Velux & Smoke, DCC & Smoke ? Options

[Thunder]

Velux & Smoke, let me explain the connection, for years i wanted some natural light in the loft, one reason was to let natural light in, the other reason was to let the smoke out !!! well theres no smoke yet, but im hoping there will be soon, as i have now fitted a velux window, so i now have ventilation, so now i would like to fit smoke generators to the locos that have room in the boilers for them, i have had smoke generators on past locos that have run on DC, but have not tried it with DCC, i would want to run the power to the units via the decoder, is this posibble? will a decoder handle the current required to operate the smoke unit? how do i connect it to the decoder? any help / advice will be appreciated.
PS if i do get the smoke units operating, i hope the neighbours wont think this roof is alight when they see smoke coming out the window

[John]

Dear Thunder,

The short answer is "Yes", you can have Smoke and control it from the decoder. It does require a decoder with the right output to match the input required by the smoke unit. Without some information about the scale you are considering and type of loco (steam or diesel), I can't advise you further. The most popular smoke units are from Seuthe and you can do a quick Google on "smoke suethe dcc" to get quite a number of relevant articles.

[Lancashire Fusil...]

I have fitted successfully a Seuthe #22 for plastic bodied locos to a Hornby Fowler 2-6-4T loco using a TCS MC2 2 function decoder. I connected both funtion wires (white and yellow) to one wire of the Seuthe and the common wire (blue) to the other wire. I adjusted the CV to make the front and rear lights on all times in all directions thus basically giving me full 2 function output current to the Seuthe (200mA or so).

I assigned mine Function 0 so now when I want to start a loco I press F0 first and it heats up and smoke then comes out before I drive it away!

By the way the loco I am talking about is for sale on eBay (shameless plug I know!) but I am building a loco out of metal on a workbench thread that also is having a unit fitted in the same manner and will be run off a 4 function TCS decoder.

[Martin71]

Hi

Smoke and DCC no problem at all. I have maybe 10-12 fitted no 22's and the metal ones only. The work fantastic on TCS and Loksound decoders.

Now if you really want to get more from your smoke generator build a tank and pre heater. I cant remember what resistance I have in my pre heater, will test it soon.

A couple of advantages of a tank and preheater. I have found it greatly extends running time but another benefit I have found with the pre heater helps with a better and constant discharge. It also seems to stop all the small splattering you get from the unburnt oil. That because the generator is vaporising hot oil.

I installed this last week. See video and tell me what you think?




martin

[Brian Considine]

Nice decent amount of smoke - thanks for the link.

[baz]

Looks really good. Can they be fitted to diesels as well?

[john woodall]

Now that does look cool.

How and wat are you building the tank and pre-heater out of?

How does the warmed smoke fluid get to the smoke unit?

Cheers

John

[neil_s_wood]

That looks great Martin. I'd also be very interested in how you did that.

[zmil]

Hi LF
I found your loco
Looks good
Hornby R2397A LMS Fowler 2-6-4T 4P No 2321 00 Gauge

I'll give you a shameless plug advert
Regards Zmil


By the way the loco I am talking about is for sale on eBay (shameless plug I know!) but I am building a loco out of metal on a workbench thread that also is having a unit fitted in the same manner and will be run off a 4 function TCS decoder.
[/quote]

[zmil]

PS if i do get the smoke units operating, i hope the neighbours wont think this roof is alight when they see smoke coming out the window

I had an experience, quite a few years ago.
Working in stage lighting we had smoke machines for nightclubs and bands so we used a number of smoke machines, some installed permanently some transportable.
One night while trying to repair the flow of an older machine I managed to fill my workshop and most of my house with smoke. This I expected
-but what I did not expect was the huge column of smoke rising up from my house

And a knock on the door from a couple of concerned Police officers!

[Makemineadouble]

Here's some examples of smoke units running with DCC. They really smoke well, and despite the heat generated there's zero threat to the body because of heat generation. I produce a machined bush that fits between the body and the smoke unit.The trick really is to be able to fit the smoke units in these bodies. The West country is of course easy, but requires some clearance to be made on the weight to clear the wires and then adding compensating weight. The Merchant Navy needs the weight removing and the body slitting, once this is done again compensating weight is added. Finally the rebuilt West Country requires serious work. Removal of the front weight requires skill, and some good fortune as it's held in place by black silicon within the body. Once done it's almost identical to the Merchant Navy, time consuming !
There are alternatives, position stationary smoke units around the layout, MicroMart in the states produce some large capacity smoke units with fans for only a few dollars, and these could be fitted under the layout to provide smoke in Engine sheds, tunnel mouths and stations, they are large capacity and take 10 times more smoke oil than the Seuthe 100. Steam engines didn't always produce smoke, so smoke oil, will last much longer with DCC control and careful control by the operator !

[Thunder]

Many thanks for the replys so far, now i know its a viable option, im going to push my luck a little further and list the locos i want to convert, im also looking to change the current decoders fitted, as only one has back emf, i need to consider the type of smoke unit required and the decoder to handle its load, please keep watching this space, as more help is needed, to achive the results you guys have.
Regards John (Thunder)

[Thunder]

The Locomotives I would like to convert are listed below, all are fitted with the Lenz LE1000A decoders, except for the A3 that has a NCE D13SRP decoder, im looking to change the lenz decoders with ones supporting back emf, along with smoke generators, all are 00 gauge.

Bachman Jinty Run # 47279 at moment this has decoder in the smoke box

A3 Winsor Lad 60035, Hornby

A4 Silver Fox 2512, Bachman

N7 tank 9522, Airfix

Q1 33017, Hornby

Princes Elizabeth 6201 tender drive, Hornby

Crab 13098, Bachman

ivat tank (i think) 2-6-2 41281, bachman.

I did e-mail dcc concepts with a view to purchasing the required items needed, as they appear to do a wide range of smoke generators and decoders, and maybe fit them as well, but have not had a reply, so any help from here would be very welcome

Many thanks John (Thunder)

[Richard Johnson]

The Locomotives I would like to convert are listed below, all are fitted with the Lenz LE1000A decoders, except for the A3 that has a NCE D13SRP decoder, im looking to change the lenz decoders with ones supporting back emf, along with smoke generators, all are 00 gauge.

Bachman Jinty Run # 47279 at moment this has decoder in the smoke box

A3 Winsor Lad 60035, Hornby

A4 Silver Fox 2512, Bachman

N7 tank 9522, Airfix

Q1 33017, Hornby

Princes Elizabeth 6201 tender drive, Hornby

Crab 13098, Bachman

ivat tank (i think) 2-6-2 41281, bachman.

I did e-mail dcc concepts with a view to purchasing the required items needed, as they appear to do a wide range of smoke generators and decoders, and maybe fit them as well, but have not had a reply, so any help from here would be very welcome

Many thanks John (Thunder)

***Hello John

I definately haven't recieved your email - are you sure you sent it to me in Australia or was it perhaps to Bromsgrove models or dccsupplies?

If it was to me please resend it to sales@dccconcepts.com and I will be happy to respond ASAP.

As to advice - TCS make a really nice yet economical Back EMF decoder, and their functions are tough enough to drive the smoke unit.

Use the TCS MC2 (or MC-2 UK if they have 8 pin sockets) for all of them along with the #22 Seuthe smoke units. Some will require you to do some metalwork on the chassis to fit the smoke unit, and a couple will also require some work to make the chimney of the smoke unit fit. (example = the Jinty).

Richard
DCCconcepts

[Thunder]

Whoops sorry richard, i meant "DCC Supplies" of Worcestershire WR6 6BE UK, i e-mailed them through their website, but have yet to receive a reply, accept my appolagise for the confusion, and thanks for the information.

Kind regards

John (thunder)