strmnd54

The acoustic smoker has been working out and has now become a " lean mean smoking machine"

The overall size has been reduced and the electronic has been modified to reduce power consumption, while remaining efficient...

Here's a bunch of pictures with commentaries to explain the mod.

As you will see; it's not exactly rocket science...

- First I start with a stock H.L. smoke unit ( Doesn't need to be proportional) and a small 1" speaker...


- I don't keep much of the original H.L. smoker:


- More work on the housing:


- Then, the cover:


- The speaker cover:



- Speaker and housing assembly:



- Add the electronic:



- Compare the sizes:



- And finally, a short test video of the unit: Running with baby oil and coupled to a TBS mini playing Panzer IV sound files...
http://youtu.be/1VW7kfJrnD8?list=UUoWjHTJi7Z1uGnVnrbH3GxQ

YHR

OK, you got my attention with this one. Very nice compact design as well.

Captain Nemo12

This is absolutely incredible, well done sir!

danlrc

Big congrats! You have created the ultimate smoker. Very, very creative. I can't imagine what's left to improve...

Now, for a smoking gun.....

Best,
Dan

Max-U52

If there were any questions as to why I say you're the King of Smoke, this should answer them. I'm gonna need a couple days to study and digest this. I'm already in awe. Not just over the smoke, but the compactness! I have a Tauschpanzer that will be very happy to hear about this. You amaze me, Normand.

strmnd54

Thanks for the comments guys...

The one point I'd like to bring here is that the performances of the acoustic smoker are directly depending of the quality of the sound card driving the speaker...

I doubt I would obtain similar results with the RX-18 or the Taigen sound cards...The idling sound on those isn't too bad, but when you give some throttle; it's king of a let down...

The Clark would be better, but then again; having the sound effects already mixed with the engine sounds wouldn't look so realistic from time to time: For example, firing the main gun would give a big puff of smoke at the exhausts?

So I believe that the best set-up for an acoustic smoker right now is the Clark / Benedini combo, where the Clark board supplies the sound effects; and the TBS mini supplies the engine sounds...

In theory, the IBU2 should also work well, since the effects and engine sounds are on two separate channels...

Not trying to be negative, but the reality is that the acoustic smoker will probably only be filling a small portion of an already small market...

That being said, it's a lot of fun to design build and test...

Speaking of testing, when I saw Gary's smoking Jagpanther on another thread; I became curious as how the acoustic smoker would perform with oversize tail pipes...

I made the tail pipes using plastic tubing 7/16" inside diameter...

I cranked up the volume of the audio Amp. and brought the voltage at the heater element from 4.6 to 4.8 Volts; and got this:

http://youtu.be/L0Q7gA08qHA?list=UUoWjHTJi7Z1uGnVnrbH3GxQ

YHR

Norm


I found a different source for those Aura Speakers

http://www.parts-express.com/aura-co...river--299-014

strmnd54

Thanks for the tip; they have better prices on this site...The same speakers are listed around $18.00 everywhere else...

RC Sherman

Hi, I sent you a PM. strmnd54Thanks.

olegnA

i think i like the result from the second video - one with the oversize tail pipes and the 4.8 volts. when in idle the smoke stays steady and dense and when running smoke looks lean and clean not too dense.

strmnd54

Since this model is a prototype under testing, here's an update of a small modification that was done to it...

RussianT90

Hello there !

I'm a new member from Germany. I'v read your thread here with great interest and I want to re-build it for my T-90.
I know it is a little late- saw it was 2014...hope u can reply , because I don't understand the "electronics-part" 100%...

I'm aged 44 and live in Remisgeid/Germany.
The "Russian T-90" (Heng-Long) is my first rc-tank.
I'm modding it @ the moment...

Kind regards - Billy !

Crius

What are you having trouble with? It's a fairly simple system with a power supply to the resistor in the smoke unit and two wires to the board to drive the speaker. The speaker would plug into the speaker port and the smoker plugs into the smoke port (or you can run a separate power supply from the battery with a step down board), so it's pretty straight forward. Tell me the problem and we'll see if I can help.

RussianT90

Hi Crius !

THX for ur reply. What is (was) confusing me, why another soundcard or amp is needed and what the step-down regulator is for...?
U mean, I can drive the speaker directly from the RX-18-board ?

I'll try, if it's possible to mod the (newer kind of) speaker from HL
in that way, that I could directly drive a smoke-chamber with a silicone-tube. The newer version of HL speaker is placed in a case,
which is closed all-arround. Maybe, with a hole in the back (and silicone-tube) it will function, too. But at first, I'll try this mod , shown here.
The way, the smoke comes out of the pipes, is fascinating me. ;-)

greez - Billy

Edit : one thing already understood ----> step-down or buck-converter is for " Operation or regulation of Peltier elements for heating or cooling"
this makes sense for me (now) ...better performance ...regulating the heater !

Crius

If you look at his posts, Normand doesn't really recommend this for use with an RX-18. But, it would still work, just drive the speaker from the speaker output on the RX-18, and power the element from the smoker port on the RX-18 or a separate power supply from the battery. Regulating the power to the element is always a good idea. The voltage output at the smoker part can vary greatly from board to board, even with the same maker and model.

RussianT90

Hi Crius !

First of all : HAPPY NEW YEAR ;-)

Okay. THX - I think I can try ... I thought it was recommended to use with amp...sorry.
Can u pls tell, how many amperes the converter must have ? 3A ? Or 4 or more ?
I'll try to reproduce the smoker, shown here. After that I'll try my idea.
I found out, that the original HL-speaker is a very good one (all range) with 15-15.000Hz. On
the backside of the case there is a hole. I'll try to connect a tube and then connect to the
heater-chamber.

greez - Billy

RussianT90

Hi again !

Here are some pictures of my idea. Seams to work, too - but not that efficient as shown here.
Maybe my smoke is not that quality as yours (standard HL-liquid). My heater is HL-standard,too.
Maybe I have to change to the solution with the resistor and an external power-regulator or an other liquid ?
The candle will be blown off (I tried) ...I can't post video, because I'm not allowed as newbie...

RussianT90

Hi everybody !

I'm wondering about no replies here...!? :-(
Could anybody tell, where to get this 3W 5V stereo audio amp,
or what model it is ?

Regards - Billy...