I really want to throw away my Vivi Nova. Please help.

[Bronze]

litecig is 100% legit. they sell genuine joye, genuine vision, etc. you can even check on vision's website under official US resellers. shawn over there is a great guy. the nova they have however is the version 2. its official as all hell, but its not the most recent revision. the 2.5 is the most recent. i got all of mine from gotvapes. out of the 5 i ordered, 3 worked great right out of the box. 1 leaked, and 1 was DOA. both problems had solutions (thanks gotvapes!). so i suggest to hang in there, if the smoktech screwtank/ titan is working better, personally id stick with that.

Well, that's how I look at it. Litecig may very well be legit, but that doesn't mean they aren't working from older stock. These manufacturers experience troubles with their first releases and then they work through the issues as time goes on. Meanwhile, there are a number of units still sitting on resaler's shelves that go out to the customers. That doesn't mean the resaler is not legit. Just means some are working through their old stock. Unfortunately, and all too often, the customers are used as testers for manufacturer's new equipment. Just the nature of this industry at the moment. I think if J4 wants a Vivi Nova he should get another one from GotVapes or Carolina Vapes or a vendor known to have the latest and greatest. Maybe just get the replacement heads from GotVapes at the least since that seems to be his problem But then, I find it's a whole lot easier for me to spend J4's money than if it were mine. So it's his call.

 

[j4mmin42]

We'll see what happens with a new coil/wick assembly. I'm going to rebuild one or more of the stock coils to see if that was the issue, and I'll go from there. It definitely has come down to a wicking issue, so far as I can see/taste.

 

[Bronze]

We'll see what happens with a new coil/wick assembly. I'm going to rebuild one or more of the stock coils to see if that was the issue, and I'll go from there. It definitely has come down to a wicking issue, so far as I can see/taste.

Well, I wish you luck with that. It does seem to center on the coil/wick so that seems to be the cheapest route at the moment. Report back.

 

[j4mmin42]

Well, I wish you luck with that. It does seem to center on the coil/wick so that seems to be the cheapest route at the moment. Report back.

By chance would you have any suggestions on where to buy supplies to do so? I know the Kanthal wire is what I want to use, but I'm unsure what wicking material is best for these.
Thanks

 

[~Shado~]

J4mmin....I use everything in my arsenal with these....3ml silica wick, bamboo thread, and recently SS mesh.
Each have their different abilities and flavors, to me.

As far as ease...the bamboo thread (8 lengths) threaded into a coil made from wrapping around a 4x40 bolt has been the easiest to reproduce consistantly.

The SS mesh...well..that is still a work in progress...

Like you, I have been dingin around with this for about 3 years and used alot of different gear. The VapeTrain has ran mostly on cartos for most of the time, but, I have been using the VVN's pretty exclusivly now for about a month...yep...my Bogs are hollering at me form being lonley and neglected....but....somtimes things change. lol

 

[Bronze]

By chance would you have any suggestions on where to buy supplies to do so? I know the Kanthal wire is what I want to use, but I'm unsure what wicking material is best for these.
Thanks

I like Shado's suggestion but if it were me I would simply replace what I have. Definitely stay with the kanthal wire as the nichrome has way too much resisitance in it. You can get kanthal wire on e-bay or Mountain Oak Vapors or a couple other places (Clouds of Vapor perhaps). Make sure you get the A1, 32 gauge wire. The silica wick can be got at MOV too I believe but it is expensive for some reason. Don't get the 3MM...too fat. Try to get something around 1.5mm. I know Lisa has some at Carolina Vapes at 1.5 called Fibrewick or something like that. It's cheap at $1 for 2 feet or something like that. Get a few packages to make it worth your time. Unfortunately, Lisa (CV) sells only nichrome and DO NOT get nichrome. Might have to go to two sources to get what you want. I know...PITA!!!

 

[emcee7one4]

Like one of the posters said before, just rewick and coil, but I find that the space inside the head is too small to put a perfect coil in there, so I'm deciding to buy a smoktech vivi tank or spend more to get a reliable RA tank from DWF. I just can't see myself rebuilding a new coil in such a small space which is why i would rather buy a true RBA

 

[j4mmin42]

J4mmin....I use everything in my arsenal with these....3ml silica wick, bamboo thread, and recently SS mesh.
Each have their different abilities and flavors, to me.

As far as ease...the bamboo thread (8 lengths) threaded into a coil made from wrapping around a 4x40 bolt has been the easiest to reproduce consistantly.

The SS mesh...well..that is still a work in progress...

Like you, I have been dingin around with this for about 3 years and used alot of different gear. The VapeTrain has ran mostly on cartos for most of the time, but, I have been using the VVN's pretty exclusivly now for about a month...yep...my Bogs are hollering at me form being lonley and neglected....but....somtimes things change. lol

I like the bamboo thread idea- where do you procure yours from? A spool of kanthal gives me more than enough wire to play around with, so I'm open to trying different materials.

I like Shado's suggestion but if it were me I would simply replace what I have. Definitely stay with the kanthal wire as the nichrome has way too much resisitance in it. You can get kanthal wire on e-bay or Mountain Oak Vapors or a couple other places (Clouds of Vapor perhaps). Make sure you get the A1, 32 gauge wire. The silica wick can be got at MOV too I believe but it is expensive for some reason. Don't get the 3MM...too fat. Try to get something around 1.5mm. I know Lisa has some at Carolina Vapes at 1.5 called Fibrewick or something like that. It's cheap at $1 for 2 feet or something like that. Get a few packages to make it worth your time. Unfortunately, Lisa (CV) sells only nichrome and DO NOT get nichrome. Might have to go to two sources to get what you want. I know...PITA!!!

Mountain Oak it is, at least for now. The fibrewick sounds intriguing- I'll have to check into that as well. As far as going through different suppliers- when I re-started my vaping a month ago, I tried looking for one supplier for the best of everything-but one doesn't exist like that anymore (I used to use TW for everything, but i'm boycotting them now...)...So I've placed 8 orders with 8 *different* suppliers for various odds and ends, generally spending between $15 and $60 per order, instead of huge orders from few suppliers. I'm so used to having so much variety now that I'll probably stick with the same strategy for the foreseeable future. PITA, well yeah, it is

Like one of the posters said before, just rewick and coil, but I find that the space inside the head is too small to put a perfect coil in there, so I'm deciding to buy a smoktech vivi tank or spend more to get a reliable RA tank from DWF. I just can't see myself rebuilding a new coil in such a small space which is why i would rather buy a true RBA

I love a good challenge. Between the fact that these ****ing Vivi's won't fire AND the fact that I love DIY projects that are challenging, I just *have* to give these another few tries to make them work. Mostly, though, because the Vivi tanks are so sexy, and are more solid than the Smok's.

Also, I'm going to go with some of those Valleyvapes pyrex tanks with endcaps- I think if I had something similar to the smok's with a more solid tank (but using the same/ similar XL carto's), that might just be the sweet spot I've been looking for.

 

[Bronze]

The only reason why I would use the silica (fibrewick) is because that's what the Nova came with. I would experiment with bamboo and mesh later. After all the trouble you had, I'd just want it to get it working with proven, standard materials. That's just me though. You'll notice when you tear into the head there will be a small, fiber "sleeve" that the wick rests in. You don't need that sleeve so just yank it out and don't worry about replacing it. No one retains that thing. 5 - 6 wraps will likely give you about 2.0 - 2.8 ohms depending on a number of factors. One trick if you want to increase your resistance is to fold over the "legs" thereby doubling them.

 

[j4mmin42]

AH I found a thread in the rebuildable atty section of the forum that has shone even more light onto the burnt taste issue.

apparently, the fiber sleeve is secondary to a larger issue- the single-piece wire used in the coil is entirely made of "resistance" wire, which allows the legs to get red-hot during use. This apparently melts the rubber gaskets inside the posts, which in turn causes the bad taste.

The same thread details how you have to use NR wire with R wire wrapped around ONLY the coil part- and this will solve the problem.

However, it also mentions that people are still having wicking issues with the Vivi, even after the rebuild. Hmm.

 

[j4mmin42]

The only reason why I would use the silica (fibrewick) is because that's what the Nova came with. I would experiment with bamboo and mesh later. After all the trouble you had, I'd just want it to get it working with proven, standard materials. That's just me though. You'll notice when you tear into the head there will be a small, fiber "sleeve" that the wick rests in. You don't need that sleeve so just yank it out and don't worry about replacing it. No one retains that thing. 5 - 6 wraps will likely give you about 2.0 - 2.8 ohms depending on a number of factors. One trick if you want to increase your resistance is to fold over the "legs" thereby doubling them.

I was that guy who made the small tutorial detailing how to remove that sleeve without a full rebuild

 

[Bronze]

AH I found a thread in the rebuildable atty section of the forum that has shone even more light onto the burnt taste issue.

apparently, the fiber sleeve is secondary to a larger issue- the single-piece wire used in the coil is entirely made of "resistance" wire, which allows the legs to get red-hot during use. This apparently melts the rubber gaskets inside the posts, which in turn causes the bad taste.

The same thread details how you have to use NR wire with R wire wrapped around ONLY the coil part- and this will solve the problem.

However, it also mentions that people are still having wicking issues with the Vivi, even after the rebuild. Hmm.

Could be inferior rubber on that grommet. Who the hell knows? Could be a million things. You recoil using the same grommet and you'll have the same problem. Buy a new head from GotVapes and test it out. I use those and have no problems.

 

[Kemosabe]

when rebuilding, ive heard that you can twist the legs of the wire instead of using NR wire. supposedly is helps with the melting grommet thing.

 

[Bronze]

when rebuilding, ive heard that you can twist the legs of the wire instead of using NR wire. supposedly is helps with the melting grommet thing.

I think you're right Kemo.

 

[j4mmin42]

Ok, so I took apart two of my heads today- both are the long-wik versions, one has the 4 small strands (2.4 ohm) and the other has one larger strand (2.7 ohm). Both show hot spots all the way up and down the legs, and both have burnt a small cavity through the rubber grommet at the bottom. I think I'll pass on the rebuild for now- I'm going to start looking into rebuildable atty's and a Genesis tank system- I have since gotten back into dripping as well, lol.

 

[Bronze]

Ok, so I took apart two of my heads today- both are the long-wik versions, one has the 4 small strands (2.4 ohm) and the other has one larger strand (2.7 ohm). Both show hot spots all the way up and down the legs, and both have burnt a small cavity through the rubber grommet at the bottom. I think I'll pass on the rebuild for now- I'm going to start looking into rebuildable atty's and a Genesis tank system- I have since gotten back into dripping as well, lol.

Mine have never done that. I think you got some defect heads. Good ole Chinese QC!

 

[emcee7one4]

Ok, so i just ordered some A1 kanthal and some new silica wick and will be ready to rebuild this thing in a couple of days, but i don't fully understand "twisting the legs of the wire." The legs as in the wires the go in the post chamber before it heads out the bottom?

 

[Bronze]

Check this vid out emcee...

Another Vivi Nova Rebuild - YouTube

I want a report after you get her going.

 

[Kemosabe]

Ok, so i just ordered some A1 kanthal and some new silica wick and will be ready to rebuild this thing in a couple of days, but i don't fully understand "twisting the legs of the wire." The legs as in the wires the go in the post chamber before it heads out the bottom?

yes. you twist the portion that gets sinched by the rubber grommet near the threads.

 

[emcee7one4]

I should be recieving my materials today for the rebuild so Ill be posting later today on how it goes and ill be using a better juice unlike that pomegranate.