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Smoke generator

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  • Member since
    December 2009
  • 36 posts
Smoke generator
Posted by topito on Saturday, November 29, 2014 12:36 PM

hi everybody: For how long can a smoke generator be connected to a voltage source?

I have an old Mantua with smoke generator and I'm planing add a decoder.

In order to avoid problems I'm considering connect the smoke generator directly to the track feeding wires bypassing the decoder.

What do you think?

 And if I use a Digitrax DN136D  ????

Best regards

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Western, MA
  • 8,571 posts
Posted by richg1998 on Saturday, November 29, 2014 2:20 PM

http://www.soundtraxx.com/manuals/Tech_note%2014.pdf

Should work with any decoder.

Rich

If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Saturday, November 29, 2014 3:38 PM

 What Soundtraxx has will indeed work with any decoder.

You do not want to connect the smoke generator from a DC loco directly to DCC track power. Two problems. First, the voltage is generally higher than the smoke generator was designed for - on DC you want to get smoke without having to run the loco at full throttle all the time, and DCC track power is usually a few volts higher than a DC power pack at full throttle. Second, even if the voltage was ok, running a smoke generator when dry is a sure way to burn it out, so if it is powered all the time there is DCC power to the rails, it can be sitting on an engine track just burning up while you run a different loco.

             --Randy


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

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