If you see fog emanating from a seemingly invisible source, chances are you’re looking at the Scotty II Fog Generator from the German-based manufacturer Smoke Factory. Scotty II is the successor to the Scotty I, and it’s a little machine that puts out big volumes of fog. The battery-operated, very compact and easy-to-operate machine delivers fog quickly and without much of a warm-up time.
The Hardware
The Scotty II fog generator measures 9.17 inches x 3.94 inches x 8.27 inches and has an empty weight of about 12 pounds. It is battery-operated rather than powered by a mains connection. It has a built-in 12V/12Ah rechargeable battery and a 400-watt heat exchanger. The fluid reservoir holds 0.1 liters (about 3.4 fluid ounces) of Smoke Factory Scotty II fog fluid, which is a newly designed water and glycol-based fluid. On top of the machine is a handle with a push-button to activate the fog.
Next to the handle is a flow control knob to control the density of the output. On the back of the machine is a three-pin XLR connector for a variety of control options. A yellow LED indicator, also on the back, warns of a low battery when flashing and an expired battery when solidly lit.
Operation
A nice feature of the Scotty II is that it does not require any preheat time. It warms up in approximately one second, so fog is available virtually as soon as the unit is plugged in and turned on. At 100% output, the unit can provide 10 minutes of continuous fog time or 150 bursts of five seconds, each with one fully charged battery. It consumes about 10 milliliters of fluid per minute at full output. In standby, the battery has a life of approxi-mately 250 hours when it’s fully charged. It takes about 14 hours to fully charge the battery.
The Scotty II has several options for control, including manual operation, radio remote control, cable remote control, DMX512 and stand-alone. In addition to the push-button manual control on the top of the machine, the three-pin XLR connector at the back of the unit is designed to work with several optional accessories.
The DMX Box is a DMX-to-analog transformer that converts DMX512 input signals to 1–6 channels of analog control. It plugs into the back of the Scotty II and allows the fog generator to be controlled from a lighting console. The radio remote control includes a transmitter with a fog button and addressable receiver. The transmitter activates the fog at the volume that is preset on the machine with the density control knob.
The cable remote is a handheld remote that plugs into the machine and allows for volume control as well as manual output control. Also, the Time W.A.R.P. is a programmable digital microprocessor-controlled timer. It has adjustable duration and duty cycles from 1–100 seconds, as well as ad-justable fog output from 0–100%. It comes with a flash key, and it has an LED display.
Little Machine, Big Fog
The Scotty II is certainly one of the smallest fog machines on the market, but there’s nothing little about its output. Though it’s not the ideal ma-chine for every circumstance, it can provide fog and smoke effects in a variety of unique situations where the machine and its power and control cables need to be concealed. Its battery power source means that it can be located in moving set pieces or in remote locations where power is diffi-cult to find. It’s a great machine for a number of applications.
What it is: A small, affordable, portable battery-operated fog generator.
Who it’s for: Anyone who needs fog in a remote location with little or no power available, in a concealed location or in a moving set piece or location.
Pros: Small, lightweight, compact fog machine.
Cons: Not practical for large venues or long performances due to the 10-minute battery limit.
Cost: MSRP $1,495.00
Distributed in North America exclusively by CITC (www.citcfx.com)
