Just got my Penelope and a few ?????

[comptechltd]

Hi All,

I'm new to the rba world and just got my Penelope from COV. I got my wick and coil made on the first try and I assume it is working great on my ProVari. Maybe I've done something wrong because I don't think it tastes that great. Its not that its bad. The flavor is definately stronger maybe even harsher. I have experimented with different voltages (My coil reads 1.7).

I guess my first question is can someone explain the "flavor control" to me and its proper operation? Should I leave it closed?, leave it cracked?, open it wide up? I'm just not sure.

The other suprise to me (which shouldn't have been a suprise now that I think about it) is that it vapes just like a CE2. I guess I'm more used to the tank/carto pushing the vapor when you puff as opposed to having to let the penelope build vapor in your mouth (to me again just like a CE2). Probably a bad description but just the way it seams to me.

Can somebody help a newb out??

Thanks,

Steve

 

[c8h10n4o2x2]

Hello and welcome,
I have never heard it called Flavor control, but Fluid control. If you leave it closed your wick will dry out, you want to have it open enough to keep the wick moist but not to moist. You might want to try a lower voltage, I normally vape at around 4 volts but just got some s'mores liquid and I had to lower it to 3.7 volts. As you can see I also have a provari and I am using a Penelope on it for right now. The vapor production on the Penelope is nothing like I have had before, you will need to play around with it to fit your tastes.

Hope this helps

 

[comptechltd]

caffeine, cool name!!!

When you say vapes like nothing you've had befor how do you mean it?? I am definately not getting more vapor.

Steve

 

[cypresss]

Other than the UFS, the Penelope gives me far more vapor and throat-hit than any other atty/tank/whatever. The two of them (along with Ody) are close in performance, just my opinion, but are leaps and bounds ahead of anything else I've tried. Depending on the juice you're using, and the PG/VG ratio, vapor and TH can vary quite a bit. Just my

another Steve

 

[R53_Dave]

Hi All,

I'm new to the RBA world and just got my Penelope from COV. I got my wick and coil made on the first try and I assume it is working great on my ProVari. Maybe I've done something wrong because I don't think it tastes that great. Its not that its bad. The flavor is definately stronger maybe even harsher. I have experimented with different voltages (My coil reads 1.7).

I guess my first question is can someone explain the "flavor control" to me and its proper operation? Should I leave it closed?, leave it cracked?, open it wide up? I'm just not sure.

The other suprise to me (which shouldn't have been a suprise now that I think about it) is that it vapes just like a CE2. I guess I'm more used to the tank/carto pushing the vapor when you puff as opposed to having to let the penelope build vapor in your mouth (to me again just like a CE2). Probably a bad description but just the way it seams to me.

Can somebody help a newb out??

Thanks,

Steve

Here is my experience with them, hope it helps.

1. Flavor issue? Your choice of e-liquid plays a role here. Fruity stuff starts out a little muted on the Penelope/Ody. After a tank or two it starts to get "brighter" for lack of a better term. That said, every device I've used has had at least a slight impact on the liquid flavor. Some seem to give more...some less. With these GG tanks you have to correctly dial it in. That gets explained below.

2. ProVari is full of win with these, but you have to set them up correctly. The Penelope can be a little tough to get the positive pin low enough to get good air flow. However, too much air flow is bad too. Get the air flow right in the middle between tight and airy.

3. Try higher voltages. a 1.7ohm coil will hardly fire at all @ 3.0 volts. I find 3.4ish to be a good starting point with those premade wires. Not getting a thick enough hit? Turn it up till you are.

4. Get supplies to make your own wires. To me these tanks work much better with coils over 2.4ohm's. The vape at 4.5 volts with a 2.5ohm coil is about the same as 3.4 volts on a 1.7ohm coil. You'll get MUCH better battery life with the higher ohm coils on the ProVari as well. The lower res coils are for folks that have static 3.3-3.7 volt setups. With a VV mod, go bigger all the way around.

5. The mouth piece is used to control the liquid flow to the wick. Closed, it will dry up sooner or later. Open too far and gurgle city. You'll have to find your sweet spot on your own as the thickness of the juice, air temp where you are, and other factors play a part in how it flows. What works in my house floods in the car (Car is much warmer) If you're not going to vape it for a while, close the liquid control! Leaving it open all the time can cause floods. (does for me anyway) It's a learning curve we all have to master.

6. Vapor production is dialed in by finding the sweet spot between the Coil, Voltage and Juice type. Again, you'll have to play around to find it. Rule of thumb, if you're not getting the cloud you want, make sure liquid control isn't starving the wick, then turn up the voltage!

7. You will need to hit the button a second or two before you start to take a puff. The wick is wet, and the coil is cold. You have to get it heated up a bit before the cloud gets made. You'll also be taking a slower draw into your mouth THEN inhale. It's like smoking a cig with a slightly longer mouth draw. Cartos tend to heat up much faster, so you get the vapor a little sooner. Account for the difference and you'll not think the carto/tanks are better. They are not! All rebuildable stuff needs a second or two of heat to get going. Even the Genesis stuff needs to warm up initally.

I was not getting the performance I expected when I first started using the Ody and Penelope either. After paying my dues, learning how to make my own coil wires, and learning how to correctly dial it in to my juice, and PV, they ROCK! Very clean vape. My carto tanks and eGo cartos were starting to hurt my throat and lungs pretty badly. I think the filler/wick in those goes airborne and gets inhaled. After a week or so on these GG tanks I no longer have sore lungs/throat. I'm using the exact same liquid and have actually been vaping MORE because it's so nice. I'm getting huge clouds off these tanks and finally mastered blowing rings!!! Cig's and cartos would choke me out long before I could get enough practice in to master it.

This video is worth the watch. It's for an Ody, but it's really just the same.
Review of the Odysseus repairable atomiser for electronic cigarettes by E-Cig-Reviews.com

Take the time to figure it all out. It's worth it in the end!

 

[Ezkill]

Having used CE2's and Vivi Nova tanks right before I got these I can't say the vape even close to the same. That being said on the first day I had my Penelope's I was a little disappointed as I actually thought the Vivi Nova tanks were performing better. That assessment quickly changed. The Penelope's are my go to. No tank or cartomizer even comes close. Pure un-muted flavor, excellent throat hits and no leaking or hassles.

Once you get some supplies you will have to dial these in a little bit. By that I mean try out a double or triple wick design and make sure you are using enough voltage to get tons of vapor.

As far as the juice control. Close it when filling. Make sure it's not flooded(gurgling sound). Open it a twist(not a turn) and then try that. After it's wicking really well I open it 4 short twists and vape the entire tank.

 

[c8h10n4o2x2]

comptechltd - I have mostly used carts and lately a dct, they generally start out good but then clog, flood, and then quit, and of course as the battery dies so does the vapor production. I have tried the Penelope on a non vv device and it starts out good but then drops off as the battery dies.
Your the first to tell me instead of asking me what it means, and to correct you it is double the caffeine, you forgot the x2

R53_Dave - great info

 

[comptechltd]

Thank you all for the great info!!!

As I said, this was my cherry breaker on RBA's and coil making. When I first started vaping I preferred CE2's and the taste from this reminds me a lot of that. My coil/wick is from the pre-built wire than came with the penelope. I already have a spool of 34g kanthal, and some silver NR wire and was lucky enough to score some extra wick when COV had it in stock. I think I'll play a bit with the prebuilt to try to get the juice control down then switch to a higher resistance coil. I'm sure that my what seems to me to be reduced vapor is due to my lack of experience with the wick.

cypresss


Other than the UFS, the Penelope gives me far more vapor and throat-hit than any other atty/tank/whatever. The two of them (along with Ody) are close in performance, just my opinion, but are leaps and bounds ahead of anything else I've tried. Depending on the juice you're using, and the PG/VG ratio, vapor and TH can vary quite a bit. Just my

another Steve

Everything I have read says the same as you cypress so apparently I need to tweak my skills.

Here is my experience with them, hope it helps.

1. Flavor issue? Your choice of e-liquid plays a role here. Fruity stuff starts out a little muted on the Penelope/Ody. After a tank or two it starts to get "brighter" for lack of a better term. That said, every device I've used has had at least a slight impact on the liquid flavor. Some seem to give more...some less. With these GG tanks you have to correctly dial it in. That gets explained below.

2. ProVari is full of win with these, but you have to set them up correctly. The Penelope can be a little tough to get the positive pin low enough to get good air flow. However, too much air flow is bad too. Get the air flow right in the middle between tight and airy.

3. Try higher voltages. a 1.7ohm coil will hardly fire at all @ 3.0 volts. I find 3.4ish to be a good starting point with those premade wires. Not getting a thick enough hit? Turn it up till you are.

4. Get supplies to make your own wires. To me these tanks work much better with coils over 2.4ohm's. The vape at 4.5 volts with a 2.5ohm coil is about the same as 3.4 volts on a 1.7ohm coil. You'll get MUCH better battery life with the higher ohm coils on the ProVari as well. The lower res coils are for folks that have static 3.3-3.7 volt setups. With a VV mod, go bigger all the way around.

5. The mouth piece is used to control the liquid flow to the wick. Closed, it will dry up sooner or later. Open too far and gurgle city. You'll have to find your sweet spot on your own as the thickness of the juice, air temp where you are, and other factors play a part in how it flows. What works in my house floods in the car (Car is much warmer) If you're not going to vape it for a while, close the liquid control! Leaving it open all the time can cause floods. (does for me anyway) It's a learning curve we all have to master.

6. Vapor production is dialed in by finding the sweet spot between the Coil, Voltage and Juice type. Again, you'll have to play around to find it. Rule of thumb, if you're not getting the cloud you want, make sure liquid control isn't starving the wick, then turn up the voltage!

7. You will need to hit the button a second or two before you start to take a puff. The wick is wet, and the coil is cold. You have to get it heated up a bit before the cloud gets made. You'll also be taking a slower draw into your mouth THEN inhale. It's like smoking a cig with a slightly longer mouth draw. Cartos tend to heat up much faster, so you get the vapor a little sooner. Account for the difference and you'll not think the carto/tanks are better. They are not! All rebuildable stuff needs a second or two of heat to get going. Even the Genesis stuff needs to warm up initally.

I was not getting the performance I expected when I first started using the Ody and Penelope either. After paying my dues, learning how to make my own coil wires, and learning how to correctly dial it in to my juice, and PV, they ROCK! Very clean vape. My carto tanks and eGo cartos were starting to hurt my throat and lungs pretty badly. I think the filler/wick in those goes airborne and gets inhaled. After a week or so on these GG tanks I no longer have sore lungs/throat. I'm using the exact same liquid and have actually been vaping MORE because it's so nice. I'm getting huge clouds off these tanks and finally mastered blowing rings!!! Cig's and cartos would choke me out long before I could get enough practice in to master it.

R53_Dave, thank you for a very well spelled out an consice guide. I had read about the lower ohm being harder on the batteries. My initial intention was to make higher resistance coils.

Ezkill


Having used CE2's and Vivi Nova tanks right before I got these I can't say the vape even close to the same. That being said on the first day I had my Penelope's I was a little disappointed as I actually thought the Vivi Nova tanks were performing better. That assessment quickly changed. The Penelope's are my go to. No tank or cartomizer even comes close. Pure un-muted flavor, excellent throat hits and no leaking or hassles.

Once you get some supplies you will have to dial these in a little bit. By that I mean try out a double or triple wick design and make sure you are using enough voltage to get tons of vapor.

As far as the juice control. Close it when filling. Make sure it's not flooded(gurgling sound). Open it a twist(not a turn) and then try that. After it's wicking really well I open it 4 short twists and vape the entire tank.

Ezkill, Thanks for this advice.

c8h10n4o2x2


comptechltd - I have mostly used carts and lately a dct, they generally start out good but then clog, flood, and then quit, and of course as the battery dies so does the vapor production. I have tried the Penelope on a non vv device and it starts out good but then drops off as the battery dies.
Your the first to tell me instead of asking me what it means, and to correct you it is double the caffeine, you forgot the x2

Double the caffeine, (Its easier the spell that way....lolol)

I too was having the same issues with tanks. Thants why I have switched to an RBA. I have my penelope and have also ordered an Atom which is a genisis style from a guy making them in another thread.


You guys are the best and have given some great advice. I truley appreciate it.

Steve

 

[Bishopheals]

I think I'm going to need some more juice before tackling this.

 

[Ezkill]

Just hang in there for a few days. That's probably the most important part. Rebuild it a few times and tweak it to your linking.

These were also my first rebuildable's and I can honestly say I could never go back to tanks, carto's or regular atomizers. Now I've got the bug so I've been trying other rebuildable's(genesis style atomizer on a hybrid device) and it's great as well. Just can't compare these devices to the stock stuff. So much better.

 

[R53_Dave]

Aye, hopefully you have enough supplies to allow you to master it. It's a great little tank once you get it all dialed in.

 

[Bishopheals]

Hope all is going well.

 

[comptechltd]

I am still on my initial coil and am getting better at it. I've been playing with the flow control quite a bit. Just waiting for my coil to go out to rebuild a higher resistance one. I have some 34gauge kanthal and am thinking of going with about a 1-3/4" long piece to make my coil to get the higher ohms.

Steve

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2

 

[Killjoy1]

You might be waiting a while, then I've been using my initial coil with the pre-made wire for 10 days, now. It's been washed and dry burned a few times between flavors, but is still performing like day 1

So far my only drawback to the Penelope is that I'm going through about 50% more juice when using it than with other gear . . . I just can't keep my lips off her Ody is getting jealous

 

[Ty89m]

How are you cleaning it out between switching juices? Are you just re-wrapping the same coil on fresh wick?

 

[Ezkill]

The coils really do last forever but I've changed mine a dozen times just because I wanted to try stuff.

To change flavors I take it apart except for the bottom assembly. No need to to take the ceramic cup assembly out of the bottom of the tank. Give everything a quick rinse including the wick and bottom assembly. Paper towel it all off. Put the bottom assembly back on your device of choice. Dry burn the wick a tiny bit, you don't want to fry your wick just clean the coils and dry the wick out. Prime wick with new juice and reassemble. Sometimes I let it dry over night since I several Penelope's. Others use compressed air to speed it along. Either way a rinse and a dry with an optional dry burn is almost as good as a complete change.

Comptechltd - That's what I've done. I've been using 34 and I find a 1.75(or close) inch piece gives me a resistance of 2.8ohms. I have a template on the back of a bag so I can't remember the exact measurement. Anyway I make my coils out of 34 at 2.8ohms and find when they break in they pick up .2-.3ohm resistance. As a result all my coils are now 3.0-3.1ohms and it's great. Same wattage(not voltage) through a higher resistance coil makes my batteries last twice as long.

Vaping at 3.9 on a 2 ohm coil is MUCH more amp draw then vaping at 4.8 on a 3ohm coil even though it uses the same watts.

 

[Killjoy1]

Nope, using the same wick. I leave the rebuildable part assembled and rinse thoroughly with hot water until all of the wick is white (only takes a minute or so), pat the wick dry with a paper towel, then put it back in the base and attach to a device to dry burn it (but only if it's looking a little gunky on the coil). So far I've only used a couple of "gunk-prone" juices, my DIY mixes tend to vape pretty clean and don't leave a whole lot of residue behind

 

[comptechltd]

I was wondering about cleaning and dry burning these. I'll have to give it a try.

 

[Bishopheals]

How are you cleaning it out between switching juices? Are you just re-wrapping the same coil on fresh wick?

if price is not a issue you can reuse the same coil with new wicks. I do till the coil breaks from re coiling. If want to save when you want to switch juice you can do the burn method. by removing the cylinder and mouthpiece keep firing up on battery till you see the wick white again. when you do then you can remove it from battery and wash it out with hot water. all that black stuff is the juice residue. dry it up you can light it up again on battery till u see the coils red then your ready for your next juice.

 

[JthaBigVapor]

I usually switch it up with every juice.

New Juice, New Wick and Coil

But thats just me...