House of Hybrids featuring the Zenesis PV

[Brewzz]

Good morning Zenfidels!!

As of today, it is one year that I have been tobacco free!

I had a friend comment yesterday that he thought the whole idea of E-cigs was to quit smoking, and he wondered why I was still using them.

I first explained that I don't use an "E-cig", it's an APV, and secondly, I like my nicotine, it's the carcinogens an 4000+ other chemicals I wanted to be free of.

Loving my Mini Zenesis, and working on figuring out how to stash away some funds to buy a Dragon!

Edit to add: WOHOO!! Looks like I am now an ECF Veteran, too!

 

[Izord]

Near the end of the video he talks about how to thin the wick down. Roll it between your fingers in the direction it is wound. It will tighten up to get it in the hole.... that's what she said!!!

Yup, rolled a wick and got it in the hole.

Are you using the 400 mesh or the 325?

The 325 should wick faster right?

 

[Shaitaan]

The wire between the center post and ground screw should go counter clockwise around that screw then wraps up the coil on the outside of wick clockwise, then wraps counter clockwise around the top center screw. The actual wrap is clockwise.
Thx to willowize for pointing that out to me. I had it wrong.

actually if you want to be technical, THAT doesnt matter.....its just easier to set up that way....mine IS clockwise...being right handed, it's easier to do for me and I've never had a single problem with it...

 

[Shaitaan]

Are you sure about the counter clockwise up the wick? Looks to me that he runs wire between the center post and ground screw (-) (counter clockwise around that screw) then wraps coil up on the outside of wick clockwise, then wraps counter clockwise around the top center post(+).
Therefore, the only counter clockwise is around the screws only, the actual wrap is clockwise.

Maybe I'm seeing that wrong.

to be exact, this is exactly how mine is set up....so there's no Rwire short to cap at the base screw, or wick problems at the top...

 

[kcos]

 

[Shaitaan]

Good morning Zenfidels!!

As of today, it is one year that I have been tobacco free!

I had a friend comment yesterday that he thought the whole idea of E-cigs was to quit smoking, and he wondered why I was still using them.

I first explained that I don't use an "E-cig", it's an APV, and secondly, I like my nicotine, it's the carcinogens an 4000+ other chemicals I wanted to be free of.

Loving my Mini Zenesis, and working on figuring out how to stash away some funds to buy a Dragon!

Edit to add: WOHOO!! Looks like I am now an ECF Veteran, too!

congrats

 

[Shaitaan]

Yup, rolled a wick and got it in the hole.

Are you using the 400 mesh or the 325?

The 325 should wick faster right?

the 325 wick is used with thicker juices I've used anything from 100% pg down to 50/50 and not had a problem with 400 mesh...and NO i did not modify the wicks other than rolling em smaller

 

[lorderos33]

Hello Zenfidels,

Been travelling and haven't been able to keep up with the thread.

Got a question or two about my Standard.

I'm still using the wick that Zen set it up with. I'm using Prothol juice which is pretty thin I think.

Problem is it doesn't wick really well. The coils get red hot. I've put some drops of juice on the coils then it works pretty good for a minute or two.

Seems to wick a little better if I hold it sideways or upside down.

Should I make a new wick? When the coils glow red hot then it tastes bad.

Other question is that if I have a pretty full juice chamber and lay it down for a few hours, most of the juice leaks out into the cap. I think through the vent hole.

Anything to do about that? Do you guys keep it in a cup standing up or something? It will stand on the switch end, but it's wobbly and I sure don't want this beautiful thing to fall over.

Thanks guys.

Sounds to me like it's time to clean or replace the wick. Over time the wick will become clogged with gunk. I clean them by re-oxidixing with a torch (the first heating cycle under the torch for cleaning I let it get red and keep it glowing for about 30 seconds to a minute if it doesn't clean off quickly) then quench in water 5x, then drip juice on wick and light, 5x there too then re-insert wick and re-coil. Works like new again.

To re-establish good wicking I tip the PV over at a 45 degree or steeper angle and then press the button. The coils will glow red but after about a minute, all of a sudden the juice starts flowing fast through the wick and will actually start feeding faster than the coil can burn it. The coils will stop glowing while the button is still pressed and the juice will start dripping from the wick.

Put the cap back on and enjoy a good couple of weeks of vaping. When it gets dirty again, do the same process over again. After you have done it successfully the whole process will take about 5-10 minutes. Well worth the couple of weeks of great vape

 

[Brewzz]

the 325 wick is used with thicker juices I've used anything from 100% pg down to 50/50 and not had a problem with 400 mesh...and NO i did not modify the wicks other than rolling em smaller

I haven't changed the wick on my mini from the one that it was sent with, which I believe is the 400 mesh. I use juice that is either 30/70 or 40/60 PG/VG, and I have only had minor wicking issues. When I think it's starting to taste a little dry, I turn my PV over for a few seconds, problem solved.

That said, when I do change my wick, I'll be using one of the 325 ones, just to see how much difference it makes.

 

[Shaitaan]

I haven't changed the wick on my mini from the one that it was sent with, which I believe is the 400 mesh. I use juice that is either 30/70 or 40/60 PG/VG, and I have only had minor wicking issues. When I think it's starting to taste a little dry, I turn my PV over for a few seconds, problem solved.

That said, when I do change my wick, I'll be using one of the 325 ones, just to see how much difference it makes.

I agree with that too, I've actually used the 400 for 50/50 up to 100% vg too, just not good for chain vaping, but it is doable in a pinch if you give it a little more time to wick......snap..just realized i will hit my 1000th post

 

[lorderos33]

Ahhh the dreaded fire bridge(at least that's what I call it). Loosen your center post and get rid of some of that slack in your wire. Your wick should be almost touching the center post.

The issue there is a slight short between the top post and where the wick touches the wire. This also occurs when there are no shorts but the lead dries out much sooner than the wick so you get that.

If it's a short it will taste bad with the cap on and vaping. If not then the combination of juice and airflow will cool it enough to prevent that so there will be no off taste.

 

[Paradisevap]

lorderos33 Thanks for your help and tips it really helped me get her dialed in

 

[Paradisevap]

Good morning Zenfidels!!

As of today, it is one year that I have been tobacco free!

Edit to add: WOHOO!! Looks like I am now an ECF Veteran, too!

Congrats Congrats

 

[Izord]

Sounds to me like it's time to clean or replace the wick. Over time the wick will become clogged with gunk. I clean them by re-oxidixing with a torch (the first heating cycle under the torch for cleaning I let it get red and keep it glowing for about 30 seconds to a minute if it doesn't clean off quickly) then quench in water 5x, then drip juice on wick and light, 5x there too then re-insert wick and re-coil. Works like new again.

To re-establish good wicking I tip the PV over at a 45 degree or steeper angle and then press the button. The coils will glow red but after about a minute, all of a sudden the juice starts flowing fast through the wick and will actually start feeding faster than the coil can burn it. The coils will stop glowing while the button is still pressed and the juice will start dripping from the wick.

Put the cap back on and enjoy a good couple of weeks of vaping. When it gets dirty again, do the same process over again. After you have done it successfully the whole process will take about 5-10 minutes. Well worth the couple of weeks of great vape

The wick was pretty new. Less than a half tank of liquid through it.

Well I've been playing with it for 5 hours or so. Used 4 or 5 wicks in that time. Trying to get them through the hole, not so bad with the 400, but a beast with the 325. I just couldn't roll a 325 small enough to fit in the hole.

So I cut off a small strip and then rolled it and got it through the hole. But it turned my clear liquid pretty ugly grimy black.

So then I figured out how to take off the tank to drain the liquid and clean it out.

Zen I saw that little insulator grommet was mostly on the top side so I fit one of the small ends of one of the allen wrenches through from the tank side and popped it out.

I oxidized and quenched a 325 pretty good and put it in there. I checked how much short it created and it was like 4k Ohms so I didn't think that would matter too much.

Now it's pumping out more vapor than I can handle. It's vaping like a beast.

I took a good look at my line to check and there's no insulating grommet in there. It has a smaller hole than the Zenesis, so a Zen wick is a snugger fit in the line than in the Zenesis without the grommet.

I think I'm going to roll some wicks for the Zenesis that are fatter so it won't leak from the hole around the skinny wick. A fatter wick should wick faster too, and I think a good oxidized wick shouldn't create much if any short circuit.

Just some ideas Zen, maybe a grommet with a bigger internal diameter? I'll see how it goes with the fatter wicks and let you know, but my wife is already drafting me for labor, so I won't be able to get to it for a week or two.

 

[sinnyc]

Good morning Zenfidels!!

As of today, it is one year that I have been tobacco free!

I had a friend comment yesterday that he thought the whole idea of E-cigs was to quit smoking, and he wondered why I was still using them.

I first explained that I don't use an "E-cig", it's an APV, and secondly, I like my nicotine, it's the carcinogens an 4000+ other chemicals I wanted to be free of.

Loving my Mini Zenesis, and working on figuring out how to stash away some funds to buy a Dragon!

Edit to add: WOHOO!! Looks like I am now an ECF Veteran, too!

Congrats Brewzz!

- Tim

 

[Zen~]

Zen I saw that little insulator grommet was mostly on the top side so I fit one of the small ends of one of the allen wrenches through from the tank side and popped it out.

I oxidized and quenched a 325 pretty good and put it in there. I checked how much short it created and it was like 4k Ohms so I didn't think that would matter too much.

Yeah... for those watching at home... this isn't an approved work-around... if it's working for him, fine... but that 4K ohms he read is at room temp... when it heats up that can drop dramatically.

I knew it was just a matter of time until it was suggested.

The result here is caused by opening up the wick hole... increasing flow.

There are better ways to increase flow, and it would be far better to develop those skills than to punt like this.

This work-around he has mentioned has been done by several folks in mesh/coil land, and it almost always results in a far less stable, and far less predictable set of results. Yes... it produces vapor... but there the majority of the owners of the Zenesis PV have been able to produce COPIOUS amounts of vapor without resorting to this short cut that almost always leads to harsh and unpredictable performance, in my own experience.

Once again... This is NOT an approved work-around, and you do it at your own risk if you choose to do so.

 

[Izord]

Yeah... for those watching at home... this isn't an approved work-around... if it's working for him, fine... but that 4K ohms he read is at room temp... when it heats up that can drop dramatically.

I knew it was just a matter of time until it was suggested.

The result here is caused by opening up the wick hole... increasing flow.

There are better ways to increase flow, and it would be far better to develop those skills than to punt like this.

This work-around he has mentioned has been done by several folks in mesh/coil land, and it almost always results in a far less stable, and far less predictable set of results. Yes... it produces vapor... but there the majority of the owners of the Zenesis PV have been able to produce COPIOUS amounts of vapor without resorting to this short cut that almost always leads to harsh and unpredictable performance, in my own experience.

Once again... This is NOT an approved work-around, and you do it at your own risk if you choose to do so.

You're right. Just burned out two wires in the last 15 minutes. They both burned between the top screw and the first wrap.

Looks like I'm going to have to leave my Zenesis alone for a while. Got to go to Argentina.

Then I'll practice some more with wicks and wraps.

OK Zen how about a bigger hole and bigger grommet? I wonder if I can slightly increase the inner diameter of the grommet with a warm punch? I know I unnecessarily tinker with stuff. : )

 

[Paradisevap]

I'll stick with the small hole ...... I like em like that anyways

 

[ninfreak]

yup tighter holes are always better..... ugh there goes my dirty mind again

 

[vicsan]

I found it in there right next to my cell phone.....

if I had a dollar for every time I found things in the fridge or cereal cabinet I'd have a few Ti Zens on order for sure

But have you ever cooked dinner, setting the oven timer and an hour later go to eat dinner when the timer goes off, only to find no food in the oven? I HAVE...Gaaawd. That one iced the cake.

Or look all over the house, tearing apart EVERYTHING to find your PV because you're having a nic fit, only to find it in your hand or pocket?

Or look all over for your sunglasses you just had in your hand, only to be told they're on top of your head?

Getting old is highly overrated, though better than the alternative.