Thread: Chauvet FC-T Controller

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So, Anyone else us the Chauvet FC-T controller and have the timer not work? I have used several and almost everytime the timer feature never works. Any way to fix it or some way to make it work? HELP PLEASE!!

My timer is an older version but I had a heck of a hard time figuring mine out as well. So, took an afternoon, warned the Fire Department and did some major testing....


My testing results:

I got it to work I was the one screwing up the timer. But, in my defense, you wouldn't believe the discrepancy between the manuals for using this timer.

Here's a picture of my timer (FC-4 V.2):









Now here is a copy of the manual that came with it:



Notice that the power button is labeled differently than what I actually have? The manual says continuous. So I called Chauvet and they said they do the same thing. Huh? All I can tell you is that when I press the power button on mine...nothing happens except (I believe) allow me to then engage the rest of the features of the remote.

I had to purchase this timer because I own two 1050 Chauvets and they do not come with the remote timer. But, looked up the Chauvet 1300's manual to see what it says about the timer remote usage. Here is the picture:



HA HA HA! You see that they have the dials switched on the diagram? On the left they have the Interval dail? Chauvet really doesn't help themselves with all the conflicting manual instructions.

I also noticed another picture of the FC-4 remote that has an output dail???? WTH????



I mean come on guys! Can you make it any more complicated?

Anyways.....back to my testing:

First of all, make sure you have the power button pushed in and the Timer button pushed in. I learned that the dail on the left (Duration) means how long the fog will last. The dail on the right (Interval) is the time between fogging. The most fog you will get is if you have the Duration dial set to max (+) and the Interval dial set to minimum (-). This is what you get:

On: 15
Off: 12
On: 15
Off: 54
On: 15
Off: 12
On: 15
Off: 54

So, it fogs for 15 seconds and rests for 12 seconds. Fogs again for 15 seconds and rests for almost a minute. Then repeats, repeats, repeats. So, that is the pattern you see. When I talked to Chauvet, they confirmed that this setting will give you the most fog output.



Now, here are the other settings and the output they give you

Duration at 1/4 setting and Interval at minimum.

On: 2
Off: 10
On: 2
Off: 10
On: 2
Off: 10
On: 2
Off: 10

Generally it fogs for 2 seconds and pauses for 10 seconds over and over again. but after 12 cycles of this it will rest for 1:10 seconds and repeats.

Duration at 3/4 setting and Interval at minimum.

On: 13
Off: 10
On: 13
Off: 10
On: 7
Off: 54
On: 13
Off: 10

So, you see that familiar two long bursts followed by a 54 second pause.

Duration at 1/2 setting and Interval at minimum.

On: 7
Off: 12
On: 7
Off: 12
On: 7
Off: 12
On: 7
Off: 60


Here's when I keep the Duration at maximum but change the intervals:

Duration at Max setting and Interval at 1/4 setting:

On: 15
Off: 48
On: 10
Off: 1:11
On: 15
Off: 48
On: 12
Off: 1:11

Duration at Max setting and Interval at 3/4 setting:

On: 15
Off: 2:53
On: 12
Off: 1:22
On: 15
Off: 2:53
On: 15
Off: 3:24


Duration at Max setting and Interval at 1/2 setting:

On: 15
Off: 1:48
On: 15
Off: 1:22
On: 15
Off: 1:48
On: 15
Off: 1:48

Duration at Max setting and Interval at Max setting:

On: 15
Off: 3:30
On: 15
Off: 3:30
On: 15
Off: 3:30
On: 15
Off: 3:30

Wow, and I thought I was having a time with compatibility on my (older) Spirit fog machines. Funny how many different timer designs there are.

Just wanted to point out that weather (especially REALLY COLD weather) will impact those durations.

Duration at 1/4 setting and Interval at minimum.

On: 2
Off: 10
On: 2
Off: 10
On: 2
Off: 10
On: 2
Off: 10

Generally it fogs for 2 seconds and pauses for 10 seconds over and over again. but after 12 cycles of this it will rest for 1:10 seconds and repeats.

Nice and steady, that one. Tweak the duration a tad and I bet you could avoid the 1:10 delay.