Hi all,

Firstly I must say that I am aware that this subject has been covered extensively and I have read all the references contained in the forum.
However, I would still like your opinion on two points.

My problem is that no smoke comes out of smoke generator on BR 18.4.

The smoke unit has been tested outside the loc and it works, also as far as I can see, it does maintain good contact with the tongue and it touches well the inside of the funnel. Most likely cause would be that there is no current going to the tongue but before taking her to a dealer for repair, can anyone tell me

1) if the problem could be the 6647 32 VA transformer that I use (underpowered), although no other locs are running simultaneously and

2) Why is that that when the F1 button on the 6021 is lit (for smoke generator) and you also press F2 or F3 for horn/bell, then the horn or bell sounds every 2-3 seconds continuously. Could it be some problem with F1 button?

Best regards
Aris

Thanks Kevin,
I did use sandpaper on the smoke stack, I reversed the red/brown cables, all the suggestions in the past subjects in the forum but unfortunately all to no avail.
Pressume the DIP switches on 6021 have nothing to do with it.
No 2 ON, all others OFF.

Best regards
Aris

Thanks Webmaster for the brilliant idea.
Will give it a try this evening.

This is why this forum is invaluable!

best regards/Aris

Hi Webmaster, Ka Wei, all

The test proved negative, still no smoke coming out. It seems that no (or very little) current is going to the tongue.
The local repair shop advised me that it is probably a fault of the decoder, as about 80% of the BR 18.4 from starter packs develop smoke/sounds problems very shortly.
The question is whether can one by-pass the decoder and give current directly to tongue from the shoe (any problems with this? -apart from smoke coming out continuously), spent about Euros 100 in Greece for a new decoder, or live a smokeless train life which is also healthy!

best regards

When I got my digital S 3/6, the smoke unit came separatly. After putting in the smoke generator, nothing happened.

On looking at the smoke unit, there is a 'pigtail' wire comming out at an angle. I put the smoke unit back in with the angle pointing forward, toward the contact strip. Now it works!

Try rotating the smoke unit.
Good Luck.

This decoders will probably give a solution for your smoke problem, if the problem is in the decoder. Maybe a more experienced member, should give us a view on how to manage this (instalation of lokpilot) with the present loco sound decoder.
I´m thinking on something... Have you tested the decoder output soldering for the smoke generator? Is that wire OK?

Juan Carlos

Thanks Guys for all the suggestions. I have also tried aligning the smoke generator but there is still no smoke. I take it that a properly working generator would produce smoke almost instantaneously. But now, all I hear is a faint regular ticking sound when F1 is pressed. I will try the local dealer during the weekend and see if he has got any other tricks. Meanwhile, like Aris, I will have to go without smoke :-( Regards.

---

Ka Wei

Hi Juan Carlos, all

This is also a good idea.
There are no free function terminals (f1=smoke, f2=horn, f3=bell, f4= braking/starting delay) but perhaps one could substitute one of sounds with the smoke generator, although I think the smoke requires more current.
Thanks very much Juan Carlos and appreciate your help.

best rgds
Aris

Hi Aris, Ka Wei, all,
Glad to help you<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

Juan Carlos

Hi all

Aris i have the same problem...which is the cable for the smoke generator and which for the bell? I don't know a lot about the decoder's architecture.Any photo or site?

thanx