Mowhawk smoke unit AGAIN

No surprise there, 8 ohms with 18 volts across it is 40 watts!  The smoke resistor is probably rated at 2 or 3 watts, that's the typical rating!

Those smoke units normally use a 27ohm resistor.  G

27 ohms at 18 volts gives you 12 watts, the resistor has a chance to survive.   If it's truly powered directly from the track and not from the smoke output of the R2LC, even the 27 ohm is going to produce a lot of smoke.

I know when changed the resistor in my old 442 lionel, it smoked like a champ at any variable track power.  The old 70s locos I had never smoked good

Thanks guys for all of your help.Nick

DEAR NICK I RUM MY TMCC ENGINES IN LIONEL ON ABOUT 14 VOLTS.  YOU DO NOT HAVE TO RUN THESE ENGINES ON 18VOLTS.  IT TAXES YOUR SMOKE UNITS, HEADLIGHT BULBS.  I CONVERTED SMOKE OF MY ENGNES IN STEAM TO THE OLD STYLE MPC RESISTERS THAT WORK FINE AT 14 VOLTS OUR LESS ON MY LAYOUT IN TMCC.

Actually the power supplied to the smoke unit by the R2LC in TMCC mode is more like about 10 volts, increasing to 17 volts with boost. If the smoke unit is connected directly to track power, then you are getting 18 volts of course.

But 8 ohms is too low for the resistor at 10 volts or 18.

(8 ohm resistors are used with newer semi-smart smoke units, that are supplied anywhere from 3 to 8 volts, by a variable AC regulator; but that's another story.)

From my experience an 18 ohm resistor works well with the older style smoke units. You will get lots of smoke and it will last a long time. 27 ohm resistors produce diddely for smoke IMO.

BoxcarBill has 18 ohm resistors.

Rod