Hi All,
I am looking for a board from a junk fan driven smoke unit if any of you may have one. I need a board for a K-Line Plymouth switcher. My smoke element works but the motor does not work. No DC power to the motor from the board. Anyone know how to fix this or have a board with a cooked element?
Thanks in advance,
Kev.
Do you know how to check transistors with a DMM?
The board probably only has a few parts, one of them is likely a regulator that supplies voltage to the fan motor.
servoguy,
Well how is this , What is a DMM and No [*-)]
I have a multi meter.
And yeah there is like only 3 things attached to the board.
Tks,
Kev
Tried running it directly off of track power. All the smoke units I have [all Lionels and certain MTH] will operate directly off of track power. Used a lot of them to “smoke” engines without smoke and dummies. You just get smoke when power is applied. Now if you are going to “smoke” one direct, you have to “build” a bridge rectifier for the Lionels or they will REALLY get hot and smoke. Get these from Radio Shack. Usually three in a row works for Lionel. MTH that is designed for track power does not have to have them.
Three to four are enough to really smoke. Wire between the trrack pickup and the smoke unit motor wires. Done several Lionels that board was bad.
Also keep in mind, the board is from a plymouth switcher. Those are really tight inside with very little room for extra parts.
Right. Can be wrapped in electrical tape in a ball but might not fit in that.
I would NOT try connecting this directly to track power if it’s running through a regulator board, the motor usually uses 5 volts DC, track power will kill it!
Why don’t you show us a picture of the board and also tell us what numbers are on each of the parts? I’m sure this is a simple repair job.
Ha, I had my plymouth apart today to lube it (easier for me to take the shell off and go in through the top than try to pull the motor cover off the bottom). I didn’t even think to take pictures of the smoke unit. If I have time, I’ll take it apart again to give a picture of it.
Here are some pictures of the smoke unit and it’s board in mine. It’s plugged into the reverse board.
Thanks everyone for the answers but I will need to go over everything tomorrow because i have been gone all day on the road and just got in.
Santa Fe
Your pictures anr the same as I have. I know the DC motor works becaused i tried it with a 9 V battery.
So it is in the board power supply as far as I can tell.
Thanks all I will check back when I get up.
Thanks again,
Kev.
Must be the board. You can see in my picture that the motor is plugged into the smoke unit board, which is plugged into the reverse board (I think). I never opened the unit up any further, so I’m not sure what’s going on inside of it. I assume it’s just the resistor in there.
You are correct. Nothing else in there just the fan blade, wicking and resistor smoke element.
When you check the power going into the smoke unit board it looks to be full track power. It follows the transformer output.
So I was thinking it is converted to DC in the smoke unit board not from somewhere else up stream.
Tks,
Kev
Well, I see a diode, a cap, and what is almost surely a 70L05 5V regulator. If you see DC voltage on the inputs pins of the regulator and none on the output pin, I’d replace that part first. All of the parts on the board are only worth $2-3, so you can certainly fix it.
Since you guy have got a couple of these things apart, can you give me the dimensions of the unit? I’m thinking of adding smoke to an MTH rotary snowplow and thought this might be a good answer.
Kev - since you have a voltmeter you might want to check the diode as well. This should be what is making the AC track power into DC. If it popped and is bad it will take out a new regulator again.
Bob
Bob, It needs a space that is 1.5" wide by 2.5" long. They are a great smoker when they are working,
If you get one check it out and tell me what one of those 3 things i need to change and where I can get one if you know. That is what I need to know now.
Tks,
Kev
Kev
That sounds like that will work. Next order I put in w/ Brasseur’s I think I will get one. I just got a boiler kit to put in the snowplow. I’m thinking about adding more windows and/or doors so this detail will be visible. The engines for these were in the front right behind the rotary, so I think that’s where I’ll hide the smoke unit.
As far as diagnosing yours, I would first hook it up to track power and see if you have AC upstream of the diode. If so check for DC on the other side of the diode. Should be close to the AC voltage but DC instead. If the diode is putting out DC, check the voltage regulator. Trace the connection that provides power to the motor. This should be putting out a consistent DC voltage (I’m guessing 5-6 V). The components can also be checked individually but they would need to be at least partially removed from the board. Most electronic shops would probably carry these components. Radio Shack may even have them.
If you can figure out which component is causing the problem and can get me some numbers off of it, I could even find them at my local electronics shop where I pop in from time to time.
Let me know what you find or if you need any help.
Bob
Bob,
I forgot to tell you that the height is 3/4" for the unit and 1.25" for the top of stack.
Thanks I am only getting AC power to the element and nothing on the power side to the motor. But I am not good with the elect stuff and I don’t which one of the 3 dodads on the board is what I need to change. [^o)] You can see the 3 things in the pictures that have been posted.
Kev
Kev
The smoke unit is sounding better and better for the rotary snowplow.
If you want I can get you my number and try and talk you thru the procedure, or if you are in no hurry you could also send it to me and I’ll see if I can fix it. I also tinker w/ old tube radios and electronics so this is familiar territory. It might also give me an idea of how well it will fit in the rotary before I order one.
Either way let me know.
Bob
Thanks Bob, I sent you a PM
