Controlling a fog machine

[GraemeJ]

Hi - I'm new here and primarily an audio person. Lighting/effects are not my forté, so please be gentle with me .

 

I recently purchased a small DMX controller, this one - eBay # 290359416655 - although it seems pretty generic to me and a Google search finds a zillion very similar controllers. Obviously, I bought it to control some lights, but it has a button for a fog machine and it would be very convenient if I could work out how to use it.

 

There is a standard IEC male socket on the back of the controller, but I'm sure I'm not supposed to plug it direct into the mains - I suspect that would let the magic smoke out of the controller!! In the complete absence of a wiring diagram (I've spent hours looking for one) I'm at a loss to know how it is supposed to be connected?

 

I have a Martin Magnum 650 fog machine and that has a hard-wired remote control. I took the remote apart and it would seem that I can possibly connect it to the controller. What I don't know - and can't find any information on - is which wires go to which pins?

 

If anyone has done this, or knows the answer, I'd be very pleased, not to say eternally grateful, to hear from you.

[LX-Dave]

Without seeing the controller (that link won't work as the item has ended), I might assume that, as many cheap controllers do, it would have a low voltage input for powering the controller, and also an IEC connection.

 

Some fog machines use an IEC connection for connecting the remote control, so by using an IEC > IEC lead, you could connect this lighting controller, instead of the supplied remote.

 

Hope this helps,

 

Dave

 

E2A:

 

I don't know whether this helps, or whether it is the standard configuration or not :unsure: http://wolfstone.halloweenhost.com/Fog/ctlgfg_RemoteSocket.png

[GraemeJ]

Without seeing the controller (that link won't work as the item has ended), I might assume that, as many cheap controllers do, it would have a low voltage input for powering the controller, and also an IEC connection.

 

Sorry about that. Here's a picture of one that looks exactly the same as mine - http://bigtang.manufacturer.globalsources....-GetProduct.htm . Most of them look exactly the same, just different shapes and colours for the knobs. I suspect they all come off the same production line :unsure: .

 

Some fog machines use an IEC connection for connecting the remote control, so by using an IEC > IEC lead, you could connect this lighting controller, instead of the supplied remote.

 

The remote on my machine is hard-wired. That said, it's pretty heavy duty cabling and I suspect it's carrying mains voltage. The light in the remote is a neon, which would indicate a high voltage.

 

I took the DMX controller apart (for 75 euro, I'm not worried about the guarantee) and had a look at the circuitry around that area. The IEC socket has three heavy duty connectors and wiring to the PCB. On the PCB itself there's only a few components, including what I assume is a high current/voltage switching transistor - the part number is not legible, so I can't be sure of that - it's undoubtably a very simple bit of circuitry.

 

I'll have to fire the smoke machine up, measure a few voltages and see if I can learn any more from them.

 

Oddly enough, although not relevant to the model I have, your picture did, indeed, give me a couple of clues/ideas, so I won't abandon the project just yet ;) .