They're drum sequencers, it's a really old way of making scrolling light shows for things like signs and stage displays. They used to use (usually less fire hazard-y) versions of this q long time ago in Vegas for the giant hotel signs and things.
I remember seeing a video of a light display in Cuba. They couldn't get much in the way of controllers so they used a rotating drum of electrical contacts to open and close circuits for animation effects. This looks very similar to that. Pretty ingenious but totally unsafe.
@yogurtwrong I'm impressed they don't have problems with it glitching out, especially with the electromechanical part of the lightshow close by which appears to be switching 230V mains directly on those open metal contacts!
What on earth is that... Thing πππ
They're drum sequencers, it's a really old way of making scrolling light shows for things like signs and stage displays. They used to use (usually less fire hazard-y) versions of this q long time ago in Vegas for the giant hotel signs and things.
Hah, super cool but super would not touch as well!
I remember seeing a video of a light display in Cuba. They couldn't get much in the way of controllers so they used a rotating drum of electrical contacts to open and close circuits for animation effects. This looks very similar to that. Pretty ingenious but totally unsafe.
a terribly cropped tiktok video with no link to the source
@yogurtwrong I'm impressed they don't have problems with it glitching out, especially with the electromechanical part of the lightshow close by which appears to be switching 230V mains directly on those open metal contacts!
Looks like Wintergatan went electric
How the . Is this not catching fire? Or at least failing quickly with all those sparks eating the contacts away?
Arcs don't need to be high current. But this will absolutely fail at some point, how soon is a question.