Made a few changes to the pulsing frequency/timing, and to the plumbing where the smoke is mixed with the water. Video shows the pulsing speeding up with throttle setting. Happy with this now, I can adjust the volume of smoke once it is installed in the boat. Probably will need less, but it is difficult to be sure as conditions on the lake are different to those in my workshop!
Re: I was wondering if adding propylene glycol might make a difference.
Don’t know what effect this would have. I’ll be interested to hear what happens if you try it. I find I have plenty of smoke using plain vegetable glycerine and I can increase or decrease it by adjusting the power to the smoker coil.
Graham93
Re:Had a look on the Microchip site, basic kit not too expensive but, as so often, the stuff you need to make it work well ain't so cheap☹️
I just use the PICKit2, which was cheap, and the free development software. The software lets you run a simulator on the PC where you can monitor your code, single step, set a breakpoint, etc. You can also monitor and change variable values. Some of the more sophisticated PIC16f chips allow you to debug your code running in the target hardware using the PICKit2 as the debug interface to your PC.
This version of a smoker box uses an E-Cig element in an alloy electronics enclosure.I gave the lid and box a 7mm haircut on the mill to reduce the size, (now 50x50x26, - was 50x50x33) but it could still be 1/2 the width. haven't found a smaller alloy box yet but might come across one, (only really needs to be 35mmx35mmx25mm The element is mounted on a bracket screwed to the bottom of the box (the box being the resevoir and neg) and against the outlet tube, and the pos wire runs through the side (in silicone tube) to the element.
The box is packed with cotton wool which is surrounding the element and soaked in smoke fluid (in this case baby oil) but leaving a passage through the center for air flow. I'm waiting for a couple of air pumps to arrive but I've used the old smoker unit pump again to demo the smoke and pulsing, (makes good smoke rings too)😊
The element is capable of taking 4.5v, but I'm only using 2v for the test and it smokes quite well. The pump is running on 7v but can be varied from around 3v - 8v. The large tubes are to allow for later exhaust fitting (water or dry stack). Once I get the air pumps I'll be running this one with the water again. I've done this (like Grahams version to be able to easily replace the element as the Heng Long smokers, while working ok (but noisy) have non replaceable elements, so if you kill one, it's off to file 13 at the end of the bench😉😁
The pump actually works quite well and if you mount it on sponge rubber it is reasonably quiet and could still be useful in a boat with a bit of interior room.
Super, I will be watching this with great interest. When the final version is finished I would like a set of diagrams and instructions. Or I could place an order for a dozen units.
Cheers Colin.
Inspired by jbkiwi's experiments on a smoker, and interested in developing one for my Crash Tender I have built an experimental rig based on using an e-cig for the smoke generator and an air pump. The air pump is driven by an electronic lash-up which pulses the pump at a rate depending on the throttle setting. The video shows two tests, first with the water off, then with it on.
Re: Can you give me more info on the electronic lash up you have made for the pulse circuit working from the motor speed control and the electric circuits for the e cig and pump.
The attached drawing shows a block diagram of the electronics. The 'smoke pulse generator' is a PIC10f220 microchip programmed to measure the pulse width of the throttle channel from the receiver. This width is used within the PIC to generate an output signal which is in effect the on/off waveform for the air pump driving the smoker to produce smoke pulses. The higher the throttle setting, the shorter the off time of this output signal and hence the more frequent the smoke pulses. This signal is connected to the PWM speed controller to control the pump speed. In the first iteration of the circuit, the PWM speed control circuit was built with two 555 timer chips and a bunch of discrete components. The second iteration, put together today, replaces the 555 timers and all the discrete components with a second PIC10f220 chip.
I'm still working on the settings and timings for these circuits adjusting the pulse widths, pump minimum and maximum speeds, etc to try and get a more realistic effect.
Thanks for the info. Afraid the programming of the chip a bit much for me, the timers circuits not a problem have used them before with success. However enjoying the progress of the smokers you doing a good job
Using the modified fan forced Heng Long smoker box, and a dead unit pump to pulse the smoke. This version is a 'dry stack one', which would look good on tugs and work boats. Still working on perfecting the 'wet' version.
Told you to get on with a new project before you sank the ship........ Interesting that Bluebottle is still around - so which one are you ??????? Next thing you will be talking about Iceland Parrots (aka wheels-up) . What were you putting in the smoker ..............
Hi Peter, if you meant what am I using for the smoke,it's baby oil, or if you meant what am I putting this system in - nothing as yet. have to reduce the size, but I could fit it in the Fairacre or the Maiami as I have enough room in both to fit something.
JB
Found a way of pulsing the water using the pump of a dead smoker (Hen Long smoker that is) In this test I used a pump to prime the smoker pump (smoker pump on 2s) and the rest is just syphoning through the pump to the smoker. You can vary the amount of 'spitting' from the exhaust by running the pump at low voltage or maybe using a peristaltic pump with a small flow.
I did not connect the fan powered smoker unit as I ran out of silicone tube, but the result should be the same as the last vid but with 'spitting' water. Using the smoker pump for water is not perfect as it would need sealing properly, and it's cumbersome, but you will get the idea. I have ordered a couple of small air pumps, so might have another crack when they come. I'll use them at the exhaust to disrupt the water flow if they are powerful enough, rather than use the smoker pump.
Re - As the saying goes good one Cyril
Thanks peter, not quite perfect but it's certainly heading in the right direction. At least it might get people thinking about something different to try with their boats, which if tuned right, might give them extra Brownie points at the pond. Would also be even better with a good sound unit! I'm sure someone will come up with a good idea to refine it sooner or later, (probably on the long drop at 2 in the morning!😁😂!) If I can refine it more, I'll post the results.
JB
Re- I vape and i make my coils and e-liquid.
And just what are you growing in your back yard to make the afore mentioned liquid Martin?
Now we know where all your 'interesting' ideas come from😉😊😂 Good info BTW, found a chart a guy here has done with different wire sizes and resistance calcs.
JB
Finally managed to get water and smoke coming out an exhaust suitable for a model. Basic test but it works. Bit hard to see in the vid, but doing it over the sink is not ideal. Needs a few mods but I know how to do it now without the smoke pump sucking the water back. Next is a fan powered forced air system to do away with the noisy and pulsing pump. Using a Heng Long smoker pump on 8v. Might cut the water down to get more smoke, as the smoker does't like back pressure of any sort.
The search continues😀
More smoke and less water and you've cracked it!
How you will manage to get the water to just spit out in bits/pulses will be the biggest challenge I think.
As you said you can blow more smoke in.
This is a first try at a simpler quieter smoke unit. I used the smoker box/element off the Heng Long tank/car smoker unit with a 40x40 5v fan (the fan being voltage controlled by a 5v UBEC and the lot being run by a 2s Lipo (with a y splitter for the fan UBEC and the element using JST leads. Doesn't smoke that well as I had broken then repaired the element previously, but the other one I have smokes a lot better, and has a better type of element (possibly a newer version) Some photos etc on the smoker discussion. Unit is almost silent (the noise you hear is the camera and outside noise, as the window was open)
Got this one off ebay, had to use a little artistic licence with the paint scheme as club has several members with same scheme, so didnt want to look the same. The one thing I could not get over was how many parts were left over from the revell kit. Have a 380 motor in it with a msoniks 15 amp esc, could not get over how much ballast was needed to get her to sit in water true, but got there in the end. Now working on making homemade smoke generator to go in funnel, first tests great using nichrome wire and 6v battery, just have to make housing to go in funnel. Have tested parker black ink mixed in smoker fluid and effect looks fantastic.
hI grandadave, if you are talking about the prop going forwards and backwards, then it is the speed controller that handles that. I just put a mtroniks 15amp esc in it and that handles the forwards and backwards no problem. After that it is sorting out the transmitter or just get a cheapy car one off ebay as they have forwards and backwards on them. regards steve
Re: I was wondering if adding propylene glycol might make a difference.
Don’t know what effect this would have. I’ll be interested to hear what happens if you try it. I find I have plenty of smoke using plain vegetable glycerine and I can increase or decrease it by adjusting the power to the smoker coil.
Graham93
Re:Had a look on the Microchip site, basic kit not too expensive but, as so often, the stuff you need to make it work well ain't so cheap☹️
I just use the PICKit2, which was cheap, and the free development software. The software lets you run a simulator on the PC where you can monitor your code, single step, set a breakpoint, etc. You can also monitor and change variable values. Some of the more sophisticated PIC16f chips allow you to debug your code running in the target hardware using the PICKit2 as the debug interface to your PC.
Graham93