Mini-pipe, Second Impression

[krapanj]

I have noticed the drop off in performance of the mini pipe atomizers, so I checked the resistance of a new atomizer, and checked it daily.

New the resistance is: 4 ohms
As the performance deteriorates the resistance increases to approx 14 ohms

If we assume a fully charged battery (4V) then when new the power output would be (1a*4v)=4w

And (4/14a*4v)= 1.14w

I don't see how any amount of cleaning will reduce the resistance.

I have noticed similar results with the latest batch of 801 and 901 atomizers also. It seems that they just don't last more than a couple of days....

I suspect that the unpopularity of the new disposable e-cigs and/or disposable atomizers may have something to do with the deteriating quality of normal atomizers from the manufaturers ???

 

[EDO]

krapanj....Just to back up what your saying....I don;t know what is going on but I have killed another two atomizers since my last post in this forum....yesterday. This time I have been rotating my atomizers. So in 6 days I have been rotating 3 mini pipe atomizers. One died late last night. One died a couple of hours ago. I have bestecig atomizers that I have used on and off since last week. I have to admit that they are producing great vapor still....but they give off very awful taste.

 

[e-pipeman]

Yes, this atomiser thing is a problem. I have had to return 3 to date due to them dying. I am currently using two white atomisers - they seem to be fine to date. I am not using glycerine with them at all and am getting very good vapour - but I am mixing usage of the pipe with other e-cigs as I feel that heavy use may cause the problems with them packing in. It's a great pity because when the pipe is working well it is a true joy to vape. I'll let you all know how I get on with my current atomisers - a weeks use so far.

The bestecig atomisers work very well on penstyle usb passthrough but seem imho to get too hot on the pipe which causes the bad taste. This might be because they seem to allow a lot more air into the mix.

 

[surbitonPete]

I haven't actually had any of my pipe atomizers die....but one that I had been using for only a 'couple of days' was producing such a poor amount of vapour I had to take it apart out of curiosity and I found that some of the fiberglass fibre they use in the metal wicking bridge was completely covering the coil and absolutely solid with that black gunge, it was amazing it was producing any vapour at all !. I can't understand how it was so bad after only two days use.....the crud build up looked more like what you would expect from months of use. The rest of my atomizers still work but I am hoping we can find a cleaner that will really dissolve all that black gunge.

 

[wv2win]

Ok... it's day two. The honeymoon isn't over, but the mother-in-law is tagging along.

I really like the mini-pipe. But I really want to love it more.

I have no issues with it's vapor, throat hit, form, or functionality. I don't think the shortcomings are part of the pipe itself.

It's got more to do with the batteries. reviews I saw prior to purchasing were making claims like "screwdriver contender if not killer" and "six to eight hours on a battery." If the Screwdriver performs like this, I want to cancel my order now... but I don't think it does.

On a completely charged battery, I managed 4-5 hours. Hey, that's pretty good, right? Better than a 901... but hell, about the same as my pen. And here's the kicker: It takes longer than that to recharge the spare battery. Without fail, the battery in my pipe is dead before the one in my charger is green. The answer, you might say, is to have two spare batteries... but I say 'only if you have two chargers.' You pretty much would need to keep three in rotation.

Where can you get this type of charger? Probably in the same mythical place that you can buy extra batteries. Better yet, is there a speed charger available for this type of battery?

My last gripe (for now): I'm not sure if all reviews claim this, but one popular reviewer (who has lately become suspect) stated in his review that there is no cutoff on these... and that you could drag forever. He must have some pretty pathetic lung power. Maybe it's all the time I spent in hospitals sucking on one of those lung capacity thingies, but I reach cutoff every single time around 6 seconds, or just when I'm getting a good lung full. (I was going to put a comment here that was filled with innuendo about stopping just sort of satisfaction, but decided against it. Use your imagination.) It's not a deal breaker, but it was a disappointment.

Overall, it's still number one until I get my e-cigar and Screwdriver delivered. But then, it has to be. It seems that all three of my 901 atomizers all of a sudden don't work (and are being warranty replaced) and conversely, my pen-style batteries decided to go on strike (also being warranty replaced)... so unless I can MacGuyver a way into using an 801 atomizer on a 901 battery, I'm screwed into sucking on partial mini-pipe batteries until a solution comes along.

Your mileage may vary.

Walrus, here is a link to trog's screwdriver forum that lists links where you can get chargers and batteries:

ECigScrewdriver - View Single Post - Parts

There was a pretty good discussion on the screwdriver forum about quick charging battery chargers vs slower charging battery chargers. It seems that both chargers will charge the battery to 95% but that the slow charger will get the battery to 100% and that the exta time with the slower charging charger is to get that last 5%. Also it was believed that the faster chargers make the battery wear out faster.

I've had my screwdriver for 2 days now and in comparison to my 901 and 801, it is much better. The screwdriver and my 901 will be my two e-vaporizers. Consistent throat hit and batteries that last at least twice as long. Vapor is about the same but vapor is not that important to me - throat hit and "warm" vapor is what is important IMO. I hope you have some 901 atomizers around that you know work. I've had a little problem with the ones that came with the screwdriver but the ones I got from e-smokey-treats worked like a charm. It's important to keep your carts "wet". Don't vape the screwdriver dry!

Oh, and every time I have emailed trog with a question, he responds super quick! Really great support, so far. Oh, and it took nine days to reach me from the UK.

 

[VapeAllDay]

Dang, my love affair with the Mini Pipe is starting to wear off! My first atomizer lasted over a week with great vapor, but then it went to crap... After that I switched it out to another atomizer (not the minipipe kind) and it produced massive vapor for 1-2 days...

I can't see having to replace an atomizer every 1-2 days or even once a week, it just doesn't seem realistic. I am now regretting buying a second mini-pipe kit.

I did try cleaning the original atomizer with Coke, but it was even worse after that.

 

[ZambucaLu]

I honestly must just be having good luck with these pipe atomizers. I started on 3/7 with the white ones because the ones with the kit didn't work very well. I had taken those white ones off my pens so they were used, but they still lasted me until 3/14. When the vapor went down, I took them off to clean and retried the original ones with the hint that someone gave here about pulling up on the atom hole. I'm still using those 2 from 3/14.

I do rotate between 2 of them every day...plus I have my KB pens I also hit now and then for a change in flavor. I don't know if this makes a difference or not.

And I never take them off....mainly because I'm afraid they won't work right again! I'll take them off when it's time to clean them. And when I take these ones off, I'll put the clean white ones back on (and hope they work like they did before!)

Sorry guys...wish you were having better luck with them

Lu

 

[CandyGirl]

I haven't actually had any of my pipe atomizers die....but one that I had been using for only a 'couple of days' was producing such a poor amount of vapour I had to take it apart out of curiosity and I found that some of the fiberglass fibre they use in the metal wicking bridge was completely covering the coil and absolutely solid with that black gunge, it was amazing it was producing any vapour at all !. I can't understand how it was so bad after only two days use.....the crud build up looked more like what you would expect from months of use. The rest of my atomizers still work but I am hoping we can find a cleaner that will really dissolve all that black gunge.

everyday i look for Pete's "eureka" post on why his atomizers die out sooner than everyone elses and everyday i'm saddened.

i followed your other posts a few weeks back Pete and asked if you twisted your mouthpieces in and out.
it's just a theory i have. i watched a review and the reviewer twisted the cart/mouthpiece and i thought, "i would never do that". i always replace my cart to it's original position and never twist.

why?

I'm afraid the wool will get tangled around the atm coil.
it may have nothing to do with anything at all, but i have never lost an atomizer in almost 3 months of use. i never clean or drain. i have rinsed to try different flavors but nothing else. i use around 2-3 mls per day.

hope you figure it out soon Pete, just thought i'd share.

 

[surbitonPete]

everyday i look for Pete's "eureka" post on why his atomizers die out sooner than everyone elses and everyday i'm saddened.

i followed your other posts a few weeks back Pete and asked if you twisted your mouthpieces in and out.
it's just a theory i have. i watched a review and the reviewer twisted the cart/mouthpiece and i thought, "i would never do that". i always replace my cart to it's original position and never twist.

why?

I'm afraid the wool will get tangled around the atm coil.
it may have nothing to do with anything at all, but i have never lost an atomizer in almost 3 months of use. i never clean or drain. i have rinsed to try different flavors but nothing else. i use around 2-3 mls per day.

hope you figure it out soon Pete, just thought i'd share.

Lmao thanks for trying to help Candy ..... I don't even use the polyester wicking material in the carts now because I believed it had to be that getting onto my atomizer coils and ruining them........ I am now use squashed up metal wicking mesh from old atomizers in my cart .......but still not getting any better luck with the atomizers....I think they hate me.

 

[ted26]

What juice are you using lu? and ebveryone else for that matter

I honestly must just be having good luck with these pipe atomizers. I started on 3/7 with the white ones because the ones with the kit didn't work very well. I had taken those white ones off my pens so they were used, but they still lasted me until 3/14. When the vapor went down, I took them off to clean and retried the original ones with the hint that someone gave here about pulling up on the atom hole. I'm still using those 2 from 3/14.

I do rotate between 2 of them every day...plus I have my KB pens I also hit now and then for a change in flavor. I don't know if this makes a difference or not.

And I never take them off....mainly because I'm afraid they won't work right again! I'll take them off when it's time to clean them. And when I take these ones off, I'll put the clean white ones back on (and hope they work like they did before!)

Sorry guys...wish you were having better luck with them

Lu

 

[VapeAllDay]

What juice are you using lu? and ebveryone else for that matter

I am using Vapor4Life's juice, which is from David Yang @ Eastmall.net, Janes Kick Juice, VaporNine, Etc. Etc. I use juice from sooo many places, I would never be able to narrow it down.

 

[ZambucaLu]

I am using Vapor4Life's juice, which is from David Yang @ Eastmall.net, Janes Kick Juice, VaporNine, Etc. Etc. I use juice from sooo many places, I would never be able to narrow it down.

Same here Ted. I actually use one for a coffee mix I made (which is just a combo of various coffee flavors I received and some lorann's butter rum)....and the other for a tobacco mix which trust me, contains tobacco flavors from all over the place.

Funny, but I just topped off both pipes and see the atomizer is starting to "drag"....not getting the hit or vapor I was earlier today. Guess it's tme to take them off and put the white ones back on. Will let you know how it goes.

BTW...I did pick up some more silver ones from bestecig but really haven't had to crack them open yet.

Lu

 

[EDO]

Yes, this atomiser thing is a problem. I have had to return 3 to date due to them dying. I am currently using two white atomisers - they seem to be fine to date. I am not using glycerine with them at all and am getting very good vapour - but I am mixing usage of the pipe with other e-cigs as I feel that heavy use may cause the problems with them packing in. It's a great pity because when the pipe is working well it is a true joy to vape. I'll let you all know how I get on with my current atomisers - a weeks use so far.

The bestecig atomisers work very well on penstyle usb passthrough but seem imho to get too hot on the pipe which causes the bad taste. This might be because they seem to allow a lot more air into the mix.

Yes pipeman...When the damn pipe performs as it should....IT is incredible...better than analogs. The taste is amazing. But in one week 3 atomizers died on me. I vape very heavy and this was my exclusive device. So is the bestecig penstyle...a good device? Or is it only good with the passthrough? Is it comparable to the mini pipe? I need to get something before I am forced to go back to analogs. THanks in advance for your advice.

Since it looks like we are taking a poll of the juices we use ....I use JC cured tabacco, Puresmoke Marlboro, Litecig USA Cigar, Bestecig Marlboro.

 

[ZambucaLu]

Since it looks like we are taking a poll of the juices we use ....I use JC cured tabacco, Puresmoke Marlboro, Litecig USA Cigar, Bestecig Marlboro.

Just curious EDO....how does that bestecig marb compare to PS? Haven't tried either one yet but am thinking about it.

Lu

 

[EDO]

Sam...both are good. The bestecig is less sweet with a little less vapor. I like the PS a little more.

 

[smokindeuce]

I've been lucky with the mini pipe atomiser so far getting around 3-4 weeks before performance starts to deteriorate slightly. I used it for two weeks almost exclusively and then rotated between the mini pipe and dura. My dura in contrast runs a lot hotter and I have still yet to experience any drop off in performance. Perhaps the heat that the pipe runs at is at the heart of the problem.

I am also getting the manufacturers to look into this all the same as it seems a few of you have had similar experiences. I will also point them to this thread for further information.

I'm sure there will be a solution although at the moment, having tried various things myself, I'm still not quite sure what.

So just to let you know that they are looking into this as I type and in the meantime if you are experiencing problems, please let me know and I will more than happily replace parts if necessary.


P.S. I will also attempt my own cleaning method tonight to see if I can come up with anything and will post the results on this thread. I personally still believe it is the efficiency of the atomiser at vapourising the liquid - ie. i think it possibly leaves more residue behind which starts to build up after a while and deteriorate performance.

 

[e-pipeman]

I am also getting the manufacturers to look into this all the same as it seems a few of you have had similar experiences. I will also point them to this thread for further information.

I'm sure there will be a solution although at the moment, having tried various things myself, I'm still not quite sure what.

Thanks for this smokindeuce. I should point out that Smokejuice have fully honoured their warranty and replaced my problem atomisers without quibble - for which many thanks. I just hope that the new ones don't fail....

I wonder whether the problem lies with the "fading" of the batteries. Atomisers seem to prefer to run warm - any atomisers that I have run from a USB battery pack (not pipe atomisers) seem to have lasted much longer. Perhaps as the power gets weaker and the vape becomes less efficient this leaves more scope for unwanted "solids" to clog the atomiser. If so perhaps we need a battery that runs at a constant power level and then simply stops rather than fading.

 

[EDO]

smokinduece...I think the original mini pipe atomizers work pretty good. It lasted me about ten days. That is not too bad since I was vaping very heavy with them....I was going through 4-6 batteries a day. I Killed the switch...my fault.... by dripping. The second switch I got from David Yangs. I sincerely believe the manufacturers changed the device a bit....it seemed to me that the second switch...had different threads....so as to make other 801s fit them better. The spare atomizers I got from eastmall....I don;t believe are original atomizers. This is because they fit so tightly on the pipe....that the pipe had no airflow. I had to make notches on the band to make them vape normally. The problem is these spare atomizers are dieing off every other day.

 

[e-pipeman]

Yes pipeman...When the damn pipe performs as it should....IT is incredible...better than analogs. The taste is amazing. But in one week 3 atomizers died on me. I vape very heavy and this was my exclusive device. So is the bestecig penstyle...a good device? Or is it only good with the passthrough? Is it comparable to the mini pipe? I need to get something before I am forced to go back to analogs. THanks in advance for your advice.

Since it looks like we are taking a poll of the juices we use ....I use JC cured tabacco, Puresmoke Marlboro, Litecig USA Cigar, Bestecig Marlboro.

Hi Edo,

In my opinion the bestecig penstyle on usb passthrough vapes very well indeed. So does the mini pipe. The problem is one of atomiser failure.

Without question the most reliable atomiser setup I have used is the original Intellicig atomiser on a USB passthrough powered by a usb battery pack. I got my original Intellicigs back in October of last year - the atomisers are still going strng on this USB setup. I think that this is because they run "warm" which helps to keep them functioning well. My most dependable ecig these days that isn't USB is the Evo - very good battery life at 8 hrs and very good customer service from John if any problems arise. Hope that helps.

 

[surbitonPete]

Tim......I have now taken a few of my atomizers apart......and I know why the work better at first but don't last very long.....they have deliberately wrapped some of the fibreglass wicking material over the atomizer coil....this makes it work great at first but the wicking fibres clog up badly with black gunk and stop the whole thing working.

By the way Tim I haven't asked you to replace any of them on guarantee because I keep taking them apart to find out why they don't work lol.....but you did send me a free extra one with the last ones I ordered .....so I thank you for that..lol.