New to the Mech/RDA world, need help/advice

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nickrw99

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Sep 21, 2011
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Hi everyone,
I am very new to the mechanical mod/rda setup and am looking for your thoughts, if you'd be so kind.

So I recently went to a local vape shop looking to make the switch from my evic and 901 drip atty to a mech mod with an rda. I ended up getting the Private V2 with the Trident RDA and got an IGO-W for a backup. The shop set me up with dual coils (3 wraps each) at 0.38 ohm and I am using an AW IMR 18650 battery.

Right from the beginning I loved puffing clouds of vapor, but as expected the mod and rda were getting noticeably hot and so I would just let it cool off before continuing. All has been well, but after reading through some of the sub-ohm threads, I am kind of nervous now...

Is my setup as dangerous as some make it sound? What's a safe ohm to be at but with a similar experience? I think I read that you shouldn't go below 0.8 ohm... is that true? If so, what does a 0.8 ohm dual coil setup entail (ie. gauge, length, # of wraps with the kanthal)?

I really appreciate your input/experience.

At first, I thought this setup was "normal" - vape shops in the area seem to be setting people up at sub-ohms fairly regularly...
 

bfitz

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Feb 2, 2013
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Yeah. .38 ohm is pretty low. I won't go that low just because bad things can happen to the battery. I keep all my coils around 1 ohm, lowest would be .8.

I use 3 wraps of 32 gauge wire and it comes out around 1 ohm, but always check it with a multi meter or reliable device that reads ohms. And check it often, things change as you use the coil. Also, check your battery. It isn't good to let it go below 3.2-3.3 volts and you have to keep checking it until you get used to how it feels when it starts to get that low.

There are people out there who vape like that, with super low ohm coils, but HOPEFULLY they know what they are doing. Keep reading and understanding what can happen and how to avoid it, if you decide to go the sub ohm route. I don't think that it was very responsible of the shop to set you up with something like that without giving any guidance as to what can go wrong. I got a good talk from my local shop when I picked up a RDA from them and I had a couple already.
 

Baditude

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Apr 8, 2012
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I agree with the above poster. The vape shop vendor had no business selling you a sub ohm coil with you having no previous experience with an RBA; I find that to be highly irresponsible on his part.

I'll forgive your ignorance in purchasing such a unit, as most people who have not researched RBAs do not realize the potential dangers involved with using sub ohm. Do yourself a favor and return the unit to the vendor and ask for at least a 1.5 ohm coil on it, and purchase a digital multimeter and learn how to use it. Educate yourself as much as you can with mod safety, batterys recommended for RBA use, using a multimeter, etc. Resources for this information are in the first link below.

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blogs/baditude/4454-7-advice-tips-vapors-looking-try-their-first-rba.html

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/general-e-smoking-discussion/448133-end-coming-i-can-feel-wind.html
 
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Alyssasmama

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Jul 25, 2013
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image.jpg

Set up
 

Steam Turbine

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May 3, 2013
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Montreal Quebec Canada
Hi everyone,
I am very new to the mechanical mod/rda setup and am looking for your thoughts, if you'd be so kind.

So I recently went to a local vape shop looking to make the switch from my evic and 901 drip atty to a mech mod with an rda. I ended up getting the Private V2 with the Trident RDA and got an IGO-W for a backup. The shop set me up with dual coils (3 wraps each) at 0.38 ohm and I am using an AW IMR 18650 battery.

Right from the beginning I loved puffing clouds of vapor, but as expected the mod and rda were getting noticeably hot and so I would just let it cool off before continuing. All has been well, but after reading through some of the sub-ohm threads, I am kind of nervous now...

Is my setup as dangerous as some make it sound? What's a safe ohm to be at but with a similar experience? I think I read that you shouldn't go below 0.8 ohm... is that true? If so, what does a 0.8 ohm dual coil setup entail (ie. gauge, length, # of wraps with the kanthal)?

I really appreciate your input/experience.

At first, I thought this setup was "normal" - vape shops in the area seem to be setting people up at sub-ohms fairly regularly...

What kind of irresponsible, douchebaggy, imbecile, ignorant, incompetent, idiot, birdbrain, dipstick kind of shop sets up their uninitiated customers with 0.38 dual ohm coils? Who thinks that a newcomer needs a 42 watt vape?

At least they set you up with a good battery, but the coil they built you is a little over the 10A maxium discharge rate of that said battery when its fully charge...

Do yourself a favor a build yourself a nice 1.2 ohm coil and vape safely!

Read Baditudes blog about RBA's.
 

sixsix

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Jul 2, 2013
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Dual coil at 0.38 means you've got 0.76 on each side. I run the same resistance on an 18650 Panasonic NCR/18500 Efest with no issues whatsoever. Those numbers may actually go up as your coils oxidize.

If it's getting too hot or tasting burnt, take it back and ask them to throw on an extra wrap on each side. That should bring you closer to 0.75-0.8 ohm.

Just my $.02
 

Steam Turbine

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May 3, 2013
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Dual coil at 0.38 means you've got 0.76 on each side. I run the same resistance on an 18650 Panasonic NCR/18500 Efest with no issues whatsoever. Those numbers may actually go up as your coils oxidize.

If it's getting too hot or tasting burnt, take it back and ask them to throw on an extra wrap on each side. That should bring you closer to 0.75-0.8 ohm.

Just my $.02

the battery doesnt care if each coil is 0.76 ohm.... It sense a 0.38 ohm load and trows 10.78 amps through it. And 10.78 amps is higher than the 10 amp limit of the AW IMR 18650.

Again, you guys are begging for trouble.
 

sixsix

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the battery doesnt care if each coil is 0.76 ohm.... It sense a 0.38 ohm load and trows 10.78 amps through it. And 10.78 amps is higher than the 10 amp limit of the AW IMR 18650.

Again, you guys are begging for trouble.


I completely agree with you, it's ridiculously low and potentially unsafe for a shop to build for someone that's just dipping their toe into the world of mechanical mods. That's why I suggested having them throw an extra wrap on.
 

InTheShade

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Apr 26, 2013
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South Texas
Just to play Devil's advocate here,


How many people have you known that have experienced a catastrophic battery failure?

There are a few cases - probably not as many as people may think.

Still, if there is just one case, then that is enough to practice and help reinforce battery safety.

I'm also of the opinion that the danger of battery venting / failure is maybe over-stated a little on the forums, but I think it's good that we try to impart some respect and research to the battery safety aspect of vaping.
On the other hand, if it were so dangerous, then the incidences of failure and injury would be much more common-place.

That all said, building a .38 ohm coil for a brand new vaper cannot ever be construed as sensible in my opinion and should not be encouraged even if they have the best batteries and charger available.

Flame away, because I know I will probably catch some heat for not running around and saying the sky is falling in.
 
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