after market smoke unit not working

Looks like you have what looks like a 3rd party smoke controller and a standard Lionel smoke unit.  I'd guess a TAS unit, but I don't recall seeing one in exactly that configuration.  It looks someone tried to cobble together a working chuffing smoke using the fan control board with the Lionel smoke unit.  If it was done correctly, it should work.

To untangle what you have, it would be best to draw a diagram of how the smoke unit and that board is wired, maybe we can make sense of it.  Also clear pictures of the smoke fan control board so we could read any silkscreened legends would be a big help.  Does the board have any brand name on it?

My solution would be to rip out that chuff control board and install my Super-Chuffer, you'd get a documented solution to chuffing smoke performance, smoke at idle, and some neat lighting features as well.

Hi John

Below is a wiring diagram of how the smoke unit is wired.  The only designation on the back of the unknown circuit board (smoke controller) is BBC-C /  S4U-0 (see pictures).  I will most likely get one of the  Super-Chuff boards, but first want to make sure the smoke unit is working.  This is my first time messing with smoke units, so I have a few questions.  From looking at the diagram, I am assuming power for the fan and 27 ohm resistor is provided from the J2 connector?  If I want to test the Smoke unit, would I unplug the fan controller connector from the upper left corner of the smoke unit and connect the fan leads into the upper left connector of the smoke unit?  

Any thoughts of who made the smoke controller board is appreciated.

Also, is this smoke unit a candidate to replace to 27 ohm resistor with a 22 ohm.

Thanks,

Bob D

NJ-Hi Railers

Start with basics and power smoke unit alone and see if the element gets hot.  Second power fan (unconnected to board) to see if it spins motor.  After that you need to power circuit board to see if it spins fan. Figure out whether element, fan motor or circuit board is bad.  G

It looks like the board is just running the fan, the smoke resistor is powered directly.  You can replace it with a lower value if it's the stock 27 ohm one, I'd certainly run the checks that George suggests and verify what you have. 

It looks like they're powering that board from the 5V regulator on the smoke unit, if so they may be overloading that puny regulator.  It can barely run the smoke fan, running more logic may be calling on it to do more than is possible.