideas anyone?

Mark Coward · #2 Post by **Mark Coward** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 3:12 pm

I don't think you can improve much on this basic design for hanging arrays.

You'd need the height for a 5 cab array. Nimrod, a poster on the PSW forum built a scaled down DIY version, but it is barely tall enough for the 3 cab array.

kjacobs · #3 Post by **kjacobs** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 10:00 am

I wasn't so much concerned with the stand for hanging the cabs, as much as recommendations for hardware for the cabs. I will probably hang from either the portable stage coming (which is setup for hanging already) or a genie lift. There will be more than enough grunts to help move a genie around.

Can the DR280 box handle the stress of 5 cabs hung underneath it? What hardware could minimize the amount of weight being supported by the top box? Bill's article on stacking DR's looked like an option for hanging, as well....but would it need to be modified for hanging, etc? Whatever the option, it would need to be strong, easy to assemble, and hopefully fairly simple to implement. Ideas?

Les Webb · #4 Post by **Les Webb** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 10:13 am

kjacobs wrote:I wasn't so much concerned with the stand for hanging the cabs, as much as recommendations for hardware for the cabs. I will probably hang from either the portable stage coming (which is setup for hanging already) or a genie lift. There will be more than enough grunts to help move a genie around.

Can the DR280 box handle the stress of 5 cabs hung underneath it? What hardware could minimize the amount of weight being supported by the top box? Bill's article on stacking DR's looked like an option for hanging, as well....but would it need to be modified for hanging, etc? Whatever the option, it would need to be strong, easy to assemble, and hopefully fairly simple to implement. Ideas?

Build, or have built, a cage that will support the weight and hang the cage. Stack the DRs in the cage and secure them to the sides.

Should work, it's an idea at least

Tim A · #5 Post by **Tim A** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 10:22 am

Just hang with me. As I've said in several posts, I have it figured out. It's beyond theory, but I won't post until it's proven safe. I'm trying to finish up the cabs, get the hanging hardware etc. It should be all done in less than a month, which is plenty of time for next year.

Les Webb · #6 Post by **Les Webb** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 10:30 am

Will your system hold 5 DR280s Tim? If it does that will totally rock!!!

Tim A · #7 Post by **Tim A** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 10:50 am

5 280's max. In order to use Bill's "bottom cabinet should be 6' high" rule, they'd need to be on a 3' high stage. If you can get by with less than that for a particular setup that's fine. Top of the stack will be 13' high.

I'm looking at another setup that would give you another 1.5' at the bottom but you'd need to get the cabs down to slightly <50lbs. each., or it will only hold 4 280's. It's more suited to 250's or 200's but could be adapted.

Les Webb · #8 Post by **Les Webb** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 12:20 pm

Tim Ard wrote:5 280's max. In order to use Bill's "bottom cabinet should be 6' high" rule, they'd need to be on a 3' high stage. If you can get by with less than that for a particular setup that's fine. Top of the stack will be 13' high.

I'm looking at another setup that would give you another 1.5' at the bottom but you'd need to get the cabs down to slightly <50lbs. each., or it will only hold 4 280's. It's more suited to 250's or 200's but could be adapted.

Les<--------Anxiously awaiting Tim's revelation

Tim A · #9 Post by **Tim A** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 12:26 pm

Les Webb wrote: Les<--------Anxiously awaiting Tim's revelation

When you see it you'll smack yourself in the forehead and go: "DOH!"

Mark Coward · #10 Post by **Mark Coward** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 1:15 pm

kjacobs wrote:I wasn't so much concerned with the stand for hanging the cabs, as much as recommendations for hardware for the cabs. I will probably hang from either the portable stage coming (which is setup for hanging already) or a genie lift. There will be more than enough grunts to help move a genie around.

Can the DR280 box handle the stress of 5 cabs hung underneath it? What hardware could minimize the amount of weight being supported by the top box? Bill's article on stacking DR's looked like an option for hanging, as well....but would it need to be modified for hanging, etc? Whatever the option, it would need to be strong, easy to assemble, and hopefully fairly simple to implement. Ideas?

Look at these pics of Nimrod's setup, he used the fly hardware from PE I believe, or something similar. One track on each side, two on the back. The cabling arrangement lets the hardware and cabling support much of the weight.

N.Webber · #11 Post by **N.Webber** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 3:37 pm

Hi,

This is how I did them:
This is the side/front hang point, reinforced with a piece of 12mm BB and big washers under the Nylock nuts.
This fly point actually only takes a quarter of this cab's weight, that's about 7 Kg.

This is the back panel reinforcement made of 18mm BB.
Here the weight of the under hung cabs is actually 'passing through the cab'
and tension loading the area between the two fly rails.
The maximum loading, with a 3 cab array and each cab adding about 14 Kg at its back fly point,
comes to about 42 Kg at the top rail of the upper cab.

Nimrod

bgavin · #12 Post by **bgavin** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 5:13 pm

Outstanding work and ideas...

Moved to Tips & Techniques to preserve this thread from culling.

vlad335 · #13 Post by **vlad335** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 5:21 pm

Wow! Those are the best looking DIY cabs I have ever seen!

*Drool*

DAVID_L_PERRY · #14 Post by **DAVID_L_PERRY** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 5:34 pm

Nimrods cabs and stand are simply superb examples of what can be achieved by the man on the street...

If a stand relies on lifting the cabs up manually its of no use to the PA hire guy going out on his own. Lifting a DR280 loaded with a delta pro driver above head height on your own is not for the fainthearted....

djstefanos · #15 Post by **djstefanos** » Sat Sep 22, 2007 9:43 am

how do they sound?