Smoke unit problems and possible kitbash

[pimanjc]

I am very dissatisfied with the smoke unit in my LGB Mikado.  Otherwise I think the engine is great.  The Mikado has the sound unit and decoder on board.  A DPDT switch was placed between the track pickups and the circuit board input for batteryRC or Track power use.
Most of the time, the smoke unit doesn't work at all.  The last time it did work, the smoke was sparce.  LGB [to its credit], sent a replacement smoke unit.  The new one doesn't work any better. 

I am considering installing another [brand/kitbash] smoke unit, hooking it up directly to the track power input point to the circuit board [or in my case, the DPDT switch output]  in a parallel connection, where it runs independant of the circuit board.

 1. Does anyone have a suggestion on troubleshooting the exhisting LGB smoke unit?
 2.  What other smoke units would be feasible to install in lieu of th LGB unit, ie., Aristo Pacific?  Aristo u-45? USA F3?  Other[could be from other scales like N, HO, O, ON30, etc.], or other "G-scale" products?
 3.  The smoke unit would need to operate in the 3-24v. range and need to be fairly compact.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!  I have a short deadline since I have an Open House in four weeks, with a club meeting, and  out-of-town guests coming even sooner. 
Thanks,
JimC.

[BudSteinhoff]

Convert to Aristo blown smoke units, plenty of smoke and they are reasonable.

Bud

[pimanjc]

Thanks, Budd

I may order a Pacific unit.

JimC.