I need advice about carto tank use with my DIY juice please

[roundrock]

I've been vaping since Feb 4-- using carto tanks soon after. I have been fortunate in that I've never had a DOA cart (that I know of). I use mostly Fusion and Platinum Punch but also Boge and Smoketech. My tanks are from IBTanked and I'm vaping on a ProVari Mini.

The carts are standard resistance and I've used voltage mostly at around 4.5- 5.1. Really, no problems.

I started DIYing about 2 months ago and since then, have mostly used standard resistance attys as I'm always testing, particularly in the last month as I'm off work for the summer.

I just killed two cartos, one in 2 days and this last one in 1 hour. I think the first was a Mega Fusion and I know this last one was the same. Standard Resistance. The juice is a bakery juice, primarily banana and cream. It has a moderate amount of EM and some AP. Flavoring within average range.

The last carto went like this: I loaded and primed the carto (really think I had enough juice), inserted it into tank and after filling with juice, primed and vaped slowly at 4.9 volts. It went well for about 15 minutes, then I thought the juice tasted a little burnt, so I lowered the volt to 4.0. Better for about 20 or so minutes, so I moved up to 4.5. Shortly (ha) afterwards, I got an E1 error, so I lowered again to 4.0..then I got an E8 code. I waited a bit and tried again- got the E1 and stopped.

I've loaded and primed a Platinum. Primed it and it seems fine but I thought I'd ask for input from the experienced ones.

Do I have to take certain measures to protect my carto because I'm using my juice? Is it just a coincidence that I had 2 cartos blow using my juice when I've never (in my short vape life) had a problem?

Thanks as always for reading. I look forward to your feedback.

 

[OCD]

It happens, could have been something with the cartos could have been something with the preparation of them. I always start a fresh carto with the voltage down low and short taps on the fire button until I am getting good flavor and some vapor then gradually increase the time on the fire button and finally raise the voltage if I want it higher once I am certain the coil is well wetted.

When you think about how a carto works it makes sense, the coil is surrounded by a filler material that is meant to keep the carto wet at all times. This coil is much like the coil in a light bulb except in a light bulb it is in an inert environment and meant to glow to make our light. In a carto we dont want it to ever glow but it will if it is not wet. What is happening is that by being wet the energy that would otherwise let the coil go red hot is being pulled off vaporizing the liquid. If a carto gets power for even a short amount of time without the liquid there to cool it the filler can get burned and at that point can both tighten the draw and of course leave that off taste that simply wont go away.

Anyhow, it is a tough call. I have had cartos that I thought I prepped well go pear shaped on me and had it happen a couple times in a row then not again for a long time from the same order. Was it me or the carto? I couldnt tell.

Sorry about being vague but I hope something there might be of help. BTW, 4.9V for me is pretty high on a single coil 3.2ohm (not sure what the resistance you were using). I would probably be closer to 4.2 and The Mrs would be lower than that, its a sweet spot thing where everyone finds their own and many like higher voltage but maybe just lowering the voltage will help.

 

[roundrock]

Thank you for the response, OCD. I knew when I posted that my questions were ambiguous so wan't really hurt when no one responded. The last carto I placed in my tank with my DIY juice has fared well since by my initial posting on the 30th. You're right- sometimes it's hard to know.

Your comments are helpful and led me to this question- After a week or so of storing my cartotanks in my thingy, should I moisten the carto before I use it again? Should the carto always be visibly moistened?

I also appreciate your suggestion on voltage- I suppose I was attempting to go by that +2 rule....

 

[JD1]

Have you thought about trying something that you can rebuild. The vivi nova types can be rebuilt with silica or cotton and they suit a lot of folks, plus there's several more devices to choose from. I don't recommend the stainless steel mesh models to start, but there's several models that can be rebuilt with silica or cotton. It's a little time consuming but makes a good hobby. Some fishermen wrap their own lures, some vapers wrap their own coils lol.

Jump over to the rebuildable thread and poke around a little. Since you have your tanks already, you might want to check this out.
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...05-clone-madvapes-terminator-rda-11-99-a.html

 

[OCD]

Thats a good analogy with the fisherman who wraps his own lures JD1, same is true for some shooters who load their own bullets.

Roundrock, I have never noticed a carto needing reprimed from sitting. Once it is going good and you have your vaping style, eliquid viscosity, hole size/number and voltage all working well together a cartomizer should not need any further attention other than filling the tank. If you do find a carto getting lean harder shorter draws and lower voltage can both help adjust it, you can also drop it into the thingy for a little fiddle.

I just go by flavor and vapor and adjust the draw style and voltage to match. At times like when changing altitude or big swings in heat a voltage adjustment is nice to cook off a carto that is trying to flood, adding some heat and taking a few nice long slow draws will generally clear that kind of thing up quick.

 

[roundrock]

Have you thought about trying something that you can rebuild. The vivi nova types can be rebuilt with silica or cotton and they suit a lot of folks, plus there's several more devices to choose from. I don't recommend the stainless steel mesh models to start, but there's several models that can be rebuilt with silica or cotton. It's a little time consuming but makes a good hobby. Some fishermen wrap their own lures, some vapers wrap their own coils lol.

Jump over to the rebuildable thread and poke around a little. Since you have your tanks already, you might want to check this out.
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...05-clone-madvapes-terminator-rda-11-99-a.html

Hi JD. Looks intriguing. If I get involved in RBA, I think I'll start with a dripping atty. Do you know a thread that neatly ties up all the pros and cons of ALL the available models (and their clones too, of course). j/k Thanks again.

 

[roundrock]

Thats a good analogy with the fisherman who wraps his own lures JD1, same is true for some shooters who load their own bullets.

Roundrock, I have never noticed a carto needing reprimed from sitting. Once it is going good and you have your vaping style, eliquid viscosity, hole size/number and voltage all working well together a cartomizer should not need any further attention other than filling the tank. If you do find a carto getting lean harder shorter draws and lower voltage can both help adjust it, you can also drop it into the thingy for a little fiddle.


I just go by flavor and vapor and adjust the draw style and voltage to match. At times like when changing altitude or big swings in heat a voltage adjustment is nice to cook off a carto that is trying to flood, adding some heat and taking a few nice long slow draws will generally clear that kind of thing up quick.

Thanks OCD, I've wondering about the need for repriming for a while now. And yes, I do fiddle (aw jeez, I'm blushing) with my plastic storage container.

I'd like to see you and JD have an analogy throw-down. It would be kinda like <insert appropriate analogy; I got nothing>.

 

[JD1]

Hi JD. Looks intriguing. If I get involved in RBA, I think I'll start with a dripping atty. Do you know a thread that neatly ties up all the pros and cons of ALL the available models (and their clones too, of course). j/k Thanks again.

Yeal, the threads do get long and rambling lol. But actually I did see a post from a person that had tried several and listed his favorites. I'll see if I can find it for you and edit this if I do.

Edit: The post I was thinking about was from Thrasher about the fastteck drippers. He also mentions enlarging the air hole, which is easy to do but maybe not something you'd want to tackle right now. You might post in that thread to see what he recommends that doesn't require any modification.
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...tems/439231-fasttech-clones.html#post10023820