Smoke Units for Dummies!!!!

I think that you'd probably need to fit a TMCC or DCS decoder board into the dummy to operate the smoke unit. On my Lionel F3 and F7 sets, the dummy A units both have Legacy boards to control the lights and smoke, even though they have no motors.

You could, if there is a tether between them, have a relay activated by the primary smoke unit being on turn on the dummy smoke unit.  This would preclude needing TMCC or DCS decoding in the dummy.  I think the DCS board has a pretty robust smoke output, I've heard 4A, but I'm not sure.  In any case, the relay method works for Lionel or MTH.  You do have to have pickups for power in the dummy or pipe the power over the tether as well.

This is an interesting question and I'll be looking to learn something from the responses here. However, did you know that in the real world a smoking diesel is a sign that the locomotive needs maintenance?

I never have understood why the makers of O Gauge trains want their diesels to smoke.

I shut off the smoke units on all my diesels.

We like the smell Rich.

The more 'stuff' going on the better!

I think John is on the right track.  It seems the simplest solution is to tether something from an A unit.  The trick is to define "something."  In the DCS smoke units  the smoke volume changes proportional to what the engine is doing as well as to what the smoke level is set at (low, medium or high).  So if going for more than an on/off relay of the main unit, you'd electrically buffer the pulses from the main smoke heater and smoke fan and duplicate them back in the dummy so as not to overload the smoke electronics in the A unit.  All this can get complicated though not particularly expensive - maybe $5-10 in parts plus the smoke unit. 

Maybe because there are many  full size units running around needing maintenance....judging from some videos and picts of them blowing out unburned diesel. Same reason many semi trucks go down the road belching black smoke....bad fuel mix leading to incomplete combustion. What all of us would like to be.....too rich~!

You are correct, in an ideal setting....no smoke should be there, but what is ideal today?

Greg

I never have understood why the makers of O Gauge trains want their diesels to smoke

Kids like smoke.  I only turn the smoke on when I have people over and for those that don't know a lot about model trains their reaction is "wow that is cool!", especially the kids.  Like C.Sam said the more the better - a good draw for newbies.

Now my steamers - smoke all the time

Yes! I have an Atlas Erie FM ABA set with a powered AB and a dummy A unit. Prpblem was when running in lashup TR mode the rear coupler and headlight was the rear of the B unit. So I installed an R2LC mainly to get the coupler and headlight on the dummy A unit. Once I had that working I figured why not add a smoke unit.

However, did you know that in the real world a smoking diesel is a sign that the locomotive needs maintenance?

 

I never have understood why the makers of O Gauge trains want their diesels to smoke.

Well I do! Esp if you are an ALCo-haul-ic!

The simplest way is to use a MTH PS-1 smoke unit, add an on/off switch and get it mounted in the B unit, since it runs on track power there isn't much more you need to do.

Ixnay on the Smokay......EPA finds out we are pouring out the smoke in our basements and garages they will require permits or catalytic converters.    

Actually, you could be a bit more intelligent than that pretty simply, just use the relay configuration I posted previously.  Running on track power gives you no means to turn if off when you stop or shutdown from the remote.

The PS2 and PS3 boards will support two smoke units.  You would just need to wire it through a tether.

Dave

That solves the problem for PS/2, I had heard it had a robust smoke output.

Thanks for replies!!!   My layout visitors' kids really do like the smoke.  They could care less if it is from a steam or diesel!!!!  When serious train guys come over (like Rich !!!) I turn them all off.  Even my steamers show very little smoke then as guys like Rich are at the throttle!!!!!!!  

The relay idea from GunnerrunerJohn sounds like it might work.   But I am not sure I know how size and install a relay from an existing smoke unit to make it work.  I do not want to mess up the electronics and make any errors.  Perhaps someone will post who has actually done this.  To be more specific,  I just got the new MTH f-3 ABA set and would like to get the dummy B smoking.   Phil

Electric railroad has just come up with a TMCC board for dummy units. It should be on their website.

Well, he has an MTH locomotive, so a TMCC control board probably isn't the ticket for this job.

I'd probably use a 5V relay driven off the smoke unit fan on the primary, they're available with very low current coils, the primary smoke unit shouldn't even know you're there.   Then you can simply switch on the smoke unit in the dummy using the contacts of the relay. 

It appears your A unit is of the type with only one smoke unit (?) in which case Dave's idea seems to turn this into a wiring exercise.  If you can find or get someone to post the wiring or harness diagram for a dual-smoke MTH diesel, there might be some parts/connectors that you can order or at least see how MTH does it.

Diesels aren't supposed to smoke that much. And if they do smoke, it would be black or grey smoke, not usually white. And it would be unlikely to have all units smoking the same. Some diesel smoke is just momentary when the throttle is advanced, not continuous.

 both photos near Cheyenne 1981

In this second photo the lead unit had a "turbo burp" due to a clogged exhaust screen, and these conditions would get noticed and repaired as soon as possible.

When you figure out how to get black smoke, let us know.

 I like to see the diesels smoke. It seems to show them working hard as model trains in my eyes. I may change mine to increase with throttle. I see even the new Evos smoking?

 Having the dummies not smoking does appear to show them as dummies. I now think of them as "offline". Just being transferred to another job where needed.

 Don't taunt the guys about black smoke. The last guy I saw try, ended up melting a good engine!

Where do you get the smoke units? i used to get TrainAmerica Studios smoke units, but sicne they went under some time back...

 Lionel, MTH, USA trains, Aristo, most of them that I know, all sell them as parts.

Would you like a smoking caboose, smoking hot-box car and smoking reefer car with your smoking diesel lash-up? 

 I went over Jim Z's house and he put the hot box reefer on the track. I thought it was another cool thing from L. Sometimes trains are just for fun.

I had my Hot Box Reefer at the NP O-gaugers open house, one kid was a little worried because the train stopped and was "burning".

If you run command, I highly recommend you add a TMCC controlled switch for the unit so you can just enable it on command, it's normal mode is it runs through the same sequence every time you run the train.

     The tethering idea might work.  However has anyone here actually done this?   I have these brand new  MTH Premier F's and before I try this I would like to hear from someone who has actually done this and everything still works.  Phil

It's especially odd to see the Hybrid engine models with smoke pouring out of them.

I'd like it if they'd make diesels without smoke units and lower the price $75.

Smoking steamers are fun, but I like my diesels to run clean! I see smoking diesels as bad advertising for modern railroads.

Smoking diesels are politically incorrect! Look at all the trouble we've gone to in recent years to reduce emissions. Tier 1, Tier 2, etc.

How about smoke on a GG1 or Bi-Polar? They had steam generators for passenger service. A smoking hybrid, that's a riot. I guess some hobbyists just like smoke out of every possible orifice! Smog in Lionelville!

Megasteam has all those different scents, now how about different colors of smoke. Just funnin' ya ...

Ace - retired diesel technician

Where does one get a TMMC controlled switch to do that.  I have one I would love to do that with.

Thanks

I have done to conversions to date, 

First was a Dummy MTH NS dash 9 I purchased off of a forum member.  earlier I purchased a Lionel Legacy Dummy units guts off of ebay that was a smoker and added those guts into the MTH dummy.

The next one I have done so far is a MTH SD40-2 EMD leaser that I added a Lionel TMCC and smoke unit from a Dummy Lionel E6 diesel that I purchased  the guts.

Will I add smoke to other dummy locos, probbly down the road

The easy way is an ERR MiniCommander ACC and drive it off one of the high current outputs.  You just power the whole car's electronics from the MiniCommander high current output.

I actually did it with an old TMCC module from a crew-talk caboose that I had in my parts box, I added a small relay to one of the controllable light outputs to switch the power.  Same idea, just different parts, I didn't have a high current output available for direct power.

Phil, since you're the thread starter, did you ever solve your problem?