Super Smoker II review II.

[jackalope]

Saxon I didn't want to put his name in here but you correct he is indeed a very nice gentleman which is another reason I'm not going to bother him with my smokers problems anymore. His looks very much like the ones pictured but his has the circuit board hold the heating element in the body of the smoker. There is a rubber o ring around the lid but the lid can not come off, I believe it to be glued on. The fan in the issue on the 2nd unit and I really believe these should be sold with silicon hose rather then vinyl hose because of how hot the heating element gets.

The H/L smoker is trash you are 110% correct and the Super Smoker II is far better but the ones I have had I've had nothing but problems with. I honestly don't think its anything I have done as I keep smoke fluid in them and do everything the instructions and Carl told me to do. Its just disheartening to keep having problems and being told that no one else has every had these problems before like I'm doing something to purposely ruin the smoker.

Saxon I have enough parts to build one and it should work but thank you so very much for the offer.

Just to be clear I'm not angry with anyone, nor am I knocking anyone all I can do is report on what I have seen with these smokers first hand.

[Saxondog]

Don't misunderstand me,I'm knocking myself for not pusueing this issue and keeping the group updated as to my success with these units. Any device can fail,I've spent my entire adult life building,designing and maintaining machines. All share a common factor,no machine is stronger than the weakest component. If that component fails,the machine fails. Its really that simple.

Ever clog a fuel filter? Or even have a flat tire? Best car in the world if worthless on three tires.

I sent anther message and its no worries. One thing about the super smoker,I have destroyed on to better under stand the failure rate, RC TANK WARS replaced 10% of the units in the first batch of 20 units. We maintained that average throughout the production run. 15 units out of 150 sold.

So you did nothing wrong,nor did Carl its just the nature of machines. Thankfully its not an airplane and you without a parachute!

Also why I do not ever fly in an aircraft in which I am not in control,so I do not fly. Also the groping NSA crap I oppose having to be searched and examined by union thugs who nothing to do with the safety of flying. Rant over.

[ALPHA]

Apologies for interrupting Gents....this is Lposter's KV2 build....he designed his own smoker as well...looks very much like the metal version I've seen on EBAY ...looks very solid
http://www.rctankwarfare.co.uk/forums/v ... ER#p115491

And what's this I'm reading about the HL smokers Hey guys...they aren't the best...but they work ...I only use my smokers when showing off to people anyway...don't need it to run all the time ...smokers just suck too much power for that


ALPHA

[jackalope]

Alpha I've started using a 2nd battery to run the smokers and it works very well. That and 5100mah batteries I run also tend to hive me a good hour and a half to 2 hours of run time, depending on the terrain my tanks are running on that is.

I myself like the smoke on when ever I'm running my tanks to me its part of the fun, I enjoy watching the exhaust pour out of the tail pipes as my tanks climb a steep hill or plow threw a field of mud thats 2 to 4 inches deep in spots. I just can't wait for it to snow so I can take them out in my back yard all snow covered with frozen mud underneath it.

I enjoy the heck out of building my tanks and painting them but the most fun is when I take them out in the field and see if my mods work! My King Tiger for example can go through water up to the top of its side skirts before it'll have any problems with water getting to the electronics.

[nyleatherneck]

OK folks since the cat is out of the bag and Saxondog has come out in the open I can say that the design of the Super Smoker II is his. He had asked me not to reveal this and I honored his request. The only changes I have made from his original design are to add a PCB board to hold the electronics. Saxondog is correct when he says that there is about a 10% failure rate on the smokers. Some of this was my fault when I substituted a supposedly fireproof heating element that tests afterward showed just the opposite, they caught fire, or more correctly melted down. That was my fault for not catching that, even though I test each and every Super Smoker II that I make before they are shipped. What I didn’t test was what happens when the run out of fluid. Now we know. Since then I have used a heating element that will not melt down or catch fire. I have tested them at 14 volts, double what they are designed for and they still hold up. By the way they really smoke at 14 volts, but for a shorter time.
The fans are a different story. There is a higher failure rate because in trying to keep the cost down I have used a low priced unit. There you have a choice to either double the price or use the lower priced fan. Since I am talking about price I will tell you that the cost to build one unit is about $30.00 for material and it takes about 25 steps to make it with the entire drilling and soldering etc.
Whenever there has been a problem I have always tried to solve the problem to the buyer’s satisfaction, even replacing them when clearly the fault was not in the smoker. I have three units here that have melted down and at least one was because it was run without fluid. The fluid helps to keep the heating element from overheating and as long as there is fluid in the smoker this won’t happen. The biggest problem is how to know what is the right amount of fluid, too much and you get no smoke, too little you get no smoke. Getting the right amount of fluid is a delicate balancing act. Over time I have found that if you overfill the smoker and let it set for a few minutes, and then drain it you end up with the right amount for about 15 to 20 minutes of smoke. When the smoke stops you need to add more fluid, about 3 ml. If someone can come up with a fluid level gauge I would be grateful.
Bottom line, I am not getting rich making the Super Smoker II, it does pay for my own tanks, mostly. I will continue to work on them to make them better and am open to suggestions. Saxondog and I have had many discussions and hopefully will continue to do so to make them better. I will also keep replacing units that have failed as I have been doing and keep helping users who are having problems. I just want you to know I am trying to fill some pretty big shoes here, but I will keep trying as best I can. Radio Control Custom Tanks will continue to offer products that are designed to make your RC tank experience fun as it should be.
Stop by the web site to see what is new, blatant commercial, no apologizes.
Carl

[ALPHA]

Alpha I've started using a 2nd battery to run the smokers and it works very well. That and 5100mah batteries I run also tend to hive me a good hour and a half to 2 hours of run time, depending on the terrain my tanks are running on that is.

I myself like the smoke on when ever I'm running my tanks to me its part of the fun, I enjoy watching the exhaust pour out of the tail pipes as my tanks climb a steep hill or plow threw a field of mud thats 2 to 4 inches deep in spots. I just can't wait for it to snow so I can take them out in my back yard all snow covered with frozen mud underneath it.

I enjoy the heck out of building my tanks and painting them but the most fun is when I take them out in the field and see if my mods work! My King Tiger for example can go through water up to the top of its side skirts before it'll have any problems with water getting to the electronics.

YUP I agree Jack...nothing beats the feeling of satisfaction watching your build go down the road and back ...and you are correct...the smokers do work better on a separate independent circuit... had one of my Shermans run like that for awhile...till I got the new 2.4 gig which allowed it to run remotely ...but even the HLs work good like that ...actually hooking them up independently made it smoke much more efficiently ...I would say a 100% improvement... found one that I thought was broken wasn't when I hooked it up direct

ALPHA

[strmnd54]

I tough you guys were using the refilling probe as a low level fluid indicator like I've been doing since I started modifying the H.L. smoker...
Whenever I see smoke coming out of the probe; I just add 3 ml. of fluid and I'm good for till the next time...
http://youtu.be/8PWyF84hgbE?list=UUoWjH ... nVnrbH3GxQ

[jeff]

i just joined rc tankwarfare, have been reading your posts online. thanks for your review as i almost purchased one for my tiagen panther-g.i would like to try mods to my stock smoker after i get gun fixed. i have an idea i will share with you-all when i get that far,happy days.

[jackalope]

Alpha, may be worth a shot to try the H/L smoker with the separate battery since I already built the KT to hold 2 of them and the wiring is in place for the smoker. Well until parts come in for the super smoker rebuild.

Strmnd54, that tube is a good idea! No smoke from it until the level drops and then smoke. Just not sure how to use it in the super smokers body.

[jagman62]

Hi,strmd54,could you tell me what resistor you are using & where did you buy them from,I have been looking for wire wound resistors but seem hard to find,Ian