The Black Box (Injection Blending System)

✦ Who Should Buy the Black Box?

• Professional Foam Party Operators — If you run foam events as a business, the Black Box eliminates the biggest bottleneck in your workflow: barrel management. No more hauling, filling, mixing, and refilling barrels. No more standing next to a barrel monitoring the level while your client's event is happening. Plug in, connect hoses, and operate from anywhere within 100 feet. Your setup time drops. Your breakdown time drops. Your mid-event downtime disappears entirely.
• Multi-Event & Back-to-Back Operators — When you're running Friday night, Saturday afternoon, and Saturday night, every minute of setup and teardown counts. The Black Box eliminates the slowest part of the process — barrel prep. Connect two hoses and a solution container, and you're running. At the end, disconnect and roll out. No barrels to drain, no pumps to disassemble, no leftover solution to dump.
• Venue-Based & Recurring Installations — Waterparks, amusement facilities, and venues that run foam events on a recurring schedule can install the Black Box semi-permanently. Connect to the venue's water supply, mount the unit in a utility area, and operate it remotely from the event floor. The system is designed for continuous use — it runs as long as you leave it on.
• Solo Operators & One-Person Crews — Running a foam event by yourself means you can't be at the barrel and working the crowd at the same time. The Black Box lets you hide the equipment out of sight and control everything from your phone. Adjust the solution mix, toggle your foam machine on and off, and control your speaker — all while you're 100 feet away hosting the event.
• Operators Who Want to Save on Solution — Barrel mixing inevitably wastes solution. You mix a full barrel, use most of it, and dump the rest. The Black Box blends inline — it only uses solution as water flows through the system. When you turn it off, the blending stops. No leftover solution in a barrel at the end of the night. Over the course of a season, the savings on wasted solution add up significantly.
• Mobile DJs & Entertainment Companies Adding Foam — If foam is one of several effects alongside lighting, sound, and other production elements, the Black Box fits the workflow. It rolls on wheels, sets up in minutes, hides under a table, and doesn't require foam-specific expertise to operate. The smart plugs mean you can power your speaker and foam machine from the same unit and toggle both from your phone.

⚡ What Makes the Black Box Different

Inline Injection Blending — No Barrels Required

The Black Box draws water from your garden hose and foam solution from an external container simultaneously, blending them inline at the correct ratio before sending the mixed solution to your foam machine. There is no intermediate barrel. The system blends on demand — solution only mixes when water is flowing. When you turn the system off, blending stops. No premixing, no leftover solution, no barrel to haul, fill, or dump.

WiFi Direct Phone Control — 100 ft Range

The Black Box creates its own WiFi network — no venue WiFi required, no internet connection needed. Connect your phone to the Black Box network and a web-based control interface launches automatically in your browser. No app to download or install. From your phone, you can adjust the solution concentration, monitor system status, and control the two built-in smart plugs — all from up to 100 feet away. Walk the venue, work the crowd, and manage your entire foam setup from your pocket.

Built-In Touchscreen + Physical Controls

The unit itself has a full touchscreen interface with complete control over every function — solution mix rate, smart plug toggling, system status. The phone interface mirrors the touchscreen as remote access; the touchscreen is the primary control surface. A physical on/off button provides hardware-level power control independent of the digital interface. You always have direct, hands-on control of the system even if your phone isn't connected.

2 Built-In Smart Plugs — 15A / 1,800W Each

Two independently controllable power outlets are built directly into the Black Box. Plug your foam machine into one and your speaker into the other. Toggle each on and off independently from the touchscreen or your phone. Start the foam cannon from across the venue. Kill the speaker between sets. Power cycle your equipment without walking back to the gear. Each plug is rated at 15A / 1,800W — enough to handle any standard foam machine or audio equipment.

Color Injection Manifold

The included color injection manifold provides connection points for multiple solution lines. Run different solution sources — standard foam solution, color additive mixes, scented solutions — through separate lines and manage the blend from the control interface.

Compact, Rolling Design — Hide It Anywhere

At 19.7" × 12" × 18" and 40 lbs, the Black Box fits under a standard folding table, behind a DJ booth, inside a utility closet, or anywhere you need it out of sight. Collapsible handle and wheels let you roll it in and roll it out. The entire point of the system is invisible operation — your guests see foam, not equipment.

📋 Specifications

📦 What's Included

What You Supply

Setup Overview

• Position the Black Box — Near your water source and foam machine location. Under a table, behind a barrier, inside a utility area — anywhere out of sight. Shorter hose runs = better performance.
• Connect inlet hose — Garden hose from water spigot to the Black Box water inlet.
• Connect outlet hose — Garden hose from the Black Box outlet to your foam machine.
• Connect solution — Place your foam solution container next to the Black Box. Drop the clear pickup hoses into the solution.
• Plug in power — Single 120V outlet. Plug your foam machine and speaker into the Black Box's built-in smart plugs.
• Connect your phone — Join the Black Box WiFi network. The web control interface launches automatically in your browser.
• Set your mix and go — Adjust the solution concentration from the touchscreen or your phone, turn on your foam machine via the smart plug, and walk away.

🔗 Pairs With

Foam Machines

• Foam Blaster Maxx v2 — The flagship combination. The Maxx's 550W motor and the Black Box's inline blending create a continuous-output foam system that never stops to refill. Plug the Maxx into one of the Black Box's smart plugs and control it from your phone.
• Foam Blaster Pro-X — Ooze-style cascading foam fed continuously by the Black Box. No barrel to monitor means thick, uninterrupted ooze output for as long as you want.
• Any Standard Foam Machine — The Black Box outputs blended solution through a standard garden hose. Any foam machine that accepts a hose-fed water/solution input is compatible.

Foam Solution

• Ready to Run — The ideal Black Box solution. Pour directly into your solution container, connect the pickup hoses, and go. No breakdown, no prep, no wait. RTR was designed for this workflow.
• Gel Concentrate (after 24-hr breakdown) — Break down the gel 24 hours in advance, then use the resulting concentrate in the Black Box exactly like Ready to Run. Maximum economy, same inline blending convenience.

Additives

• Foam Color Additive — Use the included color injection manifold to run colored solution through a separate line for controlled color blending.
• Scented Solution — Add fragrance to your foam output by connecting scented solution via the manifold.
• UV Glow Powder — Pre-mix UV powder into your solution container before connecting to the Black Box. Ensure the powder is fully dissolved to avoid pump clogging.

Lighting & Audio

• 200W Blacklight 2-Pack — UV lighting transforms standard white foam and makes UV Glow Powder foam come alive. Use the Black Box smart plugs to power your blacklights remotely.
• Any Speaker System — Plug into the second smart plug and control power from your phone. No more walking back to kill the music between sets.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly does the Black Box replace?
The entire barrel-and-pump setup. Traditionally, running a foam machine requires filling a barrel with water, measuring and mixing solution into the barrel, connecting a separate pump, and running from the barrel to the foam machine. The Black Box replaces all of that — it connects directly to a garden hose for water and draws solution from an external container, blending everything inline. No barrels, no separate pump, no premixing.

How does it save on solution?
Barrel mixing inevitably wastes solution. You mix a full barrel, use most of it, and dump whatever's left at the end of the event. The Black Box blends inline and on demand — solution only enters the water line while the system is running. When you stop, blending stops. You use exactly what you need and nothing more. Over a season of events, the savings on wasted solution are significant.

Does it need venue WiFi or internet?
No. The Black Box uses WiFi Direct — it creates its own wireless network. There's no internet connection required and no dependency on venue WiFi quality or availability. Your phone connects directly to the Black Box network. The web control interface launches automatically in your browser when you connect.

Do I need to download an app?
No. The phone interface is a web-based application that auto-launches in your browser when you connect to the Black Box WiFi network. Works on any phone with a web browser — iPhone, Android, any device.

What can I control from my phone?
Everything the touchscreen can do — solution concentration/mix rate, system on/off, and independent on/off control of both smart plugs. The phone interface mirrors the touchscreen as remote access. The touchscreen is the primary control; the phone lets you do the same thing from up to 100 feet away.

Can I run multiple Black Boxes from one phone?
No — one phone per Black Box. Each unit creates its own WiFi network, and your phone connects to one network at a time. For multi-machine setups, assign one phone per Black Box or manage each from its built-in touchscreen.

What solution works with it?
Ready to Run works directly — pour it into your solution container and connect the pickup hoses. Gel Concentrate works after completing the full 24-hour 4:1 breakdown. Powder is not recommended — undissolved particles can clog the injection system and damage the pump.

What are the smart plugs for?
The two built-in power outlets let you plug in your foam machine, speaker, or other equipment and control the power remotely from the touchscreen or your phone. Each plug is independently controllable and rated at 15A / 1,800W. Turn your foam cannon on from across the venue. Cut the speaker between sets. Power cycle equipment without walking back to the gear.

How long does setup take?
Under 10 minutes. Position the unit, connect two garden hoses (inlet from water source, outlet to foam machine), drop the pickup hoses in your solution container, plug in power, connect your phone. Compare to the barrel method: hauling a barrel, filling it with water, measuring solution, mixing, connecting a pump, priming, testing — that's 30+ minutes minimum and physically demanding.

What power does it need?
A single standard 120V outlet. That one connection powers the built-in pump and both smart plugs. No dedicated circuits, no special wiring, no generator required (unless you're at a venue without power).

How far can the hoses run?
The system works with any standard garden hose length, but shorter is better. Shorter hose runs maintain better water pressure to the blending system and better blended-solution delivery to the foam machine. Position the Black Box as close to both the water source and the foam machine as practical.

Can I hide it completely?
That's the idea. At 19.7" × 12" × 18", the Black Box fits under a standard folding table, behind a DJ booth, inside a utility closet, or anywhere out of sight. Run your hoses discretely, and your guests see foam — not equipment. Control everything from your phone without ever revealing the system.

Is the pump continuous-duty?
Yes. The integrated pump is an American-made, continuous-duty unit designed to run for the full duration of your event without overheating or cycling off. This isn't a repurposed utility pump — it's built for sustained, uninterrupted operation.

What's the warranty?
1-Year Limited Warranty covering parts and labor against manufacturing defects. If the unit can't be repaired, SurgeFX will replace it with a comparable unit.

💡 Pro Tips from SurgeFX Operators

Shortest Hoses Possible
Every foot of garden hose reduces water pressure and adds resistance. Position the Black Box as close to your water source as practical, and keep the outlet hose to the foam machine as short as possible. If you have a choice between a 50-foot inlet hose and repositioning the Black Box 10 feet closer to the spigot, move the Black Box. Your foam output will thank you.

Ready to Run Is the Ideal Black Box Solution
While broken-down Gel works fine in the Black Box, Ready to Run is designed for this exact workflow — pour it in the container, connect, and go. No breakdown step, no 24-hour wait, no risk of undissolved gel pockets reaching the pump. If you're investing in the Black Box for speed and convenience, pairing it with RTR maximizes that investment.

Use the Smart Plugs Strategically
The two 15A smart plugs are one of the most underrated features. Plug your foam machine into one and your speaker into the other. Now from your phone, you can start the foam for the big reveal moment, kill it during speeches or ceremonies, and cut the music without walking back to the equipment. For DJs offering foam as an add-on effect, this turns foam into a cue you can hit from anywhere.

Scout the Water Source Before the Event
Not all venue spigots deliver the same water pressure. Low-pressure sources will reduce your blending performance. During your venue walk-through, locate the water hookup, test the pressure (open the spigot fully into a bucket and see how fast it fills), and plan your hose routing. If the venue has multiple water sources, use the one with the strongest pressure and the shortest distance to your foam zone.

Carry Extra Solution
The Black Box's biggest advantage is continuous operation — it never stops unless you run out of solution. Don't let your solution container run dry mid-event. Bring more solution than you think you'll need. With Gel Concentrate (broken down in advance), one gallon of gel yields 5 gallons of usable concentrate that treats 400 gallons of water. A gallon or two of Ready to Run or pre-broken gel covers most single events with margin to spare.

Connect Your Phone Before Guests Arrive
During setup, join the Black Box WiFi network and verify the web interface launches. Adjust your mix settings, test both smart plugs, and confirm you can control everything remotely before the event starts. Discovering a WiFi connection issue is much better during setup than during the countdown to the foam drop.

Hide It Well, But Keep It Accessible
The Black Box is designed to be invisible to guests, but you may need physical access during the event — to refill the solution container, check connections, or troubleshoot. Hide it from guests, but don't bury it behind a wall of equipment you can't get to quickly. Under a table with a tablecloth is the classic positioning — hidden from the crowd, accessible to you in seconds.

Flush After Every Event
After each event, disconnect the solution pickup hoses and run clean water through the system for 2–3 minutes. This flushes any residual foam solution, colorant, or additives from the pump and internal lines. Flushing prevents buildup that can reduce performance over time or cause residual color tinting on the next event. Takes 3 minutes and extends the life of the system significantly.