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[squarechris]

Hi

as anyone tried using one of these as a steam generator
http://www.maplin.co.uk/mini-fogger-mist-generator-35215
and even cheaper ones on fleebay

??

thanks
Chris

[treeboa]

not used as a stream generator but used to use them a lot when i was breeding amazon treeboas, allthough it says a depth for used i found they were quite fussy about depth, also if run dry they used to break the ceramic disc - fairly heavy

[Davy1]

Very interesting. How heavy are they?

[treeboa]

off hand im not sure on weight, that base is near solid metal though

few things to note, they wont run off dc volts, they use the ac to make them vibrate, if you fancy a better one for a pond

http://www.maplin.co.uk/high-output-pond-fogger-37981

[HS93 (RIP)]

they run fine of DC they don't draw a lot so you can use AA to power it, or a inverter that takes the drive battery from 12 to 24v similar items are use in well known smoke generators with a small fan to blow it up the chimney there was an article in Model boats on how to construct one about 18 months ago it may also be on Model boats web site , no good for powering steam engines.

Peter

[HS93 (RIP)]

there are some pictures on the right hand side that show you how it works


http://www.steammasterunit.com/#/features/4543003949

peter

[steamboatmodel]

They will work a special effects, but they only generate mist not steam no pressure. I think they would work good in an electric powered model better than the oil type smoke generators. My Sons lizards like them.
Regards,
Gerald.

[treeboa]

they run fine of DC they don't draw a lot so you can use AA to power it, or a inverter that takes the drive battery from 12 to 24v similar items are use in well known smoke generators with a small fan to blow it up the chimney there was an article in Model boats on how to construct one about 18 months ago it may also be on Model boats web site , no good for powering steam engines.

Peter

read the maplins specs, and questions, they say it wont run off dc 

[john s 2]

The misters or foggers as there also known do run on dc , at least the ones ive brought for about £4 off ebay do.They vibrate water to produce a mist.Same as in a nebulizer.24 v but a step up unit 12v to 24 v is about £12.the ones ive got do shut down if the water runs low.That bit is the black tube on two supports on the top of the unit.So as said ok for smoke effect but no pressure.John

[HS93 (RIP)]

the one I have bought of maplins work of DC or I would not Have  said the did.     I only post information about products when I have used them 

Peter

[treeboa]

the one I have bought of maplins work of DC or I would not Have  said the did.     I only post information about products when I have used them 

Peter

mate dont get your knickers in a twist, i posted what maplins have on thier site regarding it, if you have a problem take it up with maplins as thier information is incorrect

Q)
I see these work through a transformer, which supplies 24v AC. Is there any possibility to run them from 24v DC instead, or does the membrane actually vibrate at 50Hz?
A)
These will only run off 24Vac

[john s 2]

Quite possible the maplin ones are ac.As you get a mains step down transformer,etc it is an expensive way to buy at around £18.As said i buy off ebay under pond misters at around £4. yes they come with pretty Led lights but once in a box lights dont show and being led take little juice.If they are ac then how can you power them in a boat? To produce smoke affect? John.

[squarechris]

should be fairly easy to build an inverter to convert 12V DC to 24V AC.
I will have a think on that one

[squarechris]

if you have lots of room a 12V DC to 240V AC Inverter could be used
such as
http://www.maplin.co.uk/12v-150w-can-invertor-with-usb-socket-97788
and then just plug in the mains adapter.

I'm sure there is a much simpler solution such as the Pro versions use, just need to do some more research.

[john s 2]

MMB will sell you an inverter for about £12. There are also plans to build your own.John.

[squarechris]

according to this
http://www.srcmbc.org.uk/ht_pkt_smoke.php

the Maplin one will work with DC
and Peter has also confirmed it will

fleebay has many voltage converters from about £4

I think I will give it a try

[Davy1]

I've just got one of the Maplin generators. It looks very promising and I confirm it works on DC.  (Seems amazing to me - but it does!)

[Tug-Kenny RIP]

24 volts dc  is the minimum they will work at. If the battery goes down lower they do stop working. You should try 30 volts dc, where they work like stink. Very impressive indeed. 

ken

 

[Davy1]

Thanks Tug - Kenny.

I've also just received another design of mister from Hong Kong. Just search on a well known auction site for "Mist Maker Fogger Mist Maker Humidifier" (I'm wary of advertising on here!) They are about £1.

They seem to work well (They also work on DC - puzzling - I wish I knew what was in these things) and are smaller and lighter than the M****n equivalent. This is an important requirement for my application.

David

[Tug-Kenny RIP]

In words of two syllables, they are high frequency oscillators. They have to shake a plate to agitate the water. This cause wear on the plate which then has to be replaced after a period of time.

The A-C adapters supplied gives them a head start with 50 cycles and 28 volts from the mains adapter. How the D-C works is not privy to us.   

Here's an external design model I did last year running on 24 volts which was tested up to 30 volts. Plenty of simulated 'steam'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjW-wtjm0-4

Cheers

ken

[squarechris]

my cheap one from Hong Kong has just arrived, will be testing soon.

Now all I need to do is build the boat to put it in

[phil45]

I am in the process of getting an old foggy to work ........so got a new ceramic disc from mmb...and it works perfect on 24v  ac , but on 24v dc it does not produce anywhere near the same amount......phil

[Rottweiler]

  oops.... have I bought the wrong one then? Mine works off the mains,and I planned to use it on one of my tugs when on static display,to give a little effect,rather than having a "dead" exhibit? It does work well though,but tends to throw up a lot of "splashes?" Mine came with an optional spare ceramic disc.
Mick

[Marks Model Bits]

It does work well though,but tends to throw up a lot of "splashes?"

Put a 'dog leg' in the pipe, that will help to stop the "splashes"

Mark.

[Rottweiler]

thanks for that will try that! I will have to go to B&Q and get a long mains lead so I can run the boat on the pond,10% discount on wednesday! I have a portable generator already.   (Ooo ooO)
Cheers, Mick