Snow Masters SNOW ZONE User manual

The Snow Zone Machine
T-1500 EVAPORATIVE SNOW MACHINE
www.snowmasters.com
M•A•S•T•E•R•S
SPECIAL EFFECTS
©2008 Snowmasters, Inc.

THE T-1500 “SNOW ZONE”
Congratulations on your purchase of this SnowMasters snow machine. With
your snow machine you will dazzle and entertain audiences in large or small
venues. Your T-1500 snow machine is loaded with advanced features, but at
the same time it is very easy to use.
The T-1500 “Snow Zone” is a modernized design in a family of special effects snow machines used
for years in Movie Productions, Theatres, Malls, and Presentations. This futuristic modeled “work-
horse” sprays evaporative snow from its nozzle section and creates a realistic snowfall effect without
residue or cold air. With its reliable, efcient and low-volume design, the T-1500 is a marvel for stage
productions, fancy presentations or unique weddings. The tethered remote and the DMX give the user
control over snow ake size and instant activation.
CAUTION: YOU MUST READ THE FOLLOWING BEFORE
OPERATING THE T-1500 “SNOW ZONE”
The T-1500 is an Electric Product - not a Toy. To avoid the risk of re, burns, personal injury, and
electric shock, it should not be played with and should be placed out of the reach of small
children. Adult supervision is continuously necessary to avoid the risk of electric shock or personal
injury. Never remove the covers or open the enclosures.
The T-1500 “Snow Zone” generates evaporative snow™ that normally disipates completely when
dispensed from the ground to 20-30 ft in the air. Mounting the T-1500 at the specied elevation,
relative to the generated ake size, is key to creating a “residue free” oor below the snow machine
(See Chart 2). A wet oor or incorrectly mounted snow machine could allow a build-up of snow
residue. Since the residue is slippery, it is important to follow all the directions in this manual to
avoid this type of problem.
Never operate the T-1500 without evaporative snow™ in the solution bottle. Do not run the T-1500
when the Gallon Solution bottle is holding less than a pint of solution. If you do not follow these
directions, the T-1500 can be damaged and warranty voided.
Always mount the T-1500 using the secured “C” Clamp that is attached to the steel yoke, or secure it
on a at stable platform. Wrap a safety chain around the yoke brackets for secondary protection.
Never leave the T-1500 unattended while operating. Do not operate it in the rain or near standing
water. Always use an outlet with an earth grounding receptacle and a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupt
(GFCI).
Never use this product for any activity other than for what it is intended.
Never add flammable liquids (oil, gas, alcohol, perfume) to the snow solution.
1
General Information
WELCOME
Important Information About your T-1500 Snow Machine
IMPORTANT PRODUCT AND SAFETY INFORMATION
Failure to follow these instructions can cause serious bodily injury or property damage.

The best Evaporative Snow Machine in the world.
f 4-channel DMX control
f Remote control (rented/sold separately)
f Variable stand alone features
f Lifetime warranty
f 24-Hour Technical Service
f Repeat Cycle Timer (5 min. and 15 min. cycles)
Voltage: q 110 60 Hz or 220v q 220v q 100v
Current: 10 Amps
Size: 25” Wide, 18” Long and 25” Tall (without the yoke and “C” Clamp)
Weight: 60 lbs
Materials: Predominately: Polyethylene Exterior with steel covers, bracket and yoke.
Color: Black
Snow Solution: 1 oz Solution Mixture per minute (approximate)
Usage Rate of 1 to 1.5 hrs per gallon of solution.
Solution Contains: 1 gallon or 4.3 liters
Power Cable
Length: 7 ft
Tether Length
To Remote: 30 ft
Sound: 74 db @ 9.8 feet
2
T-1500 Snow Machine Features and Specifications
Features
Features and Specifications
Specifications

SnowMasters™ Labs are constantly inventing and reformulating solutions in order to improve the
snow from the T-1500 “Snow Zone”. Please contact SnowMasters™ at 800-745-8599 for more
information. In order to prevent operation problems and observe the Warranty guidelines, always
use a SnowMasters™ approved solution. The FG-100 Snow Solution comes premixed and ready
to use. You will have to pour the solution into the plastic bottle that comes with the T-1500, if the
solution bottle does not t into the well on the T-1500.
FG-100 Evaporative Snow™ premixed. Recommended
SnowMasters premixed solutions are designed with the highest grade of available water based
surfactants. The surfactant-based solution is mixed with de-ionized water to leave no residue when
using the snow machine properly. The use of de-ionized water is necessary to create a bright uffy
snowake. SnowMasters Laboratories have researched and developed the driest available snow
solution on the market today. FG-100 premixed weight: 9.8 pounds.
Using Evaporative Snow™ concentrate solution FG-100C
SnowMasters Labs have designed a concentrated version of FG-100 premixed in an attempt to save
shipping cost to our customers. The ratio mix for this snow solution is 8 oz. of solution per one gallon
of water. It is important to remember that the kind of water used will affect the quality of snow. The
recommended water to use is de-ionized water. This form of water has no minerals, hard properties
or chlorine. De-ionized water is the base ingredient in our formulation, because it makes the best
foam and leaves no water stains. It was originally used for the movie industry, so if the snow landed
on a camera lens, it would not leave a water ring. Since this formulation has no chemical, it dries and
leaves no lm. De-ionized water is not available in grocery stores and can only be found at medical
supply companies. If your event does not require the use of a movie camera or will not land on glass,
distilled water may be used. Be aware that if you use tap water, it may have hard agents that can
cause poor looking snow. In this case, order FG-100 premix. The use of tap water, city water or well
water can be used with the following warnings: Certain tap waters contain high mineral content and
will produce a minimal amount of snow. These minerals will not produce a bright white ake. If de-
ionized water is not available, use distilled water.
See chart below (Chart 1) for some examples of common water/solution ratios. Please read before
mixing this product with water. Make sure you adhere to the mixing proportions.
Warning if you mix water with FG-100 premixed (non-concentrate), you will not
be able to generate snow. FG-100C Concentrate 8 oz bottle weight: 0.5 lb.
Chart 1
WATER FG-100 CONCENTRATE
Tablespoons or Pints or Fluid Ounces
½ gallon 8 ¼ 4
1gallon 16 ½ 8
2 gallons 32 1 16
5 gallons 80 2 ½ 40
Lightly Shake or Stir the solution in the container
before operating the T-1500.
3
Solution Mixture
Solution Mixture:
Evaporative Snow™ Solution Mixture

The T-1500 has some simple instructions that must be carefully followed in order to create the
desired evaporative snowfall, ensure the safety of the operators/participants and to protect the
equipment from damage.
PLEASE FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY.
1) Prepare the area you intend to direct your snowfall. Review “Diagram 1” on page 12 which shows
approximate spread of the evaporative snow. Always prepare your snowfall area making sure it is
dry and free of obstructions. Note that if the snowfall surface area is linoleum or smooth, and if the
T-1500 is mounted too low (See Chart 2), some akes can create a slippery oor. Always locate the
T-1500 in a well-ventilated area. Never block or cover the intake or nozzle discharge of
the T-1500 or the internal blower can be damaged.
2) Mount the T-1500 on a secure, dry and level platform. Since the larger the ake size the slower
it will be to evaporate, Chart 2 recommends Rotary Switch or Remote settings to minimize residue
on the ground. For safety reasons, the T-1500 should be unplugged from the electrical outlet while
placing it in your desired location. The Nozzle should be pointed in the direction you want it to
spray snow. Hang or route the 30 ft. tethered remote as required to the desired operating location
without pinching the wire. Do not operate the T-1500 in the rain. The T-1500 is not
waterproof. If it gets wet, unplug the snow machine and contact “SnowMasters™”
technical support at 1-888-391-7669.
Chart 2
Approximate Rotary Switch or Dial Remote Settings
Relative to Mounting Height to Minimize Residue
Rotary Switch
Setting
or Remote
Setting
900s
Snowflake Size Mounting
Height
880-899 5 1/4 - 1/2 inch 30 ft
879-860 4 3/16 - 3/8 inch 25 ft
859-840 3 1/8 - 1/4 inch 20 ft
839-820 2 1/16 - 3/16 inch 15 ft
819-800 1 0 - 3/16 inch 10 ft*
* 10 ft is probably too low to prevent some residue on the ground.
3) If the snow solution is a concentrate, prepare the snow solution in the empty plastic gallon bottle
provided (located in the T-1500 solution bottle well) per the “Solution Mixture” section of this
manual (See Chart 1). If the correct water/concentrate mix is not blended properly, the T-1500 may
not create the ideal evaporative snowakes. Place the clear tube in the container with the “Solution
Mixture” and push it down so that the open end reaches the bottom of the lled container. The
pump in the T-1500 is self-priming.
4) In order to start the T-1500, plug the Snow Machine power cord into an outlet with a 3rd lead
grounded conductor (preferably a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupt -GFCI). Next, turn the power
4
General Operating Instructions
Operating Instructions:
Operating Instructions

switch “ON” in the back of the T-1500. If you are using the DMX features, read the section on DMX
settings to get the proper response. If you are using the remote, set the DMX display on the back
of the T-1500 unit to any number between 900-999. Press the “ON” switch on the tethered remote
to start the snowfall. Adjust the dial on the remote to set the desired snowake size (See Chart 2).
Rotate the dial clockwise to obtain larger akes and counterclockwise for smaller akes. If the akes
are sticking to the ground during an initial run, adjust the dial counterclockwise, after drying off the
ground surface (snowakes accumulate more easily on a wet surface). Press “OFF” to turn off the
snow on the tethered remote. Do not operate the T-1500 without the
clear tube submerged in the lled solution container.
5) If the solution has drained out of the clear tube during a rest period
for the T-1500, it may take a minute or two for the pump to self-prime
itself from the solution container liquid.
6) On the tethered remote, a blinking light signies that the Power is
“ON”. A constant light from the LED signies that the T-1500 is blowing
evaporative snow. If the light on the remote is completely off, the unit is
not powered up and cannot be controlled from the remote.
7) To turn the power OFF, push down on the red “O” button on the back of the unit.
DMX Settings T-1500 “Snow Zone”
The DMX settings are key to the operation of the T-1500. The three-digit number on the back of the
T-1500 panel determines the operation mode for the T-1500. Warning: there are DMX settings where
the T-1500 will appear not to operate, so always review the tables below during setup and operation
.
8 9 6
RANGE ACTIVITY
000 508 DMX Address- Outside Interface
509 599 Standby- No Activity
600 699 Short Cycles of ON/OFF Activity
700 799 Long Cycles of ON/OFF Activity
800 849 Zero to Minimal Snow-Blower Operates
850 859 Snow Flurry- Lowest Outputs
860 879 Light Snowfall- Smallest Flakes
880 889 Sub-Blizzard- Larger Snow Flakes
890 895 Ideal Range of Operation at 30 ft height
896 899 Maximum Snow Output- Largest Flakes
900 999 Remote Control Activated (Note: 5 Pin DMX
must be disconneted.)
See Chart 2 for Remote Controlled Flake Size
5
Operating Instructions
Operating Instructions:
General Operating Instructions

The snow machine controller consists of one fan relay, a pump controller and control interface capable
of receiving a DMX signal or a proprietary remote control signal. The DMX address is set via a three digit
rotary switch located on the back of the device. The DMX address is set in a decimal fashion.
The DMX interface is compliant with DMX-512
standards and electrically isolated to 1000VAC. The
starting address can be set from 1 to 509. The DMX
protocol requires 4 dimmers dened as Mode, Cycle
Time, Duration and Flake Size. The Mode dimmer
denes the overall operation of the snow machine
- Off, On, and Momentary. The Mode dimmer will
correspond to the selected start address, with the Cycle
Time, Duration, and Flake Size channels in the following
order.
When the mode channel is set to one of the Momentary
positions (either 5 or 15 min cycle), the Cycle Time and
Duration channels become active. The cycle time channel
establishes the time it takes for the entire event. Duration
channel is the length of time of snow output. The minimum
time of one cycle is 18 seconds with a ten second ON
time, a four second SNEEZE, and a four second WAIT. A
sneeze is when the blower remains on without the pump
and dries the sock, preventing postnasal drip.
The following tables show all the settings that can be attained with the use of the three digit rotary
switch located on the back of the device. An ‘X’ indicates that the number in that position does not
matter for the required result to be attained. Switch A is in the hundreds position, Switch B is in the
tens position, and Switch C is in the ones position.
Table 1 shows that there are six modes in which
the device may operate: Idle, DMX, 5 minute
cycle, 15 minute cycle, always on, and remote.
6
Using the Controller
Snow Machine Controller
Using the Controller
*SELECTED START ADDRESS
Cycle
Time
Flake
Size
100 100 100 100
: : : :
0 0 0 0
100
: Always On
75
74
: 15 Min Cycle
51
50
: 5 Min Cycle
25
24
: Off
0
DMX Mode Channel Level
A B C Mode
0 0 0 Idle
001
: : : DMX
509
5 1 0
: : : Idle
599
6 X X 5 Min Cycle
7X X 15 Min
Cycle
8X X Always On
9X X Remote
Table 1- Mode Settings

Table 2 displays the settings
for the 5 minute cycle.
Within this mode, the device
cycles are dependent on
the B switch setting. The
cycle time is the total time
of the event, and the “on
time” is the length of time of
snow output, similar to the
duration in the “DMX mode”.
Otherwise, the machine is in
a WAIT state
Table 3 displays the settings
for the 15 minute cycle.
Within this mode, the device
cycles are dependent on
the B switch setting. The
cycle time is the total time
of the event, and the “on
time” is the length of time of
snow output, similar to the
duration in the “DMX mode”.
Otherwise, the machine is in
a WAIT state
Table 4 shows the use of
switch C during 5 minute
or 15 minute cycle modes
(Switch A is 6 or 7). Switch C
controls the ake size.
7
Using the Controller
Snow Machine Controller
Using the Controller
A B C ON Time WAIT Time
6 0 X 15 Seconds 4 Minutes 45 Seconds
6 1 X 30 Seconds 4 Minutes 30 Seconds
6 2 X 1 Minute 4 Minutes
6 3 X 1 Minute 30 Seconds 3 Minutes 30 Seconds
6 4 X 2 Minutes 3 Minutes
6 5 X 2 Minute 30 Seconds 2 Minutes 30 Seconds
6 6 X 3 Minutes 2 Minutes
6 7 X 3 Minute 30 Seconds 1 Minute 30 Seconds
6 8 X 4 Minutes 1 Minute
6 9 X 4 Minute 30 Seconds 30 Seconds
Table 2 – 5 Minute Cycle
A B C ON Time WAIT Time
7 0 X 45 Seconds 14 Minutes 15 Seconds
7 1 X 1 Minute 30 Seconds 13 Minutes 30 Seconds
7 2 X 3 Minutes 12 Minutes
7 3 X 4 Minutes 30 Seconds 10 Minutes 30 Seconds
7 4 X 6 Minutes 9 Minutes
7 5 X 7 Minute 30 Seconds 7 Minutes 30 Seconds
7 6 X 9 Minutes 6 Minutes
7 7 X 10 Minute 30 Seconds 4 Minute 30 Seconds
7 8 X 12 Minutes 3 Minutes
7 9 X 13 Minute 30 Seconds 1 Minute 30 Seconds
Table 3 – 15 Minute Cycle
A B C Flake Size
6/7 X 0 1
6/7 X 1 2
6/7 X 2 3
6/7 X 3 4
6/7 X 4 5
6/7 X 5 6
6/7 X 6 7
6/7 X 7 8
6/7 X 8 9
6/7 X 9 10
Table 4 – Flake Size Settings

Table 5 shows the use of switches B and C when switch A is set to 8 (Always On state). Switches
B and C work similarly to Switch C when in the 5 minute and 15 minute cycle modes. It controls the
ake size. The user then has 100 choices of ake size.
Table 5 -Always on Flake size setting.
A B C Flake Size
8 0 0 1%
8 : : :
8 9 9 100%
Note: The user should avoid conguring the ‘A’ selector to the 9 position while a DMX connection
is being used.
There is a provision on the controller board for an additional fan control relay rated at 10 amps. This
relay has a completely separate power interface.
The remote control provides a tethered remote control connection to the snow machine. The 3
rotary switches must be at 900 or greater for remote function to be enabled. The remote has control
over the on/off and ake size functions. The ake size knob provides variable settings from small (0)
to large (5) akes. There is also a status LED to inform the user that the unit is on and powered.
When the unit is powered and the power switch on the remote is set to the off position, the red LED
on the remote will slowly pulse to inform the user that the unit is in standby. When the user changes
the switch to on, the LED will go to a solid red.
While in “remote mode”,
Rotary Switch controls the flake
size. The “remote mode” also
allows for the use of a quick
on/off switch located on the
remote control.
8
Using the Controller and the Remote
Snow Machine Controller
Using the Controller and the Remote
Remote Control
The DMX interface is also provided as a pass
through connection. The remote interface
utilizes standard pins 4 and 5 of the 5 pin
XLR connector to supply power to the remote
control. Pins 4 and 5 are pass through when
used in a DMX conguration. Pins 4 and 5
have power applied to them only when the
DMX selector is set to the 900s and this power
is used to power the remote.

9
Maintenance
The T-1500 is a low maintenance unit.
Cleaning and Storing the T-1500 “Snow Zone”
In order to clean the T-1500, ll another plastic container half full with water and run the unit for
3-5 minutes with the nozzle tilted downward into another container (if possible). You may clean the
plastic exterior of the T-1500 with detergent and water. Do not stack other boxes or items on top of
the T-1500. Store the T-1500 in a cool, dry environment between 40-80 degrees F. If electrical wires
are frayed, contact the factory at 800-745-8599 for service. Never operate the T-1500 with a frayed
electrical wire.
Caution: Never remove the cover or housing screws on the Snow Machine. This action will nullify
the warranty. Contact customer service at 800-745-8599.
General Repair: The T-1500 Snow Machine has a lifetime warranty and should never require
you to disassemble the unit. Please contact SnowMasters™ service at 800-745-8599 if you have
questions on its operation or warranty.
Always use SnowMasters™ approved snow solutions or the Lifetime
Warranty will be nullified.
Maintenance Information and Precautions
General Maintenance