I would like some information on how to install a smoke generator in a DCC loco
without it shorting out.
Not worth the effort, in my opinion. Smoke generators draw a lot of current and will burn out decoders. The smoke fluid is oil based and leaves a film on everything that can cause poor locomotive performance due to dirty track and dirty wheels.
If you must use a smoke generator, you're going to need a heavy duty decoder with at least 2 Amps capacity or more on the function outputs and such a decoder is going to cost more than the smoke generator itself, is possibly going to be too large to fit into your model, and is going to be very hard to find. Usually, only an O or G scale decoder will have enough current output and will be too large to fit into HO, if that's your scale.
cacole wrote: Not worth the effort, in my opinion. Smoke generators draw a lot of current and will burn out decoders. The smoke fluid is oil based and leaves a film on everything that can cause poor locomotive performance due to dirty track and dirty wheels.If you must use a smoke generator, you're going to need a heavy duty decoder with at least 2 Amps capacity or more on the function outputs and such a decoder is going to cost more than the smoke generator itself, is possibly going to be too large to fit into your model, and is going to be very hard to find. Usually, only an O or G scale decoder will have enough current output and will be too large to fit into HO, if that's your scale.
Where can you by a smoke generator? Are there 110V? I am interested in using one or 2 for an HO scale refinery. Sorry DGA, not trying to hijack your thread... just wondering about a smoke generator, DCC operated or DC powered.
Rob,
Check Micro-Mark catalog number 82602 for the smoke generator. http://www.micromark.com
cacole wrote:...Smoke generators draw a lot of current and will burn out decoders...
I use LGB smoke generators in G scale and they are similar to Seuthe units. But even in the larger scale, the smoke is never really that effective or realistic looking. Fan driven units are better, and some high end O scale loco smoke units can produce a large amount of smoke.
However the only color of "model" smoke is white. So it actually is better suited for steam heating then diesel or steam exhaust. This is why I'm somewhat interested in the new Rapido steam heat car and how the steam effect will look.
Matt from Anaheim, CA and Bayfield, COClick Here for my model train photo website
I've installed a Seuthe smoke unit into my shay. With much blood and water!
The smoke stack has 6 mm diameter and the smoke unit 5 mm !! I worked with a reamer.
Decoder is from Lenz. I've no problems with current. You have to look at the current for each part and add it.
It's fun!
Wolfgang
Pueblo & Salt Lake RR
Come to us http://www.westportterminal.de my videos my blog
dga wrote:I would like some information on how to install a smoke generator in a DCC loco without it shorting out.