Smoke unit .. how to use

[Ecam]

No eye rolling here.

My guess is amp flow between the set ups. Battery size is akin to a container of water. Amp flow is the size of the hose or pipe (wires and sometimes battery type). Those AA batteries are probably limited on how much current can be pulled from them. The two 3.7s If the positives are tied together (and negatives) then it is just 3.7 @ 800 mah. If in series (one positive to the others' negative) then the unused + &- used to power, then it would be 7.4 v 400 mah.

Hopefully that is clear enough, if not let us know.

[Jofaur86]

Good evening Mr.Ecam, Superb response and analysis .I couldn't have said it better....ideal if there is a lack of space? our friend can consider two type 18650 batteries, 3.7 volts elements, diameter 18 mm and length 65 mm, capacity 1000 Mah see more, and also pack you can make yourself or all ready?

[Pavel]

Install larger diameter tubes!!!!

[Jofaur86]

As Ecam says? I don't think ordinary batteries? provide enough intensity for this smoke? In addition, he seems satisfied since the replacement with a Lipo? it's more a question of lack of space to accommodate it!!!!

[Pine-Tree72]

Hello Gents .. many thanks for the very helpful input and here's an update .. got it all working well, managed to fit it into the boat OK, a bit fiddly but as I said in an earlier post, if I was to build another one of these PT boats, ( no plans to do so mind you) Ive learnt that I need to do all this stuff before I fasten the deck down, as it is I've had to work within the limited space available after lifting the upper structure off.

I've got an 8 sec video of the smoke unit working but its too big to post here so have done a couple of screen shots to show the effect, I take the point about larger diameter tube size but I'm limited to what will fit the actual model of the generator on the boat; For power Im using two 3.7v 400mah batteries connected in series which gives out slightly higher than the 6v recommended for the smoke unit, but, as in the case of the PT boat, the smoke unit will only be on occasionally and for effect when sailing, it shouldn't burn it out ( I hope )

There is a short piece of brass pipe in the boat smoke generator that has the tube connected to it and then fitted through the deck so as not to be seen on looking at it all, that pipe then feeds back to the generator and is not as yet connected up as I'm waiting for two right angle outputs so I can connect (without kinks) via a Y link to the outlet pipe, a bit messy I guess but then being ex RAF I'm good at 'bodging' ..

A little bit of paint retouching and all will be done, one final question though ... is there a way to make the smoke black ??

[Herr Dr. Professor]

Wow, I am reminded of to Navy movie lines: "the smoking lamp is on." "Smoke 'em if ya got 'em."

[Pavel]

If you think that you were the first to ask a question about black smoke, then you are the last in line to the number Pi......
I will answer briefly and sternly - NO!
No additives to glycerin (this is 98% of the liquid for smoke) will give black smoke.
In principle, I am a ship modeler and when I needed to make real smoke for a ship, at a show, then a barbecue was made in the pipe on which a piece of rubber from a wheel was lit, a compressor blew from below....
The effect is magnificent, but dangerous because the combustion process cannot be controlled,..... the pipe had a double wall so that the paint from the copy pipe would not burn...

I have already written that I am building two ships 1/200 Iowa and Bismarck, I installed high-power smoke generators there, and as offensive as it is... the smoke will be white...

[Pine-Tree72]

I didn't think I was but at the same time just wondered ... a 'simple' no would have done my friend .. as I have said before I do not call myself a modeller, I can build them, paint them, dress them etc etc but to me a modeller is someone like yourself who builds from scratch, I do the best I can with what I haven't got as I like to say it and am pleased with the results I get, thanks again to all for the input and when finished I will try and get some shots on the water (weather permitting) for the full effect.

[Pavel]

with one pipe for Bismarck, two for Iowa.
I was not limited in size, so I used large volumes.
As a heating element, a coil from electronic cigarettes, I selected it according to the resistance I needed, empirically, the coil power is 3.7 volts, adjustable voltage on the fan.
Smoke comes out like from the Titanic.
YouTube is not available to me yet, you should have seen it, although I will try to upload it on another platform...

[Pine-Tree72]

Hello again gents.. that's an impressive set up, Im afraid I'm a little more crude in my attempts but I get there and it all works at the end of the day I'm pleased to say ... now ... on the point of smoke and its color .. if clear liquid be it smoke oil or glycerin produces white smoke, will colored oil produce dark smoke ??

I'm experimenting at present with mixing used engine oil in very minute amounts, Im talking literally a drop in a few mm, with the glycerin based smoke oil and smoke oil used for model trains .. the glycerin mix separates out after time and so is impractical for a test I think, however the lighter train smoke oil mixes reasonably well with the engine oil and doesn't separate, Ive yet to try it out but am hopeful to see a result and that it doesn't damage the smoke unit .. watch this space.