Quote:
Originally Posted by Sieg
......and after all that work.........oops!
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We had that happen to one barge in 1998 when the Pyro (Jose) on that particular barge didn't flip the switch on the firing box from 24V's to TEST mode... TEST mode would send down MILLIAMPS About 100 "cues" went off - it was on the 3rd and during the day - so we had time to pull shells from other barges and re-do/alter - the show so nobody knew it happened.
A brief explanation:
These large shows are shot using a laptop --- a "cue" (a line of code) can be 1 shell or multiple shells in multiple locations on set. Typical New York City show runs about 600 cues (which is, for that show, about 4500 shells). The laptop sends a signal to a firing box when it's time for the cue to light... the firing box sends 24V's to an electronic match called a squib... the squib lights the "quick match fuse" -- which then travels almost instantly (quick match travels around 100 to 300 feet per second) to the LIFT CHARGE -- lifting the shell to it's predetermined height. At the same time the lift charge goes off -- it subsequently lights a TIMED (slo-blow) fuse which lights off the detonation charge to light up and blow apart the shell.
What Jose didn't do was flip his firing box into test mode -- and a computer can count down 600 cues pretty F'n fast! Lucky for him - he realized what he'd done and flipped it -- saving most of his barge.
The Idiots in San Diego (this video) didn't know what to do.... and lit 'em all off... That's AMATEUR HOUR right there. Which is why only real pro's are usually running the big shows.
Here's a half shell showing the LIFT charge -- then you can see the timer fuse:
Where the red paper is covering the "quick match" --- we would tear off that paper covering -- slip a Squib inside -- fold it several times and seal it up with tape... The squibs have about a 6' two wire (zip wire) that we would then strip out -- careful place the shell into it's mortar.... and wire the squib to it's appropriate "pins" in the address box... large multi strand cables run from each address box back to the firing box.
In this photo -- the quick match is shown exposed. It WOULD NEVER BE exposed when done properly (thus the taping up after the squib is inserted).
Each mortar or "cake" is then capped or covered with tinfoil so as to protect it from accidentally being lit by the sparks and fire from a shell that was intentionally set off....
At the end of a show -- you knew when you had a live round (a dud or a good live round that just failed to fire) in a mortar because the tinfoil would still be intact! Then you got to look down the mortar --- and then reach in there and pull it out and put it away in a special box! That was the WORST PART EVER BEING A PYRO!!!! That SOB could go off without any warning and you're sticking your arm down that tube!! I hated that part. UGH.
WE always covered our racks and mortars with plastic until we got in to place in case of rain -- then we'd remove the plastic sheeting -- RAIN was normal in NYC at the end of June or in July... HOT and HUMID is the word for that part of the world in the summer.....
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