Armortek

Hi Mick
All I can think of is your fan is sucking rather than blowing.
I cant remember what direction the armortek Fan runs in
but I just had a look at my old one that I took out of my Panzer
and the screw heads have made a mark on the opposite side
to the side with the label on which meant the cables in the slot
are closest to the smoker and the label is on the inside.
This worked on my old one its just that mine leaked like a
cullinder and I doubt if I made a perfect job of my Matting.
Try this Mick and hopefull if any one else is looking they can
confirm it for you.
The fan blades are shaped a certaim way.
Cheers
Phil

Hello Mick,

Mark told me that the label of the fan must face the spacer of the smoker, so if you install the fan you cant see the label.
Hope this wil help you.
regards Yves

Thanks Phil, yes it had crossed my mind that the fan was sucking instead of blowing.
I did not want to change anything until I had some advice, I also thought that I could not simply change the leads over, and end up in a mess....so, I will await further information before I make a move.

The switch is not marked on/off, so it was awhile before anything happened. When the smoke arrived, I have labeled the switch, on/off.

I also thought there may not be enough 'baby oil'in the unit, so I put a further 5mm in. After this, and getting the switch to work.....out came the smoke....from the back of the fan unit....some smoke did trickle out of the exhaust adaptor.

I did not want to secure all the pipe work until the smoker was working ok.

I can play two or three hours tomorrow, after I have taken my wife to the day centre.....all advice gratefully received....mick

If you check the side of the fan, you should see two embossed arrows, one showing the direction of rotation, the other showing the direction of airflow.

As most modern fans use electronics to spin the blades, it probably wont work if you just reverse the leads.

Adrian.

Hello yves, hope I got you name correct.

I have just had a look at the fan...the label is showing....so on that information yves, the fan is the wrong way round...I will turn it around tomorrow.....I can now watch the football without a care in the world...


Have just opened your post Adrian I will check that tomorrow...mick

Hello Phil, Dennis, Adrian, and Yves, thank you all for your informed replies, I have turned the fan around on my 'smoker'.

We have smoke.....oh boy...do we have smoke, good job the wife is not at home. Open all the windows, patio door, switch the portable fan on....was about an hour before the dining room cleared. Wife will not be home until three o'clock.....whats the betting as soon as she comes in.....I CAN SMELL SMOKE

I will post a photo......thanks again lads....Mick

Just started up...I had not realised that the R/H motor activates the smoker.....could not believe the volume.

Computer guy arrives Saturday to fix my PC problems....this is something else I know nothing about....what have I done with my life?

Mick

[img]http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc5 ... /005-3.jpg[/img]

Good Job done Mick
Glad you have got it sorted out.
Nice neat arrangement in your Hull I like your labels on your cables,to
remind you where things go.
Cheers
Phil

Hello Phil/Dennis and all builders of the Armortek Comet. I will be fitting the limit switches next week, and having my 'markings' made up......so, I have reached the stage where I would like to fit a main gun 'flash'.This unit will replace the 'blank firer option'.....


I know you are all busy lads, however,I really would appreciate a description/diagram, parts required etc, on how to make up and install this option. Please keep in mind my very limited electronic skills (in other words none) so keep it simple.
Is anyone able to produce this item, ready to fit etc,? all parts and your time will be paid for.

Kindly PM me......Mick

Hi Mick,

I am just about to put all mine in a box and in the turret, mine differs from Phil's in that it uses a flash tube as in a camera flash. It is more complicated than Phil's as it involves a circuit board and a flash tube that had to come from the States. It is controlled by the same method as Phil's but until we have completed both (hopefully next week for me) I am not sure which will be the best. I will keep you posted.

Dennis.

Hi Mick
Sorry for the delay I have been engrossed in doing some cam nets
and scrim,120 clove hitch knots and 5700 sheet bend knots so far
With my Main gun flash I reached the limit of size for the barrel with the 100 Watt but I think the 50 Watt is the limit.
I found the higher the Wattage the longer delay I needed so the
timing was wrong.
I bought a Quasar Xenon but I think I like the 50 Watt Halogen,I
like the yelow to white back to yellow and a bit of red as it decays
Like Dennis said its simpler especially to experiment with,because
I used a relay in a socket with screw terminals.
THE WORKINGS
It is driven by the main gun flash which is at the other pin that the
MG's dont use.
This drives a relay,which then drives a True Off Delay Timer
0.6 to 160 seconds.
This is needed because the pulse at the pins from the module is
very quick so the delay off timer is used,which keeps the timers
relay on for an adjustable delay.
I found the 20 Watt needed 1.125 seconds and the %0 Watt 1.375
to 1.625 seconds
The parts were from www.rswww.com if you want to look at the
pictures and prices of the parts.
Relay 2534117
Timer 3496858
The Halogen is held in the barrel with just enough sticking into the
first hole of the brake.
I used 2 X 5 amp terminals cut appart and trimmied flat to glue
side by side,this was a good push fit into the barrel.
So the Halogen goes in one side and your wires in the other.
I used shrink tube over cables and the first 2 terminals for
insulation.
When the Halogen is fitted in I just put a bit of insulation tap over the top of the others.
This is just gripped nicely as it is pushed in and comes out easy
for a bulb change.
I might have an experiment with getting some smoke out of the
barrel next I've got some spare terminals on the timer
I'm looking forward to seeing Dennis's Xenon in the Gun I havent seen one yet.
Cheers
Phil

Hello Dennis and Phil, thank you both for your replies.....I will one way or another install the 'flash' now that I have made my mind up to go this route.

Dennis I will await your final results...I have an obsolete digital camera with flash, around somewhere, if I can find it.

Thank you Phil for your thoughts, I will have a look on the site that you posted in your reply.

Mick.

Phil, I am changing the switch on the smoker.....I want to use a small toggle switch, SPST, with an on/off plate. What is the voltage and amp I require for this switch?

I have located the parts you described for the gun flash...as I understand it...the bulb is a 50w halogen ( just a bulb), plus the timer, relay, wiring and plug.

Perhaps, next week when you have time would you provide a diagram showing the link between these parts, and the order they are connected, wiring etc, and where the layout is connected to the other M/G pin.

Meanwhile, I will order the parts, and give it a go. I do not understand what these parts do...... timer/relay.....just as long as I know the order they are linked together, and where they are connected......mick

Hi Mick
Any nice toggle switch over 5 amp would be ok,10 amp are
common ones from Halfords or Maplins and they do the little
attatchment thing with on off.
The ones on my Comet exhaust are 10 amp nice metal ones.
Re Main Gun Flash
I thought you was going to see what Dennis's Xenon looks like
first.
Its a shame John didnt put a vidio on his reply to Dennis showing his adaption of a camera flash on Joe's Comet.
I will do a simple drawing for you showing the Halogen
flash,I will need to scan it at work Monday so I can get it to you
Then if after seeing Dennis's Xenon and you still want to go for
Halogen I dont mind getting the bits for you and pre wire them
together and mark any other connections you have to do in your
Tank.
The Halogen are the liitl Capsule size bulbs I get them from
www.thelightbulb.co.uk
Because most shops only do the 10 and 20 Watt Halogen capsule
Cheers
Phil