fog as a deterant, and not the weather type

[bryan35]

Through work, home interests etc, I've had quite a bit of experience in using theatrical fog machines. Di-propylene glycol mixed with distilled water which you then vapourise in a hot pipe. Lots of fog, very safe (chemically) and if you've got a big generator or leave a small one on for a long time - very dense, eg visibility down to inches.
Now, as you do, I've tried one of these things (a large output ZR20 machine) in the house, and believe me you can see NOTHING in about 20 seconds. I never realised how hard it was to find your way round your own house when it's fogged/smoked out. Bit of a shock actually. Takes ages to clear even with the doors and windows open, and doesn't harm anything. When idling, the machine uses very little power, just keeps topping the temperature up in the well insulated vapouriser.

So, if you had a few of these round your house which triggered even on an outside PIR, mr burglar would see sod all if he broke in, and if he did the noise of the machines (like a fire extenguisher, but slighter quieter - still loud though) and resultant furious blast of fog must surely startle/deter him.

Often thought that an alarm system panic button would be useful if it did the same - as well as set off the alarm - butb leave your bedroom door shut and locked.

thoughts / comments?

[turbobloke]

bryan35 said:

Often thought that an alarm system panic button would be useful if it did the same - as well as set off the alarm - butb leave your bedroom door shut and locked. thoughts / comments?

I believe there's a security system already available that fills your car with smoke to prevent an intruder from doing - well, anything really except getting out again. Seems good from a room point of view as well.

[Don]

Interesting idea.

Surely though the "fog" would knacker your electronic gadgets and so on? Perhaps even damage wallpaper and so on?

[motco]

It's called 'Smokecloke'

[turbobloke]

motco said:

It's called 'Smokecloke'

Pity there isn't an option for proven scrote intruders called Smokechoke.

[bryan35]

nope.

it's especially designed to leave electronics alone - imagine the carnage in a tv studio in it did!

The glocol makes it very opaque, and also stops the water condensing. Makes it's own dew point very very low - apparently.

That said, if for instance you had the outlet pointing at a wall from about say 6 inches and left the machine going, you do end up with a slightly sticky patch, but it's only slight and you do have to go at it!

Never noticed any other adverse effects.

The actually test on living organisms was done with rabbits (ooh, testing on animals). Bunch of rabbits in an atmosphere saturated with fog for 8 hours. All they ended up with was alive if not slightly sticky bunnies.

[Davi]

bloomin fantastic idea if you ask me

Of course, the PC brigade will probably advise intruders to persue you for compensation if they tripped and injured themselves while unable to see robbed as they your house

>> Edited by Davi on Tuesday 23 May 11:51

[deltafox]

Sounds cool.

Question.

Would it also act as a fire surpressant?

[bryan35]

well, for a fire suppresant you need to get rid of one of 3 things,
Fuel, oxygen, or heat.

Never tried it, though the COSSH sheet says that although the fog if fairly inert, the raw fluid mix COULD add fuel to the fire.

[oldie]

Would it work on tailgaters (hehe) ??

>> Edited by oldie on Tuesday 23 May 15:30

[blueyes]

oldie said:

Would it work on tailgaters (hehe) ?? >> Edited by oldie on Tuesday 23 May 15:30

Or speed cameras?

[oldie]

blueyes said:

oldie said: Would it work on tailgaters (hehe) ?? >> Edited by oldie on Tuesday 23 May 15:30 Or speed cameras?

Or set a portable one up near a camera van , think of the fun to be had - no wheels on his scamvan etc

[mr clive]

How long does the machine take to start working from cold?

[eliminator]

And can you discharge high (very high) voltage electric through the cloud???

[pjskel]

Problem is though, other neighbours may see it, and think the house is on fire, so the brigade would be called out for a needless purpose.
Nice idea in theory, but in practice it'd be a different story.

[GravelBen]

blueyes said:

oldie said: Would it work on tailgaters (hehe) ?? >> Edited by oldie on Tuesday 23 May 15:30 Or speed cameras?

I did have an idea kinda similiar to this actually, using clear number plate covers (maybe some silicon-based stuff) that turns opaque when an electric current is passed through it. anyone know if such a material exists? I think it probably does but can't think of one off the top of my head.

but this made me think, maybe instead you could have a hollow one that you fill with a chemical smoke? might be cheaper.

anyway, you either have a button to turn the cover opaque, or simply set it up to be opaque whenever you're above the scamera/ radar threshold.

whaddya think?

>> Edited by GravelBen on Thursday 25th May 04:52

[Gixer]

There was a guy that made such a plate. It consisted of a clear perspex cover just like any other plate but it contained LCD's and was only clear while power was applied. When power was off it went that silver-grey LCD colour completely blocking the plate.

I have his site in my favouries - www.priva-plate.com/ but it looks like he's no longer around. I almost got a pair a couple of years back but he only had a jig set up to make UK sizes which was no good for me.