It has just occurred to me today that, for the crash tender, I don’t need smoke and water coming out of the same port. The full size boat has a separate cooling water outlet. So if I add the extra outlet, I can avoid the mixing problem.
Rather than steam, the ultrasonic mist units might be a better approach. They are available quite cheaply and will use less power than boiling water. Not sure if they produce enough volume, and I think they work on 24v which will need a step up converter. I haven’t any experience with them. Maybe I’ll get one to play with.
The e cig smoker is coming on well. No pictures today, but I might sort some out tomorrow and post them on your Mk5 thread.
Hi John
I guess the smoke just gets dissolved in the water and disappears. Keeping them separate until the exit point, with the tube in tube approach seems the best solution.
I like your pulsating water video. What about pulsing the smoke on when the water is off, and vica versa.That way maybe there will be less water for the smoke to dissolve in?
Regards Graham93
Strange that you didn’t get much smoke with glycerine. Perhaps I need to get some baby oil to try as a comparison😊 Before that I’m going to have to sort out a way to vent the smoke out of the workshop, getting so thick I can’t see what I’m doing 😉 and it can’t be doing my tools any good. I can open the window, but it is only 10C outside. Brrrrr...
Finally got started with smoke generation. Using an e-cig to start with. It runs on 3V at about 1A. Using a small air pump to drive it. There isn't much air flow. The fuel is vegetable glycerine diluted with water. Started with 75% glycerine but found that it doesn't flow quickly enough to replenish the wick. 50% seems better, but I have lots more things to try out. Had to stop as it was getting a bit thick in the workshop. Hopefully it won't be raining tomorrow and I can try it outside.
Thanks for the update. You know what they say “ No smoke without fire”! Sounds like you have been having fun with electrics. I blew the RCswitch I was using for the fire monitor pump yesterday, probably on account of it getting filled with water.🤔
I now have everything I need to start experimenting with smoke, except the time! I have had a few problems with the plumbing for the fire monitors which has delayed me a bit. Hope I might have this sorted tomorrow.
Have you thought about using parts from an e-cig for a smoke generator? I don’t smoke, but they seem to produce clouds of smoke. Parts are available cheaply on eBay. Another approach I’ve come across is to use an ultrasonic device to vaporise water. Not sure this will be very effective, but it will use a lot less power than heating oil.
I have a workshop (shed!) in the garden so I can make as much mess and smell (!) as I want without causing any friction in the house.
I think being able to switch it on/off remotely is a good idea. These things consume quite a bit of power, so leaving them on for too long is going to drain the battery.
If I don’t go sailing tomorrow - it is likely to be raining, I might get chance to try generating a bit of smoke.
Yes, distance and family just doesn’t seem to work out. Modern technology has made such a difference, but it isn’t the same as face to face. We would have considered moving to NZ after our first trip there, but at the time we had elderly parents to keep an eye on. Sadly, they are no longer with us, but now we have an increasing number of grandchildren and couldn’t imagine being so far away from them on a permanent basis. So it looks like it’s just going to be the occasional trip, if we decide we are up to the long haul flights again.
Yes, could be a problem. That was our 4th trip in 15 years. Just love the country, shame it is so far away.🙄 No plans to visit again yet, but you never know....
As far as I can deduce, commercial smoke fluid is diluted glycerine. Something like 3:1 glycerine:water. I have a large pot of glycerine so will try that. Hope to get started on trials next week.
Like this? There isn't much clearance between the inner and outer, not something that could easily be machined in one piece. I've made an temporary end cap to center the inner tube in the outer while it is soldered. Hopefully that will keep it concentric (haven't soldered it yet)
I've ordered some bits to make my smoker. They should arrive later this week, but I'm not sure I'll get on to it for another week or two. Want to finish and install the fire monitors and searchlight first.
If you let me have your postal address, I'll put these in the post to you tomorrow. Should take about a week to NZ.
