Help! LGB Smoke Generator Voltage

[Anonymous]

I'm pretty sure I need the 5 volt. I measured the voltage at the circuit board with the track set to max and got 6.9. With the track at half speed the volts are 6.1, and at 1/4 track setting I'm getting 4.2 volts.

Before I spend the money on a new generator I figured I'd ask you all.

Thanks

[kimbrit]

I take it you have burnt out your stack. If it is rated at a constant voltage of 5v and you're getting 7v on full power then that's around 40% extra power. Try asking LGB, there could be a fault on the circuit board and the extra power is burning out the element in the stack. Failing that replace the LGB unit with an 18v one and wire it back to the main power, I've been using these for years and never lost one yet, though the smoke does vary!!
Cheers,
Kim

[piercedan]

I attended the LGB clinic at Mystic CT and asked why I see more than 5 volts in the LGB engines for smoke and I was told by the LGB rep that the generators are made to work on 4 to 7 volts.

There is nothing wrong with your engine if you see up to 7 volts for your 5 volt smoke unit.

Knowing this, I make sure I use at least 5.7 volts when adding a LGB smoke unit to an engine. I use a LM7805 with a diode on the ground leg. When possible, I try to get LM7806 devices.


Now you might ask what about the 5 volt bulbs, but the bulb with directional lighting do not see the full voltage as there is a diode which drops .7 volts.. Still higher than 5 volts, but I suspect LGB really uses 6 volt bulbs as these do last a long time and when I use them on 5 volts they have a nice yellow glow.