Repair of Lionel Hot Box Reefer

There is only one photo, but board #1 is the AC regulator. Board #2 is the "random lights LED" board. Board #3 is the railsounds board and is unavailable. Looks like the AC reg shorted or where is the electrolytic capacitor on the two leads...are the leads to it charred?

Did you look here for parts? Many parts are available, some harness, some boards, smoke unit, etc.

https://www.lionelsupport.com/...p;resultsPerPage=250

Do you have the manual?

https://www.lionelsupport.com/...ents/72-9811-250.pdf

It doesn't matter which shell you have, all the guts and the frame are the same. I just bought one on ebay for $75 which was like new. There are less expensive ones (not REA..) available last time I looked and probably less money than buying the harness and boards.

BTW, I put the Mini Commander ACC in the reefer and can turn it on and off easier with the remote.

Here's a link to the ones available...

http://www.ebay.com/sch/O-Scal...x+reefer&_sop=15

Since you don't really care about the sounds, looks like all you need is there.  Don't cut any wires until you draw yourself a diagram of where they go.  The 6 ohm resistor for the smoke unit should be replaced as well as the wick.  I suspect the light box probably survived the incident.

Thank guys for the information.  Before I take the next step I want to find out if anything else is bad.  To test the smoke unit, what is the typical voltage requirements it takes?  Also, the AC regulator that fried in my unit, it's function is to keep a constant AC voltage on the smoke unit and prevent higher track voltage being applied to the smoke unit??

Thanks again,

Bob D

Yep, for sure I'd replace the AC regulator and the smoke resistor.  You can't put track voltage on that smoke unit resistor directly, a 6 ohm resistor with 12 VAC on it would dissipate 24 watts, over three times the maximum it should ever see.  You'll get some amazing smoke, but not for long!

Truthfully, I suspect the sounds are still intact, it looks like the damage was the regulator and associated wiring.

John

Both the resistor & AC regulator are toast which I will be replacing along with most of the wiring.  From your comment above, the smoke unit input voltage should be in the 4 volt range?  I wanted to check out the smoke generator motor, but don't know what typical voltage it takes.  

Thanks,

Bob

Well, when you have the resistor off the board, just hook 6 VAC to it and see if the fan runs.  The board will actually be receiving a chopped waveform from the AC regulator when it's installed, it uses a triac to adjust the power to the smoke unit.  For just testing the fan, when the smoke resistor isn't on the board, only the fan power supply gets power, and we just want to see if the fan spins quietly.

Thanks 

gunrunnerjohn posted:

Well, when you have the resistor off the board, just hook 6 VAC to it and see if the fan runs.  The board will actually be receiving a chopped waveform from the AC regulator when it's installed, it uses a triac to adjust the power to the smoke unit.  For just testing the fan, when the smoke resistor isn't on the board, only the fan power supply gets power, and we just want to see if the fan spins quietly.

John

Thanks for the updated information.  For future reference, if I am testing a smoke unit with the resistor installed, what voltage would I be using?

Bob D

With the resistor installed, you can apply A MAXIMUM of 6 VAC to the power inputs of the smoke unit.  This should be enough to power the fan an it will also power the heater.  Put some smoke fluid in and you get a full test.