Antari smoke machine recall

[KevinE]

I've just noticed this, issued yesterday 12/12/24 by the EU safety commission

 

https://www.highlite.com/en/recall-60650uk

[DrV]

Using IEC connectors for a remote has always been a bad idea. Well done to the EU commission for rushing this through in only 17 years🙄

[sandall]

Also quite common at the cheap'n nasty end of the market. I wonder if all the resellers of these will be offering exchanges or refunds as well.

[Stuart91]

1 hour ago, DrV said:

 only 17 years🙄

I remember digging Martin up about it when the first Sharky smokers came out, in 2002! Their response was that it was fine, since the remote circuit was at mains voltage anyway... The switch on the remote shorted the neutral and earth pins together on the IEC. Not the worst possible outcome, but I was still worried about a clueless customer plugging the switch straight into a kettle lead.  

[alistermorton]

I have a chauvet unit that uses an IEC for the remote, too. 

[sunray]

Hmmm... I have a couple of 48 channel desks with the IEC connector for smokers but never been able to find out what the connexions are.

I keep telling myself I'm going to remove them as I do know of situations where mains has been applied and caused damage.

 

However an IEC is far better than a 3 pin XLR which I have also known for the remote and even seen it extended with a standard XLR Mic lead with a pin1 to shell link.

Edited December 14, 2024 by sunray

[alistermorton]

The ageing ZR33 we have has e removable panel with 3 pin XLR but it's low voltage. 

[sunray]

Some are switching mains directly with all 3 pins and mains potential at various times... an hence the reason a pin1 to shell link was found when someone touched it.

[sunray]

2 hours ago, sunray said:

Some are switching mains directly with all 3 pins and mains potential at various times... an hence the reason a pin1 to shell link was found when someone touched it.

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=big+clive+xlr+remote#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:1acabe5f,vid:ik_0Z46y6-g,st:0 

 

All 3 pins of the XLR live while the smoker is heating even when the mains switch is off!

Edited December 16, 2024 by sunray

[alistermorton]

Is that for the quoted ZR33? We've run that via a mic snake with no ill effects, so I'm guessing not?

[sunray]

1 hour ago, alistermorton said:

Is that for the quoted ZR33? We've run that via a mic snake with no ill effects, so I'm guessing not?

No I think that's for an Antari clone.

Isn't the ZR33 a rebadged Martin with the removable control panel (2 thumb screws) with period and run timers and strength?

If that'sthe unit, the remote control works on 0-10V and can be basically replaced with a 10K pot, the 3 pins are 0V, 10V and 0-10V control line but I couldn't say which order. This is from 1995 so I may be wrong: 1V tells it to heat, 2-10V is speed of pump.

We did a week at NEC and mocked up a display before we went. somehow we forgot to load a box of smaller bits - mostly power DMX leads but the remote was in there too, I soldered a pot directly onto the XLR insert - a lash-up but it got us through a couple of days. Anyway Waffle mode over.

 

Except they may have gone digital by now and I may be thinking of the completely wrong machine.

[alistermorton]

Yes, the ZR33 is as you describe.

[timsabre]

ZR33 is original JEM before Martin got involved or maybe in the early days of Martin ownership. I wrote some of the firmware for it. The remote does work like you describe, it's basically the same as the RJ45 they went to later which added LEDs for heat and ready.

[Ynot]

We have a couple of Martin Magnum machines which used the IEC method for remotes, so not limited to the cheap & cheerful brigade...

[sunray]

5 hours ago, timsabre said:

ZR33 is original JEM before Martin got involved or maybe in the early days of Martin ownership. I wrote some of the firmware for it. The remote does work like you describe, it's basically the same as the RJ45 they went to later which added LEDs for heat and ready.

This is how I remember the Martin unit except the badging: 4 buttons, 3 knobs, 2 LEDS for heat and ready. I haven't been able to find a original Martin image. There were several smokers in that range/style, not all had a data port. In the Martin versions I knew the only software would have been for the unit accepting the 0-10V signal and the temperature of the block (2 wires brazed to the brass block to form a thermocouple) and fire the heater and pump and the data port if included.

I've seen some versions of remote control with 7 segment display and tactile buttons instead of knobs. and also an aftermarket interface for DMX for the earlier units withou data/DMX.

My experience of Martin smokers stems from the days prior to the Jem amalgamation and they were strong competitors, at the time many smokers were refused waranty cover when Jem fluid was detected in the Martin products, my job was to convert such units into B stock and regular pallet loads of them with boxes of spares were delivered for the purpose.

 

EDIT: Typical, within seconds I find this for sale on Ebay:

Edited December 16, 2024 by sunray