Upgrading a smoke unit

That green board is the regulator for the fan and probably the lights.  It's most likely a 6V regulated supply, that's what most are.

 

You can easily replace the bulbs with 14V bulbs for conventional operation and dispense with the regulator.

 

One issue in conventional operation is at low voltages, the smoke unit won't get enough power to operate properly.  Lionel uses a $30 regulator module to solve that problem in their newer conventional locomotives.

 

John is correct on the heat.  I am sure he will agree that a PS-1 MTH smoke unit would be a better choice for your conversion.

Probably a bit large, but it would solve the problem of the power supply,

 

I've seen the PS/1 smoke units chopped in half to relocate the circuit away from the physical smoke unit, that might be a plan for this installation.

 

Thanks guys for the info.
I already bought the lionel unit from boxcar bill so i'll just stay with that one. Not really looking for crazy levels of smoke in this one. Just a thin, steady stream.

Well, the stream is going to change based on the speed.  Of course, that's somewhat prototypical, so maybe that works.

 

John
Yes, i'm ok with the decrease in smoke when going slow.

It may decrease to zero, hard to say.

 

Is what's being said is that the PS1 smoke unit is 6V, and, therefore, the Williams regulator would drive it as is?  Where does one get a PS1 smoke unit?

 

Marty Fitzhenry and gunrunnerjohn I find you both to be very helpful and giving contributors to the forum.

 

Alan

Yes, these guys have helped me out coutless times!!!!!   Can't say it enough.

The unit that i have is the one tha boxcar bill suggested for this application.

The images of the mth units led me to believe that they wouldn't fit inside this smaller shell.

The PS/1 smoke unit is a self-contained design that is powered from track power for conventional operation.  It has a regulator that keeps smoke working through the full range of power from around 5-6 volts up to hiball speed.

 

They're still available on the MTH parts site, AA-0000011. 

 

Is there a timer circuit I can use for smoke to spew out every couple of minutes? I want to use this on a GG1 loco thats Proto 1.

Mike,

 

  Look here and scroll down to Serows post. He installed a Lionel smoke unit in his Williams J. 

 

https://ogrforum.com/t...78#40004357952230878

 

Bill

For Williams that regulator board is 6V and feeds the smoke unit and lights.  Smoke unit via switch.  That is the reason for the large heat sink.You could feed the Lionel smoke unit off the Reverse board 2 pin connector that has motor DC out.  You could drop the resistor to about 16-20 ohms and the smoke unit would run when the engine is in fwd or reverse.  G

Why not just move the regulator board to the rear in front of the motor.   You'll have to make a bracket so it will clear the motor and lengthen the wires leaking to the headlight and smoke unit but it's doable. 

 

I just installed a Lionel fan driven smoke unit in my Williams 746 J, I used structural adhesive to glue the smoke unit to the shell and there was just enough room so I didn't have to move anything.  I'd try a dry fit to see if it will fit without any modifications first.

 

Paul

How can you make a MTH smoke unit just puff every 30 seconds or so?

I am considering changing the smoke unit on my turbine as well. Would you mind telling us what model Lionel smoke unit you are using?

Not powering the Seuthe, Do you think he could lose the heat sink now for easier relocation of the board? Or is there plenty of room?

 

Mark,

The new smoke unit is a Lionel unit from Box Car Bill at Modern Toy Train Parts.

610-8057-200M

 

I've decided to do what I should have done in the first place and just send the loco to him and just let him install it.

Yes, or fabricate a smaller metal tab that angles back.  G