JEM ZR12-AL, Service Manual

3 

AN INTRODUCTION TO SMOKE TECHNOLOGY 

Smoke Machine Markets 

Jem / Martin smoke machines are categorised into 2 ranges: The 

Professional

 and the 

Club / DJ

 range. 

If a product is branded as a “Martin” product this is aimed at the 

Club / DJ

 market. 

All products branded as a “JEM” product are classed as 

Professional

 and are aimed at the higher end touring / 

installation market. 
All JEM / Martin Smoke products can be used across both of the different markets without any 

compromise of 

performance or features. 

Smoke machine principles: 

 
All JEM / Martin 

conventional

 smoke machines utilise the same technology: 

In Brief: 

When the 

run button

 on the 

remote

 is pressed, 

smoke fluid

 is pumped from a removable 

container

situated within the machine via the flexible fluid pipe into an 

oscillating piston pump

. 

The 

fluid

 passes through the 

pump

 and enters the 

heat exchanger

 were the 

fluid is vaporised

 and 

exits as thick, white 

smoke

. 

 
 
The 

heat exchanger

 is comprised of a 

heating element

 and a 

coil

 of copper or steel tubing between 3 and 6 

metres in length. This is cast into a mass of 

aluminium

. 

 
The 

heat exchanger

 is heated via the 

heating element

. 

This is controlled by a 

J Type thermocouple

 fitted to the 

heat exchanger. 

The 

temperature

 is determined by the 

calibration

 of the 

main control PCB

. 

 
Once the working 

temperature

 is reached, the 

main control PCB

 will allow the 

pump

 to be operated and the 

machine will now be ready to 

run

. 

Haze machine principles: 

 
The JEM ZR24/7 and Magnum Hazer work on the same smoke generation principles as the JEM  /  Martin 
smoke machines. 
The only difference is the smoke output on a hazer exits into a 

metal chamber

 where there is a 

fan

 creating a 

fast moving air stream

. This air stream 

disperses

 the smoke output and creates the 

haze

. 

 
Again the principles are identical to that of a 

conventional

 smoke machine. 

There is a 

pump, heat exchange, PCBs

 and 

onboard controls

. The major difference is the 

air chamber

. 

A 

radial fan

 is used with this system. It is used to allow the exiting smoke to have the 

maximum dispersal

. 

As with several of the smoke machines, the haze machine has a 

low fluid shut off

 system. This is an 

electronic temperature control device

 that measures the 

temperature

 of the 

heat exchange

 over a short 

period. If the 

temperature

 has not changed but the unit has been 

pumping

; the unit will assume that the 

system has 

run out of fluid

 and shut down. 

This prevents the system from running dry and burning out 

the pump.