HOYS Posted April 1, 2006 Share Posted April 1, 2006 For a upcoming production of Joseph, we are thinking of pots in the show. How could I make a trigger, that isn't just plugging it into the wall. I was thinking of plugging it into a light socket (controlled by the board) and triggering it with a cue, but the Tech Director said that didnt work even with a conversion cable. He also said that the cord has to be less then 20 feet. Any fixes for that? -HOYS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew C Posted April 1, 2006 Share Posted April 1, 2006 Sorry if I'm being dim, but I have no idea what you are asking! Not English by any chance? Pots? Conversion from what to what? Cord less than 20 feet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wycome5 Posted April 1, 2006 Share Posted April 1, 2006 If you are posting in the correct topic forum (Effects and Pyro) my guess is that you are talking about pyro pots (i.e. theatrical flashes etc) and you want to know how to fire them. If this is correct then it seems clear that you should not do this as neither you or the Technical Director seem to have the required knowledge to safely fire pyrotechnics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob the Spark Posted April 1, 2006 Share Posted April 1, 2006 How could I make a trigger, that isn't just plugging it into the wall. What??? Surely not if you are talking about theatrical flashes Frightening Don't even think about doing anything as stupid as going anywhere near pyros without the appropriate knowledge and training, which with a question like yours, you clearly don't have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulears Posted April 1, 2006 Share Posted April 1, 2006 You know, I think this is the first time a poster has suggested (if I'm translating this correctly) firing pyros from the mains, direct from a dimmer. wow! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew C Posted April 1, 2006 Share Posted April 1, 2006 I suppose it is still April 1st in some parts of the world... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOYS Posted April 1, 2006 Author Share Posted April 1, 2006 Actually no, this isnt a april fools joke. We used them for a preformance of Frankenstein before. My Tech Director knows how to use them, I'm just brainstorming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the kid Posted April 1, 2006 Share Posted April 1, 2006 So if they (tech director) knows how to use pryo why change whats tried by them (assuming they have used proper firing components). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gareth Posted April 1, 2006 Share Posted April 1, 2006 My Tech Director knows how to use themActually, I'm guessing that perhaps he doesn't, otherwise you wouldn't be posting here asking the question .... And if he did really know how to use them, he wouldn't be talking about strange 20-foot limits on cable length ... Sorry if all the replies you're getting seem a bit negative, but you have to remember that pyrotechnic devices are one of the easiest things in a theatre technician's 'arsenal' with which to seriously damage, or kill, an actor or one of your fellow technicians. They're definitely not things which should be in the hands of someone who doesn't know what they're doing, unless there's supervision from someone who does. And the fact that you're considering firing them by plugging them into a dimmer circuit ... well, sorry to be blunt, but if that's not an indication of someone who doesn't know about safe use of pyro then I don't know what it. The best advice would be to find someone who knows what they're doing, and get them to come along to help you with the effects you want to achieve - get them to show you how to do it safely and using the correct equipment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomo Posted April 1, 2006 Share Posted April 1, 2006 One thing I wish to make EXTREMELY clear. NEVER, EVER, EVER fire pyros under DMX or MIDI control without extensive extra safety measures to ensure that the DMX controller CANNOT fire a pyro without local, short term activation.If you don't know what that might mean, don't even consider it. Personally, I'd never run pyros under DMX control in any circumstances, but I know some people who have put significant safety measures in place and they consider them to be sufficient. Remember:DMX and MIDI do NOT guarantee to transmit packets correctly, or even at all.Minor errors in the DMX signal could cause premature firing of pyros with no warning whatsoever. Even with an automated firing system that works perfectly with guaranteed data, you still need somebody who can instantly veto an effect if somebody or something is too close - the guy up in the control booth may not be able to see enough to do this anyway. One other thing:Brainstorming may be a useful method, but when you come to control systems you MUST know what you are controlling, and exactly what signals it needs. Without that crucial piece of information, you will waste time on ideas that could never be made to work or would even be dangerous and/or illegal. And if he did really know how to use them, he wouldn't be talking about strange 20-foot limits on cable length ...It's plausible that this is due to a load limit on his firing unit. It's a very, very low limit though, and I'd wonder about the safety and reliability of a system that sensitive to cable losses.Heck, I have a few designs that should exceed that specification when driven from a coin cell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jivemaster Posted April 2, 2006 Share Posted April 2, 2006 You are entering the realms of ordnance disposal by trial and error! Do Lincoln's course before you do pyros. That way you come up to speed with current regs and practises without killing or maiming anyone. Lincoln's course (see the association of stage pyro - www.stage-pyro.org.uk) is the current state of the art with the teaching of art and science, law and practice of pyro in the entertainment environment in the UK. Your theatre supplier should sell you the pyros and hire you the controller, but you are not safe to use it without current training, Especially as MSER became law recently (ish) and replaced all the various old regs and changed all the rules for storing pyros. Pyros are low voltage! this enables the use of temporary wiring that wouldnt comply for mains use - bell wire and twisted connections for example. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomo Posted April 2, 2006 Share Posted April 2, 2006 I'm guessing that he's American studying at Berkeley, which would mean that MSER wouldn't apply. However, if I were him, I'd be having a quick glance at the several extremely serious pyro accidents that have happened in the USA in recent years, some of which killed a great number of people and burned down the entire venue. Those were caused by people doing stupid things and not reading the manufacturer's guidelines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnymurray Posted April 2, 2006 Share Posted April 2, 2006 I can only echo what has been said above! Don't be playing with pyros if you have any doubts whatsoever about using them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jnfuk Posted April 2, 2006 Share Posted April 2, 2006 Im no expert on pyros, but surely the best way to fire pyros is to use a certified firing system such as the Le Maitre Prostage firing systems? I know that they can be hired at minimal cost from White Light as I've used them several times at collage and they come complete with controller/firing unit, cable and pods if needed. As for cabling, length isnt the problem, I've run pyro cables in excess of 50ft without any problems. there are however two rules that I recommend be followed stringently 1. NEVER coil pyro cables and 2. NEVER run pyro cables along side mains cables or speaker cables. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wycome5 Posted April 2, 2006 Share Posted April 2, 2006 There is some restrictions on length, it is usually in the region of 50 meteres however, nothing like 20ft. Why would you never coil pyro cable? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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