Model smoke and steam

S

SoundsLoco

Member
SteveB said:
Hi Paul

I’ve played around a bit with varying the heater temperatures using CV137, 138 and 139 but I must admit, not much. I’ve got to be careful here because I don’t really understand what I’m doing but despite the heaters going through a relay they do seem to respond to changes to these CV’s. The relays are solid state and I guess CV’s 137 to 139 change the voltage by PWM. My very basic and crude understanding of this is that it turns the relay on and off (at high frequency). Regardless of whether my understanding is accurate, they do change things. I also monitor the power consumption, just to make sure I’m not cooking anything, and I can see and power reduction when I reduce the value in the appropriate CV.

Do you think I would be better off using sync discs? I’ve just ordered some from NG Trains so I can have a play with them.

Do you happen to know if CV60 would affect the voltage on F04 when this is being used fan sync?

Regards

Steve
Click to expand...


OK, I hadn't considered the type of relay you are using and you have the advantage of practical experience, so if the PWM duty cyles are being passed on by relay to the heater that's a problem solved.

The values given in the decoder manual for CVs 137 (Standing) 138 (Cruising ) and 139 (Acceleration) are a bit on the low side. There's no need to be concerned about experimenting with these values. The maximum is 255 and this is equivalent to 'always on' (at track voltage, current depending upon the heater elements), and figure lower than this in any CV willproduce an 'attenuation' of the effect. try it ot, you can easily put the values back again if you do not like the results.

The Seuthe type smoke units are little more than boiling tubes, but its possible to automatically (by the sound project) vary their output depending upon status using these CVs.

Also, have a look at Cv355. This controls the fan speed at standstill. A combination of Cv365 and Cv137 should allow a constant but slow, less dense vapour when standing.

The value in CV60 is used to dim all function outputs which are not specifically 'masked' from the effect. I don't know if use as fan sync, which is a special case, masks the fan fom any voltage dimming. I suppose the way to test would be to get this running then change Cv60 to a dramatically low figure, say 50.

Good luck, I'm off for some food,

Paul
 
SteveB

SteveB

Western Thunderer
Scale7JB said:
I had the same on my reverser and brakes servos but fitting the correct value capacitor to the the control wire of the servo helps it. There should be reference to it in the Zimo manual.
Click to expand...
Hi JB

Thanks for the info. The only thing I can find in the manual refers to possible problems when using adapter board ADAPLU50. It suggests putting a 6.3V 220 uF capacitor across the +ve and ground. Does this ring a bell?


Hi Paul

Thanks, I’ll try a few things out and let you know what happens.

Regards

Steve
 
SteveB

SteveB

Western Thunderer
Hi Paul

I can confirm that F04 is not affected by CV60 when its set up as the virtual cam.

Regards

Steve
 
Boyblunder

Boyblunder

Western Thunderer
Dear readers who check the Recent Posts, the Love Lane group can't use Steve Baldock's fantastic locos anymore following his sad demise and would like to replicate the steam units in some of our own. Did anyone take up Steve's offer of drawings for the tank units or have knowledge of where he obtained the fans he was using in his later versions?
Robin
 
Len Cattley

Len Cattley

Western Thunderer
Hi Robin, I was asking Steve about his steam units so I could put them in my loco''s. He told me what the heaters were but sadly died before he could build me the units, so I'm in the same position as you. I don't know if he told anybody at his steam company (Steam Traction World) what they were, but perhaps somebody might help with this question.

Len
 
Last edited:
mickoo

mickoo

Western Thunderer
I'm sure he posted details on here in one of his threads or something. Details of how he made the units up and machining required. Not had a chance to search yet though.
 
Boyblunder

Boyblunder

Western Thunderer
Thanks Cliff, Steve posted that info in this thread and had moved on from the Peter Clarke units to make his own out of PTFE. As Len says Steve created a 3D drawing that he offered to share but none of us asked for it until it was too late. As far as I know Steve used his own CNC mill to create the PTFE bodies. His business partner Dean may still have access to the files but I was trying to avoid asking him at the moment because he has been so busy dealing with the sale of the business and helping Steve's family sort out the estate.
Robin
 
Len Cattley

Len Cattley

Western Thunderer
Boyblunder said:
Thanks Cliff, Steve posted that info in this thread and had moved on from the Peter Clarke units to make his own out of PTFE. As Len says Steve created a 3D drawing that he offered to share but none of us asked for it until it was too late. As far as I know Steve used his own CNC mill to create the PTFE bodies. His business partner Dean may still have access to the files but I was trying to avoid asking him at the moment because he has been so busy dealing with the sale of the business and helping Steve's family sort out the estate.
Robin
Click to expand...
That's why I haven't email Dean to ask. Will have to wait and see what happens.
Len
 
Brian McKenzie

Brian McKenzie

Western Thunderer
Apologies for the blurred image. These were the fan blades that Steve was using last year. A cut-down plastic moulding, alas from a source I don't recall. -Brian McK.
IMG_71164a Smoke unit fan blades.jpg
 
simond

simond

Western Thunderer
Len,

Your post reminded me - M4 x 15mm - sorry about the delay!

Dan

Please excuse the detour!

Best
Simon
 
Brian McKenzie

Brian McKenzie

Western Thunderer
Len,
I think the heaters were from Germany, not necessarily Seuthe but whatever is used by some Gauge 1 locos.
IMG_71161 Steve Baldock smoke units.jpg

Have just uploaded a video clip of Steve describing the plastic base used for steam effects from draincocks and safety valves:

-Brian McK.
 
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