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Electrical Display Techniques
You went out and bought that electrical firing unit that you always wanted, or maybe you want to know some techniques that will justify getting one. This section is all about the additional techniques that are available when you electrically fire part or all of your show.
Simultaneous ignition
Perhaps the greatest benefit of using a electrical firing unit is the
ability to electrical ignite multiple items at the same time. This can
also be done with a fast burning type of fuse, however if the distances
are great enough you will need a lot. The other problem with using a fast
type of fuse is it is hard to get. So now you have to make it, this is
fine for short lengths but as you need more of it you might have to quit
your day job to work full time making it. This effect cannot be done even
with two people lighting different items, someone will get there fuse lit
before the other person. When lighting by hand you are also limited to the
number of items lit at one time by the number of people that you have
lighting your display. Say you want to open your show with a row of 10
mines, with an electrical system you only need one person. If this is done
with a hand fired show you would need 10 people or a lot of fuse.
Sequential Firing
With remote electrical firing units, like the F-5 from Phantom
Fireworks it make Sequential firing easy as 1-2-3. Use sequential firing
when using a fan style rack to produce a fan like effect sweeping
left to right or left to right for a unique effect. Also allows you to
create a sort of motion across your firing area as your show moves from
one side to another.
Music anyone?
Another technique that becomes a lot easier to setup and execute
properly is doing a "pyromusical". This will allow you to watch the timer
on a computer or light items that are spaced far apart with ease to your
music. Fusing doesn't work well when trying to set a display off to music,
you have to calculate how long each type burns, possible bad connection,
etc.. The list just goes on. Also if you want a lot of items lit closely
together in time electrically firing the sequence is easier then fusing,
especially when items are farther apart then time will allow.