Hey guys,

After my previous thread about DIY air tanks for 1$ a pop:
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_6142793/tm.htm

I decided to post this too.

Lately i was thinking about which smoke pump to use in my Cermark F-16 jet, which is a small 1\8.5 F-16, meaning NOT a lot of room inside for something like a smoke tank \ smoke pump.

First, let me start off by saying that all of my planes (and my friends' planes) use the Sullivan SkyWriter with perfect results, but in this specific project i needed to go for as small as possible, and lightweight as possible.

There was an option of purchasing one of the high end smoke pump systems for 200$-300$ all ready to go, but i like working with my hands (besides, the ready units are still larger and heavier) and had a spare JJ fuel pump (30$ at www.jetjoeus.com) brand new at home so decided to give this a try.

Anyway, the first one i did was using a Medusa Research 18A Spectrum ESC, and worked perfect, i taped the ESC on the motor body and then shrink wrapped the whole assembly - works great.
But i still wanted to find a more compact setup, and i remembred seeins a round ESC that mounts on the back of the motor in the past, so i looked hard and found this:
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXGUR9&P=7

I immidiately got one to try, and the results are a ready to go smoke pump, for 45$ + shipping (30$ JJ pump and 15$ ESC), which is small and compact. and looks neat too. it works well on a 2S Lipo, takes 0.5A at full load too - so my 7.4V 450mAh pack should last for almost one hour, and this pack weighs about 15-20g i think.

Here are the pics. What do you guys think ?

I was thinking of doing the same thing with a spare fuel pump . Let us know how it works..

Marc

So far gorund tests have worked beautiful ! i can not see this changing in the air.

Makes me wonder if a windshield wiper pump would work. Those are even cheaper.

Sean, it should work, i use it to fuel kero, but its a little big as a smoke pump for my taste.

hi,
can i use a windshield pump for glow fuel?
i just bought a salivan streamline pump and it is garbage..

I've been using smoke pumps for my turbines, why should it not work the other way around? :-)

Best regards
Hank

rxAxilleas ,we used it successfully on glow fuel, gasoline and kerosene.

Miniflyer, which smoke pumps are you using ?

Looks like a neet idea. Most fuel pumps have an EMI filter on a similar circuit board soldered to the back of the motor. Just wondering if this ESC board has a built in EMI filter. The specs. on Tower's website do not mention it as a feature of this unit. Is it likely to generate radio interference without an EMI filter?

Joe

Doubt 2.4 cares.............

We have used spare JetCat fuel pumps without an esc and they work fine. We only use one stick instead of two to restrict the flow. Where do you get the JJ pumps for $30.00??

Most of us aren't on 2.4G.

That's what TME uses for their pump unit.

Russ

What size stainless tube do you use for the nozzle?

pumps are at www.jetjoeus.com

SS tubes are 1\8".

jowflyer this ESC has a EMI filter on board ! but i use a Medusa Research opto isolator on the wire anyway, to cancel interference and to disable the BEC which isnt needed in this case.

the manual says that if youre getting interference you need to ground the body of the motor to the EMI filter, should i do this despite the opto-isolator on the wire ?

I use the supersmoker pumps from modellbau deutsch. I know the guy producing the pumps (without the smoke electronics)...so we checked it out :-)

Best regards
Hank

Hank,

So in fact, you run the PowerBox pump without the elecs, as a turbine kero pump ?

Hey guys,

First real testing of the first proto pump i made (#1) shows great performance on 1 single cell Lipo (4.2V) - smokes like hell in my Jetmach !

Hope to make a video this weekend.

Here is the MK2 pump i made, it is made from an old (retired due to faulty working) MTH Hausl turbine kero pump, modified as the others.

Here is a clip of the first testing done yesterday evening (Quicktime player needed):
http://www.liorzahavi.com/videos/jet...oke%20test.3gp

The entire system is DIY - including injector tube - and it works perfect on one injector tube.
Enjoy.

i3Dm, are you the same "Lior" of helicopter fame? Did you find your way to the jet community?

F-18DiamondBack102, Yes i am. please have a look in my site: www.liorzahavi.com if you want more info.

I've been using old JetCat pumps for smoke for several years. $10 ESC from GWS and a small 6 cell pack does the trick. Depending on the pump, you can see 4 to 6 ampsof current.

all of my DIY pumps take 0.5A under full load.

Unloaded, I've seen them nearly that low. Is that a measurement all up with smoke fluid thru the spray tube? Could be JJ uses a different motor from Hausel.

This is all with super dri smoke oil, and both with JJ pump and Jetcat pump.