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How to add synced indoor brownout effect to my outdoor thunder and lightning effect?

924 Views 4 Replies 3 Participants Last post by  J-Man
Firstly, let me say I'm very pleased with my 2,000 watt outdoor thunder and lightning effect based on two Morris Costumes Perfect Storm units I sourced from Walmart. Believe I got mine for $40 each.

I know some of the pricey izombie and firefly units o offer a brownout mode but want to stick with my current rig.

Since I already use an FM transmitter to deliver a thunder track--which is also the control signal--could I simply buy a third Perfect Storm unit and create a right channel control signal only that would be the sonic inverse of the thunder volume wise. Hopefully using Audacity which I've read has an Inverse effect.

My other idea would be a variant on how I do my plain old shoebox brownout effect using a flicker bulb and a non grounded dusk to dawn outlet. Except that instead of the flicker bulb inversely triggering lights, I'd be FM tramsitting the regular thunder track to a small incandescent bulb paired with the dusk to dawn outlet / sensor that then runs to a power strip.

Actually just ordered a third Perfect Storm via Walmart ship to store that should arrive Friday. But I could probably start testing now indoors since I have two PS units on hand.
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Mike,

I wish I had some helpful info. But I had to say thanks for the heads up on the Perfect Storm unit. It is worth checking out.
Mike,

I wish I had some helpful info. But I had to say thanks for the heads up on the Perfect Storm unit. It is worth checking out.
You're very welcome. Here's what my dual Perfect Storm rig looked last year:

A really simple way is to use a 120v SPDT relay. Wire your indoor lights to the C and NC contacts and connect the coil of the relay to the output of the Lightning controller (where your "lightning" lights plug in) When you get lightning outside, your indoor lights will flicker off, it's not really a brown out so to speak but it does give a great effect. If you really want a true "brown out" effect, just wire a parallel dimmer to the C and NO contacts, when the relay energizes it will cut the full power side of the circuit and re-direct power to the dimmer.
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