Does anyone have a part number for a MTH HO fan driven smoke unit. I looked on their site and couldn't find one. I am hoping someone out there has obtained one.
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AA-1600000 is a fan-driven HO smoke unit.
Another small MTH smoke unit is AA-2100002, it's used in some of the smaller O-gauge switchers.
You want to be careful trying to use HO smoke in O. The PS-2 will apply too much power to the single 8 ohm resistor and probably smoke it
G
How many volts is the smoke unit and can it run directly off of track power?
Originally Posted by gunrunnerjohn:
AA-1600000 is a fan-driven HO smoke unit.
Another small MTH smoke unit is AA-2100002, it's used in some of the smaller O-gauge switchers.
I didn't get the sense that he was trying to use this in a standard MTH locomotive, but maybe I'm wrong.
FWIW, the resistor in the HO unit is 16 ohms.
I think maybe the second one, the AA-2100002 I mentioned will give you more smoke if that's the goal, and it's not much larger.
Here's a comparison of the two.
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Originally Posted by gunrunnerjohn:
I didn't get the sense that he was trying to use this in a standard MTH locomotive, but maybe I'm wrong.
FWIW, the resistor in the HO unit is 16 ohms.
I think maybe the second one, the AA-2100002 I mentioned will give you more smoke if that's the goal, and it's not much larger.
Here's a comparison of the two.
John, is it possible to use the smaller MTH unit with a Superchuffer board?
It's possible to use most any fan driven smoke unit with a S-C board. Note that the heater is not part of the S-C board install, that's driven from the smoke output of the TMCC boards in the locomotive. The S-C drives the fan and the headlight/cab light.
For the S-C install of the smoke unit on top, I'd probably recommend replacing the resistor with a 20 ohm unit for TMCC use, same with the HO smoke unit. IMO, the AA-2100002 is the better choice for this type of installation.
Originally Posted by RRaddict2:
How many volts is the smoke unit and can it run directly off of track power?
Originally Posted by gunrunnerjohn:
You can NOT drive either of these directly from track power!
I should have been clearer I want to use one of these in a diner on the layout and one in my bunk car.
Originally Posted by gunrunnerjohn:
Originally Posted by RRaddict2:
How many volts is the smoke unit and can it run directly off of track power?
Originally Posted by gunrunnerjohn:
You can NOT drive either of these directly from track power!
In that case, I'd probably install a Variable AC-DC power supply and run the smoke unit and fan off of that. You can use a series resistor for the fan to vary it's speed to get the effect you desire using the same DC output. Truthfully, for a diner, I'd use a larger smoke unit with a bigger fluid reservoir so you would have to fill it less often.
I've put a couple of the HO units in cabooses, they have the right level of output for a caboose.
I am taking it that you would suggest the same for a bunk car? I have the Lionel MPC diner but it doesn't look like a regular size smoke unit would fit in there. I would be running it off of 10 volts AC/DC. I am no electronics person but I am taking it when you say have a resistor in line is the same as putting a resistor on the hot side of a LED light?
Originally Posted by gunrunnerjohn:
In that case, I'd probably install a Variable AC-DC power supply and run the smoke unit and fan off of that. You can use a series resistor for the fan to vary it's speed to get the effect you desire using the same DC output. Truthfully, for a diner, I'd use a larger smoke unit with a bigger fluid reservoir so you would have to fill it less often.
I've put a couple of the HO units in cabooses, they have the right level of output for a caboose.
The smoke resistor would be running on the 5-7 volts DC from the AC-DC power supply. The fan motor wants 5VDC maximum, and less if you don't want the smoke coming out really fast. Given that, I'd use a resistor from 20-100 ohms in series with the fan to get the right fan speed for the effect desired. The resistor would probably want to be a 1/2 watt or larger.
My advice for smoke units is the bigger the better as far as reservoir size, less maintenance. Remember, you also have to install it where you can access it for maintenance.
Originally Posted by gunrunnerjohn:
I didn't get the sense that he was trying to use this in a standard MTH locomotive, but maybe I'm wrong.
FWIW, the resistor in the HO unit is 16 ohms.
I think maybe the second one, the AA-2100002 I mentioned will give you more smoke if that's the goal, and it's not much larger.
Here's a comparison of the two.
The title was HO in O gauge so I assume, plus someone else was asking me via e-mail.
For MTH O when they use the single element version the board is a flash board with a different smoke output to prevent burning up the element. Hence my warning. Certainly if modified and current limited based on how you are powering it, it can be made to work. G
I've used the HO boards stock in cabooses and houses, however I like the look of the switcher one for these applications. It also looks to be a fit for some of the smaller engines I want to upgrade to fan driven smoke.
