Wacky 401 atomizer reading

[fritz]

Hello ladies and gents

I've got a 401 atomizer that started producing really weak vapor, even with a freshly topped cart. Figuring it was clogged I gave it a coke bath. Afterward, it ceased working altogether.

So, I check the resistance with the multimeter. Its not giving me an infinite reading (broken element) or a zero reading (short).

It's reading 1.24 K-ohms.

Any ideas on the problem?

Thanks in advance

[Jim Davis]

Originally Posted by fritz

Hello ladies and gents

I've got a 401 atomizer that started producing really weak vapor, even with a freshly topped cart. Figuring it was clogged I gave it a coke bath. Afterward, it ceased working altogether.

So, I check the resistance with the multimeter. Its not giving me an infinite reading (broken element) or a zero reading (short).

It's reading 1.24 K-ohms.

Any ideas on the problem?

Thanks in advance

It's probably fried. I found that sometimes the coil will burn out, and when you take a reading, you'll read the resistance of the gunk that is still contacting the coil.

The up side of this, is now you have one to take apart, and check out. I save ALL old parts and supplies. Ya never know when you might need a piece on one to fix another.

Cheers;
jd

[happily]

I know on a 510 atty around .3 is optimal so I'm guessing it's worn out

[fritz]

Thanks Jim and Hap.

It just seemed odd to me. The Atty was only four days old when it started producing minimal vapor. It seemed odd that the act of cleaning it would kill it altogether. But then again the acid in the coke that cleans the filament, may have cleaned the last of the solder on a bad connection as well :-)

I did a second steam cleaning as well just to be sure, and next step will be the dissection. Do either of you know the least destructive way to get one of these apart?

[RjG]

if the coil has popped, that's about what you'll get with the resistance of the carbon buildup under the broken coil (small gap) completing the circuit.

Disassembly writeup is here: M401 atomizer disassembled - pics

[fritz]

Thanks RjG

On mine the outer ring is brass, and seems to be held in place by press-fit level of interference fit. I'll see if I can coax it off by heating it up with a torch and getting it to expand.

[wegster]

Jusut for reference, a brand new 410 atty I have on hand is at 3 Ohms.

[RjG]

My last two new ones are 2.6 and 2.7 ohms. Measurement is with an EVB low ohms meter.