Ignite module tragedy… and no clue what happened.

[PyromusicalAddiction]

All, I spent almost a year perfecting my July 4th show on my ignite modules. I dry ran my show the day before as suggested by the ignite team. Set up was flawless. I was done with the set up entirely by around 3 pm and finally got to have some family time with everyone. Show time arrived and I fired my modules up, and started my show like I always do. Cue one passed, no fireworks. Cue 2, nothing. Cues 3-6…nothing. I stop the show, double check everything, and run another check on continuity and everything is green. Tried firing again and nothing whatsoever. I am embarrassed, furious, sad, and completely heartbroken. I’ve reached out to ignite but I haven’t gotten a response. Has anyone here run into this before? What on earth happened. This was every pyro’s worst nightmare come true for me and I can’t figure out what went wrong.

[PyromusicalAddiction]

All, I spent almost a year perfecting my July 4th show on my ignite modules. I dry ran my show the day before as suggested by the ignite team. Set up was flawless. I was done with the set up entirely by around 3 pm and finally got to have some family time with everyone. Show time arrived and I fired my modules up, and started my show like I always do. Cue one passed, no fireworks. Cue 2, nothing. Cues 3-6…nothing. I stop the show, double check everything, and run another check on continuity and everything is green. Tried firing again and nothing whatsoever. I am embarrassed, furious, sad, and completely heartbroken. I’ve reached out to ignite but I haven’t gotten a response. Has anyone here run into this before? What on earth happened. This was every pyro’s worst nightmare come true for me and I can’t figure out what went wrong.

Everyone, I have figured it out. I used scotch lock connectors to secure my igniters. I can’t understand why I got continuity readings entirely while at the same time nothing fired, but after my wife and I ran multiple tests this morning, those connectors are 100% the issue. Those of you who are looking into trying these, DO NOT USE THESE CONNECTORS! We tried several different ways of inserting the wires into the connectors during our tests and they would never work. Hopefully this will help someone who is researching ways to connect igniters or streamline the process.

[KDirk]

Are you referring to the gel-filled insulation piercing type Scotch lock splices that used to be common on phone line and security system wiring? I'm going to guess that the wire gauge in the igniters was too small for the insulation displacement to get a good enough "bite" to support a good connection capable of delivering firing current. Was probably just good enough to establish continuity for your meter, and for the port scanning continuity test on the IGNITE though, which is what faked you out.

That's an unfortunate failure, to be caught on the spot with a no-go show right at the critical moment. Problems like this are why I'd always suggest doing a small number of live fire cues (hooked up in a manner identical to what you will actually be using) prior to the day of the big show. That at least verifies that you truly have a functional setup, and aren't relying entirely on the integral continuity indication on the firing module.

I also saw where INGITE had a catastrophic failure of their FTP server on the evening of the 4th, which made running scripted shows impossible for some users, whose only fallback then was to manually fire all cues. That was an unfortunate misstep, and hopefully won't sour people on using the system.

[Blaster]

Yea, ya gotta think about wire size, I have, for over 30yrs,,, ;) used a tool from the phone companies for "J / K" wire, called a Pick-a-Bond from AMP (most of my crew has acquired them, mostly used from eBay, ex phone co guys already had theirs and supply a lifetime's worth of the connectors for us all!).

NEVER had a connection issue...

[topshelfpyro]

If they are brand name scotchloks and the correct ones used for the wire size i'm pretty suprised. I had issues with the no name scotchloks but never the real ones in the correct size. That's a terrible thing that happened to you, kinda makes stomach hurt and I wasn't even there.

[BMoore]

I use scotchloks by the 100’s to add scab wire and have never had a problem. As others have said you may have used the wrong sized connectors but it is curious that the showed continuity.

[KDirk]

I've never used scotchlocks when wiring fireworks yet, as I like to operate on the assumption that the fewer splice points (or connectors) there are, the better. Adding additional junctions to wiring is an easy way to introduce problems. I use igniters directly to slats, and all my slats are DB25 types back to the Cobra modules. I have a couple of RJ45 slats I bought to try out, but they are susceptible to continuity problems from condensation and dirt in the connectors; much more so than DB25 connections anyway. While it may be entirely possible to extend scab wiring with scotchlocks, I've avoided doing so out of concern for the very type of problem the OP posted about. It was bad enough I had sync/channel assignment issues with one 72M during my 2024 shoot, and had to fall back to hand lighting a bunch to keep the show going.

[Blaster]

My shows always contain many, many, many, Series connections. You can't be afraid of making those connections, but you need a reliable connection that you can count on...

[KDirk]

I'll daisy chain slats using DB25 cables, I just avoid using splices on the actual igniters. Have had minimal problems doing so, save for a bad DB25 cable once, and damaged connectors on slats a few times.

[traumamed]

Like KDirk, I also try to minimize the number of connections and run igniter directly to slat or module as much as possible. However, for my particular setup and shoot site, it is inevitable that I will have to use some connectors and scab wire/extension wire. For that, I use these guys. (https://www.amazon.com/Connectors-HTCELLE-60-Piece-Electrical-Terminals/dp/B0C3LBWSTZ/ref=sr_1_5?crid=3IBVAO4SWCR7M&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ZYnjdX_ZFsZ4wSUVf1rcod1ly0X6GDKp-UjbIxEaJJt7pKBbUxXIOHg5OhrD4ryGV18GyPnbTB0oYlKKYsf H9D49YeuFwYMLJuRqFAhruuMS1ruzZDR4dGnUL6n6fGQa-QmUcJSTnfYfXEHrl7I4wQXp7-OUvzeKdrhnYBkZ2f0tB1n60ahoHlmKFj6qMLYH9RKvMMRGm2b9 8rylLQ1vuEDYykn3dcUux8UKA0ISbFE.Mtw_JYCMKqDfoBdiuV Sd96cVKEVvhedd9gDyetKZNoo&dib_tag=se&keywords=lever%2Bwire%2Bconnectors&qid=1752467569&sprefix=lever%2Bwire%2Bcon%2Caps%2C121&sr=8-5&th=1) They are cheap, fast, easy, reusable, and haven't failed me yet. I am by no means an expert, so someone might step in and have a good reason to say I shouldn't be using these - but if there is such a reason, I am not smart enough to have figured it out on my own.

Sorry your show was a bust. For what it's worth, many of us have been there before, and come back better for it. On the bright side, you have a ton of product you won't have to buy that you can use to make your next show even more awesome.