Smoke unit fan question

I enlarged the hole above the fan as you see. Did not cut into the pcb tracer also replaced the smoke batting. The fan is not hitting on the top of the pcb as the pic makes it look btw.this engine had not had this done to it yet. This engine was also setting on my engine shelves for a while. I DID NOT try to use it before I modifyed the smoke unit. 

Also did the tmcc r2lc/lcru rest to the boards. My sheet says to do code 74 as this engine has an IR tether. Did this twice to make sure it took the command and it did.

Fan still does not come on.

Just a little more info for you guys.

The regulator may be bad.  Do you have 5v dc at the plug the fan motor goes into? G

Thanks ggg. The board says 5v+  where the conector plugs into. I have no volt meter to test the conection.sorry. been meaning to get one for times like this.

Ggg there are four inputs on the pcb.

They read right to left as per the photo.

1) 3rd rail

2)ground

3)smoke

4)+5

5)ground

 I made a simple lite testor with a 12v bulb and my test leads. Get continuity all places except at the +5 and ground where the fan connects. Should the light light up when connecting to these terminal? If so maybe the regulator went bad as you say.

Maybe this helps. Thanks.

Just because the motor spins at 9 volts does not make it a good motor.  Try it with a 5 volt DC power supply.  Many will not spin with 5 volts but when you kick it with higher voltage you sometimes get the results you got.  Usually ends up like George stated.   If you get the motor to spin at 5 volts, look at the reg.

Thanks marty will do.

Guys, had a new mth fam motor laying around I forgot about. Hooked it up with my test leads to the pcb board. Nothing. Looks like a new ac reg board is needed like you suggested. Oh well another shelf queen. Thanks for all the help. Was going to have gunnrunner install his superchuffer somday anyway. Guess thats the answer. Wait till I can it fixed then send it to john some day. If I can ever get the money. Thanks again.

send the board to marty or g...

Lionelzwl2012 posted:

I enlarged the hole above the fan as you see. Did not cut into the pcb tracer also replaced the smoke batting. The fan is not hitting on the top of the pcb as the pic makes it look btw.this engine had not had this done to it yet. This engine was also setting on my engine shelves for a while. I DID NOT try to use it before I modifyed the smoke unit. 

Also did the tmcc r2lc/lcru rest to the boards. My sheet says to do code 74 as this engine has an IR tether. Did this twice to make sure it took the command and it did.

Fan still does not come on.

Just a little more info for you guys.

What is r2c/lcru? I'm a DCS guy and have a Lionel EM-1 that has a similar problem. Is it a reset for the smoke function on the board? I have the old CAB 1. What does it mean?

If the smoke resistor gets hot, you are very unlikely to need the AC regulator.  The issue sounds like either the fan motor is drawing excessive current (likely), or one of the three components that provide the 5VDC on the smoke unit PCB has failed.

John would a new pcb for the smoke unit be what I should try first. Lionel has it listed as being only 12.00. Thats better the the reg board price. Maybe I order one when I get the funds to by some other parts that I was needing. Then I can save on the shipping. Thanks.

Well, the smoke unit PCB is a far more likely suspect, though my top suspect remains the fan motor itself.  I've had many motors that would run, but they drew way more current than they should, and the wimpy regulator on that board couldn't drive them.  I just fixed one that the motor drew 10x it's nominal current, almost half an amp!

Like I said, I'd be amazed if this is the regulator module, it the resistor gets hot, it's working.

If you can't replace the VR for the fan motor, than yes get new smoke pcb at 12.  If you have AC to the board and no 5V on the fan terminal, either a trace is open or the fan motor regulator died.  The ACREG only powers the heater element, but wiring could be suspect and if no power to element, the fan motor reg may not have power either.  G

Thanks guys

From the first post in the thread.

Lionelzwl2012 posted:

3) get all chuff sounds from the engine and everything looks and works on the loco as it should except fan will not go. 8 ohm resistor gets hot also.

  I'm guessing it's not the AC-Reg.