Atomizers for the Grand, what do you use and why?

[Serated]

Hello all. I'm new to this community and to the reo itself. Recieved it a week ago and have been enjoying it very much. I ordered a .....load of juices to try from 4 places. Healthcabin, Dekang, Backwoods and Johnsons Creek.

So far my experience has been good with a few of the juices.

BWB hits strong, good flavor and vapor.
Healthcabin's Blueberry was delicious at first, seems to be losing flavor though..?
Dekang smells great but the vapor is just not there.
Johnsons Creek was extremely underwhelming, I tried their Mint Chocolate and 100%pg free Winter's Frost.

I posted this issue in the atomizers sub forum, but thought I'd bring the question here to the experts of the mod.

I'm using a 510lr 2.0ohm atty from Reo that I ordered with my mod (Grand). I ordered 3 and after a week decided to give the first atty a washing (boiling water, rinsed with isopropyl, blown out and set to dry overnight) because it seemed that I was losing flavor with a very pungeant double infused blueberry from HC-e (healthcabin). The 2nd atty I threw on seems to not be hitting as hard. The first night I got the atty's I blew the primer out of them all (3 total) and am curious if I deadened it a bit by doing that and not using it right away..? I used the first atty and battery for a total of 5 days, swapped batteries and threw on a new atty.

I've tried this new atty with a number of juices, two of which I got from Johnson's Creek (1, 100%PG free) and they have almost zero vapor production. Along with some other Dekang Juices that have extremely low vapor prod also...

I'm at a loss here. I feel like in the last week the vapor production has somewhat dropped more than it should have and I'd like to chalk it up to the atty. It's getting plenty hot, I'm not dry burning as there is no burn taste, my battery is 2 days off the charger (18650, 2400maH) and I usually take 4-5 puffs every 2ish hours..

What am I doing wrong? Are the stock atty's that reo sells on his website just weak? I'm trying to get the most flavor/vapor out of my hits. I don't care for throat hit as much. I've read about a number of atty's and I'm thinking Maybe I need to look into getting an HH.357 longbarrel(my atty now sometimes spit and I hate it), or a cisco spec. Also, will 1.5ohm atty's be alright to run on the 3.7v and what will be the difference in life/taste/vapor?

Sorry for the long post. New to vaping and really trying to get the hang of everything.

I am a baller squonker, and I'm not flooding (at least I don't think)...HELP!

So, is my choice of atomizer causing this frustration with the vapor production, or is it possible I'm doing something else wrong?

Thanks in advance.

 

[bushmaster]

For one thing, it sounds like you're running your batteries waaaay too long. Most of us change out batteries at least once during the day. You say you're using 2400mah batteries, so they are protected batteries and not the AW IMR batteries most REOnauts use in the mods. Those protected batteries will have a rapid fall-off of voltage and not really provide the power to run LR atties the way the IMR batteries do. Do you have a multimeter? You should see just what the voltage is on your batteries. That is where I would start anyway. Also, the 1.5 ohm atties are fine at 3.7v. That's actually the voltage they're intended for.

 

[Mudflap]

You got the attys from Reosmods.com? If so, send a private message to redeyedancer and tell him the issues you have been having with the two that didn't perform well. Some attys aren't great performers, even when brand new.

Also, you can use a multimeter to measure the resistances of your atomizers. A low resistance atomizer should measure between 1.5 and 2.0 ohms. The lower the resistance, the hotter it vaporizes the juice. Here's a video to show you how it's done, if you're not familiar with how to use a multimeter.

 

[Rhapsodies Fire]

Bushmaster brings up a good point. It seems you may be running the battery too long for your vaping preference. I would hazard a guess that you like the voltage between 4.2 and 3.9...and once the batteries drop below 3.9 your vaping is less pleasurable. This is a learned feel for your batteries. If you have a volt meter or multi meter, you may want to check your fresh battery before you put it in your mod...should be around 4.2 volts. Then when you notice that you're not getting what you need out of the battery, check it again. Take at least a mental note of these numbers. Learning this feel will also help you avoid over discharging your battery. It's true that while you aren't constantly vaping, after a full day of use...your battery loses some of its power. While technically you can vape until your battery dies, it really is hard on the battery. You can increase the life span of the battery by charging it before you've killed it.

Did you notice any improvement when you popped a fresh battery in?

 

[Serated]

Thank you all so much for the advice!

I swapped batteries on the 4th day...it seemed to be heating the atty just fine for the time I had it on there. On day 4 I noticed some flavor dip, so I swapped atty and battery, this is when the trouble started. The battery charged with the other one I had when I got them on day 1, so it had been charged at left idle for a few days (I just checked the 1st battery that I recharged 2 days ago and it's still full power, so I'm assuming this isn't the case). For the last 2 days I've been using the new atty and battery with the blueberry from Healthcabin mixed with the BWB strawberry and the hits are decent, but not as vaporful/strong as what i remember at first. Maybe I'm normalizing?

So what is this protected/AW IMR stuff all about? I guess I didn't do my complete due diligence before up and purchasing batteries...I figured they were all the same, and a higher maH meant less hassle of swapping parts out.

I definitely appreciate all the help, all this learning is very fun.

 

[Mudflap]

Spend some time in this thread:

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...if-reo-your-first-mod-what-you-will-need.html

Lots of great info in there.

What batteries and charger are you currently using?

 

[Rhapsodies Fire]

Higher mah ratings aren't always accurate between manufacturers and battery types. Batteries are made up of different chemicals...some are more flammable than others. Since I'm not an expert....this is a link that has some pretty basic explanations that should help clear things up. There are additional links at the bottom of that post.
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...9007-warning-rechargeable-batteries-mods.html

 

[Rhapsodies Fire]

Also...atomizers can be finicky...some will work well and others will not work as well. I have found that for the most part....many of the manufactures have yet to work out consistency. Some will need cleaning more often than others. Don't forget to check the resistance on these atomizers...you may find that it has changed. That's why I love having a multimeter handy....really helps me trouble shoot when things aren't working as well as I'd like.

Also, if you're new to vaping....your taste will be off for a while. Especially if you haven't yet made a complete transition from smoking to vaping. I noticed that I didn't thoroughly settle down and find a "groove" until a month or so after I had my last analog. Mind you, I still have crappy vaping days. There are so many variables, regardless of what device you use. Battery voltage, Atty or carto resistance, state of cleanliness of the mod and attys or cartos, type of juice and how fresh or well steeped it is. Sometimes...if we vape the same juice constantly, our taste buds get board with it and we tend to lose that flavor we love so much. This can be remedied by changing the flavor to a completely different flavor....that will awaken bored taste buds.

 

[JC Okie]

Also, the PG and VG content of your juices counts big time in vapor production. You mention that your DaKang juice is very low vapor...all the Dakang juice I know about is 100% PG which is the lowest potential vapor production. Your Johnson Creek juice that is PG free SHOULD produce good vapor, however. You don't mention the PG/VG content of the Health Cabin juice and the BWB juice, so not sure there. Anyway, when you're comparing attys, make sure you're comparing them with the exact same juices. Too many variables can sure make troubleshooting a nightmare.

 

[hildicat]

My advice to you is read everything here on this forum, then get some IMR AW 18650 batteries, some HH 357 2.0 ohm attys, and some good juice that you really like. I can't guarantee anything but I know that's what works for me.

 

[Serated]

Spend some time in this thread:

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...if-reo-your-first-mod-what-you-will-need.html

Lots of great info in there.

What batteries and charger are you currently using?

I've read that post, I didn't really think the batteries were a must. Didn't know they were that different.

I'm using these batteries: TrustFire
And this Charger: Trustfire

Both came highly recommended on their site..but I didn't know any better at the time.

They also sell a volt indicator I guess I could purchase, as you and Rhapsodies said that would be a good thing to pick up.

Rhapsodies I read a bit in that battery post. The "Rechargable Batteries" Thread was a bit more informative and listed the batteries I have lower than the AW IMR's. Not sure if it affects the vape as much as to change the flavor and vapor intensely. I'm still not sure why the juices from Johnson's Creek seem like duds to me.

Maybe I need to let them steep? Or try them again on the atty I'm using...it seems like there's so many variables lol..

 

[Serated]

My advice to you is read everything here on this forum, then get some IMR AW 18650 batteries, some HH 357 2.0 ohm attys, and some good juice that you really like. I can't guarantee anything but I know that's what works for me.

Is the charger I listed above kosher to use with those batteries or do I need to get a new charger?

Also, the PG and VG content of your juices counts big time in vapor production. You mention that your DaKang juice is very low vapor...all the Dakang juice I know about is 100% PG which is the lowest potential vapor production. Your Johnson Creek juice that is PG free SHOULD produce good vapor, however. You don't mention the PG/VG content of the Health Cabin juice and the BWB juice, so not sure there. Anyway, when you're comparing attys, make sure you're comparing them with the exact same juices. Too many variables can sure make troubleshooting a nightmare.

I totally agree with you about the PG free juice. It IS thinned out with distilled water..but the vapor production was pathetic. I'm thinking that I'm going to steep the two Johnson's Creeks for a week, get the batteries, get a few different Atomizers to check out and give myself a headache trying new .... out.

I guess the atomizer I'm currently using may just be dull, it's hitting OK, but it hit like .... with the JC and Dekang. I wish I had known Dekang was 100% PG. I guess I'll keep it around for some thinning and flavor mixing. :\ Vaporbomb lets you select which ratio you want so I can always use the dekang to thin out some high VG context juice from VB.

 

[Rhapsodies Fire]

Rhapsodies I read a bit in that battery post. The "Rechargable Batteries" Thread was a bit more informative and listed the batteries I have lower than the AW IMR's. Not sure if it affects the vape as much as to change the flavor and vapor intensely. I'm still not sure why the juices from Johnson's Creek seem like duds to me.

Maybe I need to let them steep? Or try them again on the atty I'm using...it seems like there's so many variables lol..

Most folks will agree that they have observed improved performance out of the IMRs. And most folks see the added benefit of the "safer chemical" label.

In the case of fresh juice, some do need steeping. If you don't like it now...let it sit for a week or two then try it again. You may see a flavor change. I wish I could help you more there....I am not familiar with Johnson Creek....I've never used them.

Yes...many variables...but the good thing is you can start finding what works for you....you've taken one item out of the equation. The mod. Now you're down to batteries, atty/carto, and juice. Batteries are easy. Its the atty/carto & juice combo that can be tricky.

 

[Rhapsodies Fire]

Is the charger I listed above kosher to use with those batteries or do I need to get a new charger?

Yes.................

 

[Serated]

Yes.................

Hahaha...I'm going to assume your answer was in reference to the fact that my charger doesn't need to be replaced...

Thank you again for your help. I'm going to order some batteries. See if it changes anything. So you guys really only use those batteries for a day and then re-charge? Interesting. Good thing I get paid tomorrow lol...

 

[Rhapsodies Fire]

sorry about that. It appears I'm tired enough, I only read the first part of your question. Yes...that charger is fine.

 

[Rhapsodies Fire]

In the meantime, try putting a fresh battery in your mod every morning. That should improve the quality of your vape. Keep us posted and let us know how things are going.

 

[washvap]

WELCOME TO THE TEAM

It might be in your best interest to try out some of the premium atomizers. Here are some of my favorites:

LR306 Low Resistance Atomizer 1.5 ohm (Cisco Spec) - Avid Vaper
LR306 Low Resistance Atomizer 1.8 ohm (Cisco Spec) - Avid Vaper
LR510 Low Resistance Atomizer 1.5 ohm (Cisco Spec) - Avid Vaper

There are also the IKV 1.5 ohm LR 510's but, they're sold out right now. Guess the word spread about them. Anyways, it's true that every kind atty can become faulty pretty quickly BUT, it really depends on how well you maintain them. If you take care of your atties well then they will last longer. If you fail to properly maintain your atties then this can decrease the lifespan of your atties substantially. Although, there isn't anything much that can be done to brands such as Bauways.

It's a good idea to clean your atomizer after you finished a bottle full on your REO. I have a little container that I put all of my dirty atomizers in and when it gets to 9 then I clean it. Going along those lines. You should have at least 4 atties in rotation. Which will help you with extending the lifespan of your atties. This is especially true when you use 100%VG. Since it tends to gunk up the coil on atties fairly quickly.

All VG juices aren't made equal. Since some are thicker then others. Which will increase the speed in which your coil gets gunked up. Also, remember that juices that have a lot of sugar in them will also cause issues with your atomizers.

The ohms of your atomizer can have an effect on the performance of your atomizer. If you use a 1.5 ohm atomizer with a fruit flavor at 3.7V then this will decrease the flavor that your getting since it's running to warm. So, if this is the case then you might wanna try 1.8 or 2 ohm atties.



Overall, there's a lot of factors that comes into play when we're talking about atomizers/cartomizer issues in general.

 

[hildicat]

Response to some of the OP's follow up questions.
Batteries changed every day...
I have six of the IMR AW 18650s that I cycle through. I have found that I like them fresh off the charger at about 4.1 volts and vape them till they reach about 3.7 volts. Below that they start to feel a bit bull to me. I always have freshly charged spares with me and swap them when they reach that dull point. A single battery will usually last me about half a day at this pace, or to be more precise, about 3/4 of e six ml bottle.

Juice pg/vg ratio...
My preference is to stay with a higher percentage of vg in my juices. I feel I get much more vapor and it seems smoother to me, perhaps at the expense of some TH and maybe flavor but I have found flavors that I really like so its not a problem for me. Some of my favorite juice vendors are alien visions, kick bass vapor, and the vapor room. AV and TVR both offer either 100% vg or options for different ratios. KB is usually a 60/40 vg/pg mix but I find it also very nice and smooth with lots of flavor and vapor. Between these three i have found favorites in the sweet, tobacco, and minty flavors. Of course, you can always DIY your juice with store bought VG, but thats a whole other puzzle I'll leave you to investigate once you are satisfied with your basic vape.

Attys...
This one is easy for me. I've tried many styles, 510, 306, I06, 801, bridgless, wickless, from vendors like Ikenvape, Boge, Cisco (Avid), not to mention a bunch of different cartos as well. My favorite by far has been the HH .357 available from avid vapor. The sweet spot for me is the 2.0 ohm standard length, although I am getting one of his custom models, long barrel built for VG so that may change. Some may suggest the 1.5 ohm for the Reo at 3.7 volts, but for my money the 2 ohm puts out just the right amount of flavor, heat, and vapor with my juices.

Remember, everything here (maybe except the batteries) is subjective and you will get lots of what seems like contradictory advice. I simply chalk that up to personal preference. Ultimately you will have to try some different combinations until you find something you really like. I know it took me a while and often felt very frustrating but it paid off in the end. But you have already made the most wise decision by getting a Reo Grand. I think most here will agree that it's the best there is in vaping, that is until the VV Grand comes out.

Good luck!

 

[Electroboy]

HC 510 LR atomizers sucks...cisco 306 are the best