Stargaze Studios Posted May 10, 2005 Share Posted May 10, 2005 Is there any way at all, to convert a remote of a cheap smoke machine (IEC) to DMX or 0-10v so as it can be used through a desk? Cheers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted May 10, 2005 Share Posted May 10, 2005 It totally depends on the smoke machine in question but if we are talking your average £50 disco-special then the short answer is no. The long answer is yes but it will cost more than buying a smoke machine with DMX control. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam.henderson Posted May 10, 2005 Share Posted May 10, 2005 Have a look in the Frog Support Forums in the 'How do I' section. There has been a very recent discussion there on how to control a Jem Technohaze through a DEMUX. Sam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russ Posted May 10, 2005 Share Posted May 10, 2005 Yeah a demux would work, because most smoke machines (at least the martin/jem ones) use an analogue 0-10v signal, with less than 2v being on, and 2-10v being pump. You'd need to keep it on 2v all the time, or else rig up some sort of widget to provide the necessary voltage. Sounds like the technohaze is a little more of a problem though. But it does mean using a demux, which seems slightly wasteful for one channel. A single channel DMX-smoke converter sounds like a £20 job to be honest, maybe I should go into business. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted May 10, 2005 Share Posted May 10, 2005 A demux is fine but we're not talking smoke machines with any sort of standard interface here - we're talking cheapo units with an IEC interface connector. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SceneMaster Posted May 10, 2005 Share Posted May 10, 2005 Are those IEC outputs on these smoke machines 240v I presume so and the control just makes the circuit on mains switching circuit for the pump...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darkfold Posted May 11, 2005 Share Posted May 11, 2005 I'd say:Pay a student to do it, or set aside money for a new machine. The ammount of pratting about required to convert a DMX signal isnt worth it IMHO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SceneMaster Posted May 11, 2005 Share Posted May 11, 2005 Yes there is a lot of prating about and it would be cheaper to buy a small DMX smoke machine but you could use a protocol converter such as the Milford Instruments DMX to serial/analogue out then use the low voltage output from this to drive a relay for the remote then mount them all in a little box but you wouldn’t be able to see the status light many of these small machines have… just go with the small DMX machine if you really need it to be DMX as it will save you the hassle… you could alternately extend the IEC cable… :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david.elsbury Posted May 11, 2005 Share Posted May 11, 2005 I'd say:Pay a student to do it, or set aside money for a new machine. The ammount of pratting about required to convert a DMX signal isnt worth it IMHO<{POST_SNAPBACK}>Dedicate a dimmer channel to the "smoke machine" and have it control a desklamp gelled green, and let that be the cue light for the operator. :P David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mac.calder Posted May 12, 2005 Share Posted May 12, 2005 Or plug the machine into the dimmer rack and use the bump button for the channel to bring it to full, or change one of the channels on the dimmer to act as a distro only (no dimming), so that when the fader is brought up beyond 0 it smokes. Just have to make sure you allow time to warm up the machine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug kelly Posted May 12, 2005 Share Posted May 12, 2005 Hi In the olden days when most dimmers were analogue we used to modify the remotes on ZR20' and the like by putting an opto transistor or darlington across the go button and allow 0-10v control of the remote. There are people at the moment making single channel DMX relays, XTBA, that could be added to allow DMX control of the smoke machine. http://www.xtba.co.uk/ Doug Kelly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew C Posted May 12, 2005 Share Posted May 12, 2005 Are those IEC outputs on these smoke machines 240v I presume so and the control just makes the circuit on mains switching circuit for the pump...? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Our Magnum 550 has the IEC control socket arranged to give the following voltage with reference to the case earth:- L 240V E 127V N 0V I have contacted my supplier to ask how they condone this use of a mains connector, but have heard nothing back. I'll shout at them again when I next speak to them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SceneMaster Posted May 12, 2005 Share Posted May 12, 2005 Or plug the machine into the dimmer rack and use the bump button for the channel to bring it to full, or change one of the channels on the dimmer to act as a distro only (no dimming), so that when the fader is brought up beyond 0 it smokes. Just have to make sure you allow time to warm up the machine<{POST_SNAPBACK}> Err... NO... the control on these smoke machines are not whether they receive 240v into there control socket but the control socket is basically a big switching circuit for the pump. As in the pumps power goes to the remote and back to the smoke machine so when you press the button you make the circuit and turn the pump on. So putting a dimmer or a “switch†pack/dimmer channel into this would not help. You need something that just makes the connection between the live and the neutral so something like a relay circuit could do this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stargaze Studios Posted May 15, 2005 Author Share Posted May 15, 2005 Haha, cheers guys, what an interesting read. I think I'll save up for a DMX smoke machine! B-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Steve Posted May 15, 2005 Share Posted May 15, 2005 I think I'll save up for a DMX smoke machine! B-)<{POST_SNAPBACK}> Sounds like a good plan to me. They are the best things ever after experiencing local control, which you have to leave to some numpty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.