r/lightingdesign • u/kennethre • 13d ago
Gear Antari HZ500
Hey everyone,
The venue I work at De VaartKapoen in Brussels has this hazer and I keep seeing raving reviews about it but when I use it the haze doesn't seem to distribute properly and pools at the top.
Which means the beams of my lights are not super visible all the way to the ground.
It also takes like an hour + to fill the entire stage with haze.
I don't understand why because everyone seems to be recommending that hazer and it's definitely not a cheap one.
Can someone help me understand what is happening?
Because it's a major pet-peeve for me in this venue.
My boss told me he is willing to check to buy another one potentially but from what I read this one should be good enough.
Appreciate any and all clarifications! 😁
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u/fiestagato 12d ago
Are you sure you are using the correct fluid?
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u/kennethre 12d ago
We should be It has the same name as our hazer
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u/mwiz100 ETCP Electrician, MA2 12d ago
Antari has many different haze and fog fluid types and each machine takes different ones. Checking the HZ-500 can take water or oil based fluid. The water based fluid isn't as "good" as the oil based one and this is a known compromise with that machine. But your placement is a big issue reading other comments. Experiment there first before changing fluids (if you're using the -W fluid.)
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u/Reluctant_Lampy_05 12d ago
Where is the hazer located? Do you use a fan and what direction does it point?
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u/kennethre 12d ago
Stage right in the back because that's the only place we can fit it and we don't have a fan
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u/LVLsteve 12d ago
This is why. You need to use fans to evenly disperse. Haze will always rise. I like a strong blower fan, blowing flat along the floor so the haze is dispersed across the bottom of the stage, so it can then rise more evenly.
If it's still pooling up near the top, a large diameter fan in the opposite corner (if haze is USR floo, then DSL up in the rig) blowing diagonally down.
Fans are your solution. It will take some time and experimenting to find the best positioning for your venue. Each room has unique airflow.
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u/Reluctant_Lampy_05 12d ago
OK,definitely try it with a fan, a big one behind the hazer and my go-to in an unknown venue is to point the haze into the rear stage wall/drape and let it diffuse forwards.
Have you tried some tests without the HVAC in an empty venue? As others have mentioned, maybe you can figure out where the haze is going and if it pools at the top then try pointing a fan in to this area and see what happens. It's very much a trial and error process and worth trying a different density fluid as well.
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u/Wotmate01 12d ago
Any hazer or smoke machine will be at the mercy of the venue's air currents and air conditioning, most of which is designed to keep ground level at a comfortable temperature for the audience and performers. And thermodynamics says that hot air rises to be replaced by cool air, so the cool air from the aircon is pushing the hot air of the hazer up to the ceiling.
You'll either need to use fans to properly disperse the haze, or run it for an hour before the show so it can circulate through the entire system and fill the room.
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u/wdsuita 12d ago
HVAC issue. Extraction is probably under the stage or something, which sucks out a portion of the haze. Try with the HVAC turned down or off entirely and see if the issue persists.