ERR Mini Commander EX Smoke Unit Wiring

The R4LC supplied with the Cruise Commander will drive a 22-27 ohm resistor in the fan unit. If you get a diesel fan unit it that has a 5V regulator on it to step the ~12V from the R4LC to 5V for the fan you will get steady smoke. Find a smoke unit supplied with a 27 ohm resistor most all of these were designed to be driven directly from the R4LC and not an AC regulator.

This is one example.

Pete

Norton posted:

The R4LC supplied with the Cruise Commander will drive a 22-27 ohm resistor in the fan unit. If you get a diesel fan unit it that has a 5V regulator on it to step the ~12V from the R4LC to 5V for the fan you will get steady smoke. Find a smoke unit supplied with a 27 ohm resistor most all of these were designed to be driven directly from the R4LC and not an AC regulator.

This is one example.

Pete

Hi Pete,

I appreciate the response, I mistakenly typed "Cruise Commander EX" instead of Mini Commander EX.

The Mini Commander EX does not use an R4LC.

Sorry for the confusion.

Thanks!

Same idea. The EX has connector LC-2 which is the high current output. The same applies. Its programed with the same commands as an R4LC. If your dummy has rear markers then use Aux1 4 as the feature code. 

Pete

Norton posted:

Same idea. The EX has connector LC-2 which is the high current output. The same applies. Its programed with the same commands as an R4LC. If your dummy has rear markers then use Aux1 4 as the feature code. 

Pete

 

Pete,

I will look into that smoke unit. I have a TMCC Lionmaster Challenger that uses that same type of smoke unit so I understand how it regulates power for the Fan.

Roy who is the dealer I bought it from recommended the following:

"HI Daniel,

Thanks!

I can only assume the EX works differently than an RxLC. Normally the only time you see voltage at the coupler outputs is when you fire the coupler.

Pete

The Mini Commanders are REALLY back-ordered since ERR is gone and 3rd Rail so far hasn't picked up the Mini Commander line!  When and if they do become available, I'm going to lay in a nice stock of them!

gunrunnerjohn posted:

The Mini Commanders are REALLY back-ordered since ERR is gone and 3rd Rail so far hasn't picked up the Mini Commander line!  When and if they do become available, I'm going to lay in a nice stock of them!

Hey GRJ,

I too miss the Mini Commander boards, they were super easy to install and fit just about anywhere. I have done 4 upgrades to date but never installed a smoke unit. Being that they are in such short supply I am cautioned to just connect a smoke unit and possibly burn a triac/board trying to make it work. If they become available again you better leave us little guys with some stock! LMAO

Thanks!

For this application you could use an R2LC with a motherboard. You have plenty of room and it will have all the outputs for lights, couplers, and smoke and even drive a Railsounds board if you wished with no worries about having enough current for smoke. Plus you won't need a tether. Even at list price its close to price of a Mini EX and if you wait for the LCCA open house you will be able to get them for half price. Only downside is you will either have to make your own connectors or maybe get them from Lionel. Save your Mini EX for something small.

Pete

Norton posted:

For this application you could use an R2LC with a motherboard. You have plenty of room and it will have all the outputs for lights, couplers, and smoke and even drive a Railsounds board if you wished with no worries about having enough current for smoke. Plus you won't need a tether. Even at list price its close to price of a Mini EX and if you wait for the LCCA open house you will be able to get them for half price. Only downside is you will either have to make your own connectors or maybe get them from Lionel. Save your Mini EX for something small.

Pete

I see what you are saying, the R2LC has everything I want under one roof. I can probably do without the motherboard as I can just wire directly to the various pins. I love this recommendation as it makes the Mini Commander EX pointless and I can do sound IF I want but that is not currently the case.

Thanks!

I'd probably look for a 24 pin header and solder to the header, it's easier to do, and it allows you to swap R2LC's if it's ever necessary.  This is the header I'm talking about.

Norton posted:

Same idea. The EX has connector LC-2 which is the high current output. The same applies. Its programed with the same commands as an R4LC. If your dummy has rear markers then use Aux1 4 as the feature code. 

Pete

 

I've had the same question, but haven't gotten around to asking it. I have a dummy I'm building and see that my smoke unit I'm using needs to have the 8 ohm resistor replaced with the 22+ ohm one. It does have the 5 v fan reg on it.

Really good advice about the R2LC in a pinch. But I still have some Mini's left from the ERR days.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

I'd probably look for a 24 pin header and solder to the header, it's easier to do, and it allows you to swap R2LC's if it's ever necessary.  This is the header I'm talking about.

 

Hey GRJ,

You have a great point, you are always thinking about possible future service and I love that. I have a ton of those from my Raspberry Pi projects. They will now be put to good use thanks to your idea.

I just read that November 2nd starts Lionel's Open House sale so I am going to wait till then to buy the R2LC and a few other things.

Once the project is done, I will update this thread with photos of the finished product 

Thanks for the advice Pete and John!

I usually grab a few parts during the 1/2 price sale, never hurts to stock up.   Also, be sure to insulate the unused pins on that R2LC connector header.  One way is to simply get it all working, then cover the end with hot glue, job done.