Pennsy Flyer Starter 4-4-2 Smoke Unit Replacement

Wow!  Lionel was quick with a reply.  In case anyone else is interested here is what they had to say:

"Please use the original as a guide and wire accordingly."

Pete

Pete, I was thinking that, but I figured since I didn't know for sure I wouldn't lead you down the wrong road.  It looks sort of like you can steal the resistor off the old unit.

Hey Pete,  good to see you again my friend!

That's my plan.

Thanks for the greets, Sam.  Had a long RC plane season this year.  Got a plane that's too good to not fly. Then the rains came.

Pete

Does that plane have floats?  From the weather in Texas, I'd figure you'd need them!

No floats.   Weather here alternates between drought and floods.  During the drought portions there's no place near by to fly.

In case I botch the resistor swap would you care to suggest a value for a replacement?  I can only make out red(brown)/green/red(brown) bands.

Thanks.

Pete

Measure it with an ohmmeter.  Red, green, red would be a 2500 ohm, that sounds like a pretty high value for an LED.  Brown, green, brown would be a 150 ohm resistor, that actually sounds a little low. 

If that resistor is in line with track power, I'd suggest a 470 ohm 1/4W resistor if you destroy that one.  If it's not bright enough, you can always go lower, but I personally would not go below about 220 ohms.

John - You're dealing with an idiot, just so you know.  I have a cheap ratshack autoranging digital multimeter but never thought to use it.   I'm getting a reading of .735 which I believe to be 735 ohms.  It must work because it did but I'm curious to know your thoughts about this seemingly high resistance.

Thanks again.

Pete

Well, that doesn't match the color code, so that's pretty odd.  Can you get a clearer closeup of the resistor?  Are you measuring directly across it?

Was measuring directly across it.  On super close inspection I believe the colors to be purple/green/brown with the purple kind of deteriorated.  I think that would make it 750 ohm.  Would a 680 ohm 1/2 watt be an acceptable substitute?

Pete

Edited in a picture.

I don't see how Lionel can sell that smoke unit without the resistor.  The picture looks like there is a small diode and the resistor connected across smoke lead on the original smoke unit.   I would say the resistor is 750ohm, which is what you see on atlas and other LED applications driven off high AC input.   G

There is another much smaller device involved as well, the diode I guess.  At this time my plan is to attempt to remove the resistor/diode assembly and transfer it to the to the new smoker.  As you can see from the photo the factory soldering job isn't exactly . . . artistic, to put it mildly, but it is (what used to be) an entry level product.  I sure would have preferred that Lionel offer the smoke unit/led/resistor/diode as a complete assembly.  It shouldn't be this much trouble to replace a smoke unit on a starter set loco.

Pete

The 680 will work with the diode if you wreck the 750.  The diode is any generic diode, the 1N4003 is one I use a lot.