Showven SPARKULAR User Manual

Introduction

Thanks for choosing SPARKULAR®. We wish it will spark up your show. Please read the following manual carefully before operating this product.

Safety Instructions

• Unauthorized repair is prohibited, it may cause serious incident.
• Keep SPARKULAR® dry and do NOT use in rain or snow.
• Make sure the lid of the feeding hopper is well covered when using SPARKULAR®.
• Accidental burning of consumable can only be extinguished with sand.
• Consumables should be kept away from moisture and stored in a dry, sealed environment.
• Check for consumable aggregate in the output nozzle both before and after each show. If any, please clean it up, as it will affect the firing effect, potentially damage the machine, or even cause serious incident.
• There will be some sparks dropping to the ground. Ensure there are no flammable objects, such as carpet, within the safety radius around the machine.
• It is suggested to use HC8200 MEDIUM or SMALL for indoor events.
• The maximum allowed cascade of SPARKULAR® power supply cables is 6pcs (BT01) / 3pcs (BT02). Exceeding this limit may result in damage or fire.
• Blocking the air intake and air outlet is prohibited for better heat dissipation.
• Covering the output nozzle of SPARKULAR® is forbidden. Inspect the machine before each show, ensuring no objects or material will block the output nozzle.
• Never touch the nozzle of SPARKULAR®; there is a danger of getting burnt.
• Never touch the sparks shooting out from the nozzle.

Safety Distance

• Keep audience and flammable material at a minimum distance of 1m (for HC8200 SMALL and MEDIUM) or 1.5m (for HC8200 LARGE) from SPARKULAR®.
• Ensure sparks shot out from SPARKULAR® do not touch any objects. Maintain a clearance of at least 1m from the setting maximum effect height.
• In windy environments, increase the safety distance according to the wind direction and speed.
• The safety zone area changes when the machine is installed in a tilted position. Please increase the safety distance in the direction of the machine's tilt.
• Sparks and consumables from the machine can cause serious eye injury. Always wear safety goggles when entering the safety zone.

Description

SPARKULAR® is an original innovation product introduced by SHOWVEN®. It is the first spark fountain machine in the special effects industry. SPARKULAR® is designed for the highly demanding professional market, with adjustable sparks height from 1.5 to 5 meters.

Technical Specifications

• MODEL: BT01/BT02
• DIMENSION: 200×218×305mm
• WEIGHT: 8.5kg
• VOLTAGE: 220V (BT01) / 110V (BT02), 50/60Hz
• WORK POWER: 500W
• EFFECT HEIGHT: 1.5-5m adjustable
• INTERFACE: 3-pin XLR, POWER IN/OUT
• CONTROL: DMX 2 channels

Structure of SPARKULAR®

The SPARKULAR® unit consists of the following parts:

• 1. Output Nozzle
• 2. Feeding Hopper Lid
• 3. Cooling Fan
• 4. LCD Screen
• 5. DMX IN
• 6. DMX OUT
• 7. Fuse
• 8. Power Switch
• 9. Power IN
• 10. Power OUT

Diagram of Bottom Panel:

The bottom panel features mounting points and connections. Dimensions are provided: 218mm width, 202.2mm length, with specific points marked at 49mm, 120mm, and 101.1mm from edges.

Operation Panel

The operation panel includes:

1. LED display area:
   • READY: Flashing indicates the machine is preparing; LED solid indicates ready to work.
   • DMX: Flashing indicates DMX signal is connected; LED OFF indicates no DMX signal.
   • FAULT: LED ON indicates an error has occurred.
   • HEAT: LED ON indicates the system is heating up.
2. Control button area:
   • MENU: Press to switch through menus; press and hold for 3 seconds to enter the advanced menu.
   • DOWN: Decreases parameter value.
   • UP: Increases parameter value.
   • ENTER: Confirms and saves parameters.
3. Interface and Plugging Area:
   • POWER IN: Power input (20A socket).
   • POWER OUT: Power output (20A socket).
   • DMX IN: DMX Signal Input.
   • DMX OUT: DMX Signal Output.
4. RFID area:

   RFID cards are used with consumable HC8200 bags to identify parameters and types of granules. Each RFID card is disposable and can only be used once.

Interface Details

1. Main Interface

The main interface displays:

• DMX Address: Shown on the first line (e.g., "580").
• Temperature and Progress Bar: The heating chamber temperature and progress bar are displayed on the second line.

2. Error Information

3. Menu

Use the "MENU" switch to navigate the setup menu:

4. Advanced Menu

*For better performance of SPARKULAR®, please do not change the default value without permission from SHOWVEN®.

5. DMX Channel Mode

SPARKULAR® occupies 2 DMX channels.

Operation Guide

1. Install SPARKULAR®

• Horizontal installation is preferred for SPARKULAR®. If installation at an angle is necessary, turn the Tip Over switch to OFF status first. The maximum firing angle is 45°, and it can only be angled to the right side.
• Ensure the machine is securely installed to prevent tipping.
• The safety zone area shifts when the machine is installed in a tilted position. Increase the safety distance in the direction of the machine's tilt.
• Carefully check the output nozzle of each machine. Ensure the output nozzle is in good shape and free of powder aggregate.

Diagram showing a SPARKULAR unit tilted at a 45° angle.

2. Fill SPARKULAR®

• Open the powder bags and fill the feeding hopper. The hopper capacity of SPARKULAR® is 200g.
• Choose the correct consumable according to the application scenario. SPARKULAR® can only use HC8200 LARGE, MEDIUM, and SMALL.
• Be aware that sparks or remains may fall to the ground. Ensure no flammable material is present on the ground within the safety zone.
• Maximum effect height: HC8200 LARGE is 5m, HC8200 MEDIUM is 3.5m, HC8200 SMALL is 2.5m.
• Ensure the hopper lid is locked tightly after filling.

3. Connect Power / DMX cable

• Connect a power cable to the POWER IN socket of SPARKULAR®. Connect the other end of the power cable to the power source. Ensure the power supply is consistent with the rated voltage of the equipment, and the socket is properly grounded.
• If connecting machines in sequence, connect a power link cable from the POWER OUT of the previous machine to the POWER IN of the next machine.
• The maximum allowed cascade of SPARKULAR® power supply cables is 6 units (220V version) / 3 units (110V version). Do not connect excess units to a single electrical circuit.
• Power ON all SPARKULAR® units.
• Assign a unique DMX address for each unit of SPARKULAR®. If using a SHOWVEN host controller or FXcommander, allocate a unique DMX address for each machine.
• Connect a DMX cable to the DMX IN socket of the first SPARKULAR® unit. Connect the male connector end of the DMX cable to your DMX controller (FXcommander, HOST CONTROLLER, light console, etc.).
• Connect a DMX cable from the DMX OUT of the previous machine to the DMX IN of the next machine. Connect all devices in series in this way.
• It is suggested to plug in a DMX terminator into the DMX OUT of the last unit to improve signal reliability. Signal amplifiers are required for long-distance (>200m) DMX signal transmission.

4. Activate SPARKULAR® machine by swipe RFID card

• Swipe an RFID card. The SPARKULAR® will display the remaining time if read successfully. SPARKULAR® will report E4 when the remaining time is less than 10 minutes.
• Each RFID card comes with a 200g package of HC8200 and can increase a single machine's working time by 20 minutes. The maximum recharge time for SPARKULAR® is 40 minutes. Once the time reaches 40 minutes, the RFID card can no longer be used for recharging.

Diagram showing an RFID card being swiped on a SPARKULAR machine.

5. Programming and Firing

• Program SPARKULAR® by setting the firing height, firing sequences, etc.
• Heating up takes approximately 5 minutes, varying with voltage and ambient temperature.
• Ensure the prescribed safety zone is clear.
• It is recommended to clear material before firing.
• Firing: To prevent overheating in the heating chamber and protect the machine, the maximum continuous firing time for SPARKULAR® is 30 seconds.
• The operator should always have a clear view of the device to stop the show immediately if danger arises.
• Clear material for SPARKULAR® for 5 seconds after the show to remove remaining particles from the heating chamber. For angled installation, please extend the clear material time.

6. Turn Off and Clean Up

• Power off SPARKULAR® and allow it to cool down.
• Disconnect all POWER and DMX cables.
• Empty the remaining HC8200 from the hopper and store it in a dry, sealed bottle for future use. Never touch the output nozzle of SPARKULAR® when emptying the hopper; there is a DANGER OF GETTING BURNT!
• Operators can use a handheld vacuum cleaner to empty the feeding hopper. Ensure the machine has cooled down before cleaning. Do NOT use high-power vacuum cleaners to avoid sucking hot consumables from the heating chamber, which could cause a fire.
• Clean the surroundings to remove any powder residues.

Maintenance

• Empty the feeding hopper before shipping the machine.
• If the machine is not used for a long time, empty the feeding hopper. In high humidity environments, it is suggested to empty the feeding hopper after each show.
• Clear material both before and after the show.
• It is recommended to wash or replace the air intake filter every two months.

Warranty Instructions

Thank you for choosing our products. You will receive quality service from us. The product warranty period is one year. If there are any quality problems within 7 days after shipping out from our factory, we will exchange a brand new same model machine for you. We offer free-of-charge maintenance service for machines with hardware malfunctions (except for instrument damage caused by human factors) within the warranty period. Please do not repair the machine without factory permission.

Situations NOT included in warranty service:

• Damage caused by using consumables other than SHOWVEN® or SHOWVEN® authorized distributors.
• Damage caused by improper transportation, usage, management, and maintenance, or damage caused by human factors.
• Disassembly, modification, or repair of products without permission.
• Damage caused by external reasons (lightning strike, power supply issues, etc.).
• Damage caused by improper installation or use.

For product damage not covered by the warranty, we can provide paid service. An invoice is necessary when applying for maintenance service from SHOWVEN®.

Contact Information

Showven Technologies Co., Ltd.

Tel: +86-731-83833068

Web: www.showven.cn

E-mail: info@showven.cn

Add: No.1 Tengda Road, Liuyang Economic & Technical Development Zone, 410300, Changsha, Hunan, P.R.China