How they do make the lights in Indiana Jones Adventure flicker and dimmed?

[LangenFox]

It is interesting to see the lights powered by that awkward noisy gas-powered generator. All those lights inside the temple are dimmed and they flicker a lot. Even, though the temple is lit, it is still dark and those lights flicker a lot. Every hour in each second. The lights themselves turned off less than a second while flickering. A very interesting effect. I also know that generator connects all the lights outside and inside temple.

But, when the ride is broken, the lights become solid and strong. Instead of being weak and dimmed.

How they do achieve the great effect?

[k_peek_2000]

They have special boxes that control the amout of power that goes into each light, or string of lights that makes them get brighter and darker, I'll try and find the name for you.

[OC2Epcot]

It is interesting to see the lights powered by that awkward noisy gas-powered generator. All those lights inside the temple are dimmed and they flicker a lot. Even, though the temple is lit, it is still dark and those lights flicker a lot. Every hour in each second. The lights themselves turned off less than a second while flickering. A very interesting effect. I also know that generator connects all the lights outside and inside temple.

It is a great effect that was probably part of the reason my nephew failed to ride Indy the last two times he walked through. Still my favorite queue at any of the parks I've visited.

[SuburbanGiant]

And I am 99.99% sure that they are not powered by the generator...they are most likely on the Disneyland power grid and run through a lighting control system like kpeek said. the generator is simply there for effect (and most likely that is not a real operating generator, but some sound effects and a prop...)

[Sir Didymus]

It's a pretty simple procedure.....They pay a guy to sit in a dark room somewhere and play with the light switch. If you ever spot him, don't feed him....the CM's don't like that.

[Peoplemover Priit]

I don't know how they work, but they are such an awesome effect.

[BurtGummer]

Yea, the generator is just a prop. Some of the boxes around it are hidden speakers.

I don't know what device they are using to make the lights flicker (probably a dimmer pack though), but it could be safe to guess its a computer controlled triac. The computer runs the sound effects to the generator and provides an output signal to a triac (probably in the form of a DMX signal going to a dimmer pack, like is done for theatrical productions). This makes the sound of the generator match the flickering, so when the generator lowers in pitch, like it is slowing down, then the lights go dimmer.

That's a guess. It might be done that way, maybe not. It's how I would do it though, haha.

EDIT: OP, don't you work at Indy?

[LangenFox]

Cool, Burt. Thanks for sharing. I wish someone would make a homemade prop like the generator. Like putting in that kind of computer that feeds the lights and soundtracks.

[Trevor]

I know even cheap DMX packs like the ones I've used at school can create chase effects based on input audio. I have a feeling that the audio of a generator wouldn't give the right signals to it for the light to properly get dimmer and brighter though. I would assume that lights are just on a dimmer pack where the audio is programed in time with a loop of lighting cues. Many programs will do that effect too, even at a high school buget.

[BurtGummer]

I know even cheap DMX packs like the ones I've used at school can create chase effects based on input audio. I have a feeling that the audio of a generator wouldn't give the right signals to it for the light to properly get dimmer and brighter though. I would assume that lights are just on a dimmer pack where the audio is programed in time with a loop of lighting cues. Many programs will do that effect too, even at a high school buget.

Yea, that's what I meant. Not the direct audio signals, but a track running a parallel running cues with step timings of 100ms or so.

[Trevor]

Could be ptp (point to point) cues too where they program the base intensity curve of the lights to the highs and lows of the main generator hum, and then add another layer of flicker which would also be in sync. To do this you basically get a screen that shows the musics frequencies, and then you would program where the light should be brightest and where it should be dimmest. Then it simply fades from level to level. The closer you put the peaks and vallys together, the faster it flickers. As mentioned before with the layers, you can have the general level of the light slowly changing with the flickering happening faster overtop. Great effect.

[disneyfan07]

the light flickering effects, are they similar to the effects used in haunted mansion(the chandelier(s), and other lights?)

[ryanvalle]

its easier than you think: Disneyland just decides to go cheap on paying their electric company

[disneyfan07]

attempt #2 at GETTING my question answered....

the light flickering effects, are they similar to the effects used in haunted mansion(the chandelier(s), and other lights?)

[FantasyWatersDude]

Indy's lights are on a dimmer, all of the dimming is programmed for the attraction. However, power to the dimmer itself is on a relay that turns on and off rapidly giving it that nice flickering/on/off effect.

They have an entire dimmer system developed for all of the lanterns/flickering lights park-wide. Big Thunder, HM, Adventureland, TSI, Fantasyland.