Have you tried the recently released 21088 Franklin smoke unit replacement/upgrade kit that includes a 16 ohm smoke element to use instead of the original 38 ohm unit? What was it like?
I tried one. It does make the engine smoke a lot more, but after running it a little while (about five minutes) at 12VAC or higher (measured at the rail head) the solder on one or both of its posts melts releasing either the lead wire or opposite post that is soldered to the casing/body (or both) b/c they get so hot.
Curious what you're experience has been. The lowest I typically wind a smoke element (these are pre-fab) is about 30 ohms and that's for in a four-wire not a 5-wire steamer. This is nearly half that. Not surprised it gens a ton of smoke, or that it gets plenty hot.
Thanks.
Dave
