Is my eGo-T atomizer dead?

[juicejunky]

If your eGo-T atomizer was wicking well before the coil died, save it for parts. If you get a leaker in the future, it is pretty easy to swap needle/plate wicks from the dead one to the leaker.

If you decide to replace a future wick with silica rope, all that steel mesh insdie will come in handy to bind the new wick.

The atomizer itself, if still working, is pretty good for dripping. It becomes a bridgeless atty. You can buy drip tips that size for .99 at Good Prophets if you don't like putting your mouth on the steel. Better than wasting them.

Either way take those dead puppies apart by yanking the needleplate straight out the opening with neeedlenose plyers and see what's going on down there. You'll learn how they work and maybe what went wrong.

 

[Astronomer]

I have been peering at the more experienced boards and trying stuff they suggest.

Starting today when I first pick up the unit to vape ( after it sitting around for a half an hour or so ) I hit the button without drawing on it for a good second, to a second and a half ( no more ) then draw normally and use it normally for the next few pulls. After I set it down and come back to it later... I do the same thing..... getting much more consistent hits with it now... better taste too.

I can’t vouch for this... I just learned it today.

I do notice that after my cleaning and drying routine that the unit really works very VERY well for 2 or 3 days... super... then it very slowly goes downhill until I clean it again a week later. I don’t have a long history though, only been using it for 3 weeks now, and only 12 days with no cigarettes at all.

Don’t take what I say as fact... I am learning here too.


( I should also add that I am now only vaping a single e-juice as it is the most satisfying to me from a cigarette perspective )

 

[juicejunky]

I have no idea... The change was instant though. One puff was great, the next was awful. I have been running some dark-ish juices through it I guess (Banana Split and Orange Creamsicle from thevaporroom.net). They weren't too dark though... The main juice I've been using is a plain tobacco flavor and is very light in color. The juices I've been using have all been a 50/50 mix. I may try using pure PG juices for a while and see how the atomizes holds up...

I'm still very new to this whole PV thing, so I'm still learning what to do and what not to do. lol

Sounds like your wick fell into the atomizer and is charring (they don't really burn) . Is it leaking now? Can you see the top of the wick in the needleplate hole?

You might try blowing it out and cleaning it first before you take it apart. Maybe the holes at the bottom or wick are clogged. The atomizer sounds like it is still working (heating) if you are getting a burnt taste.

 

[Astronomer]

Had not thought of that JJ, you could very well be right, for it to come on that sudden for her.

I have not had that experience.

 

[juicejunky]

Starting today when I first pick up the unit to vape ( after it sitting around for a half an hour or so ) I hit the button without drawing on it for a good second, to a second and a half ( no more ) then draw normally and use it normally for the next few pulls. After I set it down and come back to it later... I do the same thing..... getting much more consistent hits with it now... better taste too.

I can’t vouch for this... I just learned it today.

I do notice that after my cleaning and drying routine that the unit really works very VERY well for 2 or 3 days... super... then it very slowly goes downhill until I clean it again a week later. I don’t have a long history though, only been using it for 3 weeks now, and only 12 days with no cigarettes at all.

Don’t take what I say as fact... I am learning here too.


( I should also add that I am now only vaping a single e-juice as it is the most satisfying to me from a cigarette perspective )

Sounds like it is slightly flooding then if you are heating the atomizer without vaping and it gets better. Flooding produces little flavor and vapor because the coil is not getting air to vaporize anything. Holding it horizontally while you vape and rotating might help to get the juice out of the atomizer dish.

If you just rinse it with hot water and blow the excess out, you should be able to vape again right away. Take a few primer (no power) puffs to get the juice down. The first few drags will probably taste watery, but it won't hurt the atomizer as long as it is wet.

The complete drying is only if you use rubbing alcohol because it is poison. Vodka or PGA cleanings can also be used right away if you blow out the excess.

 

[swedishfish]

If your eGo-T atomizer was wicking well before the coil died, save it for parts. If you get a leaker in the future, it is pretty easy to swap needle/plate wicks from the dead one to the leaker.

If you decide to replace a future wick with silica rope, all that steel mesh insdie will come in handy to bind the new wick.

The atomizer itself, if still working, is pretty good for dripping. It becomes a bridgeless atty. You can buy drip tips that size for .99 at Good Prophets if you don't like putting your mouth on the steel. Better than wasting them.

Either way take those dead puppies apart by yanking the needleplate straight out the opening with neeedlenose plyers and see what's going on down there. You'll learn how they work and maybe what went wrong.

When you say wicking- I click on the button and don't hear anything at all. I assume that means it's dead, right?

 

[SlomChom]

Sounds like your wick fell into the atomizer and is charring (they don't really burn) . Is it leaking now? Can you see the top of the wick in the needleplate hole?

You might try blowing it out and cleaning it first before you take it apart. Maybe the holes at the bottom or wick are clogged. The atomizer sounds like it is still working (heating) if you are getting a burnt taste.

No leaks.
I can definitely see some kind of mesh in the needle. (I'm assuming that's the wick?)

Rinsed with hot water and blew it out a few times already. With a fresh empty tank, I was doing some dry burns while puffing on it. No bad taste... In fact, no taste at all and completely odorless. As soon as I prime it and put a full tank in, it tastes disgusting... It still has great vapor production. However, it tastes like burnt chemicals and kinda smells like burnt marshmallows lol

Right now, I have the atty soaking in alcohol.

 

[juicejunky]

Yes if you get no heat, vaper, or noise, the atomizer coil has probably popped. There is nothing you can do about that.
Atomizers just do that. Some last a day, some a year-like light bulbs. They work then they don't. As they get old and dirty they don't work as well, but they still produce heat, vaper, and noise. If you want to be 100% sure you can pull the needleplate and hit the button to see if it glows red. If you see it's working stop so you don't pop it. I could never see the red on a working atty through the wick.

By wicking I mean before it stopped working you were getting good juice flow to the atomizer and no leaking. If that's the case that wick and needleplate may come in handy if you ever get a leaker.

 

[Astronomer]

No leaks.
I can definitely see some kind of mesh in the needle. (I'm assuming that's the wick?)

Rinsed with hot water and blew it out a few times already. With a fresh empty tank, I was doing some dry burns while puffing on it. No bad taste... In fact, no taste at all and completely odorless. As soon as I prime it and put a full tank in, it tastes disgusting... It still has great vapor production. However, it tastes like burnt chemicals and kinda smells like burnt marshmallows lol

Right now, I have the atty soaking in alcohol.

Well you are doing what I would do at this point, the atty isn’t dead or it would not be heating at all. If you can see the mesh at the top of the wick then that should be good. ( but I am no expert )

It almost has to be some dried flavor junk on the atomizer... hopefully your soak will get rid of that.

Remember I am a newbie too... JuiceJunky and the others have a lot more experience than me

 

[SlomChom]

Yes if you get no heat, vaper, or noise, the atomizer coil has probably popped. There is nothing you can do about that.
Atomizers just do that. Some last a day, some a year-like light bulbs. They work then they don't. As they get old and dirty they don't work as well, but they still produce heat, vaper, and noise. If you want to be 100% sure you can pull the needleplate and hit the button to see if it glows red. If you see it's working stop so you don't pop it. I could never see the red on a working atty through the wick.

By wicking I mean before it stopped working you were getting good juice flow to the atomizer and no leaking. If that's the case that wick and needleplate may come in handy if you ever get a leaker.

So since everything seems to be working properly (except the horrible taste), what do you think may be wrong with the atty? It heats up normally and produces plenty of vapor, so I'm assuming it's wicking correctly...

I've only been using this atty for a few days, so I don't think it could be too dirty already. Hmm....

 

[SlomChom]

Well you are doing what I would do at this point, the atty isn’t dead or it would not be heating at all. If you can see the mesh at the top of the wick then that should be good. ( but I am no expert )

It almost has to be some dried flavor junk on the atomizer... hopefully your soak will get rid of that.

Remember I am a newbie too... JuiceJunky and the others have a lot more experience than me

Yea, I'm really hoping that it's just some dried flavor junk that's stuck somewhere. Since the bad vapor kinda smells like burnt caramelized marshmallows, it makes me think this is the case.

I'm such a noob though, so I have no idea. For now, I'm playing it safe by using only pure PG tobacco flavored juice in my spare atty. I don't want to ruin that one too!

 

[juicejunky]

No leaks.
I can definitely see some kind of mesh in the needle. (I'm assuming that's the wick?)

Rinsed with hot water and blew it out a few times already. With a fresh empty tank, I was doing some dry burns while puffing on it. No bad taste... In fact, no taste at all and completely odorless. As soon as I prime it and put a full tank in, it tastes disgusting... It still has great vapor production. However, it tastes like burnt chemicals and kinda smells like burnt marshmallows lol

Right now, I have the atty soaking in alcohol.

Wow that is weird, that you don't get burning taste without the tank of juice. The wick is wrapped in mesh at the top, so possible just the silica wick fell into the atomizer or the juice pressure pushes it down a bit into it.

Try dripping juice (2 drops each side) into the slots on the side of the needle plate and vape that without a tank. If no nasty burnt taste and good vape, then the push down theory sounds like it might be the problem.

I'd pull the plate out and look at it if it doesn't get better. You may be able to gently push the wick back up into the mesh. On mine that I pulled apart the mesh was glued or soldered to the inside of the needleplate. Mine weren't a hat like Vicky's video, just a band around the wick and I bought mine from her. So there might be different versions or mabufacturing defects.

I have some album photos in my profile that might help you see what to expect under there.

It's pretty easy to put the needleplate into an empty tank and stick it back in the atomizer. I have done this multiple times and it goes right where it should and stays there. You have nothing to lose since you can't vape that disgusting taste.

 

[SlomChom]

Wow that is weird, that you don't get burning taste without the tank of juice. The wick is wrapped in mesh at the top, so possible just the silica wick fell into the atomizer or the juice pressure pushes it down a bit into it.

Try dripping juice (2 drops each side) into the slots on the side of the needle plate and vape that without a tank. If no nasty burnt taste and good vape, then the push down theory sounds like it might be the problem.

I'd pull the plate out and look at it if it doesn't get better. You may be able to gently push the wick back up into the mesh. On mine that I pulled apart the mesh was glued or soldered to the inside of the needleplate. Mine weren't a hat like Vicky's video, just a band around the wick and I bought mine from her. So there might be different versions or mabufacturing defects.

I have some album photos in my profile that might help you see what to expect under there.

It's pretty easy to put the needleplate into an empty tank and stick it back in the atomizer. I have done this multiple times and it goes right where it should and stays there. You have nothing to lose since you can't vape that disgusting taste.

Yea, it's very odd that I only get the terrible taste when I have a filled tank in...

Since the atomizer is worthless right now, I'll be doing all sorts of experiments on it. lol

I'll try dripping and see how it goes...

 

[Astronomer]

This is weird

JJ you have convinced me... that one of these days I am going to pull that puncture plate out of there...when I have a lot of trouble with an atty I will be less afraid to do that.... thanks!

 

[juicejunky]

Nasty burning taste can only be not enough liquid getting somewhere. Wet wicks won't burn and a gunky atomizer won't taste burnt unless they are dry. They will taste muted and murky but not that nasty taste. The wick is kind of spread out in there so maybe the juice is only getting to part of the wick.

If you've been using juices with sediment, you can put vodka or warm water in an empty tank and put it in and shake it. It will wash the mesh and top of the wick without getting the entire atty wet.

 

[SlomChom]

Pulled it out of it's alcohol bath and need to let it dry for a while. I was very concerned when I pulled it out and saw that the nice black coating was all bubbled and loose... But after rinsing with hot water and drying, the black coating is back to normal now.

I'll try dripping in a few hours. I'm determined to fix this thing! lol

 

[Copperhead]

Atomizers are the weakest link in the system...I started a thread awhile ago suggesting newbies starting out with the tank system spring for a few packs of cartomizers for just this reason...For about the same price of one atomizer you can buy 10 cartomizers...This should provide plenty of vaping time until you can replace your primary equipment...Maybe you won't ever need them...but having them will help eliminate the "fear factor" of losing an atomizer...

 

[uplink3r]

by alcohol do you mean like ethanol/vodka or isopropyl alcohol?

 

[SlomChom]

by alcohol do you mean like ethanol/vodka or isopropyl alcohol?

I used vodka. I have some isopropyl sitting around here somewhere. Should I try using that instead?

 

[SlomChom]

Ok, it's dried out enough. Here are some results of my testing:

Again, did six or so dry burns while puffing. No taste, no odor. Perfectly clean...

Dripped a few drops of PG Desertship juice and vaped. Tasted pretty normal... Very slight burnt smell in the vapor.

Feeling more confident, I filled a tank with 50/50 Watermelon juice and popped it in. Vaped it about 10 times to make sure the atty got up to temperature. It tasted slightly bland, but MUCH better than the horrid burnt taste I was experiencing earlier. Still has a very slight burnt smell in the vapor, but it's bearable.

So, it seems like things are improving! I'm going to finish off this tank later tonight and soak the atty in water overnight to try and clean it some more.