TMCC LOCOMOTIVE

It usually take a little bit for the element to heat up.

For a TMCC locomotive with the stock 27 ohm resistor in the smoke unit, try holding the smoke on for a few seconds, it'll give it a "boost" and get going quicker.  However, don't get carried away with the boost or you'll have issues with cooking the wick and maybe killing the resistor.

I"ll start by saying "Thank You" for the responses to this post. Its painfully clear to me that I have asked the question without enough preface information. Please bear with me. The locomotive is a lionel 6-18287 Dash-9 and I've completed the smoke unit update per the Lionel video on Youtube, and this has taken care of the output performance issues I was having.

 Its when I place the locomotive on the track and turn on my 180 watt powerhouse, the smoke unit fan starts up followed normal smoke emission. All  before Ive gone through the engine start sequence with the 990 controller. Even after running the locomotive and completing the shut down sequence, the smoke unit continues to operate. Its as if the smoke unit operation is tied directly to track power and not to  command control. Is this normal?  Thanks Again!!!!

I have found out that on my layout(TMCC-Legacy), sometimes some engines start up(sounds)on their own or their Cab Lights are on, or maybe a smoke unit fires up. Could be my wiring or double codes on certain things, so I wouldn't blame any command system. Just something to be aware of: but this is all intermittent not a particular problem as you had mentioned on a specific unit.

There are TMCC locos out there that the software on the board does not shut down the smoke unit when the loco is inactive. I believe my TMCC Veranda Turbine is one of these but I have not run it in a while so I cant be sure

If this is older TMCC the answer is no.  If you turn the smoke switch off does it stop the smoke unit?  Your unit does not have the ACREG based on Lionel parts list.  So it sounds like the R2LC Triac is shorted, or the engine has been rewired to power the smoke unit from the track.

The smoke unit should have power coming from the mother board smoke output go to the switch, and from the switch to the smoke unit.

If wired correctly I would swap the R2LC to see if that is the problem.  If so, the Triac can be replaced.  G

I'll take a closer look this weekend. Thank you again

It sounds like a triac is shorted as G posted. I would also try doing a

re-programming using Aux-1 8.

Bill

The triac is an easy replacement, smoke, lighting, and coupler triacs are very common replacement items on the R2LC.  If you need the R2LC triac replaced, I can do that for you.

Your start up sequence does not tell us when you power up the Legacy base and remote. My sequence for start up is to Place engine on track, power up Legacy base and remote then send power to track. Then your Legacy or TMCC engine can be controlled by the Legacy remote.

I have a trainmaste , Lackawanna, that starts smoking as soon as the power goes to the rails.

Fred

Well, the test results are in. The smoke triac is shorted.

Thanks for all the input.

That's a pretty easy fix, if you want to send it to me it's a cheap repair.

Note that you might look around to make sure nothing has shorted in the wiring to cause the failure.

John you were correct. I just finished the TRIAC replacement and the smoke unit works as its supposed to. Thanks again for your input.

I keep a supply of them, it's a pretty common failure.  The light and coupler triacs are also pretty common failures, one brief short and POW!

For proper credit, I think GGG first mentioned the shorted triac.

Thank you John.  All is well that ends well!  G

My humble apology GGG.  Thank you as well