Any good halloween ideas?

[RichTJ99]

Hi,

I picked up an inexpensive fog machine on fleabay. It has a remote control to turn the fog on & off. I was thinking I could hook up some HA to the halloween experience.

Im not sure how to get around the on off of the remote control (I will play with it when it comes in the mail).

Im planning on using Homeseer & my motion sensors to set the fog machine on & dim the front porch lights, etc. Maybe I can add music into the mix somehow (I do not have a speaker outside).

Any good halloween ideas?

Thanks,
Rich

 

[electron]

What model did you get?

Check out this page:

http://wolfstone.halloweenhost.com/Hallowe...gerControl.html

Chances are that you might have a different fogger, but it should still help out. You can't just plug the fogger into an appliance module, since you don't want to shut down the heater.

You also might want look into a fog chiller. Check out halloweenforum.com for some good ideas.

 

[RichTJ99]

What model did you get?

Check out this page:

http://wolfstone.halloweenhost.com/Hallowe...gerControl.html

Chances are that you might have a different fogger, but it should still help out. You can't just plug the fogger into an appliance module, since you don't want to shut down the heater.

You also might want look into a fog chiller. Check out halloweenforum.com for some good ideas.

I bought this one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=320170698876



Once it comes I can get a chance to play with it & start zapping myself with electricity!

 

[electron]

I don't know for sure if this is the same machine, but I think you might have overpaid

http://www.eliminatorlightingdirect.com/E_...9-fslash-fg.htm

The machine itself seems to have good reviews tho, do a search for it on halloweenforum.com.

 

[RichTJ99]

I don't know for sure if this is the same machine, but I think you might have overpaid

http://www.eliminatorlightingdirect.com/E_...9-fslash-fg.htm

The machine itself seems to have good reviews tho, do a search for it on halloweenforum.com.

Lol! Whoops, I should have gone to the source. Oh well. Lets hope i can get this working the way I want. i will definately visit that other site for some good ideas!

 

[RichTJ99]

I don't know for sure if this is the same machine, but I think you might have overpaid

http://www.eliminatorlightingdirect.com/E_...9-fslash-fg.htm

The machine itself seems to have good reviews tho, do a search for it on halloweenforum.com.

Lol! Whoops, I should have gone to the source. Oh well. Lets hope i can get this working the way I want. i will definately visit that other site for some good ideas!

Dan,

Do you think this timer: http://www.eliminatorlightingdirect.com/Fo...te_p/ef-trm.htm will do an auto blast of fog every few minutes?

I would like to rewire the original controller to see if I can get it working via a wallwart + insteon appliance plug in module. If I can do that, I wouldnt mind the smoke going off every few minutes on its own.



Thanks,
Rich

 

[TonyNo]

Yes, that timer will allow you to set up a given blast length every so often. If you want to just control it with a module/relay, here is a page that applies to most foggers.

 

[RichTJ99]

Yes, that timer will allow you to set up a given blast length every so often. If you want to just control it with a module/relay, here is a page that applies to most foggers.

I saw that link but I am a little confused on how to use that with a relay. Contoller end need to get plugged into the x10 or insteon device at some point?

 

[TonyNo]

There is a shot of an IEC (PC-type power supply) connector and it calls out the pins that need to be shorted to shoot fog. You could control a relay driving that with a wall wart plugged into an appliance module.

 

[RichTJ99]

There is a shot of an IEC (PC-type power supply) connector and it calls out the pins that need to be shorted to shoot fog. You could control a relay driving that with a wall wart plugged into an appliance module.

I ended up buying the automatic timer controller sooooooo as long as I have a replacement controller, how can I alter the "OEM" controller to be controlled by a wallwart? Or is the process the same?

I will probably never use the regular push button only switch. Is there an easier way without a relay to do this by somehow hacking up the controller?

 

[RichTJ99]

There is a shot of an IEC (PC-type power supply) connector and it calls out the pins that need to be shorted to shoot fog. You could control a relay driving that with a wall wart plugged into an appliance module.

Tony,

Could you literally shove two wires into the PC power plug (the appropriate ones), coming out of a wallwart, then plug the wallwart into the insteon appliance module? Does it need a relay or is wiring directly an OK thing to do?

 

[RichTJ99]

Ok, so I took some photos.

Here is photo one - the controller

It has two items, the light switch to tell you when its ready to smoke and the button to turn the smoke on.

 

[RichTJ99]

Here is the second image, this is the inside of the controller.

On the left side of the photo is the light/ready light.

On the right of the photo is the button switch. I would guess that pressing the button completes the circuit & when the button isnt pressed, the circuit is broken.

Can I solder a wallwart directly to A & B? I have a DC 1000MAH wall wart sitting around. Would I then be able to control the unit via HA?

Would I need to add an inline fuse or two?

 

[TonyNo]

No, you would need a relay to "press the button".

 

[RichTJ99]

So if I am using the relay with the OEM controller, what would I need to do?