Depending on how much free time you have and how well you can program an Arduino, it's possible. I built one a few years ago using an "air popper" kit I bought off of thehauntstore.com, powered it with a 12v battery, then used a relay hooked up to an Arduino Uno with an ultrasonic distance sensor as the trigger. The Arduino detects a change in distance when someone walks in the path of the sensor, and triggers the relay to close the 12v circuit to the air popper for just under 1 second. Assuming you have a decent amount of air pressure, your guests will both feel a blast of air as well as that pneumatic hiss you want. If the sound isn't loud enough though, you could also have the Arduino trigger a MP3 or WAV trigger board as well. Good luck!
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Sometimes called a quick release valve, I bought mine (3/4" one) at Fastenal.
The idea is the irrigation valves are typically too slow for a good release, but once the irrig valve just starts to open, the slight pressure differential triggers the quick valve. This unit uses about 40 psi and is operated by 2 push buttons on a little controller (so not remote). One button opens fill valve and charges the cylinder, and the other opens a discharge valve, which is only used to trip the quick release. I have about 50' of air hose and maybe 50' wire harness so it's no big deal for one of us to trigger it at an opportune moment. Very effective!
The idea is the irrigation valves are typically too slow for a good release, but once the irrig valve just starts to open, the slight pressure differential triggers the quick valve. This unit uses about 40 psi and is operated by 2 push buttons on a little controller (so not remote). One button opens fill valve and charges the cylinder, and the other opens a discharge valve, which is only used to trip the quick release. I have about 50' of air hose and maybe 50' wire harness so it's no big deal for one of us to trigger it at an opportune moment. Very effective!
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