I hear ya on the overkill front. The reason I even have the Aquafogger is because I do stuff in which I need low-lying fog for long periods of time and it needs to stay that way for some theatre stuff I do. It is the extreme end of the spectrum with regards to low-lying foggers. They do make a 220v version, but 120v is easier for me since sometimes I don't have the ability to tap and get 208. Thus ,I have the 120v version.

Only reason I bring up dry ice is because some people get fog chillers thinking they will do what dry ice does and it simply doesn't. I have the Ice-101 for smaller stuff and more power limited situations. I use it less then the Aquafogger however. Likewise, the Aquafogger isn't the only dry ice machine on the planet either (Peasouper comes to mind). I have also seen quite a few home grown things as well that use dry ice.

With regards to control, I haven't used DMX on a snow machine. I just normally set the output and have someone plug it in when its time. Likewise, DMX on a hazer is a little over kill since that is generally a set and forget item. The Ice-101 has DMX control built into it as well as the remote, so its pick your poison there.

Since you already have a couple of foggers, I think you are on the right track with going for a hazer instead. Let the foggers fog and the hazers haze. The Fazer is nice that it can kind of do both, but it doesn't haze as well as a hazer and simply never well do to design differences in hazers and foggers. If you didn't have a some foggers, then I would recommend the Fazer since it can do both and would be more useful and cheaper then buying a fogger and hazer at the same time.

So the HZ-300 seems the way to go for the hazer front. Now, the fog chiller and snow machine, that is going to have to weighed out by you. Some other factors, the Antari stuff is more powerful and can hold more fluid. However, do to them being more powerful, they use more power and are also physically larger in size then their AMDJ little brothers. They cost more as well. Those are the main weighing points.

Well, I'm in the decision making process but not the buying process.

After some discussion you may have read on the ADJ forum, the product support manager said I should choose the Ice-101 for ground fog due to how he described behaviors of the Mr. Kool. But that's the sort of stuff I neede to hear. If I choose to save money on that route, I'm going to shoot myself in the foot. So, the Ice-101 looks like the choice to go with.

I agree that DMX on a hazer can be seen as an over-kill element. I also agree on the "set and forget" mentality with hazers as well. But, I'm a control freak or at least want the illussion I have some sort of control. I think the higher output capacity of the HZ-300 is the better choice for me due to budget. I am in total agreement with specialized machines. I can always get a combination machine if a real need arises.

So, now it's down to the snow machine. My main concern is people not being at the posts when needed(a frequent issue I have) and would prefer a more hands-free approach. This makes the S-100 a choice over the ADJ Snow Flurry. I can trigger it when necessary and not worry about it.

We'll just have to practice some things. We go with ground fogger, then out for like 35 minutes. Then the fog effect, which is used less than a minute, then off for at least 25 minutes. Then the final scene which uses snow, and maybe we want ground fog again(I doubt re-using ground fog) Warm-up times are clearly not an issue. But I may want to keep the fogger around for another scene. Even so, there's plenty of time to change power.

So, 2 out of 3 are decided thanks to all the help so far. The third one is a bit much, but I'll just think and think and wait and see what I can afford to do.

Then, when that's all done, I'll go buy myself a real fog machine!

Adding to some additional advise given to me outside this forum, I've ordered a HZ-300 and the ICE-101. I've been told "snow ain't my problem".

So, those two items are ordered and should be in my possession by Friday(December 4th). Check was mailed out after Thanksgiving.

I'm sure I'll be back for more. It sounds like I'm going to end up being the "Fog guy" around here. I do need a dedicated fog machine, and that fazer looked nice too.

Again, what have I gotten myself into...