5. Important factors
Controls
Every standard fog machine comes with a remote control which allows the user to activate the machine's various functions.
Professional machines can also be controlled via DMX using a lighting console.
Usually, 2 DMX channels are required.
Power
Fog machines are available in a wide range of sizes and output categories, depending on the intended use.
Consider your plans and consult the following table:
| up to 800W | domestic use or small stages & dance clubs |
| 800-1200W | small stages indoor, up to 8x4 metres |
| 1200-1600W | classic stage size, 10x6 metres, including open air |
| 1600 - 3000W | 2 of these are often used in open air events |
> 3000W
professional use | there's almost no limit to what you can do with these machines, including but not limited to 25-metre stages or large-scale fire drills in factories. |
Output
Budget fog machines in particular often boast extremely high output
It is important, however, to distinguish between different types of output.
High-quality fog machines produce a large amount of dense fog, while cheaper machines often consume the same amount of fluid to create less dense fog which is punped out of the machine at higher speed.
So while the total volume of output seems greater, it is more air and less fog.
So, even if an output of fewer cubic metres is indicated on the spec sheets, the fog may be denser.
