Help, is my mod defective?

[JackdawFool]

I have a new kanger topbox mini. I'm trying to use a new toptank mini with a .5ohm SS coil in temperature control mode.

Lots of times when I press the button, it doesn't fire. I have the temp set to 225C, but it doesn't seem to matter what I set the temp to. When I press the button and hold it down, the watts reading on the display shows only .4 and stays there while the temp reading bounces back and forth between 140 and 170 or so. Nothing else seems to happen. If I hold the button down for a full ten seconds, the display indicates the 10 second limit has been reached, without it ever firing.

When it fails to fire, if I release the button and then press it again, it usually works properly and the watts reading shoots up to some larger number (maybe 50 or more, hard to see as it moves fast) while it fires.

I have another toptank that I currently have a Ni coil in, and that one seems to work properly (in Ni temp control mode) and never fails to fire.

Any idea what is wrong? Is the mod not working properly in temp control mode for SS? Is my new SS coil faulty? Or?

I'm really stumped and could use some help. Thanks!

 

[WillieB69]

Does the mod have separate settings for SS and Ni when in temp control? Seems odd one would work and not the other.

 

[JackdawFool]

Yes, you specify the coil type. When using the SS coil you put the mod in SS temp control mode and when using the Ni coil you set it to Ni mode.

 

[WillieB69]

I would try a new coil first. If it does the same thing then I would assume it's an issue with the mod.

 

[Douggro]

I'm trying to use a new toptank mini with a .5ohm SS coil in temperature control mode.

Is the coil in question stamped with the .5Ω SS316L mark?

 

[JackdawFool]

It's the SS coil that came with the kanger topbox kit. It is stamped with "SS" on one side. On the other side it says ".5ohms 15W-60W."

 

[Douggro]

It's the SS coil that came with the kanger topbox kit. It is stamped with "SS" on one side. On the other side it says ".5ohms 15W-60W."

The new Kanger SS coils that are intended for TC use have the markings I posted stamped on them. Technically, they're all SSOCC coils, but only the ones with the SS316L mark on them use SS wire.

 

[JackdawFool]

I'm pretty sure this is SS wire... I know the SS in SSOCC means the casing is stainless steel. But this is stamped with SS. The nickle coil is stamped with Ni. The packaging says this coil is for "stainless steel TC", etc.

 

[Douggro]

I'm pretty sure this is SS wire... I know the SS in SSOCC means the casing is stainless steel. But this is stamped with SS. The nickle coil is stamped with Ni. The packaging says this coil is for "stainless steel TC", etc.

If you're 100% on that, then it's a matter of the Topbox supporting SS TC mode and getting it switched over to it if it does. I don't have a Topbox to guide you through it.

 

[JackdawFool]

Yeah, I know how to put it into SS temp control mode. You click the button three times to cycle it through all the available modes. In "Ni" mode my nickel coil seems to work fine. In "SS" mode, this SS coil exhibits the problem.

I do have another SS coil I can try but I'd hate to waste/make a mess of all the fluid I currently have in the tank...

 

[Douggro]

Yeah, I know how to put it into SS temp control mode. You click the button three times to cycle it through all the available modes. In "Ni" mode my nickel coil seems to work fine. In "SS" mode, this SS coil exhibits the problem.

I do have another SS coil I can try but I'd hate to waste/make a mess of all the fluid I currently have in the tank...

Should have a resistance lock feature; you are engaging it, right?

 

[Clydde26]

Can you post a pic on the coil outside of the atty? The SS coil has a pink band.

 

[Clydde26]

I stand corrected yet again

 

[JackdawFool]

Here's a pic of the coil. This coil comes with the topbox mini kit and one just like it also comes with the toptank mini. Looks like the same one as Clydde posted.

 

[JackdawFool]

Thanks all for the continued help.

Should have a resistance lock feature; you are engaging it, right?

Yes, the resistance setup seems to be working properly. The mod identifies and locks in the resistance of the coil at .56 ohms.

I'm trying a new SS coil now to see if that one has the same problem.

 

[JackdawFool]

Ok, so the new SS coil seems to have solved the problem. It's firing every time. So that's good news I guess as far as the mod being ok.

Now my question is, why did the original coil develop this problem? Could it be something I did? I noticed it was looking pretty flooded in the center. Maybe the temp control thing is doing what it's supposed to do and preventing the coil from firing because it isn't saturated properly with enough fluid or something. I barely used it... I was hoping this setup would be more reliable than my old 808 stuff?

 

[Douggro]

Ok, so the new SS coil seems to have solved the problem. It's firing every time. So that's good news I guess as far as the mod being ok.

Now my question is, why did the original coil develop this problem? Could it be something I did? I noticed it was looking pretty flooded in the center. Maybe the temp control thing is doing what it's supposed to do and preventing the coil from firing because it isn't saturated properly with enough fluid or something. I barely used it... I was hoping this setup would be more reliable than my old 808 stuff?

The most probable conclusion is that it was either a bad coil from the get-go or that you had a connection problem between the coil and tank.

 

[WillieB69]

The most probable conclusion is that it was either a bad coil from the get-go or that you had a connection problem between the coil and tank.

I would say this is the issue.
It sucks but they do turn out a bad coil from time to time. It happens in any manufacturing process.
Glad the new coil has sorted the problem for you!

 

[crxess]

Coil likely had a Leg issue and the Mod occasionally read to low resistance on initial Press of the button. This prevented actual Firing, but you holding the Button cause continued counter function.
Got it?

I have seen this with Coil issues on Several Brands of Regulated Mods. It simply means they are doing as designed - to protect the mod and user.

Glad the replacement head corrected your issue.

 

[JackdawFool]

Thanks again everybody! This new coil is working fantastically and I'm really, really enjoying my new mod.

Now I want to try to find some replacement coils from kanger that match exactly the one I have. It looks like with all the different versions out there and from reading some other threads, it might be hard to find identical replacements.