Longest continual burst with a fog machine

[james3mc]

We have a Chauvet Geyser P7 fog machine which we initially bought for a specific effect because we could colour the output with any additional light source.

 

So my question is, what is the maximum continual burst that I can expect? We are getting about 10 seconds, is that about right?

[timsabre]

Yes that's about what I got from the ones I used recently. They are designed for short bursts and have a fairly small heater block so have to reheat.

[kerry davies]

We located one in the 90's we wanted to use outdoors but it wasn't from the events field. We found a security smoke machine that chucked out huge amounts for longer than normal. What they are like today I have no idea but there are still firms out thereLIKE THIS and likeTHIS.

 

They may not be what you are looking for but they aren't half nice toys.

Oh, and yes, it is about what you can expect.

Edited November 7, 2019 by kerry davies

[James Remo]

A lot of the security smoke gear is often rebranded Martin units, under the name of smoke cloak, the new name for Martin security smoke http://www.smokecloak.com/en/instant_protection.asp

My local bp garage even has an atomic in white built into the roof above the tills, to further disorientate the assailants.

 

You can get units rated for continuous output, such as the zr44, but they are obviously more expensive, but worthwhile in the long run, as they tend to outlast cheaper units, by at least the price ratio.

[the kid]

+1 for the zr44 or I think it is not the zr45

 

We have a client who uses them for smoke testing drains, they run them pretty hard.

[James Remo]

Zr45 replaced the zr44. I’ve not got experience with the 45 as our fleet of zr44’s are still going strong. The major weakness is the dip switches, but as you can RDM the address if it won’t behave.

[the kid]

Zr45 replaced the zr44. I’ve not got experience with the 45 as our fleet of zr44’s are still going strong. The major weakness is the dip switches, but as you can RDM the address if it won’t behave.

To be honest every internal of a martin machine I have seen uses the same pump and one of 3 heat blocks.

[timsabre]

The Chauvet Geyser as stated by the OP is a vertical firing machine (cryo jet effect type thing). Also has built in LEDs around the nozzle for colouring the fog. It's quite low profile so you can sit it on the front of the stage but this means it has quite a small block so will only run for a limited time.

 

You can't really use a ZR type machine for this unless you can conceal it in set or something.

[ImagineerTom]

For boring physics reasons it’s almost impossible to get a continuous burst (of any practical size) with anything leas than a 2kw heater chamber so if you need long or continuous run then immediately discount any machine with a power rating of less than 2kw

[IRW]

We have a Chauvet Geyser P7 fog machine which we initially bought for a specific effect because we could colour the output with any additional light source.

 

So my question is, what is the maximum continual burst that I can expect? We are getting about 10 seconds, is that about right?

 

Yep, that's the same as one I bought for a show in the summer- I was a bit disappointed, as I don't think I'd spotted this in any of the literature (seemingly like you!), and I'd hoped to run it for about 20/30 seconds. If you need a 2nd, to prolong what you are trying to do, it's on my to-do list to move it on again at some point soon...!