Look Solutions Cobra 3.1 User manual

1
Operating Manual
a Look Solutions product
cobra
3.1

2
– 1Cobra 3.1 fog generator incl. Duct Adaptor/Protection against contact
–1TanklidwithQuickConnector
– 1mainscable2mwithPowerconTrueplug
–1Operatingmanual
 Pleasecheckwhetheralltheproductsyouorderedaresupplied.
Set of Equipment supplied
OriginalOperatingmanual,version5/2022

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Contents
1. Introduction 4
2. Safety instructions 5
3. Description of the parts 6
3.1Wiringoftheconnectors 7
4. Fluid 8
4.1GeneralNotes 8
 4.2Changingtheuidcontainer 8
5. Operating the Cobra 3.1 9
 5.1Selectingthelocation 9
 5.2Puttingintooperation 9
 5.3Switchingo 9
 5.4Operation 10
  5.4.1Mainmenu 10
  5.4.2Statusbar 11
  5.4.3DisplayStandby 12
5.4.4DisplayTankempty 12
5.5 WorkingwithSources 13
5.5.1Manualoperation 14
  5.5.2OperationviaDMX 14
  5.5.3Operationviaanalog 16
  5.5.4sACN 18
  5.5.5Art-Net 19
  5.5.6OperationviaTimer 21
  5.5.7RDM 23
 5.6Settings 24
  5.6.1FogCurve 25
  5.6.2Personality 26
  5.6.3Ethernet 27
  5.6.4Display 28
  5.6.5FluidDetection 28
  5.6.6Pumpadjustment 29
  5.6.7Standby 29
  5.6.8Info 30
  5.6.9Update 30
5.6.10Reset 30
5.7DMX-Channelassignment 31
5.8Software-Update 32
6. Troubleshooting and Error messages 33
6.1Malfunctionduringoperation 33
6.2Errormessages 34
7. Cleaning, Care and Maintenance 35
8. Specications 36
9. Warranty conditions 37

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1. Introduction
TheCobra 3.1isapowerfulfoggenerator,thatsets newStandardsconcerningnoise
andhandling.
Withitsnovelnozzle,thatcanbeunscrewedandcleanedasneeded,themachineisvery
silent-thenoiselevelatfulloutputis82.5dBA.
Theuseoftwopumpsensuresaveryconstantfogoutputatanypumplevel.
TheTouchscreenmakesthehandlingoftheCobra 3.1easyandintuitive.
BesidetheanalogandDMX512control,themachinecanalsobeoperatedviaEthernet
(ArtnetandsACN).
Furthermore,theCobra 3.1hasaninternalworkinghourscounter,thatsavesheating
andfoggingdurations.
AFirmwareupdatecanbemadebythecustomer.
Themachineissuppliedwithaductadaptorthatalsofunctionsasaprotectionagainst
contact.
Please read the manual carefully before starting the device to ensure a correct ope-
ration!

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2. Safety instructions
A fog machine is not a toy!
• Veryhotsteamescapesfromthenozzle.Dangerofgettingburnt.
• Occasionallyveryhotdropletsofuidmayescapewheninoperation.Thusneveraimat
personsdirectlyandkeepaminimumdistanceof3mtothenozzle.
• Nevertouchthenozzlewheninoperation.Dangerofgettingburnt.
• Thelocationforthemachinemustbenon-ammable,non-combustibleandnotsensitive
toheat.Ithastobetwiceasbigasthemachine.
• Keepaminimumdistanceof60cmtoallammable,combustibleobjectsandobjects
sensitivetoheat.
• Glycolisalcoholandburnswithaslightlybluish,almostinvisibleame.Neverpointthe
fogatstrongsourcesofignitionlikereorpyrotechniceects.
• Neveropenthemachineandleavethemachineunattendedwhenconnectedtoapower
supply.
• Itisonlyallowedtoy/hangthemachinebyusingtheoriginalhangingset.
• Thevisibilityhastobemorethan2minroomswherepeoplewalkaround.
• Donotswallowthefoguid.Keepitawayfromchildren.Incaseofeyecontact,rinsewith
alotofwater.Consultadoctorshouldyouhaveaccidentallyswallowedsomeuid.
• Spilleduidorsplasheduiddropletscancausesliphazard.Mopuptheuidanddispose
ofitaccordingtoregulations.
• Fogmayactivatesmokedetectors.
Articially-madefogcanbeproducedinmanydierentways.Themethodusedhereto
producefog,withadevicewhichworksaccordingtothevaporizerprinciple,isthemost
harmlessone.
Nocasehassofarbeenreportedinwhichasoundhumanbeinghasbeenharmedbecause
ofusingourdevicetoproducearticialfog.However,thiscanonlybeguaranteedifthe
professionalfoggeneratorsareusedaccordingly,i.e.atthecorrectvaporizationtemperatures
aswellaswiththecorrectlymixedfoguid.
We,however,recommend:People with health problems or problems of the respiratory
tract or with an inclination for allergies should avoid any contact with articially-made fog.

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3. Description of the parts
11
13
12
14
Tank lid
1
3
2
3
Front view
1:Fognozzle
2:DuctAdaptor/
 Protectionagainstcontact
3:Airvents
 Coupling
 Collar
 Tanklid
 Checkvalve
11:
12:
13:
14:

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Rear view
3. Description of the parts
7 8654
3.1 Wiring of the connectors
4:Touchscreen/ControlPanel
5:Ethernet-ConnectorRJ45/Ethercon
6:DMX512in/out5pin-XLR
7:Analogin3pin-XLR
8:Powerin/outforPowerconTrueplug
5-pin XLR (DMX):
Pin1=Ground,Pin2=DMX–,Pin3=DMX+,Pin4u.5=nc
3-pin XLR (analog):
Pin1=Ground,Pin2=0-10V+DCin,Pin3=12V+DCout,max.50mA

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4. Fluid
PLEASE NOTE:Thevaporizerofourmachinesdoesnothavetobecleaned!Cleaners,
availableonthemarket,candamagethevaporizer!Wecannotgrantwarrantyinthis
case.
4.2 Changing the uid bottle
– Disconnecttheuidtubefromthelidbypressingtheleveronthecollar[12]andremoving
thecoupling[11].
– RemovethebottlefromthetankhousingoftheCobra 3.1
– Unscrewthelid[13]oftheemptybottleandscrewitontothenewcontainer.
– Placethefullcanintothetankhousing.
– Pushthecoupling[11]intothecollar[12]untilyouhearaclick.Thecollarisnowlocked
rmly.
4.1 General Notes
TheCobra 3.1hasbeendesignedtobeusedwithLookfoguids.
ThefollowingLookfoguidsareavailable:
Quick-Fog  thick,quickdisappearingfoguid
Regular-Fog  thick,longlastingfoguid
Slow-Fog  thick,extremelylonglastingfoguid
IfuidshavebeenusedotherthanLookfoguidswecan‘tgrantwarrantyonpartsthat
havebeenincontactwiththeuid.

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5. Operating the Cobra 3.1
5.2 Putting into operation
• Connectauidcanistertotheunit.
• Connect-ifneeded-cablesforexternalcontrollikeDMX,Ethernetoraremotecontrol.
Usetheconnectors[5],[6]and[7]onthebackoftheunit.
5.3 Switching o
• Unplugthepowercordfromthesocketand/orremovethePowerConTrue1plugfrom
theconnectorontheunit.
• Thefoggeneratorneedsapprox.10Min.toheat-up.Waitforthistimetoelapse.
TheCobra 3.1isnowreadyforoperation.
• NowinserttheplugofthesuppliedPowerConmainscableintotheconnectionprovided
[8]andturnthepluguntilitaudiblyclicksintoplace.
 Thenconnectthemainsplugtoanearthedsocket.Makesurethatthecorrectoperating
voltage(230V/50Hz)isapplied.
Note
 Useonlysuitablecablesforconnection!
 DMXcablesmustbesuitableandshieldedfordigitaldatatransmission!
 Ethernetcablesmustbeatleastcategory5eandshielded!
Warnung
 Useonly theenclosedpowercableoranothercableapprovedbythemanufacturer!
Connectthemachineonlytogroundedsockets!
5.1 Selecting the location
ThelocationinwhichtheCobra 3.1istobeoperatedmust
– bedry,
– befreefromdustyorpollutedair,
– befreefromvibrations,
– beanon-ammableplaceorsurface,
– bewell-ventilatedwithfog-freeairkeepingtheambientoperatingtemperaturebetween
5°Cand45°Candtherelativeairhumiditybelow80%.

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5. Operating the Cobra 3.1
5.4 Operation
Fig. 1: Main menu - Cobra 3.1 when heating up
5.4.1 Main menu
Afterswitchingthedeviceon,themainmenuappears.
Fig. 2: Main menu - Cobra 3.1 ready for operation
Themainmenuisdividedintoseveralsections,eachofwhichcontainsspecicinforma-
tionorsettings:
• Topleft:Source
 Showsthecurrentlyactivesource.TappingleadstotheSelectsourcemenu.Usingsources
isdescribedinsection5.5.
• Topright:Information about the chosen Source
 Tappingleadstothesettingsmenuoftheactivesource.Ifthecenterishighlighted,a
validsignalisreceivedfromthesource.Theinformationdisplayedisdescribedforthe
individualsources.
• Middle:Status display
 Displaysinformationontheheatingstatusofthemachine.Preheatindicateshowfarthe
machinehasheateduptothepointwhereitisreadyforoperation.Energyindicateshow
muchenergyisavailableintheheatingelementforvaporization.
• Bottom:Adjustments and manual operation
 TappingSettingsleadstothesettingsmenu.
 Manualoperationisdescribedinsection5.5.1.Whenthesourceisactive,thecurrentfog
settingisdisplayedontheslider.

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5. Operating the Cobra 3.1
5.4.2 Status bar
Fig. 3: Status bar showing all symbols
Thestatusbarisalwaysatthetopofthedisplayandshowsthemostimportantinforma-
tion.Thesearefromlefttoright:
• Heatingstatus():IndicatesthePreheatstatewithbluesymbolortheEnergystatewith
redsymbol
• Pumpcurve():Showsthecurrentpumpcharacteristics
• Analogicon():Indicatesifasignalfromaremotecontrolispresent
• DMXicon():IndicatesifaDMXsignalisreceived
• Art-Neticon ():IndicateswhetherArt-Netdataisbeingreceived.
• sACNicon():IndicateswhethersACNdataisbeingreceived.
• Etherneticon():IndicatesthestatusofEthernet.
 -IconwithoutIPaddress:Connected,butnoIPaddressavailable.
 -IconandIPaddress:ConnectedandvalidIPaddressavailable.
 -Red:Connected,butnoIPaddressobtainedviaDHCP.
• Timericon():Indicateswhethertheintegratedtimerisrunning.
AA
SS

12
5. Operating the Cobra 3.1
5.4.3 Standby display
Ifthesignaloftheactivesourceislost,theCobra 3.1willgointostandby.Thepumpand
heatingelementareswitchedoandthedisplayswitchestothescreensaver.
Beforethedevicegoesintotostandby,thedisplayshowsanotewithacountdownof
10seconds.
Fig. 4: Standby display
Thedevicecanalsobeswitchedtostand-
byviathesettingsmenu.
Toexitstandby,
•touchthedisplay
•reconnectthecurrentsource
IftheDMX-Personalityissetto3-channel
mode,thestandbycanbeenteredandexi-
tedviachannel3(seesection5.6.2).
5.4.4 Display Fluid empty
Thisnotewillonlybedisplayediftheuid
detectionisswitchedon(seesection5.6.5).
Ifthepumprunsdryforalongerperiod
oftime,itisstoppedandanoteisdisplayed.
Theuiddetectionworks fromapump
settingof20%andhigher.
To reactivatethe pump,Resetmust be
tappedonthedisplay.
Fig. 5: Display Fluid empty

13
5. Operating the Cobra 3.1
5.5 Working with sources
Inversion3ofCobra 3.1,theprevioushierarchicalsystemisreplacedbyasystemwith
sourceselection,whichisbasedonthesourceselectiononaTV,forexample.
Fig.. 6: Menu Sources
Basically,asetsourceisuseduntilitischangedonthedevice.However,therearesome
exceptionstothisrule:
1.DMXisselectedassource
 IftheDMXsignalislostandtheanalogremotecontrolisused,thesourceisautomatically
changedtoanalog.
2.Analogisselectedassource
 WhenthemachinereceivesaDMXsignalagain,thesourceisautomaticallychangedto
DMX
3.Timerisselectedassource
 WhenthemachinereceivesaDMXsignalagain,thesourceisautomaticallychangedto
DMX
4.Manual operationviadisplay
 Manualoperationisonlypossibleiftheselectedsourceisnotactive.Ifitbecomesactive,
manualoperationisautomaticallyterminated.

14
5. Operating the Cobra 3.1
5.5.1 Manual operation
Ifnosourceisactive,thedevicecanbeoperatedmanuallyviathemainmenu.
Fig. 7: Manual operation
Thedesiredamountoffogcanbesetvia
theslider.Thequantitycanbeadjustedin
singlestepswiththe+and-keys.
Iffoggingispossible,theStartbuttonis
highlightedandcanbetapped.
Whilethe machineis fogging,Stop is
displayedonthisbutton.Tappingitcauses
thefoggingprocesstostop.
5.5.2 Operating via DMX
ThesourcesettingDMXisthedefaultofthemachine.Themainmenudisplaysthecurrent
DMXaddressandthestatusoftheDMXconnection.
Fig.. 8: Main menu DMX
BytappingtheDMXbuttonorbySource
-> DMXitispossibletoswitchtotheDMX
settingsmenu.
HeretheDMXaddresscanbeset.
IfContinuousissetasthepumpcharacteristic,thedisplayislimitedto30%.
Slider
Please note thattheselectedpumpcharacteristichasaninuenceonthefogquantity.
 Thismeansthatevenwhenmanuallysetto100%,lessfogmaybeproduced.
 Formoreinformation,seesection5.6.1.

15
5. Operating the Cobra 3.1
Fig. 9: DMX settings
Bypressing +and -the number atthe
ashingcursorcanbeincreasedordecre-
ased.
Pressing<and>ortappingdirectlyona
digitmovesthecursor.
Pressing<intheupperleftcornerreturns
tothepreviousscreenwithoutsavingthe
changes.
Pressing✔willsavethesettingsandre-
turntothemainmenu.DMXisnowselected
asthesource.
ThedeviceneedsbetweenoneandthreeDMXchannels.Thenumberofchannelscanbe
changedviathePersonalitysetting,seesection5.6.2.
TheCobra 3.1supportsRDMinDMXmode.Moreaboutthisinsection5.5.7.
Please note thattheselectedpumpcharacteristichasaninuenceonthefogquantity.
 ThismeansthatevenwithaDMXvalueof100%,lessfogmaybeproduced.
 Formoreinformation,seesection5.6.1.

16
5. Operating the Cobra 3.1
Fig. 11: Setting Flash
InFlashmode,thefogoutputissetlinearlywiththeinputvoltagebetween0andthe
maximumpumpvalue.ItcorrespondstotheDIRECTmodeontheversion1and2devices.
Themaximumpumpvaluecanbesetinthemainmenuwhentheremotecontrolisnot
active,usingthesliderinthelowersection.
Itisrecommendedtosetthepumpvalue(FOG)to100%sothatthefullfogoutputcan
beused.Ifthevalueispresettoe.g.65%,theconnectedremote/deskcontrolsbetween0
and65%asmaximumvalue.
Thepumpisstartedfromapprox.1Vattheanaloginput.
Whenusingtheavailableradioremotecontrol,thestartbuttonmustbekeptpermanently
pressedwiththissetting.
5.5.3 Operating via Analog
TheAnalog sourcesettingcanbeusedtocontrolthemachineviaaremotecontrol.The
currentAnalogmodeandstatusaredisplayedinthemainmenu.
Fig. 10: Main menu Analog
BytappingtheAnalogbuttonorbySour-
ce -> Analogitispossibletoswitchtothe
Analogsettingsmenu.
Herethemodecanbechanged.

17
5. Operating the Cobra 3.1
Note
 Incontrasttothedevicesversion1and2thetogglemodecanalsobeterminatedby
 switchingtoashmodeorchangingthesource.
• Pressing< inthe upperleftcorner returnsto thepreviousscreen withoutsaving the
changes.
• Pressing✔savesthesettingsandreturnstothemainmenu.Analogisnowselectedas
thesource.
Fig. 12: Setting Toggle
InToggle mode,brieypressingtheStartbuttononthetransmitteroftheradioremote
controlstartstheoutput.
Anothershortpressendstheoutput.
TheTogglemodecorrespondstotheLATCHEDmodeontheversion1and2devices.
Thisallowstheavailableradioremotecontroltobeusedincombinationwiththedevice
withouthavingtokeepthestartbuttonontheremotecontrolpermanentlypressed.
Itisalsorecommendedtosetthepumpvalue(FOG)to100%sothatthefullfogoutput
canbeused.Ifthevalueispresettoe.g.65%,theconnectedremote/deskcontrolsbetween
0and65%asmaximumvalue.
TheFlashmodeispresetbydefault.ItisrecommendedtousetheTogglemodeonly
whenusingtheradioremotecontrol.
Theadvantagehereisthatthestartbuttononthetransmitterdoesnothavetobeheld
downpermanently.
Please note thattheselectedpumpcharacteristichasaninuenceonthefogquantity.
 Thismeansthatevenwhenmanuallysetto100%,lessfogmaybeproduced.
 Formoreinformation,seesection5.6.1.

18
5.5.4 sACN
ThesACNsourcesettingallowstheCobra 3.1 tobe controlledvianetworkusingthe
sACNprotocol.ThemainmenudisplaysthecurrentsACNuniverse,thestartaddressand
thestatusoftheconnection.
Fig. 13: Main menu sACN
BytappingthesACNbuttonorbySource
-> sACNitispossibletoswitchtothesACN
settingsmenu.
Heretheuniverseandtheaddresscanbe
congured.
Fig. 14: Adjustments sACN
Bypressing+and-thenumberattheas-
hingcursorcanbeincreasedordecreased.
Bypressing<and>ordirectlytappinga
digit,thecursorcanbemoved.
Inthe upper rowthesACN universe is
set.Thevaluecanbebetween1and63999.
InthelowerrowtheDMX-addressofthe
deviceintheselecteduniverseis set.The
valuecanbebetween1and512.
ToreceivesACNdata,theCobra 3.1mustbeconnectedtoanetworkandhaveavalidIP
address.Thesettingsforthisaredescribedinsection5.6.3.
ThedeviceneedsbetweenoneandthreeDMXchannels.Thenumberofchannelscanbe
changedviathe Personalitysetting,seesection5.6.2.
5. Operating the Cobra 3.1
• Pressing< inthe upperleftcorner returnsto thepreviousscreen withoutsaving the
changes.
• Pressing✔savesthesettingsandreturnstothemainmenu.sACNisnowselectedasthe
source.

19
5. Operating the Cobra 3.1
5.5.5 Art-Net
TheArt-NetsourcesettingallowstheunittobecontrolledviatheArt-Netprotocolby
network.ThecurrentArt-Netcongurationandthestatusoftheconnectionaredisplayed
inthemainmenu.
Fig. 15: Main menu Art-Net
Bytapping theArt-Net button orby
Source -> Art-Netitispossibletoswitchto
theArt-Netsettingsmenu.
HeretheNet, Sub-Net, Universeandthe
Addresscanbeadjusted.
Fig. 16: Settings Art-Net upper section Fig. 17: Settings Art-Net lower section
Bypressing+and-thenumberattheashingcursorcanbeincreasedordecreased.
Bypressing<and>ordirectlytappingadigit,thecursorcanbemoved.
IntheupperrowtheArt-Net Netisset.Thevaluecanbebetween0and127.
TheArt-Net Sub-Netissetinthenextrow.Thevaluecanbebetween0and15.
InthefollowingrowtheArt-Net Universeisset.Thevaluecanbebetween0and15.
Please note thattheselectedpumpcharacteristichasaninuenceonthefogquantity.
 Thismeansthatevenwhenmanuallysetto100%,lessfogmaybeproduced.
 Formoreinformation,seesection5.6.1.

20
5. Operating the Cobra 3.1
ToreceiveArt-Netdata,theCobra 3.1mustbeconnectedtoanetworkandhaveavalid
IPaddress.Thesettingsforthisaredescribedinsection5.6.3.
ThedeviceneedsbetweenoneandthreeDMXchannels.Thenumberofchannelscanbe
changedviathe Personalitysetting,seesection5.6.2.
TheCobra 3.1supportsRDMinArt-Netmode.Formoreinformationseesection5.5.7.
InthelowerrowtheDMX addressofthedeviceintheselecteduniverseisset.Thevalue
canbebetween1and512.
• Pressing< inthe upperleftcorner returnsto thepreviousscreen withoutsaving the
changes.
• Pressing✔savesthesettingsandreturnstothemainmenu.Art-Netisnowselectedas
thesource.
Please note thattheselectedpumpcharacteristichasaninuenceonthefogquantity.
 Thismeansthatevenwhenmanuallysetto100%,lessfogmaybeproduced.
 Formoreinformation,seesection5.6.1.