fog machine

[jb07]

I have a fog machine that I connect on a dimmable block but I don't would like to avoid having the dimmer to make it work in "all or nothing"

The block is a : showtec multidim mkII

[kgallen]

Hi jb,

I think your initial question is eluding to a "switch profile" for the dimmer...

However I think you need to reconsider your overall proposal. A fog machine has a heater that needs constant power and usually takes a minute or two to heat up to where the fogger would work. Any control mechanism for the generation of fog needs to control the pump which forces the fog liquid over the already-hot heater element.

I would also advise against using a triac dimmer for any item of equipment that expects a mains supply within the specification of that from the normal distribution network. Triac dimmers should only be used for loads that are specifically suitable for dimming - in this case, incandescent lighting loads.

The dimmer example you give will have a mode setting that makes the dimmer behave in a switch on/off way, with a DMX threshold around 50%. However the guidance on using for suitable loads still exists.

Where your equipment can be mains on-off switched you should use a DMX-controlled switch pack that uses relays rather than triacs, like the Showtec RP-405 (https://www.thomann.de/gb/showtec_rp_405_mkii_relay_pack.htm). I use such a switch pack for turning on and off mirror ball (motors) for example.

Hope that helps.

Kevin

[Edward Z88]

Hello,

I'd echo what Kevin says, it's never a good idea to plug non-dimmable loads into a dimmer, even if you want to have the channel at full. Not only is there always the chance it could accidentally be dimmed and potentially damage the device and the dimmer, but the device may not like the messy AC sine wave you get from the output of a dimmer channel.

At your own risk, there is however a "Relay" fixture file under the "Generic" manufacturer. Again, as Kevin says this will simply switch the fog machine on and off - this will not turn the fog output on and off, which is often done with a wired remote on non-DMX smoke machines.

Edward

[jb07]

It's a fog machine not a smoke machine

45w (very low for a triac) no heating body and instant operation

 

ref : Antari HZ-100

 

[Edward Z88]

Hello,

Interesting, I haven't seen a no warm time fogger before. Product page seems to say 180w...

http://www.antari.com/index.php/web/Products_i/22

From a control point of view then, as long as the dimmer channel isn't dimmed,  and is patched as a relay this should work, however I couldn't guarantee how happy the fogger would be receiving a "messy" AC sine wave, and how happy that dimmer would be "switching" a not entirely resistive load. To know how it would cope you would need to know the fogger's power factor, however this doesn't seem to be quoted in the manual.

All the best,

Edward