The production manager reviewed the venue’s electrical specifications: 200 amps available on two 100-amp legs. The LED wall alone would consume 180 amps at full brightness, leaving virtually nothing for lighting, audio, or support equipment. This common scenario where LED power requirements exceed casual assumptions derails events when discovered during load-in rather than planning. Understanding essential power calculations enables accurate advance planning and appropriate infrastructure requests.
Calculating LED Power Consumption
LED panels consume power proportional to their brightness and the content displayed. Manufacturers specify maximum power consumption typically 500-1,000 watts per square meter for indoor panels but actual consumption varies with content. Full white at maximum brightness approaches maximum ratings; typical content with mixed colors and moderate brightness might average 40-60% of maximum. Planning should use maximum ratings for electrical infrastructure sizing while understanding that actual consumption will usually be lower.
A 10×5 meter LED wall (50 square meters) with panels rated at 600W/m² maximum consumes up to 30,000 watts approximately 130 amps at 230V or 250 amps at 120V. These significant power requirements often exceed what standard venue circuits provide. Products from ROE Visual, Absen, and other manufacturers include power specifications in technical documentation—reviewing these during planning prevents unpleasant surprises.
Electrical Distribution Requirements
Power distribution systems convert venue service into the connections LED walls require. Cam-lok connectors provide high-current feeder connections from venue panels or generators. Distribution boxes from Motion Labs, Lex Products, and Mole-Richardson break down these feeds into the individual circuits that power LED panel groups. Proper distribution includes circuit protection, ground fault protection where required, and capacity headroom that prevents nuisance trips during operation.
Load balancing across available phases prevents overloading individual legs of three-phase service. Unbalanced loads create neutral current that wastes capacity and can overheat conductors. Professional power distribution design distributes LED wall sections across phases intentionally, monitoring actual loads during operation to verify balanced utilization. Power monitoring systems from ETC Sensor3 and similar platforms provide real-time visibility into power consumption, enabling proactive load management.
Generator Considerations
When venue power proves insufficient, generator rental supplements available capacity. Generators must be sized for the combined load of all equipment they’ll power LED walls plus lighting, audio, and support systems—with margin for motor starting currents and operational headroom. A production requiring 400 amps might specify a 500-amp generator for adequate margin. Companies like Aggreko and United Rentals provide generator rental services familiar with event production requirements.
Generator placement affects both noise and cable run distances. Generators produce substantial noise that must not intrude on event audio—positioning far from venues and programming spaces addresses this but increases cable costs and voltage drop over distance. Feeder cables sized for long runs avoid the performance degradation that undersized cables create. Production planning should identify generator positioning early, enabling accurate cable specifications and avoiding last-minute relocations that create problems.
Power planning represents essential production infrastructure that enables everything else to function. LED walls, lighting, audio, and support systems all depend on adequate, properly distributed electrical service. Productions that invest appropriate attention in power planning—calculating actual requirements, specifying appropriate distribution, and arranging backup when needed—operate confidently knowing their infrastructure supports their technical ambitions. Those who treat power as an afterthought discover its importance only when equipment fails to function during critical moments.
