iStick 40W TC and Kanger OCC ni200 nickel coils...what's the deal?

[Tortus]

I just got this temp control mod and am attempting the .15 ohm OCC coils. I'm getting a weird message of 'new coil up same down' occasionally. When it does work, it says 'temperature protection' and the vape isn't very hot.

Are the OCC nickel coils even compatible with this device? I've seen where some people are running them at up to 600 degrees on it but I can't get that high. I'm also seeing brown coming from the top discoloring the clear liquid.

 

[classwife]

Moved to Temperature Control

 

[TheotherSteveS]

I just got this temp control mod and am attempting the .15 ohm OCC coils. I'm getting a weird message of 'new coil up same down' occasionally. When it does work, it says 'temperature protection' and the vape isn't very hot.

Are the OCC nickel coils even compatible with this device? I've seen where some people are running them at up to 600 degrees on it but I can't get that high. I'm also seeing brown coming from the top discoloring the clear liquid.

what resistance is the TC40 reporting??

 

[Carnage9270]

I think you have two problems happening here. 1) You're using istick temperature control, which is pretty terrible. 2) You're using a subtank stock coils for temperature control. Both of these are pretty bad and will give you the wrong impression of temp control as a whole. Both at the same time, will probably be unbearable.

 

[Completely Average]

2) You're using a subtank stock coils for temperature control. Both of these are pretty bad and will give you the wrong impression of temp control as a whole.

They aren't THAT bad. I use them all of the time. Not the greatest TC coils, but not horrible.

They are a bit different from other TC coils though. Generally speaking they need to be set at a much higher temperature to work right. I've got stock TC coils for my Nautilus, Freemax Starre, and Subtank. The Nautilus works best in the 450-460F range, the Starre works great at 500-525F, but the Subtank coils really need to be pushed to the 560-580F range to work right. I use mine at 570F and 24 watts which gives a quick ramp up time and produces nice flavor and really good vapor. I've got no problems fogging a room up with them. Not sure why they need to have the temperature set so much higher than the other tanks, but they work really well there, relatively speaking.

From the stock TC coils I would say the Starre coils work the best by far, but for pure flavor and simply working great my own coils in my Squape R wins hands down.

 

[TheotherSteveS]

I think you have two problems happening here. 1) You're using istick temperature control, which is pretty terrible. 2) You're using a subtank stock coils for temperature control. Both of these are pretty bad and will give you the wrong impression of temp control as a whole. Both at the same time, will probably be unbearable.

iStick 40W is not terrible, its just a little underpowered and works fine with elevated temps. I got mine for about £20 and with Ni and Ti its a pretty good mod for the price of a (large) takeaway pizza! Agreed about the kanger Ni coils!

 

[GeorgeS]

There's nothing wrong with the little TC40. Sure it *only* has 40W but if your coil is >=0.15 ohms it will fire at the full 40W to bring the coil up to temperature.

I have a Lemo2 with a Ti1 build mounted on mine. The setup works as well as much more expensive ones I have.

The limiting factor in a TC40+SMT+Kanger Ni200 coils is the Kanger Ni200 coils. With a few youtube videos under your belt the STM's RBA with some 28AWG Ni200 and your choice of wick can create a much better TC experience than the Kanger Ni200 coils.

 

[Tortus]

what resistance is the TC40 reporting??

.21 ohms.

I finally figured out the issues. When it sits for a while or the tank is removed and put back on, you have to press up or down before it'll let you fire. And it's saying temp protection off and on so it doesn't overheat. It took a while to break in the coil to run it at higher temps.

It's not bad if run at around 500 degrees. Otherwise it starts out as a warm vape then gets cold. I think I prefer the RBA and normal OCC coils though. The entire setup gets hot with temp control. Since I already had an iStick 30 watt crap out on me after 10 months I don't want to press my luck with this one.

 

[TheotherSteveS]

.21 ohms.

I finally figured out the issues. When it sits for a while or the tank is removed and put back on, you have to press up or down before it'll let you fire. And it's saying temp protection off and on so it doesn't overheat. It took a while to break in the coil to run it at higher temps.

It's not bad if run at around 500 degrees. Otherwise it starts out as a warm vape then gets cold. I think I prefer the RBA and normal OCC coils though. The entire setup gets hot with temp control. Since I already had an iStick 30 watt crap out on me after 10 months I don't want to press my luck with this one.

0.21 is too high and that;'s the problem! Those coils are flaky...

 

[Tortus]

0.21 is too high and that;'s the problem! Those coils are flaky...

I'll try another one today and see what it says. After they're gone I'll just stick to the RBA and make my own.

 

[TheotherSteveS]

I'll try another one today and see what it says. After they're gone I'll just stick to the RBA and make my own.

I had a pack and managed to find 3 that worked ok! That was the end of that! The RBA is the way to go!

 

[dleister1981]

the RBA is amazing for TC vaping, i wont use NI200 ever, but it works well with TI and SS wire

 

[Tortus]

the RBA is amazing for TC vaping, i wont use NI200 ever, but it works well with TI and SS wire

Will titanium wire work on a device that only has a nickel setting? I'm good with kanthal but haven't tried to build with any other metal.

 

[GeorgeS]

The TC40 will support Ti1 wire natively - there's an "easter egg" button combo to enable it.

While Ni200 is rather soft compared to other wire types, 28AWG seems to be the "sweet spot" and it is fairly easy to hand wrap 8-10 wraps on 2-3mm rod and fit in the STM's RBA. Ni200 is fairly cheap so I really did no care if the coil deformed while rewicking it, I just tossed both and started over with a fresh coil.

 

[TheotherSteveS]

Will titanium wire work on a device that only has a nickel setting? I'm good with kanthal but haven't tried to build with any other metal.

If you are going to try, give Ni200 a miss and go straight to Ti would be my considered advice. As @GeorgeS said you can turn on a hidden Ti functionality. I am trying to remember how it works but I think you turn of the device with 5 clicks and then hold the fire and up button for 30 seconds or something. You can then toggle the Ti mode with the centre button when you turn it back on..

 

[Tortus]

If you are going to try, give Ni200 a miss and go straight to Ti would be my considered advice. As @GeorgeS said you can turn on a hidden Ti functionality. I am trying to remember how it works but I think you turn of the device with 5 clicks and then hold the fire and up button for 30 seconds or something. You can then toggle the Ti mode with the centre button when you turn it back on..

I can't find any way to change it to a Ti setting. I'm assuming you can just use the Ni temp control setting. I'll give it a try.

 

[pufZeppelin]

I can't find any way to change it to a Ti setting. I'm assuming you can just use the Ni temp control setting. I'll give it a try.

I used a Ti coil on my TC40 in Ni mode and all worked fine

then find out Ti mode is hidden in the firmware (couldn't really tell any diff)

• turn unit OFF
• clk fire button 20 times

should say:

 

[Tortus]

I used a Ti coil on my TC40 in Ni mode and all worked fine

then find out Ti mode is hidden in the firmware (couldn't really tell any diff)

• turn unit OFF
• clk fire button 20 times

should say:

View attachment 508426

Thanks for the info. I just ordered some 26g Titanium wire and will give it a shot.

 

[pufZeppelin]

did you make Ti come on... ?

 

[Tortus]

did you make Ti come on... ?

I'll try it later. I did a custom paint job on it and it's still wet. The factory finish looks nice on the TC40 but put it in your pocket with keys one time...ruined.