Aqua RBA problems

[bm2112]

Alright so I bought this Aqua and I'm really trying to like it. I have done two builds on it so far to no avail. The first one I did a dual coill, each 10 wraps, 28 gauge kanthal, cotton wicking through the center. It took way too long to heat up. It would only make nice vapor after the coils were nice and hot, and it was still only about as good as my Aerotank.

My second build, which I just did seems even worse. I built a dual coil, 5 wraps each, 28 gauge kanthal, cotton wicking through the center. Before I wicked it, both coils were getting red hot in 2-3 seconds. I figured it would fire well but it actually seems worse. The coils are all really close/touching and I don't know the size because I just use a screwdriver, but its bigger than a microcoil by a good margin.

It would probably help if I posted a picture, but I just filled my tank so I might wait a bit. If anyone can give me advice, I'd appreciate it. It's not my mod/battery. I have a maraxus clone and a 30 amp battery.

 

[cthulhufan]

Yep, let's see a picture of your build. I, personally, ran a Maraxus / Aqua build for many months albeit single coil. Pictures here are worth their weight in gold...

I ordered a second Maraxus as a backup and the voltage drop was utter garbage on it; have you built a good working setup on this mech yet? Just curious.

 

[bm2112]

Why do you think the voltage drop on your maraxus was so poor?

 

[cthulhufan]

My first one is great, it is the stainless / gold version. The second one is the black plated one and is missing a brass 'washer' in the button. I'm going to try to find something suitable to replace it and if it still hits bad then I will be stripping the plating off of the threads.

 

[bm2112]

Did you see the pic I posted? And you ran a single coil setup in the Aqua? How did you wick the other two holes?

 

[cthulhufan]

Yes, I see it now. The coils look pretty tweaked to me. What are you wrapping on? When you are dry firing the coils do the heat up nice and quick and glow from the inside to the outside with no hot spots? How many Ohms do you meter?

Single coil Aqua is easy and useful when you are out and about because, for me, it uses less juice so less filling. Just loop a cotton wick through the fill channels nice and snug to the deck. Easy as pie.

 

[edyle]

Alright so I bought this Aqua and I'm really trying to like it. I have done two builds on it so far to no avail. The first one I did a dual coill, each 10 wraps, 28 gauge kanthal, cotton wicking through the center. It took way too long to heat up. It would only make nice vapor after the coils were nice and hot, and it was still only about as good as my Aerotank.

My second build, which I just did seems even worse. I built a dual coil, 5 wraps each, 28 gauge kanthal, cotton wicking through the center. Before I wicked it, both coils were getting red hot in 2-3 seconds. I figured it would fire well but it actually seems worse. The coils are all really close/touching and I don't know the size because I just use a screwdriver, but its bigger than a microcoil by a good margin.

It would probably help if I posted a picture, but I just filled my tank so I might wait a bit. If anyone can give me advice, I'd appreciate it. It's not my mod/battery. I have a maraxus clone and a 30 amp battery.

I can't believe you wrote all that and didn't mention ohms.


Is this your first build/RBA?

 

[edyle]

View attachment 354533

Why do you think the voltage drop on your maraxus was so poor?

yowza; not a neat coil.
how about you start with just 1 coil;
get that working right, then you can just add another equal coil afterwards.

 

[KurrptSenate]

way too much wick

also, how many watts is your aqua getting? if you want a responsive atty in dual coil mode, it needs to be pushing enough watts

I'm concerned that your wick won't be able to keep up with your build once it has enough power to be responsive

 

[VaPreis]

The coils need some work and it's overwicked.

I'm always happiest with my Aqua around 0.5Ω (Two 1Ω coils)

5/64" (2mm) coils seem to work nicely the with the Aqua wick channel size. I usually use 26ga for a mech, but if using 28ga, about 8 wraps each at 5/64" would put you in the neighborhood of 0.6Ω-0.7Ω Keep the bit installed in the coils as you mount them to hold their shape until everything is tightened down.

Only run your wicks in the channel, not past it, and don't overstuff them.

Once it's built correctly, your Aerotank will be a thing of the past.

I tried to find a pic of my Aqua after wicking it, but only came up with one having the build I mentioned, no wicks.

 

[vapdivrr]

The pic above is what your after. Your coil diameter should be in the range of 1.6 to 2mm. Find a good video on micro coils to achieve a nice tight coil. 28g wire will do and like mentioned above shoot for about 1 ohm per coil or slight less. This will put you in the .4 to .5 range of overall resistance. Don't use as much cotton as in your current set up, it's to much. I'm using my Mobil device and not sure how to post a link but I have 2 or 3 u tube vids on the aqua. Just search u tube for vapdivrr channel. Start on the oldest aqua video first on my channel. Good luck

 

[cthulhufan]

Here is what my wick looks like on a good single coil build. That pic was taken before I had the coil all sorted out, hence the notes there, but just to give you an idea of what *my* optimal wicking looked like when I was rocking that tank. Mine is in storage now since I'm rollin' with a REO now but it should give you an idea of a decent single coil Aqua setup...

 

[bm2112]

Thanks a bunch guys. I realize the coils look like garbage in the pic I posted. They were actually pretty before I got them aligned. I always manage to screw one up while putting on the other. Cthul I see your in St. Louis. St. Louis here as well man.

I am going to try and do a single coil build on it for now because this is my first coil build. So I at least have an excuse for making a terrible coil. I'll post a pic when I'm done.

 

[vapdivrr]

If you get a good single coil build going, don't feel content and do try a dual. This is what this atty is all about, it's a dual coil atty, and a very good one at that.

 

[edyle]

Thanks a bunch guys. I realize the coils look like garbage in the pic I posted. They were actually pretty before I got them aligned. I always manage to screw one up while putting on the other. Cthul I see your in St. Louis. St. Louis here as well man.

I am going to try and do a single coil build on it for now because this is my first coil build. So I at least have an excuse for making a terrible coil. I'll post a pic when I'm done.

Excellent.

Once you have one coil built to your satisfaction, adding another coil just doubles the performance on a mech with a good battery.

 

[WharfRat1976]

just took this apart after 2-3 days of of perfect vaping and as many as 10 refills. Rayon. I will put new coils on. Cleaning used coils leaves crappy after taste imho.

 

[vapdivrr]

just took this apart after 2-3 days of of perfect vaping and as many as 10 refills. Rayon. I will put new coils on. Cleaning used coils leaves crappy after taste imho.

Looks like a great set up and the op should get a good visual of what it should look like. One thing I do is to switch around the nuts on the positive post. A coil naturally has a high lead and a low lead, the aquas nuts can be positioned as to level out the coil.

 

[VaPreis]

Looks like a great set up and the op should get a good visual of what it should look like. One thing I do is to switch around the nuts on the positive post. A coil naturally has a high lead and a low lead, the aquas nuts can be positioned as to level out the coil.

Cool tip! I never would have thought of that. I'll give that a shot next time the Aqua comes into the rotation.

 

[edyle]

Looks like a great set up and the op should get a good visual of what it should look like. One thing I do is to switch around the nuts on the positive post. A coil naturally has a high lead and a low lead, the aquas nuts can be positioned as to level out the coil.

Why should a coil naturally have a high lead and a low lead?
Even if it did, then it could just as well be made into a left lead and a right lead.

 

[vapdivrr]

Why should a coil naturally have a high lead and a low lead?
Even if it did, then it could just as well be made into a left lead and a right lead.

coil lead ends facing the same direction (like one for the aqua) will have a high (or over the top) on one side, the opposite end will be low(or underneath) the only way I know of avoiding this, is change direction in the center of coil.