*GEM: A new RTA by MarkBugs

[qorax]

Hi guys, new member here! I've had the bug and WAE now for over a week, first time building my own coils. Currently getting .6 ohms at 19 watts using 28 awg .32 mm! Nice vape and taste so far!
My only issue is filling! Watched Q's videos a few time and using his method I still get some flooding with juice bubbling out of the ACR!
Am I doing something wrong? I'm having to partly strip it and wipe it out after filling.
Apart from that, this is a brilliant bit of kit!
Cheers

Hi, welcome to the happiness of GEM

28AWG (0.32mm), which you're using, is a perfect wire size for coiling on this atty ~ and between 2mm to 2.5mm diameter coils work pretty well here.

As @MKID correctly suggested, two things come into play to avoid leaking, especially while filling. (1)The correct filling method (as in the video) and (2)under-saturation of the wick before filling. I'd also like to add a 3rd, enough wicking material.

You see, many of us take the adage, "less is more" a bit too far when concerning 'cotton' inside our coils. Too little - and it'd not be a good vape (obviously leak as well, not just while filling - but regularly too). Pls pack enough to see some resistance while you move the wick left-n-right inside the coil. It shouldn't be free moving. It should need some effort to pull at either side.

The above also ensures that you have enough cotton to 'plug' the wick chanel ends, the portion of the deck which'd make contact with the chamber (chimney) wall. There should be a "bottleneck" there. Not a 'blockage' but not a 'free flow' either.

 

[Freedom2Vape]

No worries, try a 2.5mm bit if you can, and report back, what kind of wire are you using, Nickel? Also what kind of wicking material are you using?

Does the WAE support nickel?

 

[ronholland]

Hi, welcome to the happiness of GEM

28AWG (0.32mm), which you're using, is a perfect wire size for coiling on this atty ~ and between 2mm to 2.5mm diameter coils work pretty well here.

As @MKID correctly suggested, two things come into play to avoid leaking, especially while filling. (1)The correct filling method (as in the video) and (2)under-saturation of the wick before filling. I'd also like to add a 3rd, enough wicking material.

You see, many of us take the adage, "less is more" a bit too far when concerning 'cotton' inside our coils. Too little - and it'd not be a good vape (obviously leak as well, not just while filling - but regularly too). Pls pack enough to see some resistance while you move the wick left-n-right inside the coil. It shouldn't be free moving. It should need some effort to pull at either side.

The above also ensures that you have enough cotton to 'plug' the wick chanel ends, the portion of the deck which'd make contact with the chamber (chimney) wall. There should be a "bottleneck" there. Not a 'blockage' but not a 'free flow' either.

Thanks Q, I will try the 2.5 mm coil and add more cotton. Glad I chose the correct wire, beginners luck!

 

[TheotherSteveS]

Does the WAE support nickel?

nope! It will melt it pretty well!!!!

 

[Freedom2Vape]

nope! It will melt it pretty well!!!!

- just realized that for a 28g nickel build to .6Ω would take about 60 wraps - which wouldn't fit in the gem.

 

[TheotherSteveS]

- just realized that for a 28g nickel build to .6Ω would take about 60 wraps - which wouldn't fit in the gem.

I was going to say but resisted (!)

I think it wouldnt fit in 10 GEMs!!

 

[MKID]

I just had to ask in the middle of the confusion.....

 

[raitizz]

Mine arrived today. Cleaned, built, wicked, filled - short.
Took base out, tried again with the rebuilding ring - no short. Took wick out, inserted base into the tank - short.
Made a new coil - short.
Hmm.
The coil is 28awg, 2.4mmID, 7-8 wraps.

R

 

[jazzvaper]

Mine arrived today. Cleaned, built, wicked, filled - short.
Took base out, tried again with the rebuilding ring - no short. Took wick out, inserted base into the tank - short.
Made a new coil - short.
Hmm.
The coils is 28awg, 2.4mmID, 7-8 wraps.

R

Exactly my setup except, usually, 30 awg Ni 200.

 

[raitizz]

Exactly my setup except, usually, 30 awg Ni 200.

I'll try 30awg later. But 28awg should work. I dunno yet, what I'm doing wrong.

R

 

[jazzvaper]

I'll try 30awg later. But 28awg should work. I dunno yet, what I'm doing wrong.

R

Try pushing he coil down (a bit) into the coil well...

 

[TheotherSteveS]

Could be the coil or one of the leg ends or the terminal screws is shorting against the chimney!

 

[raitizz]

Try pushing he coil down (a bit) into the coil well...

It's in perfect alignment with the juice channels, but ok.

Could be the coil or one of the leg ends or the terminal screws is shorting against the chimney!

Coil leg ends are trimmed nicely. I put my money on the highest terminal screw. Weird.

R

*via Tapatalk

 

[Big Hitter]

Make sure the pos leg does not go down and hit the deck, if you look the pos post is raised slightly and the wire need to remain off the deck at all times.

 

[turbocad6]

yeah and don't wrap the wire completely around the screw, this causes the screw to sit a little higher up when tightened and short to the chamber

 

[raitizz]

Ok, I managed to get it to work with a 0.30mm wire. A wire I hadn't used in a while. Not my type.
Did everything exactly the same as before with that 0.32mm wire (~28awg) - wire NOT completely around the screw, legs trimmed at the screw etc. No shorts so far.
Leaks, though. Over-saturated the wick. A wet, gurgly vape. But that's managable.
It worries me, that the 0.32mm wire didn't work..

R

 

[jazzvaper]

Ok, I managed to get it to work with a 0.30mm wire. A wire I hadn't used in a while. Not my type.
Did everything exactly the same as before with that 0.32mm wire (~28awg) - wire NOT completely around the screw, legs trimmed at the screw etc. No shorts so far.
Leaks, though. Over-saturated the wick. A wet, gurgly vape. But that's managable.
It worries me, that the 0.32mm wire didn't work..

R

Prolly the most salient recommendation was not taking the leads around the posts completely. I NEVER do...anymore. At the beginning of TC I did, just to be certain of a "good" connection. Not after I cured myself of the mythical "OCD".

Earlier today I tried Q's tweezer-wrapping method. I foresee nothing but trouble from that.

 

[raitizz]

Ok, not leaking for now.

This one's gonna need work, its no K4...

The flavour - Zeus, have mercy

R

 

[qorax]

...It worries me, that the 0.32mm wire didn't work..

R

It will, with a li'l practice. Pls have patience.
As you rightly stated "it's no K4" ~ heck, it's like no other

 

[raitizz]

It will, with a li'l practice. Pls have patience.
As you rightly stated "it's no K4" ~ heck, it's like no other

Thanks, Q.
Well, filled the tank, leaked all over, had to vape that stuff off
Could it be, that the wicks need amost no priming? that way the o-ring in the chimney can't do as much harm to the wick as I think it does now..

R