Hancock52 posted:1. The Legacy dual-chamber units I assume are used in the new FEF-3 models (see part illustration below) have 8 Ohm resistors rather than the 6 Ohm resistor in the 2008 model. The latter must run hotter and of course is in a larger chamber.
You assume facts not evidence. The value of the resistor doesn't really determine anything about the amount of power dissipated in the resistor or the heat produced. The 8 ohm resistor with the matching 8 ohm regulator likely provides more voltage (and thus equivalent power) to the smoke resistor).
I suspect the value of the resistor was increased so that the current through the regulator triac wasn't as great for the same resistor power, that would contribute to greater reliability. I've replaced significantly more 6 ohm voltage regulators than 8 ohm voltage regulators. I suspect the reason is because of the greater demands on the regulator triac with the lower voltage and thus the higher current.
Things are not always as they appear.
