Less smoke in command mode

Hmm, I have a ZWL and 990 Command and set the switch on the ZWL to Conventional and get 17.x when I set the throttles to 18 volts.  I use a RMS volt meter to do the measuring.  I do not try to control the ZWL with my 990 remote which would require the ZWL switch set to Command.  I have no issues with smoke production on my Legacy engines.

Check the smoke options in Command mode, it may be set for medium output. I have to say I'm not sure if TMCC offers that option but I believe they do. I know MTH offers it.

Try setting the smoke volume in command.

AUX1, AUX2, 9 H, then AUX2 again to save the setting.  This sets the smoke volume to high.   

The L,M,H, buttons are the momentum buttons at the bottom of the remote, they also select smoke volume.

Sorry guys

my wording may have been confusing.

i meant that, in conventional mode, i didn't have to raise the power above 15v to achieve great smoke output. Yet, in command, with track power at 18v, it's dismal output.

i didn't realize that tmcc-1 offered varrying smoke levels but i'll give it a try

thanks

mike

Only some models of TMCC, mostly the later years, have the smoke regulator.

Gents,

Thanks for the suggestions. I tried the smoke output adjustment keystrokes while in Command mode. It didn't appear to have any effect. When I looked in the manuals for both locos, there doesn't appear to be any reference to adjustability on these smoke units - Just on-off and boost. 

I assume that the units have some sort of regulator that only kicks in under command mode?

Listen to what Gun Runner John has told you....and use half a vile of Mega Steam smoke fluid.

For whatever reason, not all of the TMCC locos have variable smoke output mentioned in their instructions.  But this info is typically given in a Legacy steamer set of instructions.  You can (for example) find a PDF of the instructions for the Legacy Santa Fe 3751 online....and this info IS in there.

Here's another test:  putting the smoke unit on HIGH means your Momentum should be maxed out.  When you hit the brakes on your TMCC remote, it should take a while to come to a complete stop.  That's also max smoke output.  If you loco comes to a dead stop very quickly, you have minimum momentum/minimum smoke output selected.....the latter of which sucks.

"Try setting the smoke volume in command.

AUX1, AUX2, 9 H, then AUX2 again to save the setting.  This sets the smoke volume to high.   

The L,M,H, buttons are the momentum buttons at the bottom of the remote, they also select smoke volume."

here's the '06 J  Blue link for page 26 of the manual. exactly as John quoted it. Conventional default is medium.

That's not the N&W J loco that I own. I have the PWC semi-scale, post-war style. 

I repeat again - I tried John's suggested keystroke adjustment and it had no effect.

Okey-doke. Have a Lionel number?

I suspect it doesn't have the voltage regulator.  As Carl says, when you're asking for help on a locomotive, the actual product number helps us to help you.

I looked for the Lionel PWC 773 Hudson, and the one I find has a mechanical smoke unit, so the product number is kinda' important.

John,

Here are the product numbers and the links for their instruction manuals. 

6-31754

https://www.lionelsupport.com/...ents/73-1754-250.pdf

6-31739

https://www.lionelsupport.com/...ents/73-1739-250.pdf

Lionel doesn't seem to have the 6-31739 listed in the support section.

Curiously, the 6-31754 lists a smart smoke unit, but no regulator.  Since this has a 6 ohm smoke resistor, it has to have the regulator.  I'd probably start with a rebuild of the smoke unit, first stop would be to insure the screws holding the smoke resistor are tight. 

hey Graz & John,

The J is 6-11106 from the set. It has an R2LC, but there is a curious item called motherboard. John, Could that be the regulator?

Nice set graz!

Thanks for the aid gents. Much appreciated.

Myself, being a rookie in regard to these components, I have a few questions - John, when you say that "since it has a 6 ohm resistor it has to have a regulator" is that because the 6 would get overly hot under a full 18v of power?  And, is it possible that the regulator is bypassed altogether when running in conventional mode?

The regulator is used for conventional and command.  Yes, 6 ohms on 12V track power would be 24 watts, that would fry the smoke unit in a very short time.  The typical power dissipation of a smoke unit is in the 5-6 watt range.  The 6 and 8 ohm smoke units all use an AC Regulator to provide the proper power to the smoke units.

The AC Regulator is typically $30, but it doesn't appear anywhere in the parts listing.  That's somewhat odd as they're a fairly high failure item.  Usually, if I can't get decent smoke from the locomotive with the AC Regulator, I first rebuild and service the smoke unit, then I replace the regulator.

Carl, the motherboard is just that, a place to plug the R2LC and all the interconnections to, no active elements on it.