Description

General Specification (approx)

Description

The ViCount Touring Hazer is a professional haze and smoke system built around technology originally developed for some of the most demanding military, industrial, fire training and technical smoke applications.

Rather than starting with a conventional entertainment hazer and simply making it more robust, Concept has applied the proven engineering principles developed across its industrial smoke systems to create the ViCount Touring Hazer specifically for touring, rental, live production, film, television and permanent entertainment installations. The result is a compact professional system combining exceptionally fine aerosol generation, an incredibly wide output range, precise show control and the durability and reliability expected from industrial grade equipment.

At the heart of the ViCount Touring Hazer is a precision machined thermal heat exchanger capable of producing a consistent aerosol with a particle diameter of approximately 0.2-0.25 micron. This exceptionally small particle size is fundamental to the quality, persistence and efficiency of the resulting haze.

Partical Size

Not all haze is the same. Although different haze technologies can create a superficially similar visible effect, the size and consistency of the aerosol particles being introduced into the air have a major influence on how that effect behaves.

The ViCount Touring Hazer produces particles measuring approximately 0.2-0.25µm, placing them firmly in the sub-micron range. Particles of this scale have extremely little individual mass and are readily carried by normal air movement within a venue. Instead of quickly falling out of suspension, they remain entrained within the surrounding atmosphere for extended periods, allowing haze to spread progressively and evenly throughout a space.

Particle size makes a bigger difference than diameter alone might suggest. Because the amount of material in a particle depends on its volume, relatively small increases in diameter result in much larger increases in particle mass. For example, a 0.5µm particle can contain around 8-16 times more material than a particle produced by the ViCount Touring Hazer, while a 1.0µm particle can contain many tens of times more. This is one of the reasons that the ViCount Touring Hazer’s ultra-fine aerosol remains suspended for so long and uses so little fluid.

For lighting applications, this creates a particularly spectacular effect. The atmosphere provides the suspended particles required to reveal the path of light through the air, producing strong definition of beams, lasers and projection effects, while allowing the overall atmospheric density to remain controlled. Because the aerosol remains suspended for longer, the machine can maintain an established environment without continually adding large quantities of additional fluid.

The result is a stable, uniform and highly persistent atmosphere, rather than an effect dependent upon repeated heavy bursts of haze.

Maximum Persistence, Minimum Fluid Consumption

For maximum persistence and fluid efficiency, the ViCount Touring Hazer is designed to operate with Concept Smoke Oil 135, a highly refined pharmaceutical grade white mineral oil produced specifically to Concept Smoke Systems’ specification.

Its carefully controlled properties make it particularly well suited to the system’s precision machined heat exchanger, helping generate an exceptionally fine and consistent 0.2-0.25µm aerosol. Because the oil is slow to evaporate and the resulting particles are extremely small, the haze remains suspended for extended periods and requires very little additional output once the desired atmospheric level has been established.

This exceptional persistence translates directly into fluid efficiency. In haze operation, consumption can be as low as approximately 0.8 ml per minute, allowing a single 5 litre container to provide more than 100 hours of haze production.

For touring productions, rental companies and permanent installations, this means fewer refills, less fluid to transport and store, lower consumable costs and significantly less material needing to be introduced into the venue. Using less fluid to maintain the required atmospheric effect also helps minimise the potential for long-term deposition on scenery, equipment and optical surfaces.

The result is not simply an efficient hazer, but a system engineered to achieve and maintain a high quality atmospheric effect using the minimum practical quantity of fluid.

Where oil-based haze is not appropriate, the ViCount Touring Hazer can also be operated with approved Concept water-based fluids, providing additional flexibility for venues, productions or operating policies that specify a water-based medium.

The result is a highly versatile hazer capable of delivering exceptional persistence and extremely low fluid consumption with oil-based media, while retaining the flexibility to operate with water-based formulations when required.

From Subtle Atmosphere to Full Smoke, with Precision Control from the Lighting Desk

The ViCount Touring Hazer has an exceptionally broad operating range.  At its lowest settings it can be used to introduce very small quantities of aerosol to gradually establish a subtle atmospheric level. Output can then be increased for larger venues, outdoor shows where weather and wind need to be considered, or simply for a more pronounced effect.

At the other end of its operating range, the ViCount Touring Hazer can use approximately 30ml of fluid per minute, creating a substantially denser smoke effect.

This gives the unit considerably more versatility than a machine optimised solely for low level haze. A single unit can be used for maintaining delicate background atmosphere, producing stronger theatrical haze, creating individual smoke cues or generating much denser smoke effects when required.

For production companies and rental fleets, this flexibility can reduce the need to carry separate machines for different atmospheric effects. The operator has one professional platform with an output envelope broad enough to cover a wide variety of effects.

A professional atmospheric system must be controllable as accurately as the lighting fixtures it is being used alongside.  The ViCount Touring Hazer therefore incorporates DMX 512 control with RDM capability, allowing it to integrate directly into established lighting and show control environments.

Importantly, the Touring Hazer incorporates DMX controlled proportional gas regulation, giving the operator precise remote control of the carrier gas pressure as an integrated part of the system, rather than relying solely on an external manual regulator.

This provides the operator with much finer control over the way the aerosol is generated and discharged. Output can be changed remotely from the control position, allowing haze levels to be adjusted during a production, effects to be repeated from cue to cue and atmospheric changes to be coordinated with lighting, lasers and other show elements.

A dedicated smoke/haze adjustment valve provides an additional means of configuring the machine’s operating characteristics, giving the user control over whether the requirement is for an extremely fine atmospheric haze or a considerably denser smoke effect.

The aim is repeatability. Once the required atmospheric level has been established, the system can be controlled predictably rather than relying on an operator manually adjusting a gas regulator or repeatedly estimating output.

Designed for Continuous Operation

The ViCount Touring Hazer has a true 100% duty cycle across its entire output range, from the lowest haze settings through to maximum smoke output.

This is particularly important for touring, broadcast, theatre and permanent installations where a stable atmospheric level may need to be maintained throughout a performance, rehearsal or production day. Once the required haze density has been established, the system can continue to introduce precisely controlled quantities of aerosol for as long as required.

Combined with precise temperature regulation, low fluid consumption and its large 5 litre reservoir, this continuous duty capability allows the ViCount Touring Hazer to maintain the required effect for extended periods with minimal operator intervention.

What Professionals Say

The ViCount Touring Hazer is used by lighting professionals, rental companies and production teams who depend on consistent atmospheric effects in demanding real-world environments.

“We have had time to put the ViCount Touring Hazer through its paces, and WOW. I can’t say enough about how perfect it is. You undersold it for sure. Every LD who I’ve shown it to is blown away.”

“We’ve used the ViCount for several years now and we think it’s one of the best hazers in the world!”

“The quality of the haze is superior to anything else I’ve tried, and I’ve tried more or less everything in the last 20 years. I invested in a lot of new kit last year and this thing was my best purchase by far. In my opinion, worth every penny.”

“We’ve been extremely happy with our ViCount Hazer, so there hasn’t been any reason to contact you for almost two years! The fluid consumption is amazingly small. We bought 10 x 5 litre containers two years ago and still have almost 10 litres left. That’s quite a miracle considering we operate four nights a week!”

Precision Machined Heat Exchanger – Guaranteed for Life

At the heart of the machine is Concept’s precision machined heat exchanger block.

The geometry of the heat exchanger, control of its operating temperature and the way fluid is introduced into the heated path are fundamental to producing a repeatable aerosol.

A microprocessor based PID temperature control system continuously regulates the thermal process, maintaining the heat exchanger within its designed operating range as demand changes. This helps provide consistent aerosol production across changing output levels and from one operation to the next.

It is a component engineered as the core of the machine rather than as a consumable heater assembly.

Concept is sufficiently confident in the design and construction of the heat exchanger that the precision machined heater block is guaranteed for the lifetime of the machine.

This is backed by a comprehensive five year parts warranty on the ViCount Touring Hazer as a whole.

Automatic Purge for Long-Term Reliability

Protecting that precision engineered heat exchanger is the ViCount Touring Hazer’s automatic self-purge system.

Residual fluid left within internal pipework and the heat exchanger can, over time, degrade or carbonise. As deposits accumulate, they can restrict the fluid path, reduce output consistency and ultimately contribute to increased maintenance requirements or heat exchanger failure.

At the end of each operating cycle, the ViCount Touring Hazer automatically clears residual fluid from the internal fluid path and heat exchanger as part of normal machine operation, without relying on the operator to carry out a separate cleaning routine.

By helping keep the heat exchanger clear and reducing the amount of fluid left within the system, the purge process supports consistent output, reduces deposit build-up and contributes directly to long-term reliability.

For professional users who depend on their equipment to perform regularly, often with limited maintenance time between productions, this provides an important practical advantage and helps keep the machine performing consistently throughout its working life.

Designed for International Touring

Touring equipment needs to work wherever the next production takes it.

The ViCount Touring Hazer incorporates a 110-230v AC, 50-60Hz dual voltage electrical system, with manual voltage selection, allowing the same machine to be configured for the principal international touring supply voltages.

A powerCON® TRUE1 mains connection provides an established professional connection format, while the approximately four minute warm-up time allows the machine to become operational quickly after power-up.

Despite its industrial origins and powerful 1100w heat exchanger, the Touring Hazer measures approximately 41 x 18 x 54cm and weighs approximately 17kg, making it practical for touring, rental and permanent installation use.

The internal reservoir holds 5 litres, providing exceptionally long operating periods in haze applications without requiring a large external fluid supply.

Built to be Owned, Maintained and Kept in Service

Professional equipment is ultimately judged over years rather than during a single demonstration.

The ViCount Touring Hazer has therefore been designed with serviceability in mind, using a practical internal arrangement and proven component architecture intended to support straightforward inspection, maintenance and repair.

Automatic purging helps reduce carbonisation within the heat exchanger, PID temperature management protects the thermal process, the precision-machined heater block is guaranteed for life and the remainder of the machine is covered by a five year parts warranty.

No professional system can eliminate every possibility of an unexpected component failure, accidental damage or issues arising during transport. What matters is how quickly and effectively those situations can be resolved. Concept’s experienced technical team is readily available to provide comprehensive remote diagnostics, troubleshooting and technical support, wherever the equipment is being used.

Wherever practical, problems can be identified and resolved remotely, helping customers avoid unnecessary returns and minimise downtime. With direct access to the engineers and technical specialists behind the product, touring companies, rental houses and permanent venues can be confident that support remains available throughout the working life of the machine.

Combined with its serviceable design, extended warranty and lifetime heat exchanger guarantee, this approach is intended to keep the ViCount Touring Hazer in service and earning its place in a professional inventory for many years to come.

British Engineering Backed by More Than 60 Years of Experience

The ViCount Touring Hazer is designed and manufactured in the United Kingdom by Concept Smoke Systems.

Concept has been designing and manufacturing specialist artificial smoke and aerosol generation equipment for more than 60 years, supplying equipment for applications ranging from entertainment and special effects through to aerospace, defence, fire training, cleanrooms, airflow visualisation and industrial testing.

Manufacture is carried out within Concept’s ISO 9001 quality management system, providing controlled production and quality processes together with direct technical support from the company responsible for designing and building the equipment.

That depth of experience is reflected in the philosophy behind the ViCount Touring Hazer – precision aerosol generation, efficient use of consumables, robust engineering, straightforward serviceability and performance that can be relied upon time after time.

The result is a professional haze system designed not simply to create an impressive effect when first switched on, but to provide consistent atmospheric control, extremely fine particle generation and dependable long-term operation in the environments where professional users actually need it.