Power distribution cables with CEE connectors for film lighting, ranging from 16mm² (63A) to 120mm² (125A), featuring tinned copper conductors and reinforced neoprene jacketing.
Technical Details
Feeder cables are made of tinned copper conductors with EPDM rubber insulation and a reinforced neoprene outer jacket for mechanical durability. Standard versions: 16 mm² (63A), 25 mm² (80A), 50 mm² (100A), and 120 mm² (125A). The cables are equipped with CEE connectors (16A to 125A) according to IEC 60309 with phase rotation protection. Temperature range: -25°C to +60°C, bending radius at least ten times the cable diameter.
Variants include single-core individual cables for distribution systems, multi-core round cables for mobile applications, and flat ribbon cables (Socapex multicore) with 6x2.5 mm² for smaller loads up to 2.5 kW.
History & Development
In 1958, the French company Socapex developed the first standardized film cables for Nouvelle Vague productions. In 1963, Arri introduced the CEE standard for German film sets. The breakthrough came in 1975 with Osram's HMI technology, which required cables with higher current capacities.
Modern developments: Halogen-free cables from 1995 onwards, LED-optimized versions with reduced cross-sections since 2010, hybrid data cables for DMX control since 2015.
Practical Use in Film
On "Blade Runner 2049" (2017), electricians laid over 2 km of feeder cable for exterior shots in Budapest to power 18 kW ArriMax spotlights. "The Revenant" (2015) used 95 mm² cables over a distance of 300 meters for 12 kW HMIs in the Canadian wilderness.
Typical workflow: Cable lengths are calculated in advance (voltage drop max. 3%), cables are laid using cable carts, grounding is ensured via separate PE conductors. Advantage: High flexibility in spotlight positioning. Disadvantage: Weight (25 mm² cable weighs 1.8 kg/m), laying effort.
Comparison & Alternatives
Distinction from extension cords: Feeder cables are for permanent installation and long distances, extension cords are for spontaneous connections under 50 meters. Schuko cables are only suitable up to 3.5 kW, CEE16A up to 11 kW, and above that exclusively feeder cables.
Modern alternative: Powercon systems from Neutrik for LED panels up to 3.5 kW with locking connectors. Studios are increasingly using permanently installed busbar systems instead of mobile cables.