Can a proto 1 smoke unit be converted to chuff

There is no way to get PS/1 to chuff in sync with the sound, the sound is generated within the board based on motor voltage.

Any suggestions?

None that involve keeping the PS/1 and getting synchronized chuff, it ain't gonna' happen.

John, since he has installed the Sound Commander board, is there a way to tap into/off that for chuff? Some type of reed switch etc?

I thought the chuff generator needed an ERR board to function? 

Sorry, it is TMCC.

A steam engine doesn't have to run very fast for the puff to disappear, then the smoke appears continuous.  If your engine smokes continuously, try running it awhile, you may find you still enjoy it even if it doesn't puff..  I have an engine that operates this way and I'm happy with it anyway.

It is Not going to be synchronized, but there is a way to get it to puff-puff instead of a continuous stream.

RRAddict posted:

Sorry, it is TMCC.

How about we get our stories straight!   Is this PS/1 or TMCC?  The answers are quite different for the two types of boards!

Steam Crazy posted:

A steam engine doesn't have to run very fast for the puff to disappear, then the smoke appears continuous.  If your engine smokes continuously, try running it awhile, you may find you still enjoy it even if it doesn't puff..  I have an engine that operates this way and I'm happy with it anyway.

One of the goals of my Super-Chuffer was to get good looking chuffing at reasonable rates.  However, when you past 20-25 scale MPH, usually they do start to run together.

SPSF posted:

It is Not going to be synchronized, but there is a way to get it to puff-puff instead of a continuous stream.

There's always a way, but it would involve tinkering.  You can just drive the fan from a reed switch on a wheel.

PS1 smoke units can be made to puff in sync with the sounds I am using one in a MTH Southern Pacific GS-4 that I converted to TMCC. However the early mechanical piston type smoke units used in early TMCC can only give one puff per driver revolution.  Though you can trigger the chuff sounds as many times per driver rev as you want with magnets and reed switches. With the early first generation RailSounds the chuff circuit was not fast enough to get more than two chuffs per driver rev. Though I always thought they sounded much better than the "Sound Of Steam"  boards they replaced. The sounds just become white noise after two chuffs.   I don't own any of GRJs chuff generators but I understand you can adjust the number of chuffs per driver rev with them.  I'm sure John will correct me if I am wrong.          j

If you have TMCC, there's no problem at all, the Chuff-Generator and the Super-Chuffer II will give you 4-chuffs/rev, chuffing smoke, smoke at idle, and even throw in Rule-17 lighting and automatic cab light control.