Operation -- Do not approach the Cannon with the Remote Control Box or MIDI Interface attached. When near the Cannon, also depress the Emergency Stop button.

Noise -- The Cannon produces an extremely loud noise (greater than 150 dB at 3 ft.), which can cause severe ear injury or deafness. Do not arm or fire the Cannon if anyone is within 20 feet, even with hearing protection. Use appropriate hearing protection for anyone in the general area of the Cannon.

Flame and Blast -- The Cannon produces up to a 3 ft flame (at high power), a blast of hot exhaust, and a shock wave. Keep any flammable materials or delicate equipment clear of the area above the muzzle.

Debris -- The pyramid shaped grate over the muzzle is designed to keep anything from being laid in the path of the shock wave where it could be shattered and/or launched. Never allow any debris to lay across, or fall into the muzzle.

Heat -- The combustion chamber can get very hot (more than 300 deg.F). The heat shield and fans keep anything from overheating, but the chamber itself will stay very hot. Keep flammable materials away from the hot chamber, and do not close the case while the chamber is still hot.

Remove road case cover and store for operation. There is a lock on the lower latch of the gas bottle door, the key is required both to lock, and to unlock the door. If the Cannon is fired many times at high power, the chamber may get very hot, and should be allowed to cool with the cover off and the power connected (fans on).

Attach AC power to the plug in the electronics panel on the top of the cannon (cord can be tied around the top rail of the Cannon frame for strain relief). The power is fused at 5 amps (5A slow blow fuse). The cooling fans for the chamber are on whenever power is connected to the Cannon.

The Cannon uses 50 cubic foot capacity, high pressure steel gas bottles (2000 psi, 7 in. diameter) of:

When attaching the gas hoses to the bottles (the fittings are different for each bottle), do not use any thread sealant or teflon tape of any kind on the bottle fittings. If there is a gas leak at the bottle when the fitting is tight, then either the fitting or the bottle are damaged (a deep scratch or dent on either sealing face), and must be replaced. The gauges on the top panel of the Cannon display the bottle pressures. A full bottle should show approximately 2000 psi. The gauges on the regulator panel behind the bottles display the operating pressure. Correct operating pressures are:

The tank mounting brackets are DOT approved, so the bottles may be transported in the Cannon with the hoses disconnected, in a properly placarded vehicle.

Power Switch -- the power switch turns on AC power to the Cannon system. The green power indicator shows that there is power to the controller. There is a solenoid valve which is on any time the power is on, so there may be a constant hum or buzz when the power is on. When the power is turned off, that solenoid will dump a purge tank through the Cannon chamber in case the Cannon was armed. This will make a hissing noise.

Green Power Indicator Light -- Green indicates AC power to the controller.

Yellow Fault Indicator Light -- Yellow indicates that the controller has detected a fault. The Cannon will not function when the fault light is on. Possible faults and corrections are:

Red Emergency Stop Pushbutton -- The emergency stop button disables all controls through the controller. It also opens a relay independent of the controller which disconnects the spark plug and the gas solenoids from power. It also dumps the purge tank into the Cannon chamber to clear out a charge if the Cannon was armed. Pull the button out to reset.

Pressure Gauges -- The three pressure gauges on the top panel of the Cannon show the gas bottle pressures. A new bottle should register 2000 psi . Oxygen and Nitrogen bottles should last for approximately 100 high power shots, or 500 low power shots. A Fuel bottle will last about 5 times that long.

Red Low Gas Pressure Warning Lights -- A warning indicator for a gas will illuminate when the gas pressure falls below the operating pressure. This will cause the yellow fault light to illuminate, and disable the Cannon from operating. Since that pressure is low compared to the 2000 psi in the bottles, that will occur when the gage reads almost zero. The Cannon performance may degrade (orange flame, reduced power, misfires) before the low gas pressure light illuminates, so it is advisable to refill gas bottles early (300 psi).

Red Cannon Armed Beacon -- The red beacon next to the Cannon chamber flashes when the Cannon is armed to fire. It will stop flashing when the Cannon is disarmed, or after 30 seconds when the Cannon automatically disarms and resets to safe.

Cable -- Any of the 100 ft. cables will connect the Remote Box to the Cannon. When the cable is not connected, the yellow fault light will be on, and the emergency stop circuit is activated. Do not connect the Remote Control Box when anyone is near the Cannon.

Green Power Indicator Light -- Same as on Cannon.

Yellow Fault Indicator Light -- Same as on Cannon.

Red Armed Indicator Light -- The red armed light flashes when the Cannon has been armed to fire. It will stop flashing when the Cannon is fired, and resume flashing as soon as the cannon automatically rearms, and is available to fire again. It will also stop flashing after 30 seconds when the Cannon automatically disarms and resets to safe.

Power Level Switch -- Power level is a three way switch which selects the size of the shot to be loaded and fired. In relative strength they correspond to:

The shot size may be changed at any time, but it will only take effect on the next shot if the current since the current shot is already loaded, but not fired. To change the size of the current shot, disarm and rearm the cannon with the power level switch at the desired level.

Arm Switch -- Move the arm switch from Safe to Arm to arm the Cannon to fire. The red Armed light on the control box, and the red beacon on the Cannon will flash. When the Cannon is fired, it automatically rearms with the size shot selected when the cannon was fired. To disarm the Cannon, move the switch to Safe (the charge in the cannon is purged out). If the Cannon is not fired within 30 seconds, it automatically disarms and resets to safe. To rearm the Cannon after automatic disarm, the switch must be switched back to Safe, and to Arm again.

Red Fire Button -- Once the Cannon has been armed, and the red armed light is flashing, press the fire button once to fire the Cannon. As soon as the red Armed light flashes after firing, the cannon may be fired again (1 sec. at high power, 0.5 sec. at low power). If the fire button is held down, the Cannon will rapid fire as fast as reloading permits.

Safety -- MIDI is an electrical interface designed to pass musical notes. It does not provide safety signals or error correction. Therefore, MIDI may be prone to electrical glitches and malfunctions. Always visually check that the safety zone around the Cannon perimeter is clear of personnel and spectators when the MIDI interface is active.

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Cable -- Any of the 100 ft. cables will connect the MIDI interface to the Cannon. The MIDI controller is powered through the cable from the Cannon and does not require separate AC power. When the cable is not connected, the yellow fault light on the Cannon will be on, and the emergency stop circuit is activated. If the Remote Control Box is plugged into the MIDI interface, the Remote Control Box overrides the MIDI interface. The Remote Control Box must be unplugged for the MIDI Interface to operate. If the MIDI and the Remote Control Box cable connections are reversed, both the Remote and the MIDI interface will not function.

Red Emergency Stop Pushbutton -- Same as Cannon. Red Emergency Stop Button light indicates Cannon power is on.

Channel Selection -- Select MIDI channel 1-16. All other numeric combinations are invalid and will prevent the Cannon and interface functioning. The MIDI controller reads the channel selector at Cannon power-up only. This prevents the channel from inadvertently being changed during operation.

MIDI In/Thru -- MIDI signal input, and output for daisychaining.

Yellow Fault Indicator Light -- Same as Cannon.

Red Armed Indicator Light -- Same as Remote Control Box.

MIDI message format -- The MIDI interface requires two Voice notes for proper operation. Note 72 to arm the cannon and set the blast level. Note 60 to fire the cannon. The interface will also respond to any Bn channel mode command by deaserting the fire and arm signals, and setting the fill level to low. Follow the command sequence below.

1. Arm note on -- Note #72 (c6). Sets the gas fill volumes and arms the cannon for firing. The note format is standard three byte MIDI (8nh - note on, 48h - note 72, 1-128 - velocity ). The velocity settings are, 1-42 - low blast, 43-84 - med. Blast, 85-128 - high blast.
2. Fire note on -- Note #60 (c5). Fires the cannon . Only Note #60 set to a velocity of 60 will fire the cannon. The note format is standard three byte MIDI. (8nh - note on, 3Ch - note #60, 3Ch - velocity 60). This note must be held long enough for the cannon to fire.
3. Fire note off -- Releases the fire signal. The note format is standard three byte MIDI. (9nh - note off, 3Ch - note #60, 1 to 127 - velocity).
4. Arm note off -- Releases the arm signal. The note format is standard three byte MIDI. (9nh - note off, 3Ch - note #60, 1 to 127 - velocity). This note must be turned off to enable the cannon for the next firing cycle.