Resources for the crew · Electric department

Electric prep checklist

Electric prep is the check of fixtures, cable and distribution at the rental house before the shoot. Every light is switched on and tested; anything that does not work is replaced there, not on set. The list is generic and does not replace the gaffer, who is responsible for electrical safety. Fill it in here, on your phone or computer: add the items that are missing, remove the ones you do not need, then download the PDF or send it to the crew and the rental house.

Prefer paper? Download the blank printable PDF (4 pages, 287 KB) · © Nicola Cattani AIC · CC BY 4.0

00Project

Film or project titleDirectorDirector of photographyProduction companyRental housePrep datesShoot datesLighting and power package

Contacts

Production (contact)
Rental house (contact)
Director of photography
Gaffer
Best boy electric
Generator operator

01General

Rental list checked against the gaffer’s list; differences confirmed with production and the rental house
Missing items noted and reported to the rental house straight away
Condition of the kit photographed; damage to fixtures, cable and cases noted and reported to the rental house

02Fixtures

Every fixture switched on and tested at full output; serial numbers noted
Dimming smooth from bottom to top, with no flicker at the planned shooting speeds
LED: colour temperature and colour rendering checked; same firmware on fixtures of the same model
Fans quiet enough for sync sound, including in silent mode
Lenses, safety glass and reflectors intact and clean
Accessories present for every fixture: barndoors, gel frames, grids, softboxes, lanterns

03Ballasts and power supplies

HMI: cold strike and hot restrike tested with their own ballast
Head‑to‑ballast cables intact, connectors clean and tight
Ballasts and power supplies free of hum or overheating after at least thirty minutes

04Cable and distribution

Cable and extensions intact: no cuts in the jacket, no burn marks on plugs or sockets
Enough CEE 16, 32 and 63 A connectors; adaptors present
Distribution boxes with residual current devices; test button pressed and working
Power strips rated for the planned load
Cable ramps and mats for walkways

05Generator or tie‑in

Generator output checked against the total planned load, with headroom
Fuel, earthing and a position away from set and from the sound recordist agreed
Location power: panel and available capacity checked by a qualified electrician

06Lighting control

Desk or control app tested; DMX addresses assigned and marked on every fixture
Wireless DMX (CRMX): transmitters and receivers paired and tested at set distance
Spare DMX cables and terminators

07Gels and diffusion

Conversion gels (CTO, CTB) and correction present as listed
Lighting ND and diffusion in rolls and sheets
Enough wooden pegs, aluminium tape and gaffer tape

08Batteries

Batteries for battery‑powered LEDs: enough for the day, all charged, condition noted
Chargers working and battery plates compatible with the fixtures

09Safety

CO2 fire extinguisher next to the distribution and the generator
Safety cables on every fixture rigged overhead
Work gloves and personal protective equipment present
Cable runs marked and protected across walkways

10Expendables and spares

Spare lamps and fuses for the fixtures that use them
Cable ties, tape, pliers and tools; tester or multimeter

11Fixture sheet

Fixture	Serial no.	Power on	Dimmer	Fan	Accessories	Notes

12Prep wrap‑up

Replaced or missing itemsNotes

GafferReported to the rental house (contact)Date