Health mini-cig from DealExtreme

[markab]

Hi TB,
Have you placed you're order for the new Ruyan cigar yet? It looks very interesting. I'm a little disappointed though that it's a one time use disposable though, even if it is good for 1600 puffs. It seems like a step backwards to me.

Mark

 

[TropicalBob]

I can't afford that luxury. I'd love to test one, however. It wouldn't take long to find out if this is a quantum leap over the quality and quantity of vapor produced by other e-smoking devices.

Based on our past with digital watches, calculators, cell phones and the like, this might be a huge future market. Nobody repairs stuff anymore. Use it and toss it. There may come a time when refillable devices are as quaint as roll-your-own cigarettes. A sub-group will cling to refilling while e-packs of single-use ciggies can be bought at corner stores, used up and discarded.

I see streets littered with dead e-cig butts!

 

[TropicalBob]

Probably a final note on the Health mini cig from DealExtreme: DealExtreme was excellent to deal with. A bad battery was refunded within a week. Shipment was fast. The price was unbeatable. Nice company.

But I don't like the mini cig. It's a major disappointment. If this had been my first e-smoking experience, I'd already be back to a pack of cigarettes a day. It just can't produce enough vapor. You could put the entire atomizer in a bottle of liquid and it still couldn't do it.

The hard metal mouthpiece is a turnoff that will most likely break a tooth if I continue to use this thing. It's difficult to refill cartridges. I've had to fish it out of the dirty clothes basket three times after leaving the little cig in a shirt pocket.

At its best, it's pathetic.

I've glad I bought an e-pipe first, then an e-cigar. Each is vastly superior to this mini cig and its itty-bitty atomizer. But even they disappoint. I just need a lot more vapor. Four times as much at a minimum. Clouds of vapor! Like a real cigarette produces.

 

[TropicalBob]

I think Meltrex wrote once that these things seem to have minds of their own. So true. No sooner had I chastised the El Cheapo Health Mini Cig from DealExtreme than it perked right up today. Had me coughing as vapor hit the back of my throat. I've been using it frequently today, without a problem. Ok, cig, ok. You are fine in rotation with the (superior) e-cigar and e-pipe. I won't toss you. But I still can't recommend you as the sole e-smoking device.

 

[TropicalBob]

Sheesh. It's been great again today. What can I say? Irratic doesn't describe e-smoking's problem.

 

[shiftupmt]

Hi everybody,

I would like to order one of these, but before I would like to know if it is possible to use e-Liquid, such as that bought from e-cig.com on this type of e-cigarette. Maybe somebody who owns one of these might help me. Thanks

 

[TropicalBob]

The e-liquid can be used with just about any e-smoking device offered. In the case of the mini cig, you just let a drop slide down onto the wool in the mouthpiece/cartridge. If you want to get really ambitious, you straighten out a paper clip and insert it through the end hole to push up the inside piece. When it pops to the top, soak it with e-liquid and press it back down into the cartridge/mouthpiece. After awhile, however, the wool gets hopelessly dirty and you'll want a new cartridge. For the .... retentive, I must add that you can WASH the wool and reuse it even more times. If a Global Depression sets in, I might do that.

 

[aequitus]

I ordered a set of these off of ebay, my first e-smoking experience. They seemed to work alright at first, producing smoke equivalent to a light, and sometimes ultra-light cigarette. The smoke had sort of a cherry-ish/sweet taste, I was pretty pleased.

After using it on and off for a few hours, it stopped producing smoke entirely, with both battery packs and atomizers, fresh cartridges, and even after charging for an hour or two. It would produce maybe 1 or 2 puffs worth of smoke after letting it sit for awhile, but nothing after that.

Eventually I screwed the battery in to the charger, intent on letting it charge for a good 4 or 5 hours before trying again, but when i tried to unscrew it, the threaded housing at the end of the battery pack snapped off in the charger, breaking the e-cigarette and rendering the charger useless.

Luckily, I snagged it for $8.00 on ebay, plus $26 shipping, so I'm not out too much on this one, but the quality of the devices leaves a lot to be desired.

I'm thinking of going with a Ruyan E-Cigar or maybe even an E-Pipe instead of the E-cigarette route again..

 

[TropicalBob]

My Health cig wasn't performing up to snuff, so I gave my two atomizers a bath.

Very ... bad ... move.

One atomizer drowned. It's dead. I've tried electroshock resusitation without success. Full battery or not, the late, great atomizer won't heat. Flat line, all the way.

So I lost one battery in a day and one atomizer before its two-month anniversary. Not Health's fault, really. Putting non-waterproof electronics under water doesn't seem very swift to me, in retrospect, regardless of what I've read elsewhere. My dumb, as the young would say.

Now, excuse me, my vintage Timex needs a bath. It's running a few seconds slow these days. Gotta get the dirt out of it.

 

[NerdyCinderella]

TropicalBob,
I just received a Health mini which I purchased here:
eBay Store - e-Cig-Sales: electronic cigarette, e-cigarette, e-cig
It looks just like the pics in this thread a couple of pages back. However, I'm curious that you described the mouthpiece as metal; all mine are plastic.
BUT MORE IMPORTANT IF ANYONE CAN ANSWER THIS.
The two male prongs on the charger's plug do not have holes at their ends.
I'VE NEVER SEEN THIS IN MY LIFE. IS IT SAFE?

 

[NerdyCinderella]

This is a pic of the plug I was referring to in the previous post.
The plug with this unit does not have these holes.

 

[Meltrex]

NerdyCinderella,

Thats perfectly normal and safe. Your ok.

Holes in the male prongs were first introduced over a quarter of a century ago to solve the problem of plug grip when inserted into the female AC socket.

Years ago, and well before the advent of the Hospital Grade receptacle (like the PS Power Port), plug grip strength was achieved by the addition of small dimples in the female AC outlet. These dimples, which are no longer manufactured, snapped into the associated holes on the male prongs to achieve a tighter connection.

 

[TropicalBob]

NerdyCinderella,

Those do look like the Health e-cig (note the photo of BAD parts!!!!!!!) that I bought some months ago. Mine is effectively dead now. I no longer use it at all. It was never very good, but I had no way of knowing just how pathetic it was until I saw some videos, particularly good ole RatintheHat's. I now have an electronic cigarette from Meltrex and it's stunningly good. It's that "four times the vapor" that I wanted. Can't wait to do my flavor experiments with this beauty. My Health e-cigar continues to function, but produces much less vapor than the pen model e-cig. The e-pipe doesn't cut it. Never much vapor, very heavy, very awkward to use.

 

[NerdyCinderella]

Thanks for the info meltrex.

And thanks TropicalBob also. Any thoughts on the difference betw your metal and my plastic mouthpiece?

Didn't realize I was purchasing a Health mini.

Wish we could learn to recognize the different brands of ecigs in the advertisements thru the correct, consistent and fully disclosed use of names, pics and companies.

 

[TropicalBob]

It is pretty frustrating. We've noted here before that no one seems to know how many manufacturers there are. All offer to let any company "brand" an e-cig, so a Health can be the same as another with a different name. With a small investment, you could launch the NerdyCinderella e-cig line.

I've put mine away, so I can't even verify I indeed have a metal mouthpiece. Again, long ago, we fussed here about how these things don't feel like a real cigarette. You certainly don't want to clamp one of these between clenched teeth or dangle one from your lips.

I have learned to love the feel of the e-cigar, however. It doesn't fumble as easily! I use it as a conversation pointer for emphasis. Also like the feel of the pen model -- which fits nicely into the lanyard I ordered awhile ago from E-Cig. Always with me.

Unlike some here, I don't really want mine to look exactly like a real cigarette. That seems an invitation to public trouble. Cigs are the Devil's Instrument now in the States, as you know. Personally, I'm not into waving a red flag at anti-smoking bulls. Plus, I kept misplacing my mini-cig. Left it in shirt pockets many times.

 

[shesmokz]

I sell the "Health" Cig, not as cheap as Deal Extreme, but my time is worth something as I test each one before they leave. It is true, the light never changes on a charge. I go 4 hours, except 8 on the initial charge. That seems to do it. To add liquid to the cartridge you just put the dropper, up to the nipple, and force in about four drops. Then I lightly blow in, to send the liquid in the intended direction. These are not good drippers, because of the exposed, cheap coil , and the fact I have seen it trash batteries galore. If you do drip, smoke it off immediately. They also occasionally have sticking Microprocesors. For this you simply suck on the battery. I have a few extra American Plug cords, if anyone needs them. I also have cartridges. I personally don't like the taste of them. But liquid does work unless you use your cartridge for a pacifier... as many of us do. If you need anything I have, contact me @ ecigsales@aol.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.
Jane
Shesmokz

 

[shesmokz]

I posted a reply, but it never appeared, so I'll try it again. I have the cords and cartridges, and all the info to make them work. I wrote this long reply on them, but it disappeared. Write me @ecigsales@aol.com if you need things for this unit.
Jane

 

[leaford]

Hi Jane!

Welcome to the forum. Glad to see you here.

 

[LockOn]

Hi there!
I am new on ths forum because I started my e-smoking experience two days ago. I bought Health E-Cigarettes same as on dealextreme.com from bestchinaseller form ebay.com. I live in Europe so I had to wait about 11 days to recive it. I finally got it two days ago. At first I had some problems: I didn't know if I was supposed to cover this little holes near battery, or why the light is not turning on. At home I checked everything out I charged the battery and replaced cartridge. I also moved a bit the little grey "mesh thing" from vapourizer. The first hit was empty same as next five. And then miracle happened a large vapour of sweet smoke appeared. I felt it in my throat and lungs and I didn't have to suck it hard. I was very pleased with taste and vapour. I just had to hold e-cig with top part (with light) facing the ground. But after about 30-50 puffs the cartridge run out of liquid. Now I am out of cartridegs. I am worried why these cartridegs are running put so fast. Is it normal? It is said that 1 cartridge should be enough for 200-250 puffs. Mabye my cartridges were out-dated or something. And as I am a rookie I am writting here to get some advices.

Is it normal that cartridge will be enough for 30-50 good puffs?
Is it possible to use other cartridges to mini e-cigarettes with this model?

 

[leaford]

Yeah, that sounds about right. The 200-250 puffs would be a full sized cartridge for the pen style e-cigs. That figure, or similar ones, keep being used by sellers who seem to copy and paste the wording from one ad to another. Only the pen style holds that much. The minis last 3-5 cigarettes worth or so.