These devices all work the same way: you play a sound track (thunder), and the lights (lightning) respond to the sound, as with a color organ.

Fake lightning machines come and go frequently. Many of the machines listed here are only of historical interest. Please read our disclaimers as to the timeliness and origin of this information.

• Terror By Design
• Spooky F/X
• Haunt Master Products
• Thorz
• Automated Horrors
• Scream In The Dark
• American DJ
• Diversitronics
• Take One
• Can You Imagine
• 13 Transylvania Ave
• Haunted Creations
• Perfect Storm
• Digital Sound and Lighting
• i-Zombie

• Market Trends
• Commercial Color Organs

Terror By Design

Denny at

As of May 2002, there are two models:

• The regular model runs $89.95 and works with up to 225 watts of incandescent lights, or a strobe up to 75 watts.
• The heavy-duty model costs $124.95 and goes up to 500 watts of incandescent light.

Both units use an internal microphone to pick up the sound from your speakers and require no special wiring. This certainly makes setup a breeze, but you need to make sure the unit is isolated from other noises, like patrons, partygoers, and traffic - or your lightning will flash with those sounds, too.

These appear to be single-channel units and have a single "sensitivity" control.

I have not heard any reviews of these units, but given Jerry's long and helpful association with the haunt world, I would be stunned if there were any problems.

Most of the models are discontinued and are only listed here for historical purposes.

date	model number	name	power	price
October 2006	PSC5	Perfect Storm Category 5	3120 Watts	$185
November 2002	PS103102	The Perfect Storm	2400 Watts	$195
ended November 2002	LNCR-103102	The Basic Lightning Controller		$69
	LNCR-111-801	The Basic Lightning Controller	220 Watts	$59
	T10-13-01	The Tempest	1200 Watts	$160
ended July 2001	LC60	The Lightning Controller	220 Watts	$60

• In October 2006, Spooky F/X introduced "Perfect Storm Category 5", model #PSC5, $185 plus S&H.

  This unit comes with a special CD that has nine tracks, each about 5 minutes long. The CD is piped into the storm box, and then into a boom box or stereo.

  The web site states that the Perfect Storm is better than a standard color organ because it does not react to the sounds of wind or rain.

  The unit drives 3120 Watts (26 Amps), and can be used with incandescent lights or strobes.
  

• In November 2002, Spooky F/X introduced "The Perfect Storm", model #PS103102, $195 plus S&H.

  This unit requires a special CD (provided). The CD is piped into the storm box, and then into a boom box or stereo.

  The unit drives 2400 Watts, and can be used with incandescent lights or strobes.
  

• In November 2002, the Spooky F/X web page offered a different "Basic Lightning Controller", model #LNCR-103102, $69 plus S&H.

  The web site warned "Limited quantities, This item will be discontinued after we sell what we have in stock."

• Spooky F/X also offered "The Basic Lightning Controller", model #LNCR-111-801, $59 plus S&H.

  As the name implies, this is a no-frills controller. Input is direct audio via a 1/8" audio jack. A sensitivity control is provided.

  The unit drives 220 Watts of incandescent lights.
  

• Spooky F/X offered "The Tempest", model #T10-13-01, $160 plus S&H.

  Unlike most other lightning controllers that take a thunderclap sound and turn it into light, this unit includes the thunderclap sound on a digital chip.

  The unit drives 1200 Watts of incandescent lights, and can also power strobes. There is also an audio output that goes to your amplifier and speakers. A cassette adapter is provided to feed the sound into your boom box.
  

• The original Spooky F/X lightning product was called simply "The Lightning Controller", model #LC60, $60 plus S&H.

  The controller does not have a microphone. Instead, it uses a 1/8-inch audio jack for direct sound input. This makes setup just a tiny bit more involved than the TBD unit, but prevents external noise from interfering with the effects.

  The unit includes: sensitivity control, grounded line cord, and can handle up to 220 Watts of incandescent lights.

  Spooky F/X also sells an endless loop tapes of thunder sound effects for $15 (Item #LTTS15).

  In July 2001, Spooky F/X announced that their lightning controller would be discontinued with a special sale price until they are all gone.

• Jim Kadel at Haunt Master Products sells a "Thunder/Lightning & Flicker Control".

  It consists of a single-channel color organ, with a sensitivity control. It handles 600 watts. Input is via direct plug-in connection, isolating the effects from ambient noise. The box also features a sound power indicator, indicating excess volume into the unit.

  
  

  It comes with a CD that has two tracks: thunder sounds (with a two-second delay) and random noise for use in flickering lamps.

  As of May 2002, it sells for $59.95

  The product page is here: http://hauntmasterproducts.com/1.html

  I have not heard any reviews of this unit, but given Jim has a long history of innovative, quality electronic products for haunters.

• Haunt Master Products also sells TLRF - Thunder/Lightning with REVERSE effect and Flicker Controller

  It consists of a single-channel color organ, with a sensitivity control. It handles 600 watts. Input is via direct plug-in connection, isolating the effects from ambient noise.

  The unique feature of this unit is that it has a "reverse" mode that turns OFF the light when lightning strikes. This would be used inside a house, where you want to give the illusion that the lightning strike interrupted the power.

  
  

  As of May 2003, it sells for $84.95

  The product page is here: http://hauntmasterproducts.com/14.html

From: CREEPSHOWS [CREEPSHOWS@aol.com]
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1998 11:43:44 EDT 
Subject: Re: HALL: Thunder & Lightning 

An all new thunder and lighting box is coming out from Automated horrors. I 
talked to my buddy up there and he said i believe it will be coming out early 
summer.It works just like Denny's but instead of a strobe it's a flourescent 
light i believe. If you want more info give him a call. Take care buddies! 

Erik (Creepmaster) Carlson 
www.hauntworld.com/creep 

Scream In The Dark

As of May 2002, it sells for $45.00

The product page is here: http://www.screaminthedark.net/stormbox.html

Also available is a Lightning Accessory Kit (500W photo flood bulb and clip on flood light receptacle with reflector) for $20.00

I have not heard any formal reviews of this unit, but one reader sent me e-mail saying that she had problems with it.

Tom Walker, of Scream In The Dark, sent me the schematic. The unit uses an optocoupler for the sound input. This is a common technique, but sometimes has problems. Please see our tips for optocoupler-based color organs.

American DJ

As of May 2002, models include:

• SS-DMX/19C - Designed to control up to 16 DMX-operated strobes. MSRP $99.99.
• SS-DMX/MATRIX - Designed to control up to 16 DMX-operated strobes in a 4x4 matrix. MSRP $199.99.
• S-4A/DMX - 4-channel analog/DMX strobe controller. MSRP $99.99.
• S-10 - A single-channel analog strobe controller that drives up to 6 strobes, daisy-chain fashion. MSRP $29.99.

Although these controllers are not marketed as lightning controllers, they all accept audio input, and can probably be used for some form of lightning effect.

Warning: Different vendors use different DMX arrangements to control their strobes. I do not suggest that you mix controllers from one company with strobes made by another.

These are high-end units, and cost like it. But you can probably achieve an effect much more impressive than with a $5 color organ.

Diversitronics makes a wide array of strobes, including this DMX "strobe cannon" that advertises "High output 30 Joules/flash, 600,000 candela, 4500 Watts peak flash." Wow!

Most of their strobes also offer "Hyperflash", a feature that allows long flashes. This should be very helpful to the lightning-lovers, because it provides the color and intensity of a strobe, but does not have the incredibly-short illumination of a standard strobe.

STROBE RUNNER controls 2-126 Strobes through DMX Lines, with sliders for intensity, speed, and audio gain. The unit can be triggered by DMX command or audio signal. It includes a "lightning" program.

Warning: Different vendors use different DMX arrangements to control their strobes. I suggest that you do not mix controllers from one company with strobes made by another.

We have a page dedicated to lightning with Diversitronics strobes.

Since then it has appeared at several online stores.

One model has a green lightning bolt, another has a black bolt.

This was the first appearance of the Can You Imagine unit. The same unit is sold in a different package for Halloween use by 13 Transylvania Ave.

The unit itself is a single channel color organ, with sensitivity control, in a fancy box. The unit has a microphone and also has audio jack on back for direct audio input. It drives 500W of incandescent lights.

This unit comes with the "Greatest Storms Of The Century" CD that is different from the one in the 13 Transylvania Ave package. This CD contains various sound effects: creaking haunted house, howling winds, roaring tornado, pounding rainstorm, battlefield fighting, crackling electricity.

[Reader Ray Michael bought the unit and sent me mail about it on 9/10/2003. Ray is very pleased with it.]

Sources:

www.shoplifestyle.com	#CY101	$29.95 [2/2003]
Spencer Gifts		$25 [10/2003]
Spencer Gifts		$12.50 [11/2003, close-out]
Halloween Club		~$40 [10/2003]

The one dressed up for Halloween is sold under the brand 13 Transylvania Ave. It is marked with "13 Transylvania Ave", "Paper Magic Group", and "Can You Imagine".

This unit comes with "The Sounds Of Horror" CD that is different from the one in the Can You Imagine package. This CD contains various sound effects: thunderstorm, spooky music, and other Halloween-themed material.

I have obtained one. In my opinion, this is the first good mass-market lightning box. I don't like the CD that comes with it, though.

Sources:

http://www.frightcatalog.com	#1408006	$24.99 [9/2006]
http://www.smarthome.com	#HW0511 Special F/X	$24.99 [9/2006]
http://www.hauntquarters.com	#PM2580	$29.80 [9/2005]
Target	(in ugly green box)	$19.99 [9/2005]
Albertson's supermarket		$19.99 [with club card, 9/2005]
Menard's (chain of hardware stores)		$19.99 [11/2004]
Johnson Smith Co. (http://www.johnsonsmith.com)	#27304	$29.98 [10/2004]
Wal-Mart	#6542580	$25 [Halloween 2003]

• Drives up to up to 1000 watts.
• Includes thunderstorm CD, over an hour in length.
• Can also be used as a disco lighting controller.
• "Place unit in front of cd player speakers" - suggests microphone input.

Sources:

http://www.hauntquarters.com	#VA621	$109.50 [9/2004]
Star Light & Magic (http://www.starmgc.com)	#VA621	$99 [10/2004]

They advertise a lightning machine, "LFX-1000: Thunder & Lightning Controller (NEW Design!)" It is described on their web site as:

"Create realistic lightning effects!" The LFX-1000 is back and better than ever! We increased the load capacity from 500 Watts to 1000 Watts! Plus, We've provided BOTH a line level and a built-in mic for the audio inputs. You choose which input works best for you. Simply plug in an audio signal or set next to a speaker. Play the lightning sound track and the unit will respond to the audio to create a realistic lightning effect. Heavy duty, 15 Amp @125VAC, grounded plug and a 10 Amp removable fuse keeps this unit working safely. "Lightning Sound Track" CD Included.

[Circa October 2003]

The i-Zombie folks loaned me a SC-1201 for testing. I was too busy to test it extensively before I had to return it, but I was impressed:

• The sensitivity control is excellent, making it very easy to make the lamp flash only with the thunderclap, and not glow along with other minor noises.
• Fit and finish was very good.
• Hookup instructions could have been clearer.
• The "thunder tracks CD" that came with it was surprisingly good!

On 9/4/2003, Jerry Chavez of Spooky F/X said:

Well...that is why Spooky F/X got out of the cheap low watt lighting controller market. (well we still have 3 in stock)

I knew the basic product would soon end up mass produced for spencers or Wal-Mart!

I sincerely feel sorry for the merchants that have dozens of 500 watt controllers at $45 per unit still in stock...

But remember that our PERFECT STORM lighting controller gives you the MOST watts for its price range!

Thank you for visiting. Your comments are welcome.
. . . . . .