best SMOKE UNIT???

Jay, it would be easier to answer if you had an outlined need.   Lots of equipment out there.

UNIVERSAL applications... diesel locomotives, steam locomotive with a "Puff" switch installed, cabooses, buildings... would like to use the same unit for all the applications as to have spare parts for maintenance and service.  THANKS, Jay

No universal.  They work on AC or DC, but the electronic your using, and the voltage they apply matter.

Lionel Conventional and TMCC fan units are AC grounded and powered via AC.  Legacy are DC powered and if you used a TMCC Unit without isolation you would damage your electronics.

Same with MTH.  MTH dual element PS-1 are great smokers and can run off Track power or TMCC electronics.  For MTH electronics you can modify them.  G

MTH AA-0000070 is the one I use for most of my stuff, need to get the brass cup tho too AA-0000102

THANKS EVERYONE... I now have some direction... MTH will get my attention for now... all sounds good... THANKS AGAIN, Jay

EASY PEASY: ANY MTH SMOKE UNIT!! 

I use MTH units for most upgrades, but they do have one drawback vs Lionel.  The standard Lionel units have a 5VDC supply for the fan, the MTH does not.  You can use the MTH PS/1 smoke unit as a self-contained unit, but the ones mentioned above don't have any fan power.

Since most of my upgrades are steamers with chuffing smoke, my Super-Chuffer solves the problem of the smoke fan 5VDC power.

GUNNER JOHN... Thanks for the reply... to make sure my question was presented correctly...

I am seeking a universal smoke unit...

I understand the heating element is connected to a power source... I can use AC or DC... makes no difference in my applications... what is the nominal operating voltage and is it AC / DC???.

Additionally, this smoke unit I am looking for must have a fan... I understand the fan motor is 5 VDC.

The recommended unit thus far has been MTH AA-0000070 but the specs are elusive on my first search.

I am not partial to Lionel or MTH, however I am concerned that the part number above may not have a fan... so if you know of a Lionel unit that will fit my needs, please advise.

Any specific information will be greatly appreciated... THANKS, Jay

Here's a fairly "universal" Lionel smoke unit.  It takes AC or DC at from 9 to 18 volts and creates fan driven smoke.  It's an "all in one" unit that has the fan power supply as part of the smoke unit.  Connect power and you have smoke.

Here's the MTH PS/1 smoke unit, it also is an all-in-one unit that has the fan power.  As for smoke volume, the MTH unit will do better than the Lionel one, however, it will usually be a bit more expensive.  The MTH smoke unit above has controlled voltage for the heater and produces a lot of smoke over a fairly wide range of voltages.  MTH part # AA-0000011

The MTH unit used to sell for approx $35.00 at York but now the price has more than doubled. It is a great smoker and worth the money.

The lionel unit is much less expensive and works very good.

Either unit will meet your needs.

Romiller

watch the smoke build in the second half of the video. MTH smoke unit, ps2 control board.

Joe, the PS/2 control board kinda' makes this less than "universal".

PS-1 smoke unit is a good unit.

Marty, it's only downside it it's kinda' large.  OTOH, it is a smokin' fool, it really will pump out the smoke!  I've upgraded a few PS/1 locomotives to PS/2 for folks, I put in a new PS/2 smoke unit and keep the PS/1 in my parts box.  No reason to chop up the PS/1 unit to make it into a PS/2. 

Yeah, you guys know this. The PS1 smokers are essentially the same, plus their own control onboard.

 It's a shame how many get cut off for upgrades when guys need them.

John, I do the same thing.  They are an ok fit in a large steam locomotive.  You are correct on size.  I did a power station for a friend and mounted the unit a bit lower then the roof and used a 3 way splitter to run hose into the bottom of the stacks.  I powered it from a small Lionel (old set) transformer and he is able to vary smoke output with the transformer.

Hennings installed a fan driven smoke unit in a dummy engine for me and it smokes like crazy

They're great for stationary stuff, lots of smoke and wide voltage regulation.

Unless the PCB has a gapping hole, I rebuild them.  Saved many a smoke units for customers on older PS-1 smoke units no longer carried in stock.  G

a SINCERE THANK YOU for everyone that has shared this information with me... I have a plan... just have to find what I need at a price I am willing to pay. 

I am especially grateful for the photos, part numbers and specs posted by Gunner John... this will make the choices easier. 

Again THANKS to EVERYONE, Jay

I put in a new PS/2 smoke unit and keep the PS/1 in my parts box.  No reason to chop up the PS/1 unit to make it into a PS/2. John

do you have the MTH art number for the new smoke unit for my big boy conversion to PS 2 soon!

Alan

Thanks for any help you can.

AA-0000070 is the MTH part number for the standard steam smoke unit.

Thanks john for the part number!

Alan

That won't work for a Big boy conversion.  There is no oval screw in stack cups.  You need a Bigboy smoke unit that has the correct funnel, or at least a smoke unit set up to accept the funnel types that mount on the 2 front screws of the smoke unit.  Need to be careful with the standard part numbers.  G

On most of the steamers I do, I have to deal with the non-standard smoke output.  I typically solder a brass tube or smokebox to the smoke unit.  The part number I gave is the steamer smoke unit with the threaded smoke port.

A threaded matching ferrule for the above smoke unit is part # AA-0000102, I solder the matching stack to that and then screw it in.

Edit: fix incorrect part number.

AA-0000020 is not a brass cup, that is a smoke hose.  Matt gave correct part number above for a Standard Steam Like cup.  MTH has several different part numbers for brass cups.

Still think that is a lot of work for double stack engine.  I have custom made quite a few too, so I keep a variety of different smoke units, brass cups, and oval stacks (including Lionel) to make a more factory correct fit.  

When it comes to a double stack like BB or Chall, I use an oval stack. 

AA-0000114 is a Challenger Small oval stack (RK).  If a premier engine a larger oval is required.   G

OOPS!  Grabbed the wrong number, it's AA-0000102 for the brass cup.