Lionel smoke units (modern)

Not simple. A 27 ohm unit runs on track power, a 6 ohm unit gets its power from a voltage regulator unit controlled from the radio receiver board.

Chuck,

So early TMCC equipped locomotives (I have a C-420 {2000} and a Lionmaster Challenger {2002}) used track voltage though the R2LC board and not regulated voltage? Or is it regulated, but a higher voltage? Would the newer C08 version of the board address this?

Again, learning curve stuff for me.

The C-420 is a 27 ohm unit, the R2LC  just controls on/off function. The heaters receive full operating track voltage, so don't smoke all that well operating at low voltage conventional. Fine with TMCC, as it gets 16-18 volts.

 The Lionmaster Challenger uses a R4LC, regulated. Meaning the 6 ohm heater gets maximum of 5 volts constant, no matter the track voltage through a seperate voltage regulator board. And is able to control the voltage to the heaters for low, medium, and high. The R2LC can't control the heater voltage. Would not be a easy or economical conversion.

Thanks Chuck!

I thought those engines had voltage regulators? I remember one of my Hudsons had one that went bad and had to be replaced.

The R2LC doesn't put full AC track voltage on the smoke unit on older TMCC locomotives, as it's half-duplex from the board unless you are boosting it by holding the smoke key down.

Your correct. I should have stated the R4LC with the regulator runs the heater at a lower voltage than the R2LC with the regulator. The R2LC runs the heater at variable track voltage, where a the latter is fixed voltage.