Thread: Fog Machine Automation Quesiton (electric question)

Tweet

Hi,

I am trying to use Home Automation to trigger my fog machine. Without getting into the particulars of which platform (Insteon), what I am looking to do is to setup a sequence, where when a motion sensor is activated, the PC will send a "On' command to a appliance module, which will then send power to the device plugged into that.

I want to use a wall wart power plug to trigger a relay to open & close based on if the power is turned on or off.

So, if there is power turned on the controller, the fogger should shoot fog.

I am using a "Fog-it 700 made by Eliminator.

There are photos of the controller & insides at the bottom.

I am not sure how to setup a relay to do this.

Did I explain what i am looking to do enough?

Thanks,
Rich

You'll need to have the X10 (smarthome) appliance make the contacts in the fogger remote that provides instant smoke. Of course if you just apply power the fogger, it won't be heated up yet (I gather you know that).

Not sure about the Insteon product, but I use X10 modules EVERYWHERE at halloween. I probably deploy about 25-30 modules and use an RF transmitter during my parties.

Next year I am going the VSA route though, been looking for something like that for a long time.....

i use a fog-it 700 too, glad to see another person using one on here. a relay like the ac activated relay here- http://www.frightprops.com/frightpro...ct.asp?ID=0672

is a switch so when power is applied the switch is on ( or off ), with a 120v relay you would need to attach the switching contacts of the relay to the switch wires of the fog remote and the 120v power contacts of the relay to a plug, then plug the relay into the receiver unit for your system when the power on signal is sent it will close the relay and activate the fog machine ( do not apply power directly to the fog switch )

Originally Posted by johnshenry

You'll need to have the X10 (smarthome) appliance make the contacts in the fogger remote that provides instant smoke. Of course if you just apply power the fogger, it won't be heated up yet (I gather you know that).

Not sure about the Insteon product, but I use X10 modules EVERYWHERE at halloween. I probably deploy about 25-30 modules and use an RF transmitter during my parties.

Next year I am going the VSA route though, been looking for something like that for a long time.....

Im using Insteon (same type of thing as X10). I would like to have the fogger plugged into the wall normally & hook the on-off of the fog to the controller. I noticed the fog machine takes 5 or so minutes to heat up so I want to have the power on constantly.

Whats VSA btw?

Originally Posted by guitarist155

i use a fog-it 700 too, glad to see another person using one on here. a relay like the ac activated relay here- http://www.frightprops.com/frightpro...ct.asp?ID=0672

is a switch so when power is applied the switch is on ( or off ), with a 120v relay you would need to attach the switching contacts of the relay to the switch wires of the fog remote and the 120v power contacts of the relay to a plug, then plug the relay into the receiver unit for your system when the power on signal is sent it will close the relay and activate the fog machine ( do not apply power directly to the fog switch )

Hi,

I was looking at your link & it looks like that has three contacts (common, NC, NO) but my setup looks like it just has two wires. I would assume these are NO & I would want to make them NC (for the fog to come).

I am going to use a setup closer to this I think:


I am just not sure if it will work properly. *Note - these instructions are for a garage door opener, this is just the same idea I think*

that should work perfectly i was just trying to make sure u were using a relay. also this fog machine has a wait time after long bursts of fog where the fog machine will not activate for about 30sec while it reheats so i would keep the bursts fairly short. ps. how are you liking the fog machine i have only used my 700 once or twice to try it out, i have been using an eliminator ef400 for about a year and it works great.

Well, i was able to get it all working with the $5.00 RS relay. Both the manual button works & the Insteon /X10 automated device.

I will say this unit does quite a bit of smoke. If you hold the button down for more than 30 or 60 seconds, what will happen? Will it stop smoking at some point, or break down?

it has a thermal switch so if you just keep holding the button down it will put out fog until it needs to reheat, then it will stop putting out fog and the light will come on again