Newbie Questions

[Valsacar]

Originally tried to post in the ATV section, as that seemed the appropriate place, but can't post there yet so...

After a friend got one a few weeks ago, I decided to give it a try and found the store he bought his from. I'm in Seoul, South Korea (so far, haven't heard any legal issues over here) and there's a Korean company that's a Janty reseller. Apparently fairly popular, had to wait for another guy to get his set up before I got the quick brief (I understood most of it... but she spoke no english). Ended up with the ego starter set, little more expensive than in the states (120k won ~= 105-110USD) but not terrible. juice costs a bit though, 37k KRW (~= 32USD) for a 20ml bottle... think I'll be ordering online now that I know.

High price of the starter kit was offset by the pile of extra crap she tossed in the bag (normal Korean style), got the car adapter, the clip so it doesn't get turned on accidentally, few extra empty carts, a ton of foam, couple small (I think about 5ml) empty bottles for "travel", etc.

Anyway... questions.

1. How long do the various parts normally last, I know she mentioned the atty had a 6mo warranty on it.

2. How often should you switch out the foam in the cart, pretty sure she said about 2 weeks.

3. Only been 2 days, still have a craving for an analog sometimes... maybe I need to switch to a juice with an increased nicotine level, or that fairly normal? BTW, I tried an analog earlier... really does taste like crap. Using a 6mg juice, was the only menthol they had in stock atm.

4. Noticed that if I use it for too long (like a chain-smoke length) the silver area around the button (which is right were the bat and atty connect) gets a bit warm... that normal?

5. Twice now I've noticed something that smelled like burning, pulled out the cart to find the foam stuck to the atty... I assume that just means it got dry and I should have refilled it?

6. What's the best way to know when you need to add more juice?

7. How often should it be cleaned?

I think that's about it for now... I'm sure there will be plenty more... Back to coughing up 10 years worth of crap I inhaled (actually enjoying it, in a way...)

 

[KayleePup]

Welcome! First I recommend reading through the library here http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...embers-please-check-out-our-library-here.html

To answer your questions:

1. How long do the various parts normally last, I know she mentioned the atty had a 6mo warranty on it.
Depends on usage.

2. How often should you switch out the foam in the cart, pretty sure she said about 2 weeks.
I take out my filler weekly, rinse and reuse.

3. Only been 2 days, still have a craving for an analog sometimes... maybe I need to switch to a juice with an increased nicotine level, or that fairly normal? BTW, I tried an analog earlier... really does taste like crap. Using a 6mg juice, was the only menthol they had in stock atm.
Probably need a higher nic level. Only way to know is to try. I was a pad Marlboro Light 100's smoker and I use 24mg juice, and vape pretty much continually all day.

4. Noticed that if I use it for too long (like a chain-smoke length) the silver area around the button (which is right were the bat and atty connect) gets a bit warm... that normal?
It is normal for it to get warm, but you want to set it down sometimes to let it cool. You can burn out the atty by continuously holding down the button. I have my 2 eGo's on lanyards and I just swap back and forth.

5. Twice now I've noticed something that smelled like burning, pulled out the cart to find the foam stuck to the atty... I assume that just means it got dry and I should have refilled it?
The burning smell has a couple of meanings - 1 it is dry, add more juice or 2 - your over heating it, put it down, let the juice flow back down and then vape somemore.

6. What's the best way to know when you need to add more juice?
See number 5 - you will definately notice a taste difference. As your tastebuds come back it is easier to tell. I usually top off at least 3 times during my 8 hour work day.

7. How often should it be cleaned?
Depends on use, performance and personal preference. Some people clean, others just get new ones.


I hope that helps.

KayleePup

 

[Valsacar]

Thanks for the answers, have noticed I use it far more often than I smoked, it's really great to be able to just take a puff or two and put it down, before I always felt that I was wasting money if I didn't finish a whole analog. Now, and especially after I read a thread here about stealth vaping, I never have to wait. Did find I only took two "smoke" breaks in my 12 hour shift yesterday, and that was just because I wanted to get out of the office and talk with friends for 10 minutes

Taste is something I'm looking forward to again... I love food, and I might even start saving money on coffee. Love strong coffee, and with dulled taste buds that means REALLY strong (if my wife has some of my coffee she uses like 1:5 coffee to water ratio to make it drinkable, heh).

 

[Automaton]

Wow, you can get an eGo in stores over there!? The only e-cigs we have in stores in the States are nowhere near that good, and cost just as much, if not a little more.

Well, the good news is you got a good e-cig to start out with, and that'll make everything much easier.

I'm normally a cartomizer user, and I've recently gotten my first atties and carts, so some of this will be based on what I've read.

I have read and heard from numerous people that the average time to switch out or clean the filler is every one to two weeks. But you can re-use it. Soak it in some Pure Grain Alcohol (PGA) for a good while, and it'll come out pretty clean (I've also started soaking my cartomizers in PGA, and it works for them too).

A well-cared for atty should last a while - 2 to 6 months, maybe longer. A lot of people dry burn them, or just blow them out. I soak in rubbing alcohol, and let dry overnight. No problems so far. I usually do this every day. You only need to soak for 5 minutes. Then, hold the atty upright, with the open end up, and watch the alcohol come out the bottom. What you're looking for is a steady stream of alcohol coming out, not dripping. Keep submerging it, and letting it drain, until it's a good stream. Usually takes 5 or 6 times for me.

Your batteries should last a while. It's lithium ion battery, like what laptops and cell phones have, so it will run out of puff eventually. How long, I don't know. I do know that all 3 of mine (which aren't eGo's, but still lithium ion) are going strong at 1.5 months. I expect 6 months to a year out of them.

Batteries also require maintenance. Every few weeks, I clean out the threading and connector with alcohol (yes, I use a lot of alcohol, lol). You may not notice the drop in performance over time, but trust me, it makes a difference. I thought one of my batteries was dead because it wouldn't charge. Cleaned the connector with alcohol, and it's good as new.

6mg is very low nicotine. I'm not surprised you're still craving. Try 12mg. If that doesn't do it, try 18mg. I was a 30-a-day smoker (rollies, Lucky Strike, and Pall Mall, sometimes without filters) and I vape 16-18mg most of the time, and sometimes 12mg.

I add more juice when I notice a faint change of taste, or drop in vapor. Any change in performance, and I check the cart. No sense in waiting until it's burned.

Also, I have read that 510 carts (which is what the eGo uses) have to be lined up with the atty to prevent burning the cart itself. I'm using a 901, so I don't know. But make sure it's lined up with the bridge.

I'm afraid I also can't help with the eGo battery getting warm.

So, take it for what it's worth.

 

[lmrasch]

I would purchase a few bottles with different nicotine strength, that way when you're really craving nicotine you can use the higher and when you just feel like going through the motions you can use the lower nicotine. When I first started out I was using 18 mg and found that I wanted to vape more than my body could take in nicotine...was getting light headed and headaches...thus the need for lower nic strength. It can work the other way around too....vape your head off with the lower strength and never feel sastified....

 

[nydlstrick]

I have to agree with all of you. Go up on the nic level , but watch all e-juice is not the same. Some suppliers say very high at 24mg while some 24mg is a medium and 30-36 is their high. Personally I was a pack a day Newport 100 puffer. I started with a 901 and moved to the 905 both by Joyetech through SaveASmoker.com. if you like mellow flavors try ordering MsT's she has some great flavors and her medium 24mg is probably higher than your juice. And try to get the bigger bottles from anyone you buy off of. I find if you hold it and vape a lot juice can go quickly. But if you get shaky or nervous , cut back your mg level of nic. Good Luck and Happy Vaping

 

[Valsacar]

Thanks for all of the advice, I'll look into getting a higher nic, but this will have to do for a couple days. Thinking about ordering some stuff online, MUCH cheaper than buying locally, and since I have access to APO (military post, ex-Army and now a government contractor) I'm not really limited in who I can get from...

I was wondering about switching, should I carry a different cart with me for the different flavors/strengths, or is it ok (assuming it's mostly dry) to refill the same cart with a different flavor?

 

[lmrasch]

Thanks for all of the advice, I'll look into getting a higher nic, but this will have to do for a couple days. Thinking about ordering some stuff online, MUCH cheaper than buying locally, and since I have access to APO (military post, ex-Army and now a government contractor) I'm not really limited in who I can get from...

I was wondering about switching, should I carry a different cart with me for the different flavors/strengths, or is it ok (assuming it's mostly dry) to refill the same cart with a different flavor?

Depends on what flavors you used, some flavors are very overpowering and don't mix well with others, but if you direct drip on the atty with one flavor and then add another drop or 2 of another and they taste good together, then go for it. I don't think nic strength should make any difference unless you're nic'd out....