Event Power Guide to Prevent Tripped Breakers and Blackouts

Power is often one of the most overlooked parts of event planning. People focus on speakers, screens, lighting and microphones, but none of it matters if the power fails.

One tripped breaker can shut down a keynote, kill a dance floor or make an outdoor wedding go silent. Good power planning isn't about overthinking. It’s about knowing what your AV gear needs, what the venue can provide and how to match the two safely.

Our Channel Audio team is here to explore how you can prevent tripped breakers and blackouts during your event.

Why Power Problems Happen During Events With AV

Most event power failures come from three situations:

• Overloads: Overload happens when too many devices pull from the same circuit. Many outlets in a room are tied together behind the scenes, so plugging into “different outlets” doesn't always mean different circuits.

• Bad Distributions: Distribution problems happen when power exists but isn't routed well. Long, thin extension cords, cheap power strips and stacked adapters cause voltage drop and heat, leading to flickering gear, audio noise and, eventually, tripped breakers.

• Wrong Assumptions: Wrong assumptions cause some of the biggest issues because every power source has a real limit. Typically, ballrooms aren't built for huge AV rigs, and outdoor generators aren't unlimited.

The Basic Electrical Math You Need

You don't need deep electrical training to plan power well. Basic concepts like electrical load calculations and circuit limits make power planning much easier. You only need to understand volts, amps and watts.

Most U.S. outlets are 120 volts, and circuits are usually rated at 15 or 20 amps. Watts are what equipment actually uses, and watts equal volts times amps.

A 15-amp circuit can technically supply about 1,800 watts, and a 20-amp circuit may supply about 2,400 watts. However, you should never plan to use all of that, as it's best to stay under 80% of the limit.

That means roughly 1,400 watts on a 15-amp circuit and about 1,900 watts on a 20-amp circuit. This safety margin prevents nuisance trips and overheating and gives you breathing room when equipment spikes during loud or bright moments.

What Uses the Most Power at Events?

Not all gear uses power the same way. Small electronics like mixers, wireless mic receivers and laptops use very little power, so many stay under 100 to 200 watts.

Powered speakers draw more, especially subwoofers. Even if spec sheets list huge numbers, in reality, it's usually a few hundred watts per speaker, with short spikes during loud music or heavy bass.

However, video gear can add up fast. Large TVs, bright projectors and switching racks use a lot, especially when you run multiple screens.

Then there's catering gear, which is often the biggest wildcard. Coffee urns, food warmers and popcorn machines can use over 1,000 watts each. One item can almost max out a 15-amp circuit by itself, which is why it's best practice not to share circuits between AV and food services.

Why the Outlets Can Lie

Two outlets that look separate can still be on the same breaker. Sometimes an entire wall shares one circuit, and you can’t tell just by glancing at it. Professional crews test outlets instead of guessing, because without testing, you're gambling with the event.

Running cords all over the room doesn't spread the load. Only separate circuits do. The only way to know for sure is to test or get clear circuit information from the venue.

Here's a quick way to test circuits using a circuit tracer:

1. Plug the tracer transmitter into the outlet

2. Scan the breaker panel with the receiver

3. Note which breaker it identifies

4. Repeat on the next outlet

If both point to the same breaker, then they're on the same circuit.

You Must Plan the Power Before You Arrive

Power planning should happen on paper before gear ever rolls in. Start with a full equipment list and include everything that plugs in, even easy-to-forget items like charging stations and control tablets. Estimate the wattage for each piece and group items by area, such as stage, control, video and catering. Add up each group to see what each zone needs.

Next, talk to the venue and ask what circuits exist in each area and whether any are dedicated to AV. Many venues aren't sure, and that's normal. If they don't know, plan a short site visit to test. 20 minutes of testing can prevent hours of chaos later.

Once you know your limits, design your setup around them. Your setup might mean spreading gear across rooms, bringing in extra power or downsizing the setup to fit reality.

Your Cables and Strips Matter

Extension cords and power strips aren't just afterthought accessories. Thin orange extension cords aren't built for heavy event loads. They heat up and drop voltage, causing the gear to act strangely and breakers to trip. Thicker gauge cords are safer for longer runs and handle current better. Connections should be tight and minimal, because every plug and adapter adds resistance and heat.

Stacking power strips into other strips is a bad idea and is often against venue rules for a reason, especially when you look at extension cord and power strip safety rules. Additionally, avoid tightly coiling cords while they're in use, because coils trap heat and increase the risk.

Outdoor Power Changes Everything

Outdoor events remove the safety net of building power and require more planning. Small hardware store generators are often unstable for sensitive AV gear. Inverter generators are better because they produce cleaner, more consistent power.

When renting a generator, always choose a unit with more capacity than you think you need. If your load is 6000-watts, don't rent a 6000 watt generator. Aim for at least 30 to 50% headroom, so in that case, you would want something in the 8000 to 9000 watt range. Generators last longer and run more smoothly when they aren't running at their limit.

Fuel planning matters too. You need to know how long the generator will run at your expected load and plan refueling so it can happen without shutting everything down.

What to Know About Sharing Power With Other Event Vendors

Even perfect power plans can fail when others tap into your circuits. Caterers, photo booths and other event vendors often arrive later and plug into whatever outlet is closest, and that outlet might already be powering your subwoofers or your video wall.

It's best practice to label and protect your circuits whenever possible. Coordinate with other vendors so everyone knows where to plug in and where not to. This seemingly minor step prevents more blackouts than any other, because most failures come from someone unknowingly adding a heavy load at the last minute.

What Are the Warning Signs Before a Blackout Happens?

Power problems usually whisper before they scream. A few blackout warning signs include:

• Speakers popping

• Videos flickering

• Projectors shutting down

• Computers restarting

These aren't random glitches. They're signs of voltage drop or overload. If you ignore them, a full blackout is usually next. When these signs appear, check the loads immediately and remove anything nonessential from the circuit before it trips completely.

Why Backup Planning is Vital for Events

Any professional AV team has a backup plan in place, whether they use it or not. A backup plan for event power failures might include: 

• Identifying spare circuits in advance,

• Having backup generators on standby or battery systems for control gear

• Knowing how to quickly reduce load, if needed, by turning off noncritical equipment

You can't control every failure, but you can control how fast you recover and how small the problem stays.

Plan Your Event Power With Channel Audio in Middle Tennessee

Great events feel simple because the hard work happened early. Power is invisible when it works and unforgettable when it fails. Most blackouts aren't a case of bad luck. They're planning mistakes. With the right process and the right team, they're completely avoidable.

If you're planning an event in Nashville or throughout Middle Tennessee, don't leave power to chance. At Channel Audio, our team provides reliable AV for weddings, corporate events, galas and outdoor productions across the Mid-South region. We handle the technical details so your event stays loud, bright and running without interruption.

Reach out to Channel Audio today and let us build a power plan that keeps your event going and your guests impressed.