Installing a smoke unit?

[navy4422]

Hi all,

I have two engines both with sound and I'd like to add smoke to at lease one of them (mostly just to show off during open houses for the club) how do I go about doing it?

Engines are

Bachmann Spectrum HO 83313 USRA KCS 2-10-2

BLI-2182 USRA Light Mikado 2-8-2

[diesellou]

There are different sizes and #'s in the Seuthe smoke units. I like to use the no 22 (for plastic bodies as it does offer some protection for them) Also you should have a way to turn it on and off. I found that a Digitrax function only decoder works well for this. Like the TL1 that the function can be turned on/off using F0, F1, F2, F3, or F4. Or, just use a function wire from your sound decoder.
Just beware though, that prolonged use of a smoke generator could cause some warping, or melting of the plastic on your prized model! Various steps can be taken to reduce and avoid this risk though.
Firstly, investigate the space you have available beneath your loco's chimney - is it deep enough to take a Seuthe unit? Seuthe #27 is a couple of mm shorter than the #22 so it may be more approprate in some models. If there isn't enough space, you may consider grinding some of the chassis to create space. Beware not to take too much away though, or you may compromise the loco's ability to stay on the track - particularly if the loco has light-weight front trucks.
Smoke generators normally have just 2 wires, which can be connected to your decoder. It doesn't matter which way around you connect them, although these units tends to stick to the convention of using the unit's BROWN wire to the BLUE positive wire of the decoder. You do NOT need any resister (if you do, you'll probably get no smoke!). The other wire connects to an output wire of your decoder - These units also normally uses the PURPLE output wire for this purpose, although the GREEN will also work just fine.
Hope this helps! ;D

[navy4422]

Thanks that does help, the bli one is there only steam that doesnt have smoke so i figure theres an open function on the decoder(if not can i change one of the sounds to smoke, as long as there are open function wires?) as for grinding the chassis I have some no slips that should help if I have traction problems. I should be getting the bachmann soon, and then I can look at it. How much does the function only decoder cost, where do I find the seuthe's?

I dont plan to leave it on very long anyway maybe 15 - 20 minutes at max during the open houses.

[diesellou]

Oct 4, 2012 12:45:42 GMT -5 navy4422 said:

Thanks that does help, the bli one is there only steam that doesnt have smoke so i figure theres an open function on the decoder(if not can i change one of the sounds to smoke, as long as there are open function wires?) as for grinding the chassis I have some no slips that should help if I have traction problems. I should be getting the bachmann soon, and then I can look at it. How much does the function only decoder cost, where do I find the seuthe's?

I dont plan to leave it on very long anyway maybe 15 - 20 minutes at max during the open houses.

There are many shops that sell them, here is one close by where I live; www.traintekllc.com/Smoke-Units/products/315/ And a place in Europe; www.gaugemaster.com/seuthe.html
The TL1 decoder, function only, is by Digitrax; www.digitrax.com/products/function-decoders/tl1/
Grinding the chassis is not about loss of traction, but more there is no longer enough weight up front to keep the pilot trucks on the rails. So beware how much you take away from the weight.

[navy4422]

Thanks and I will check to make sure