Cartomizer / Tank Questions

[VapinWolf]

I am using an IKV 2.0 Mega Punch in a 22mm tank and have a couple questions for the more experienced folks

1. I am vaping DIY 60%VG-40%PG. Every once in a while I get a bitter hit. Is this a feed issue?

2. The last two days when I refill I am seeing a single drop of very dark juice on the battery connection. (My juice is clear) Did I burn it?

It is still tasting good 95% of the hits Thanks

 

[JimmyJet]

Your results sound very typical. Quite good actually. Not every hit will be perfect. 95% is a good number. An occasional drip out the bottom is common. As for burning, unless the vapor tastes burnt, then no.

 

[john333]

the most common ratio of pg/vg is 70/30. your liquid is 60vg so its thicker than most. you're getting a dry draw because of that. the gunk build up on the coil is from the flavorings in your liquid. its very common to get a drop now and again from the cart to the pin. I clean mine a couple times a day with a cotton swab. good luck

 

[Baditude]

the most common ratio of pg/vg is 70/30. your liquid is 60vg so its thicker than most. you're getting a dry draw because of that. the gunk build up on the coil is from the flavorings in your liquid. its very common to get a drop now and again from the cart to the pin. I clean mine a couple times a day with a cotton swab. good luck

50/50 ratio is very common, also. The higher you go on the Vg side of things the thicker the juice will be. Also, darker juice will clog a carto's filler faster than a clearer juice will. Sweet flavors likely have some sugar or other sweetner in them and will tend to clog the heating coil.

 

[VapinWolf]

50/50 ratio is very common, also. The higher you go on the Vg side of things the thicker the juice will be. Also, darker juice will clog a carto's filler faster than a clearer juice will. Sweet flavors likely have some sugar or other sweetner in them and will tend to clog the heating coil.

I am making my own juice, so I can play with the %. My current batch is 50/50 and taste is only ok. I am going to add another 5% flavor and try it again.

Bad, I have some more ?'s for you (it is your own fault, as your posts and blogs got me to try the carto/tank setup, so 1000 x thank you!!) and of course ANYONE else with helpful hints or suggestions. I had to single Bad out as his blogs have been extremely useful.

My first carto died today, 10 full days use at about 1.5 tanks per day. Is that 'good service' out of one?

The draw started getting tight, and what looks like crystal bubbles are growing up from the filler now. I saw where you posted about the draw getting tighter. Kinda curious about the 'bubbles' though.

Before I got my Zmax I vaped at 3.4 or 3.6 volts on a KGO VV, Zmax is set for 6w. Carto is labeled as 2.0 ohm(Zmax says 1.8)

I am getting GOOD vapor production and raising the w or v does not increase flavor or vapor. All the numbers I am seeing suggest my settings are low.

Am I doing something obviously wrong? Suggestions? I am NEVER smoking again, so I want to make this the best it can possibly be. Thanks

 

[Baditude]

The tight draw is the common sign that the carto will need to be replaced soon. Another would be a decrease in flavor or even an unpleasant taste. Since we can not do dry burns with a cartomizer without burning the filler, the gunk buildup on the coils that is inevitable over time can cause bad flavor.

I've never noticed any "crystal bubbles" in the filler material before. You've got me stumped on that one.

I would call 10 days use on a single cartomizer to be pretty average. I commonly get 7 - 14 days on mine, depending upon how dark or thick the juice is. I've had cartos last up to 3 weeks or more with a very clear juice. I've also had some that have clogged up or developed a burnt taste after only a couple of days. It just happens.

It's not uncommon for an resistance rating on a cartomizer of be off as much as 0.1 - 0.2 ohm. We're talking really tiny wire coils here and there will be slight variations.

I rarely go over 4.8 volts with any of my juice flavors. (I'm not sure what that works out to in watts, I'm usually using a Provari.) I usually am using an Ikenvape Platinum (2.5 ohm) or Ikenvape 510 Fusion (3.0 ohm). Fruit flavors only get 3.5 - 3.7 volts, otherwise flavor suffers or they taste burnt. Coffee flavors I vape 4.0 - 4.6 volts. Cinnamon flavors at 4.5 volts.

I tend to prefer a cooler vape. I prefer flavor over throat hit or vapor.

 

[VapinWolf]

Thanks for the information! All I have vaped thus far is fruit flavors, slightly lower ohms on my cartos and clearos 1.7 - 2.7

I found out what the bubbles were, juice that was being pulled out of the packing due to tight draw. Let it set until I got home and it was gone.

Luckily I had my Protank filled with Strawberry Candy or it would have been a very BAD night. I am sure you have heard the storms that went through the midwest most of the day. Work had me out in it. Wasn't a good day for my primary delivery system to crap out.