Purpose of the M3A4 Smoke Generator
The purpose of the M3A4 smoke generator is to make smoke. However, the quality of the smoke
generated is extremely important. Smoke quality is determined after the generator has been in operation
approximately three minutes. This three-minute time frame gives the generator sufficient time to warm
up and stabilize smoke production. After three minutes of operation, you must determine the quality of
the smoke you are producing. Figure 8 shows the characteristics of good smoke.
Figure 8. Characteristics of good smoke.
A way to check for good smoke is to glance through the edge of the smoke toward the sun. The
smoke should appear to be light orange to pink.
CAUTION
This observation can be harmful to your eyes. The smoke does not filter the sun's rays.
If you use this method for checking smoke, never look directly at the sun. Glance toward
the sun for only a split second.
If the smoke is closer to the nozzles than shown in Figure 8, your generator may be putting out a wet
smoke. There are two ways to check for wet smoke:
Fog oil will drip from the outlet nozzles.
The sunlight will look purplish or bluish when you glance at the sun through the edge of the smoke.
If you have a wet smoke, slow down the flow of fog oil. This is done by slowly turning the oil
metering globe valve clockwise to close the oil metering globe valve. This will vaporize the excess fog
oil more quickly. When you see a bluish haze coming from the outlet nozzles, slowly open the oil
metering globe valve.
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