Advice on 'faulty' Innokin iTaste MVP3.0

[bongobreak]

I have owned two of these (the 30watt not the 60watt version) for some time now and found them to be very solid and reliable.

Just recently however, one has begun to fire with a higher resistance, and sounds like it's really cooking very hot - spitting and sometimes a burned taste.

I use them with either my wotofo serpent, or my kanger sub, and build 8 wrap coils with 26g kanthal - wattage is always 20watts, which gets me my 0.7ohm preferred resistance with either RTA.

The one that 'overheats' fires with a varying resistance from 1.2 to 1.8 ohms on the first hit, it then settles to around 0.9ohms for the second, but seems to vary between 0.9 and 1.6 from then on, whereas the other mod is solid 0.7ohms with the same tank and coil.
I have put several coils on over the last few weeks, checked all connections, leg length etc., and all is good - and as I've said it works fine with the other identical mod.
It charges consistently and holds charge the same as the other one.

I have just recently begun using a wotofo atty3 RDA with this mod and it seems to tolerate this variation better - still spits and pops a bit, but no burnt taste.

I hope I have provided the necessary information, and that someone can point me in the right direction as to what I should do - maybe it's the batteries dying, it has been used solidly (but not heavily) for nearly a year now.

Thank you in advance fellow vapers.

 

[groomt]

What kind of wire are you using?

 

[bongobreak]

I use UD brand, 26 gauge kanthal A1.

 

[groomt]

Mine have always been pretty rock-solid on the ohms readout. Sounds like it may be time to get a new one. I have two MVP 2.0, 1 MVP 3, and a 3 PRO. All but the pro are 1-2 years old, but I have always run them at lower (10-15) watts. It sounds like a loose wire, but you said you checked that so I don't know.

 

[bongobreak]

Thanks groomt for taking time to give it some thought, appreciated
Maybe I'll try it on a lower wattage - with it being a 30 watt box, 20 watts isn't flat out, but could be that it is just 'trying a bit too hard'
Odd that my other one is still running well - bought them both on the same day from the same store.
Who knows, maybe my other one will start the same shenanigans tomorrow!

Nevertheless, it could just be one of a 'friday afternoon' batch from the factory!

Thanks again groomt

 

[JMarca]

I have owned two of these (the 30watt not the 60watt version) for some time now and found them to be very solid and reliable.

Just recently however, one has begun to fire with a higher resistance, and sounds like it's really cooking very hot - spitting and sometimes a burned taste.

I use them with either my wotofo serpent, or my kanger sub, and build 8 wrap coils with 26g kanthal - wattage is always 20watts, which gets me my 0.7ohm preferred resistance with either RTA.

The one that 'overheats' fires with a varying resistance from 1.2 to 1.8 ohms on the first hit, it then settles to around 0.9ohms for the second, but seems to vary between 0.9 and 1.6 from then on, whereas the other mod is solid 0.7ohms with the same tank and coil.
I have put several coils on over the last few weeks, checked all connections, leg length etc., and all is good - and as I've said it works fine with the other identical mod.
It charges consistently and holds charge the same as the other one.

I have just recently begun using a wotofo atty3 RDA with this mod and it seems to tolerate this variation better - still spits and pops a bit, but no burnt taste.

I hope I have provided the necessary information, and that someone can point me in the right direction as to what I should do - maybe it's the batteries dying, it has been used solidly (but not heavily) for nearly a year now.

Thank you in advance fellow vapers.

This sounds like a contact issue, could be the mod could be the atomizer, if you use multiple atomizers and still have the same results you can rule out the atomizer. Check all your contact points leads, connections and if you can get inside the mod check the 510, chip and battery connections.

 

[bongobreak]

This sounds like a contact issue, could be the mod could be the atomizer, if you use multiple atomizers and still have the same results you can rule out the atomizer. Check all your contact points leads, connections and if you can get inside the mod check the 510, chip and battery connections.

I thought the same thing too JMarca, I ruled out the atomizer because each of my three work very well on my other mods.
Has to be internal mod issues then - looks like I'm hitting it with an allen wrench then!
Not sure what to expect, never been inside a mod before - first time for everything though I guess.

Thanks for your encouraging input JMarca

 

[JMarca]

I thought the same thing too JMarca, I ruled out the atomizer because each of my three work very well on my other mods.
Has to be internal mod issues then - looks like I'm hitting it with an allen wrench then!
Not sure what to expect, never been inside a mod before - first time for everything though I guess.

Thanks for your encouraging input JMarca

Don't desolder anything just check to make sure nothing is loose/moving or barely hanging on, could also be a component on the board itself. Honestly just check it and see if anything if out of the ordinary, if you don't find anything I'd recommend just picking up a replacement.

 

[wheelie]

I have the 30 watt. I had a tank of juice come out the airhole and juice got under the connection and mine fires very erratic now. I opened mine up and cleaned it the best I could and it is a little better. The whole inside casing was full of juice. I would have a .5 coil and it would fire as high as 2.4 ohms sometimes. Little better after cleaning it and it just flips around like .5 to like .9 so I just retired mine. I am sure you got juice inside the mod down through the pin causing the trouble. Good luck to you. CHEERS!

 

[bongobreak]

Don't desolder anything just check to make sure nothing is loose/moving or barely hanging on, could also be a component on the board itself. Honestly just check it and see if anything if out of the ordinary, if you don't find anything I'd recommend just picking up a replacement.

Good advice, thanks JMarca - I'll probably crack it open tomorrow for a looksee

 

[bongobreak]

I have the 30 watt. I had a tank of juice come out the airhole and juice got under the connection and mine fires very erratic now. I opened mine up and cleaned it the best I could and it is a little better. I would have a .5 coil and it would fire as high as 2.4 ohms sometimes. Little better after cleaning it and it just flips around like .5 to like .9 so I just retired mine. I am sure you got juice inside the mod down through the pin causing the trouble. Good luck to you. CHEERS!

Yep, that describes the exact same issue that I'm having.
I have had a few minor leaks (who hasn't right?), nothing like a whole tank though, but I think maybe you're onto something, perhaps it happened when I stood it overnight with the tank on it, and it dried on the outside before morning, and yet still remained wet inside.

Anyhow, it's definitely worth an look inside and a clean up

Can't remember who said it, but someone once said "If it doesn't leak, you're not filling it full enough!"
Words of wisdom?? Perhaps not, but I think we can all identify!

Thanks wheelie

 

[wheelie]

Yep, that describes the exact same issue that I'm having.
I have had a few minor leaks (who hasn't right?), nothing like a whole tank though, but I think maybe you're onto something, perhaps it happened when I stood it overnight with the tank on it, and it dried on the outside before morning, and yet still remained wet inside.

Anyhow, it's definitely worth an look inside and a clean up

Can't remember who said it, but someone once said "If it doesn't leak, you're not filling it full enough!"
Words of wisdom?? Perhaps not, but I think we can all identify!

Thanks wheelie

I no longer leave tanks with juice in them on mods. Only the one I am currently vaping. Built me a tank stand out of wood and drilled holes for the 510 connection and not vaping it I take it off mod and put tank in stand. I am positive that's what is wrong with yours. You will have to get a little set of Torx Screwdrivers. CHEERS!

 

[bongobreak]

I no longer leave tanks with juice in them on mods. Only the one I am currently vaping. Built me a tank stand out of wood and drilled holes for the 510 connection and not vaping it I take it off mod and put tank in stand.

That makes perfect sense wheelie, it never crossed my mind until you spoke of the very same issue.
Looks like I'm gonna be busy in the shed tomorrow!

I am positive that's what is wrong with yours. You will have to get a little set of Torx Screwdrivers. CHEERS!

I think you're right wheelie, I thought it looked like an allen socket - sucks getting old my eyes really don't do close-up any more!!
Another trip to the hardware store for me, yay

I appreciate your helpful feedback wheelie, thanks

 

[wheelie]

That makes perfect sense wheelie, it never crossed my mind until you spoke of the very same issue.
Looks like I'm gonna be busy in the shed tomorrow!

I think you're right wheelie, I thought it looked like an allen socket - sucks getting old my eyes really don't do close-up any more!!
Another trip to the hardware store for me, yay

I appreciate your helpful feedback wheelie, thanks

Since I posted, after cleaning it a month ago, it sat on my vape stand and I went and grabbed after the conversation and have been vaping it for 2 hours and it has stay the same ohms. I carefully used contact cleaner when I cleaned it a month ago. Seems like it fixed it so far tonight. So may be hope for yours as well. Take plug out on bottom and see if juice is on the cell phone cord plug and that is a tell tale sign juice is inside. CHEERS!

 

[bongobreak]

Thanks so much wheelie, I just checked mine now (I didn't even think about that cable since I don't have a compatible mobile!) and sure enough, you're right - definitely a tad juicy in there.

The box has been stood for a few days now and feels cold and a bit clammy, I always thought it felt like that because of the textured finish but it all seems to make sense now!

I just need to get hold of the correct torx bit now - it looks like a 2mm, could you confirm this?

Thanks again wheelie, I now know what direction to go, and I feel encouraged by your success with yours.
I really like these mods, and I don't think my local vape store stock this model anymore, so I'm very pleased to potentially avoid buying a different one and getting mine running reliably once more.

 

[wheelie]

Top screws are T6x25 and bottom is T5x25. Top and bottom are different sizes. Charged mine over the night and vaping mine again this morning and mine appears to be defiantly fixed. I thank you for posting this conversation or I may have never used mine again. If using a contact cleaner make sure it totally dries before firing it. CHEERS!

 

[wheelie]

@bongobreak Just an update. Been using my MVP 30 watt all day today and it is totally fixed. Never switched ohms all day. I am one happy camper. Will be putting it back in my rotation once again. CHEERS!

 

[bongobreak]

@bongobreak Just an update. Been using my MVP 30 watt all day today and it is totally fixed. Never switched ohms all day. I am one happy camper. Will be putting it back in my rotation once again. CHEERS!

Great news wheelie, glad yours is running well again

I have high hopes for mine too, just as soon as I can get to a hardware store tomorrow, and thanks for the info on those torx bits - of course they would be two different sizes - they couldn't just make it nice and simple!!

Vape on friend

 

[bongobreak]

@wheelie Just to update on my situation - I must say a big thank you again wheelie, your method worked flawlessly.
I bought a set of torx screwdrivers and a can of contact cleaner, pretty much soaked the entire internals with that stuff and let it sit for a couple of days.
Today, I cleaned out what residue was left, and reassembled, and bingo, it shows a solid 0.7ohms and no more high resistances.

It was a complete success.

One small caveat however, and really this is all down to me - for anyone thinking of doing the same, do not try to slide the circuit board out (not sure if you were able to do this wheelie) - I tried to do this and broke one of the +/- button switches off the board!! Not a big deal for me because I have it set to 20 watts all the time anyway, just a word of warning, they're really fragile, and I should have been more careful.

Once again, a big thank you wheelie, I also now have another reliable mod to throw back into the rotation.

 

[wheelie]

Good job! No I learned off Isticks how easy wires pop off. Now you know also and will be a lot more careful and smarter on the next mod you want to repair. Good learning experience. Mine is also working perfectly after cleaning. I think the juice goes in around the edge where the top meets the tank connection. I was thinking of silicone around that edge. I do not think it goes in through the pin. CHEERS!