First impressions on my New Riva 510 SE

[John Phoenix]

I'ts sleek, it's black - fine looking - and to think when I first saw a picture of it I hated it.

First thing I noticed is it hits as good as any cig I ever smoked. Plenty of vapor. Second thing I noticed is the taste was very smooth and mellow.. almost yummy not like burning tobacco. I am using Max/Boro from Freedomsmokeusa 18 MG. Er.. I don't think it taste anything like a Marlboro but it's not unpleasant. perhaps I am not really tasting it yet cus my taste buds need to get back to normal.

I do cough a little and I think that's because the density of vapor is not like the density of the cigarette smoke I'm used to. Plus it feels different going in. This is hard to describe. I smoke a filter-less pipe with roll your own tobacco and I just tried them side by side. I think the difference is the smoke is dry and my lungs are used to it. With the Riva the vapor is moist and my lungs are not used to this moisture. I can see this is going to take some getting used to

After a few puffs on the Riva I notice the nicotine. It hits you with a different feel than a cigarette - almost like it's a different drug you never had before.. perhaps that's because your getting the nicotine without all the other chemicals. It is not unpleasant but I can see overdoing it would be easy to do while puffing away on this thing.

BTW, other companies sell this as the EM-Riva, Liberty Flights calls it the Riva 510 SE - It's the same thing.. it says EM- Riva on the instruction manual.

I'm determined to quit smoking so as soon as I finish this lil bit of tobacco I have left I am going to puff nothing but the e-cig. I'm going to have a few beers tonight so I will see if this thing will pass the beer test for me. The REAL test will be when I wake up in the morning. Oy.

Questions:

I'm kinda afraid I am going to hold the button down too long and harm the atty. I guess every newbie goes through that.

Is there a max amount of seconds that should be safe?

How do I know when I'm starting to run dry and need to refill?

It there a average number of puffs I can look for?

The instructions say the cartridges age good for one use only - if you can refill them, Why do they say that? (this came with blank cartridges of which I used one and topped it off with 15 drops)

Well now finally after 100 posts I'm one of you guys LOL.. took me long enough. Give me my Captain Midnight decoder ring and show me the secret handshake.

 

[ancient puffer]

I'ts sleek, it's black - fine looking - and to think when I first saw a picture of it I hated it.

First thing I noticed is it hits as good as any cig I ever smoked. Plenty of vapor. Second thing I noticed is the taste was very smooth and mellow.. almost yummy not like burning tobacco. I am using Max/Boro from Freedomsmokeusa 18 MG. Er.. I don't think it taste anything like a Marlboro but it's not unpleasant. perhaps I am not really tasting it yet cus my taste buds need to get back to normal.

It can actually take several weeks before your taste really gets back to what it should be. But it *does* happen, be patient.

I do cough a little and I think that's because the density of vapor is not like the density of the cigarette smoke I'm used to. Plus it feels different going in. This is hard to describe. I smoke a filter-less pipe with roll your own tobacco and I just tried them side by side. I think the difference is the smoke is dry and my lings are used to it. With the Riva the vapor is moist and my lungs are not used to this moisture. I can see this is going to take some getting used to

One thing to be aware of, both PG and VG will dry you out quite a bit, so drink plenty of liquids while you're vaping.

After a few puffs on the Riva I notice the nicotine. It hits you with a different feel than a cigarette - almost like it's a different drug you never had before.. perhaps that's because your getting the nicotine without all the other chemicals. It is not unpleasant but I can see overdoing it would be easy to do while puffing away on this thing.

AMEN to *that* If you start to feel lightheaded, take a short break, OD'ing on nicotine is NO fun.

BTW, other companies sell this as the EM-Riva, Liberty Flights calls it the Riva 510 SE - It's the same thing.. it says EM- Riva on the instruction manual.

I'm determined to quit smoking so as soon as I finish this lil bit of tobacco I have left I am going to puff nothing but the e-cig. I'm going to have a few beers tonight so I will see if this thing will pass the beer test for me.

Raise one for ECF while you're at it

Questions:

I'm kinda afraid I am going to hold the button down too long and harm the atty. I guess every newbie goes through that.

Is there a max amount of seconds that should be safe?

The model you have may or may not have an automatic cutoff, but generally, a slow 3-6 second draw is just what you need and gives great vapor.

How do I know when I'm starting to run dry and need to refill?

It there a average number of puffs I can look for?

There's a slight change in flavor and vapor production. Past that point it drops off quickly and you'll get a "burnt" after taste. Try to top off as soon as you notice it.

The instructions say the cartridges age good for one use only - if you can refill them, Why do they say that? (this came with blank cartridges of which I used one and topped it off with 15 drops)

Um, they want you to buy more from THEM

Well now finally after 100 posts I'm one of you guys LOL.. took me long enough. Give me my Captain Midnight decoder ring and show me the secret handshake.

YAY! and congratulations! Glad to have you aboard.

 

[RIMP]

I usually hit the button for 1-2 sec before taking a drag. I do like a couple of drags on it and fill my lungs You can't take a strong hit on it like a cig. Draw lighter and longer When I first started vaping the nic hit me the same as you As prev posted make sure to drink plenty of fluids Happy vaping
RIMP

 

[CBB]

Congratulations, the EM-Riva SE is East Mall (manufacturer/wholesale distributor) Riva is the mode, (eGo clone) SE Special Edition (it is supposed to be a true 3.7v, but is not actually though it is closer to 3.7v than the standard eGo batteries) I believe the protection circuit tries to keep it at higher power longer and cuts off a bit earlier to keep the voltage up.

I usually use cartomizers on my Riva SE I hit them for about 15 seconds at a time and have never had any fail early from it but they do seem to gum up a little faster, usually 2-3 days use. But they clean up and go back into service with no problem. Some have lasted two weeks with cleaning, that is more than long enough to keep me happy.

 

[John Phoenix]

Thanks for the answers so far. I think i'm going to be happy using the cartridges. Heck i can make two last forever with cleaning and replacing filler. Besides to keep cost down I already bought all the DIY supplies I need to last for a few months. I may be able to make that last even longer..

I will give this a good test to see if I can confirm this but I think I find that the 18 mg is too strong for me. This shocks me coming from smoking filter-less roll your own. I cannot quite explain it, but the nicotine I'm getting with the e-cig seems stronger somehow. After a few good puffs I don't want a cig for a really long time - and I feel kinda funny. Normally I smoke my pipe with RYO about 4 puffs every twenty minutes or so. If I did that with the e-cig, I think I could make myself sick.

I used to smoke Marlboro lights 100's (but also lots of times without the filters). When the price went above 3 dollars I switched to TOP roll your own tobacco. (5 years ago) When I switched I never really noticed a lack of nicotine so i assumed they had about the same amount - but now I'm not so sure. I'm developing a theory. I think the nicotine will hit you or effect you in the same way according to how much your body/brain is addicted to. A heavy smoker who needs 24 MG will get the same feeling and effects as a smoker that only requires 5 mg - and vice versa. Therefore as long as you cut down very slowly you will still get the same nicotine effect and not notice the lack of nicotine.

If this holds true this will be great news - kinda explains why so many e-cig vapers find it lots easier to cut down on nicotine after they have been using e-cigs for a while - and means you can cut down nicotine without missing anything, and get healthier for it too.

Since I have all the DIY stuff, I may be able to dilute my 18 MG and be fine with say 9 mg and make it last that much longer.

The instructions didn't mention anything about an automatic cut off or protection circuit.. how can I be sure this model has one?

 

[Credo]

As long as the atty is wet, you can hold the button as long as you like. It probably times out and shuts itself down to wait for a new click at some point (10 to 15 seconds).

 

[melloyello]

eventually the cartomizers will taste burnt and no matter how much you clean them, that taste will not go away. havent heard of anyone actually replacing the filler in them yet tho, but hey...if you can, more power to you. the riva is a solid unit and should last half a year or so.

 

[CBB]

The instructions didn't mention anything about an automatic cut off or protection circuit.. how can I be sure this model has one?

I have not hit any auto cut off with my Riva and I am glad for it, I don't worry about accidental firing as I am generally pretty careful with how I handle it and put it down. All batteries manufactured specifically for e-cigs ,ones that come with a button or draw switch made to fit onto an atomizer are protected against over charge and over discharge. Generic Li-ion batteries (such as for flashlights) used in mods should be purchased with protection circuits, they will be labeled if they are protected when purchased.

One last thought, the protection circuit does consume a small amount of power all the time because it constantly checks the charge, don't let an e-cig battery sit for a long time (many hours) uncharged or the protection may drop the power below the minimum chargeable voltage and (effectively) permanently disable the battery.

 

[John Phoenix]

As of right now, 75 people have viewed this.

7 have responded.

Whats up with you people? I wanna know what y'all think of my nicotine theory !! ? <grin> Or something...

O.k. I get it.. most of you are Chicken to post. Go ahead post something. Tell me I'm a douche bag. Anything. You.. yeah YOU the guy who has been lurking for months.. Post Something! Tell me I'm Ugly and My momma dresses me funny. Get excited about "something". Ya know why I had 100 posts before I even got my first e-cig Kit.. It's because (You have a big mouth?) (Shut-up Brian from Family Guy) No, it's because I got excited in Something I saw that it could help people. That I saw could help me.

We are all Adults here. Every adult has an opinion and all opinions are like .......s. (everybody has one) I say, Show me your .......s!! (Metaphorically speaking of course)

O.k. so maybe I'm not cut from the same cloth as most of you.. in fact.. perhaps you'd have to go to the end of the earth to find that cloth has been destroyed in the center of the planet most people call Hell never to be seen again. I'm o.k. with that today. The point is, I'm here, Your here, both trying to get through this thing together. Rise up with me will you, and make your voice be heard! If not for me, if not for you.. for those.. who may come after us that needs Your guidance.

I really don't care if you want to reply to my thread or not cus it's not about me. I just wanna encourage those sitting in the wings to do your part and not be silent. Together we can make this smokers world a better place for all of us. The crazies like me and sane folk like you, but we must do it together and we must do it Loud.

What do ya say? Are ya with me? (er.. or did I just get banned)

 

[Rikaroo]

your a nut lol My rivas are more sane then you hehe JK I believe the rivas have a 20 sec cutoff.. so heres a question how long does it take a new vapor to accumulate 40 bottles of juice? LOL i probably vape 5 or more flavors a day....3 months got close to 45 bottles o juice... lost count!!

Happy vapes

 

[John Phoenix]

Rikaroo, I don't know.. but i'll start counting! I have a 60 mg/ml bottle of Nicotine and a 450 ml bottle of PG and a 450 ml bottle of vg and 5 different concentrated flavors. I guess I'll find out!

O.k. it's 1 am here now and I have to say, vaping is Great for your SEX life! See, the wife don't smoke. After hours of vaping the wife loved the fact I don't taste like smoke anymore! Now That's a good selling point!

If they could mix vaping flavors with aromatherapy they would have a Hit on their hands. I can see it now.. ' Sexy Scents' 'Voluptuous Vapors' 'Tantalizing Tasties'. Why, if everyone was vaping those flavors, we could create World Peace! (Or a whole lot of jealous husbands)

Already I'm not coughing as much as I was earlier. My biggest problem so far is when ever I grab the Riva I wanna grab a lighter. (i was used to having my pipe in one hand and a lighter in the other) I'll actually pause and look for a lighter and grab one before I say to myself Hey Stupid, You don't need that! Luckily I haven't tried to light the darn thing .. yet.

 

[NicLiq]

Congratulations on your big switch!

We have Rivas too - it will cut power on it's own if you hold the button down too long. The older-style Riva batteries start blinking continually and cut power if you hold them down too long (Liberty-Flights sends the older ones with the Riva 510 Carto/case kit).

If you find yourself holding the button until it goes out, and you chain vape, the battery goes dead in about 3 hours, which thankfully is the same amount of time it takes to charge the other one. If you behave, the batteries last 5+ hours.

Put your lighter away so your new SE stays shiny

 

[roxics]

Nicotine is absorbed in the upper airways when vaping instead of deep in the lungs with analogs. It usually takes a little longer for it to hit you then it does with an analog. Less is absorbed with vaping. Hence the reason many vapers nurse their ecigs like pacifiers.

 

[John Phoenix]

It's Morning! Time to see if I can pass the morning test.

And what a strange morning it is. I'm out of coffee so I have to drink hot tea as well as puff my e-cig instead of cigarettes. The caffeine in tea ( English Breakfast) hits you different than coffee, and this e-cig is different from my regular tobacco so I feel like I'm in the twilight zone.

I think it's working though. After a few good puffs and giving it some time to get absorbed, I don't really feel like I want a cigarette. Tea contains the MAOI's so this may be helping with the cravings.

 

[kelleymcm]

Hey Hey ...How's that RIVA ? Loving it aren't cha ?
Not so UGLY now ahhhy???
The tone of your posts have changed dramatically...
That's what happens to your brain on OXYGEN !!!!
the term "goofy as a huntin' dog" comes to mind

GLAD your happy with your purchase !

 

[John Phoenix]

Hi Kelly. I dunno about the tone of my posts - it just depends on the subject matter. I can be serious or silly, sometimes both at once. If you like the above, read this (it's not as the title suggests) http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/lounge/183520-post-office-horror-stories.html (warning twisted sense of humor)

I am happy with the Riva. I have had nothing but this e-cig all day today and as long as I have it to puff on, I don't want anything more. I am also drinking lots of coffee and other things that contain MOAI's, but I love to do that as a rule. See here for more info on MAOI's and why you might need them with the e-cig http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...end-quit-smoking-e-cigs-do-you-find-also.html I mention this because lots of folks haven't heard about it yet. Lots of good links in this thread. ( it's easier for me to refer folks to this thread than go find all the links to re-post)

I have even tried a few simple cartridge mods.

I have read that most folks vape between 3 and 5 ML a day. I think that's a lot judging by my vaping so far. I have filled or topped off my cart about 5 times today with 10 to 15 drops. It has only used about half my 3 ml bottle. With my tobacco pipe almost every night I'd start to get headaches because of the nicotine building up all day. Of course I would inhale my pipe because I smoked regular tobacco in it. I haven't gotten that so far with the e-cig. I suppose I may wind up vaping more when I get more used to it and get a better sense of what my vaping habits will be.

 

[ancient puffer]

I can't really say anything (useful) about your nicotine theory. I will say that when I smoked I never OD'd on nicotine, but I have with vaping. I'm not sure I have any understanding of why that is, but, there it is.

BTW, I think its normal to vape a lot more at first, and even find yourself vaping more once the novelty wears off. Again, maybe trying to replace the MAOI's, or who knows? Maybe just not worrying so much about the health effects of what you're doing.

Also, as you probably already know, the longer you're off analogs, the more your sense of taste and smell will come back/change. So don't be surprised if your evaluation of a particular flavor (in vapor) changes over the next few weeks, even on a day to day basis. A lot of people try to find several good flavors so they can switch up when that happens, but to be honest, sometimes the flavors just do very little for me (still enjoy playing with the vapor tho).

At any rate, I feel your pain on the coffee thing you mentioned. I woke up this morning to a dead coffee maker, didn't get my first cup until nearly 4:00 pm. It was HELL, let me tell ya. Luckily, due to my excellent self control, the wife and pets all survived

But bottom line: Congratulations on switching, it'll turn out to be one of the best things you ever did for your health.