TAS smoke units

I didn't realize that TAS had any boards that did AC motored locomotives.  The SAW and EOB were strictly DC motors.

 

I didn't realize that TAS had any boards that did AC motored locomotives.

 

They did indeed offer a TMCC board for AC locos. I have one I installed in a Milwaukee Road SD-40 (non EOB). This one is for two motored engine (15amp). I removed it prior to selling the engine. Been thinking of selling as I really don't have a need for it.

 

 

Milwrd

Learn something every day, never saw an AC board from TAS.  I've also never had any of their smoke units, so I'm not sure if they're "standard" or not.

I didn't mean to surprise anyone about the AC version of TAS boards. They were the first ones I used. I installed them in a 736, two 8776 C/NW GP 20, C/NW FM Trainmaster. I have changed the FM to DC motors from Timko so I could get "cruise control ". The smoke unit is still installed. I just would like to know - BEFORE I connect it to the new ERR cruise commander if it'll destroy the board or will self destruct.

That depends on the construction of the smoke unit.  On the SAW board, the smoke unit wiring appears to have a separate fan input.  The SAW board uses the same triac (it's on the Lionel R2LC) as Lionel, so that current should be similar.

 

The smoke unit mentioned is the TAS "Turbo" smoke unit, don't know if they made any other types.  Like I said, I never saw one, only read about how to connect them to the SAW and EOB boards.

I have several of the Turbo smoke units along with about a dozen TAS AC motor drive boards installed - 2360 GG1, 736, FM Trainmaster, 2343 F3, Dash 8, RS3, etc, etc.  If I remember right there's 3 leads on the smoke unit - 2 for power AC or DC and one for trigger. If the option plug is for steam then a ground triggers the chuff. If optioned for diesel then a trigger causes it to go from idle smoke to max smoke.

I measured the smoke output on a TAS AC board. I saw about 5 volts AC. I measured the ERR board's smoke And saw 5 volts DC. The lil fan motor was DC. Looked like I might be OK hooking It to 5 Volts DC from the ERR board. The results ........... IT Works!!! But - 1. It takes a long time for the heater element to hear up. 2. I haven't tried to hook up the variable "Diesel Accel" feature. I hope this will help and encourage anyone who has these units.

I'm trying the same thing in a Williams engine.  How do you go about synchronizing the smoke output to the chuff switch?

 

Harm Andrews

Andrews Shopping Center

 

 

The way to synchronize the chuff is to power the fan motor from the chuff switch.  Depending on the circuitry, you may need a double-pole relay to separately send the chuff signal to the sound board and power the smoke unit fan.

TAS smoke units are all AC. They work with any R2LC, version 04 and up. The puff n chuff or dale accel uses the same ground trigger from the cherry switch that generates chuffs. Be sure to add a 1N4001 diode in line with the "trigger" pin (furthest from die cast reservoir). Cathode (or silver band) points toward the smoke unit. The non-banded end goes to pin 17 of the R2LC (this is a blanket location that covers steam, diesel and Odyssey applications) Mike

BTW, I recommend adding a 0.1uF 50V non-polarized electrolytic cap across smoke unit hot and ground to eliminate the likelihood of the sounds ticking when smoke is on. Mike

Mike, is this to simply isolate the existing circuit using the chuff switch from the smoke unit's use of the ground?

It so the pull up resistor on the smoke trigger does not monopolize the signal and render the chuff inactive

That's what I figured Mike, thanks for the feedback.  It would be nice to have a schematic.

 

Are these smoke units still available from anyone?  Inquiring minds want to know.

John, I have a few left. Contact me thru my profile. BF

Question for Mike and/or John - I have a first run MTH cab forward that TAS/Phil Hull converted to TMCC a few years ago. It still uses the MTH smoke unit. I would like to get the fan to sync with the exhaust chuffs. Any thoughts on how to accomplish this?  Thanks.

Funny thing, I'm working on a SP GS-4 that I'm planning on doing the same thing.  It currently has PS/1, and I'm installing the ERR Cruise Commander and the RS Commander with the Daylight sounds.  I'll be using the existing PS/1 smoke unit.

 

Earlier in this thread we were discussing that, and I'm going to look and see if this is as simple as connecting the motor return through a diode to the chuff switch.  It will take some mods to the smoke unit, at a minimum I'll have to lift the ground return to the smoke fan so I can control it.  I'm also thinking on having a Zener diode to ground to run the fan at a low speed and then have it get a shot from the chuff switch for the exhaust chuffs.  I'm going to experiment with a spare smoke unit on the bench to see if I can get realistic operation that way.

 

I'm thinking of replacing the chuff switch with a reed switch and magnets on a driver to get the proper 4-chuffs per/rev as well.

<The smoke unit mentioned is the TAS "Turbo" smoke unit, don't know if they made any other types.<

There was one called "Puff'n'Chuff" but it I think it was superceded by the Turbo version.

<It would be nice to have a schematic.>

I think I still have the schematic and maybe the PIC ( the 12C509 IC chip) if needed for a repair.

I'll probably stick with the MTH units, I have a spare and they're more readily available than the TAS unit.