Questions regarding engine modified with Cruise Commander and ERR Puff & Chuff

Smoke Stack Lightnin posted:

I have a MTH Proto Sound (20-3021-1) Big Boy engine that was modified prior to purchasing. I've included pictures that may or may not be of any help. It has been modified with a Cruise Commander V4.1 and a ERR Puff & Chuff module. It runs great except for two things:

1) The smoke unit operates at full tilt and there doesn't seem to be a way to control it. My Legacy remote will switch the smoke on or off. The remote smoke volume has no affect accept either off or full on. Even with the smoke off there is a little smoke.

There is no smoke volume control for TMCC upgrades, it's either on or off.  I've done some work in that area, but programmable smoke volume would have to be the TMCC smoke voltage regulator.

2) The steam sound volume is adjustable by remote, however the whistle volume is full blast even when the steam sound is turned off.

There are two volume controls for the ERR RS board.  AUX1 then volume Up or Down turns the chuff volume up and down.   Just volume Up or Down will turn all the sounds up and down.

3) Am I correct to presume the tender chassis has to be insulated from the tender shell, perhaps for antennae? Looks like someone has used electrical tape bordering the bottom of the chassis shell with nylon spacers on the screws.

Correct, I use Kapton tape as it's thinner and I can hide it better.

If there is no way to control the whistle audio and the smoke volume, is it possible I could install trim switches or pots? If so could you provide the type or values to do this?

No easy way to control smoke volume with pots.  You can add a switch and switch in or out some series diode pairs to control smoke volume.

And lastly, which lead(s) I would place the pots?

Thank’s John, excellent explanation!

Rich

I have been known to wire a several diode pairs (I cheat and use full-wave rectifiers for two sets of diodes), across the smoke switch.  That turns the smoke switch into a high/low smoke volume switch.  Since I normally control the smoke with the remote, that solve the problem of two levels of smoke.

If you don't have enough smoke, you'll likely need to do a rebuild of the smoke unit.

Haha, I better leave well enough alone! Maybe someday I’ll work up the nerve. You are a great presence on the forums and have helped a lot of folks over the years, God Bless!

Rich

Thanks Rich, if you have any more questions, don't be afraid to ask.