MinnFlyer

My Feedback: (4)

That's the one!

If you want to do without a servo, you'll need an electronic switch. You can buy them or make one from radio shack parts, but either way, it's gonna cost more in time and money than a cheap servo. I just use a servo with a micro-switch (also available at Radio Shack). Just mount the switch so that the servo hits it. (Make sure it's a push-on, release-off switch)

sandrews

My Feedback: (4)

How would I go about wiring the switch up? Would I plug the pump into an aux channel, and then plug the servo into the gear channel and put the switch in between the pump and the receiver?

Thanks guys!!!
P.S. There is a funfly this weekend and I would sure like to surprise a few people by breaking out the smoke!!!


Seth

MinnFlyer

My Feedback: (4)

The pump doesn't plug into the receiver (Unless you want to drain your batteries and crash)

You need a seperate battery pack wired like this:

MinnFlyer

My Feedback: (4)

And if you want to make an electronic switch instead, here's one:

http://www.uoguelph.ca/~antoon/gadgets/rc-sw.htm

sandrews

My Feedback: (4)

Do you use a rod between the servo arm and the switch, or just touch the arm directly to the switch?

Also, do you have a pic of your entire system, or a diagram so that I can get a handle on the entire system.

Sorry for all the questions, I haven't had any previous smoke experience, and I haven't even though about it until this week.

Thanks Again
Seth

MinnFlyer

My Feedback: (4)

You can use a rod, but I just have the servo arm hitting the switch. As for the setup, it's like this:

HAMMERDOWN

My Feedback: (100)

Mike:
What do you use as a check valve? Will the ones that are for automotive vacuum lines work?

SwampFlier-RCU

Does anybody has a photo of the inside of the muffler wiht the coil?
Thanks in advance

spitgy

Hi guys - have been reading about the smoke systems as I want to put one in my Edge 540. The Wal Mart pump seems the way to go from what i have read - how about the smoke - you guys that are having success getting lots of smoke, what do you use?
Thanks
tfacr

spitgy

Also, what type of fuel line are you using for the smoke fluid - the regular silicon stuff or what?
Thanks
tfacr

krayzc-RCU

My Feedback: (31)

i have been using that old hard yellow gas line. i put a piece of regular silicon on the last few inches for the muffler as the yellow stuff could not take the heat. i perfer the blue aeropro gas lines as it stays softer. i use in on all my gasser. I am not sure if it will take the muffler head that is why i used the system above.

MinnFlyer

My Feedback: (4)

I'm not familiar with them. I got a check valve from the LHS

I use UltraSmoke from Air Capital Hobbies. You can see videos of the smoke HERE

Ultrasmoke is not petroleum or alcohol based, so you can use any type of tubing.

krayzc-RCU

My Feedback: (31)

i mix 50/50 korsoene/disel for my smoke

spitgy

when you guys use kerosene and diesel fuel, what type of fuel line do you use? Do you get good smoke with this mix?
Thanks
tfacr

JohnVH

My Feedback: (38)

What is the least messy smoke oil??

I just got my TME system going in my SUkhoi

krayzc-RCU

My Feedback: (31)

i tried smoke oil also i cannot tell the difference!!! try it u will c what i mean.....

i use gas tubing seeing how the mixture is not of the glow fuel type... and more on the gas type....

MinnFlyer

My Feedback: (4)

Try Ultrasmoke John. It's kind of like cooking oil, no smell, and no fire hazard. Just lots and lots of smoke.

PS Keep in mind that all the smoke in the pic below is coming from only a YS 91AC.

Eagle Flyer

My Feedback: (84)

How has this worked out for those of you that tried it? I am wondering about the seals in the unit failing because of petroleum product through it. Also is there a radio interference problem? If they are brushless then I would think it wouldn't bother.

spitgy

Hi Guys - I am about to install a windshield washer pump using a home made smoke setup as talked about in this forum. Has anyone experienced radio interference with the washer pump? If so, how did you counteract it?
Thanks
tfacr

jmulder

My Feedback: (6)

You would probably need to put isolators on it. Im not sure what size you would need. Radio Shack has em..............John

spitgy

Thanks John, I'll check it out
tfacr

causeitflies

One caution about the diesel or kerosene, they will eat foam. My 10+ year old planes now have some parts of the foam sheeted wings missing the foam inside! I had to poke holes and shoot some expanding foam insulation in to replace it. No matter how well you try to seal the covering the oil will get in sooner or later. The smell ain't the greatest either, but hey the price is right compared to the high priced stuff.

You can buy the Bennett pump for about $25 without the valves, tubing etc. Or you can go to a snowmobile dealer and buy the exact same pump for the same price. Some lawn mowers probably use similar crankcase pumps. Mine is off one of my ultralight engines. One nice feature of these types of pumps is that the flow is automatically regulated by the engine speed.

I don't know about the smaller engines but they work great on gassers. I fly Bennett's smoke and kerosene 50/50 to cut down on the cost. Just some thoughts

astrohog

My Feedback: (1)

I use 99% pure liquid paraffin that I get from the local restaurant supply store (it is used in the floating restaurant candles). Cost is a miserly $7.00 a gallon! It is totally clear and it burns real clean and dry! I burned through 4 - 16 oz. tanks last Sunday and I barely had any residue on my plane! Smoke is pretty darn good and I get compliments on it all the time! Regards,

astrohog

spitgy

Thanks for the smoke fuel tip astrohog; sounds (and smells better)than kero!
I asked about RC noise from a windshield washer pump and still don't have a good answer yet. Radio Shack doesn't have isolators as suggested by one modeller.
Would aluminum foil work OK around the washer pump to supress RF noise or it this necessary?
Thanks
tfacr

causeitflies

Yeah astrohog, good tip! My buddy chopped up a bunch of candles and put it in his kero, but it didn't work too well.

tfacr, I'll tell you the name of the elctronic thingies when I get home tonight. I have a few that came with my speed control for one of my electric planes. They connect between the two motor poles.