Battery or Atty?

[BGabe]

I've had my REO mini for a few weeks now and I love it. I was using a 1.8ohm Cisco 306 that was used for quite a while. The other day I put a new (same atty specs) on and the flavor and vapor was the best thing I've ever experienced in over a year of vaping. Now, about a week later, I can't get it to perform hardly at all. When I do get vapor, it has no taste or tastes like metal, so when that happens I give the bottle a little squeeze and take a slow drag on it until I hear a slight gurgle. (I believe this is a blind squonk) After I do that.. barely anything comes out. When I listen for it, it sounds like the coil is completely submerged, so I blow it out and back at square one I go.

I have 4 IMRs that I use in rotation, but when I put a trustfire flame jacket in, it seems to perform soo much better, although the draw is still tight like the atty is flooded, I still get vapor. WTF am I doing wrong?? I use Dekang USA Mix at 16mg. My first thought is ditch the IMRs. Second, try a different atty (which I am going to do in an hour or 2) or Third, get a reducer tube? Any thought?

I'm new to this whole experience, so I don't quite feel confident that I am squonking properly. But, I can't find ANYTHING that explains the different methods or what to listen / feel for. The only description I found was blind squonking.

Please help! I'm going bald already and this thing is making me want to pull the rest of my hair out!

Had this else where, but I don't think it was getting any hits

 

[RocketRod]

With the reducer tube, if it doesn't work you can just remove it. You might want to give that a try anyway. Sounds like you are squonking about right. I have found that any method requires a finesse according to any atty/battery/juice combo. Even the color of the juice has allot to bear on them. I have trouble using 306's for just the reasons you are frustrated with. That happened when I only had one REO and I haven't tried them again since I have increased my family. I get a very satisfying vape from 510's or carto's. I don't squonk until the flavor drops off or I get a little dry hit at the end of a draw, and then a very light squonk. Try and notice if you are getting into a habit of picking up your REO and squonking before you draw. I was and was flooding atty's. When I flood one, I blow it out, shake it like a thermometer, and try it again. If its still acting up, I either run hot water through it or stick it in the "needs cleaning bin".

 

[TennDave]

You might want to check your IMR batteries too- they might not be coming of the charger at the right voltage. They should register up close to 4.2V...If not, then something is up... For the flame jackets to work better, something is up for sure. The IMR's should out-perform the flame jackets each and every time on any ohm atty less that 2.0ohms.

 

[Mudflap]

You might want to check your IMR batteries too- they might not be coming of the charger at the right voltage. They should register up close to 4.2V...If not, then something is up... For the flame jackets to work better, something is up for sure. The IMR's should out-perform the flame jackets each and every time on any ohm atty less that 2.0ohms.

Very good point. IMR batteries have a much lower internal resistance than lithium cobalt batteries. That means the ions flow more freely in and out of the battery. Some chargers are fooled by this lower internal resistance and it causes them to terminate the charging cycle before the IMR battery is fully charged. If you verify this is happening by using a multimeter to check your IMR battery's state of charge after the charger's LED turns green, try placing a lithium cobalt in the charger for a few seconds and then replace it with the IMR battery. If the charger has selectable mA settings, try using the lower setting and one IMR battery at a time. (and go shopping for a better charger)

 

[BGabe]

Well let me say that I feel like an idiot. The issue was this. The IMRs aren't quite as long as the flame jackets and therefore, not as much tension is on the neg spring. Well this causes the IMRs to slide around a bit, not alot, just some. Enough to where the the little positive (I'm going to call it a poker) was not making good contact with the positive post of the battery. So took a little screw driver and twisted it towards the front a little. Now it's hitting the same every time. All of the issues I had were bc of that. GEEZ.... And I'm going alot slower with my squonks too.

 

[Rhapsodies Fire]

So just out of curiosity...is there any discoloration on your spring?

 

[BGabe]

No there is not. Perfectly chromed. . But I did discover something else. The nipple on an IMR is much smaller than the flame jackets. If I push the IMR towards the connector, it fires properly every time. If I just slip it in, hit or miss. Is this normal? Also, when the poker makes contact with the nipple, it makes a tiny spark. I'm kind of scared that there is a spark happening on my battery that is 2 inches from my face.

 

[TennDave]

Spark is pretty normal, but typically is there if the surface is not good and clean (maybe got some juice on it?)...clean it off w/ alcohol and a q-tip and put some Naolox on the tip (the black stuff that Rob sends you in a bag) and you won't see the spark any longer. Occasionally, I have to open up the black plastic part (take the philips screw out) and move the firing pin around (what you call the poker) to make it more centered for my batteries- maybe once every 4-6 months- then all is good again in regards to striking the battery in the center. I tend to get it off center when I "mash" the button too hard and force the tip to slide down the side of the battery nipple over and over again... You eventually learn you don't have to "mash" it, but only make contact.

 

[hmlessalky]

Oh sorry, I thought this was some kind of game show thread.