Tag Archives: IGNITE firing systems

4 Patriotic Fireworks Ideas for an Amazing Backyard Display

Level Up Your 4th of July Show: Ideas for Amazing Red, White & Blue Scenes

When it comes to making an impactful 4th of July show your guests will remember for years, incorporating a variety of the best-quality effects is key.

One of the biggest tips we can offer for creating an unforgettable display is to thoroughly research your products. The best effects make the most impactful scenes! Adding product variety will also bring your display to the next level.

Our resident pyros highly recommend trying out ’76 Show Series. It’s a line of dedicated-effect 1.4g consumer fireworks designed with displays in mind.

See how these specific-effect fireworks can enhance your July Fourth show:

Low-Level Patriotic Barrages with Roman Candles

Roman Candle barrages provide a great low-level, rapid-fire effect that lasts for 30-40 seconds. We like to place 2 together angled in a V pattern at each firing position. Check these out:

Assorted Cases of Red, White, & Blue Cakes

When filling the sky with our country’s colors, spacing out dedicated-color cakes can provide a cleaner red, white, & blue scene than multi-color cakes. That’s what makes assorted cases a fantastic option! These contain 1 cake of each color:

Mix In Massive Shots

Generally speaking with multi-shot cakes, the lower the shot count, the bigger the BOOM! Here are our favorite big-breaking cakes:

Unique Effects Break Up the Monotony

Don’t forget to mix it up with some fireworks that just look cool. These are our most popular unique effects:

Safer & Better Shooting with IGNITE Electronic Firing Systems

⚠️ For a successful IGNITE-fired show, don’t forget to:
1) Upgrade your module collection
2) Stock up on 2m Igniters
3) Read up on IGNITE’s Best Practices

If you haven’t tried an electronic firing system yet, this may be the year to upgrade.

We highly recommend the IGNITE Firing Systems for consumers and backyard enthusiasts. These are extremely user-friendly firing systems that run off a mobile app. Multiple modules can be synced together to launch your entire display.

All items in the ’76 Show Series are designed to be compatible with the IGNITE Firing System.

IGNITE comes from the creators of Cobra Firing Systems and is trusted by thousands of shooters every year – including us!

Why use an electronic firing system?

Sure, the thrill of hand-firing fireworks on Independence Day can be exhilarating (even if it isn’t the safest), but seeing the bursts from directly underneath doesn’t allow you to watch the fruits of your labor if you’ve put any thought into show choreography.

You can fuse your show, but timing your fuse just right is a tedious and labor-intensive process, and it won’t give you nearly as much control over all aspects of your launch as an electronic firing system can provide at your fingertips.

For these reasons, we highly recommend upgrading to an electronic firing system like IGNITE.

We wish everyone a happy and safe Independence Day celebration!

Other Fireworks Topics

2024 Top 10 Artillery Shells

From fun ball shells to massive canisters, these are the 10 biggest & baddest artillery shells you need to try this summer.

2024 Staff Picks: Top 10 Tako Fireworks

From snappers and fountains to artillery shells and 500-gram bangers, our staff has identified these as the best and brightest items from Tako Pyrotechnics for the 2024 season!

IGNITE Firing Systems Best Practices: Essential Tips for a Stress-Free 4th of July Fireworks Display

IGNITE Firing Systems Best Practices: Essential Tips for a Stress-Free 4th of July Fireworks Display

As the summer heats up, Spirit of ’76 and the IGNITE Firing Systems team wanted to share some best practices to help ensure your fireworks display goes off without a hitch. Follow these tips for a smooth, stress-free show and make this season unforgettable.  

Topics included in this post:

Shoot fireworks with your smartphone with IGNITE

Interested in shooting your show easily and from a safe distance away with your smartphone? Check out IGNITE Firing Systems modules and our pre-designed fireworks display kits.

Dry Run Your Show

IGNITE Firing Systems module

Prior to the day of your shoot, take your module to the shoot site and place it where you intend to during your show. No igniters should be connected at this point. Fire your show and watch the module and make sure the burst turns white when a cue fires. No need to watch every cue fire, but rather make sure your modules stay connected and everything feels normal during your show including any audio you plan to play.

Additionally, simplify your setup check by using our Quickplug 6-Cue Tester. This compact tool quickly verifies cue activation and ensures your module’s readiness for a seamless show.

Playing Audio to Your Audience

IGNITE Firing Systems Bluetooth Audio PyroCast

We understand that many of our users utilize Bluetooth audio for their shows. While IGNITE fully supports this feature, we do not recommend connecting to multiple Bluetooth audio devices simultaneously, as this can impact reliability and performance.

As an alternative, for a seamless and reliable audio experience, we recommend using Pyrocast, our robust audio broadcasting tool designed specifically for synchronization during your shows. It is an excellent alternative to sending audio via Bluetooth.

Module Colors Matter

IGNITE Firing Systems Module Colors

When scripting your show with multiple colors, ensure you actually use these colors on your modules. If you script a color but don’t use it, the system will try to fire effects on non-existent modules, causing missed cues. Stick to your script’s color plan for smooth execution.

Free-Shooting

IGNITE Firing Systems Free Shooting

To manually fire cues, you must use the free-shoot screen. Firing from the modules screen is not possible.

9V Battery – Use for Emergencies Only

IGNITE Firing Systems Emergency 9V Backup Harness

When using the Emergency 9V Backup Harness, please keep the following in mind:

  • Use the 9V battery as a backup for emergencies only when your LiPo battery is fully drained.
  • The 9V battery won’t fit in the LiPo battery compartment, so the door won’t close properly.
  • For optimal results, use Energizer or Duracell 9V batteries.
  • The 9V battery isn’t “more powerful” than a LiPo battery. The module fires based on current, not voltage, so even though the LiPo battery is 7.4V and the 9V battery is 9V, the LiPo battery is the appropriate choice when available.

Raise Module Off Ground

IGNITE Firing Systems Raise Module Off Ground with Bucket

Raise your module using a five-gallon bucket or other platform. This will help maintain line of sight and reliable communication. Always maintain phone line of sight during shows.

Confirm Signal Strength

IGNITE Firing Systems Signal Strength

Stand at the desired shooting distance from your modules. Connect to the modules using the app and from the modules section, confirm at least two signal bars for each module.

Clip Igniter Onto Fuse

IGNITE Firing Systems How to Connect Clip-On Igniters

Always clamp the mouth of the igniter head on the fuse like a clothespin on a clothesline. This will ensure optimal filament contact with the fuse.

Firing Your Show Out-Of-Range

IGNITE Firing Systems Firing Your Show Out-Of-Range

Before starting a show, you have the option to select if you would like the module to continue firing if it goes out of range. 

Update Your App

IGNITE Firing System Update App

To ensure you have the best experience with your IGNITE firing system, we highly recommend updating your app to the latest version. App updates bring valuable improvements, bug fixes, and new features that enhance the functionality and performance of your firing system.

Join The IGNITE FB Community

Join the IGNITE Facebook group to connect with like-minded fireworks enthusiasts, share experiences, and gain valuable insights. Engage in lively discussions about fireworks techniques, learn from industry experts, and stay updated on the latest trends. Share your own tips, showcase stunning firework displays, and receive feedback from a supportive community.

Keep Fireworks Safety In Mind

In addition to the above Best Practices, please keep fireworks safety in mind when testing and setting up your show. When you are armed or arming, treat your module as a loaded gun. Do not place your body over the trajectory of any fireworks, and treat them as if they could fire at any time. When you are performing continuity checks, announce this to your crew and allow them to move clear of any product. Click here for printable safety tips!

Best regards,

Spirit of ’76 Fireworks in partnership with Team IGNITE

More Fireworks Topics

Winners announced: 2023 IGNITE Fireworks Show Challenge

Winners announced: 2023 IGNITE Fireworks Show Challenge Congrats to the winners of our first-ever IGNITE Fireworks Show Challenge! Click here or scroll to the bottom to learn more about the contest. First…

Winners announced: 2023 IGNITE Fireworks Show Challenge

Winners announced: 2023 IGNITE Fireworks Show Challenge

Congrats to the winners of our first-ever IGNITE Fireworks Show Challenge! Click here or scroll to the bottom to learn more about the contest.

First off, we’d like to give a huge THANK YOU to all who participated our contest for 2023. We received a total of 42 submissions, all of which wowed us. We’d like to offer our biggest congratulations to the challenge winners. These backyard firework displays delighted and impressed us in terms of choreography, presentation, and technique in utilizing the IGNITE Firing System. Enjoy!

2023 Winners

First Place: Aaron Hamlin

Second Place: Thomas McLaughlin

Third Place: Austin Gresham

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Runner Up (1): Kevin Booth

Runner Up (2): Chad Bixby

Runner Up (3): Nicholas G Moran

Runner Up (4): Matt Havlik

2023 Submission Guidelines

Published June 2023:

Think you’ve designed the best fireworks show for shooting with the IGNITE Firing System or IGNITE Lite system? Submit your show by July 19th for a chance to win!

If you’re using your IGNITE i18 or IGNITE Lite Firing System this summer, this challenge is for you. Create a fireworks show of anywhere from 6 to 18+ cues and enter it into our Show Challenge by July 19th for your chance to win a new IGNITE module.

  • 1st place prize: An IGNITE i18 Module, Clip-on Igniters, SWAG, Certificate of Achievement, & $100 Fireworks Credit*
  • 2nd place prize: An IGNITE Lite Module, Clip-on Igniters, SWAG, Certificate of Achievement, & $100 Fireworks Credit*
  • 3rd place prize: An IGNITE Lite Module, Clip-on Igniters, SWAG, Certificate of Achievement, $100 Fireworks Credit*
  • Honorable Mentions: Clip-on Igniters, SWAG, Certificate of Achievement

Deadline: Shows must be submitted by July 19th, 2023.