Noob Needs RBA Advice!

[johthohar]

I just ordered my first RBA. After much hesitancy and second guessing I finally purchased a very cost friendly item that was described as "A great beginner's RBA." It comes with a prewrapped coil but I added some 30g kanthal wire and 2mm silica wick as well. I'm currently vaping various clearos on an itaste MVP and I've been very satisfied with it. At the moment I'm vaping a Vivi Nova with a 2.8ohm atty at the max 5V and I really like it. But I've read some things that make me think I might want to get something different to use with an RBA.

What I'm wanting to know is this: What is a good setup to use on an RBA using the materials above with the MVP? Ideally I'd like something that produces a lot of vapor at a decent temperature. What are the setbacks and limitations of using an MVP with rebuildables? What are the safety concerns with low resistance setups?

I bought a multimeter today so I can check the resistance on the coils I build. EVERYTHING I've read said having one of those is a must.

I'm also thinking about getting a new APV. I see a lot of people in tutorial videos and such using ProVari's with their RBA's. It's a little pricey for me but I might bite that bullet eventually if it's worth it. The Vamo is a little more in my price range. What are some of the best APV's to use with RBA's? What are the advantages of using mechanical mods?

All that being said, ANY and ALL advice you can give me on rebuildables would be greatly appreciated! I still have a million questions. What other RBA's are good for beginners? What are the advantages of using SS mesh vs. silica wick? What effect, if any, does a dual coil setup have on wattage/amperage? And the one thing I keep coming back to and stressing about: Am I going to ruin my battery or blow up my hand if I screw up?!8-o

Thanks in advance for any help you can give me. I realize this may be a tall order. I've been reading everything I could find the last few days on RBA's prior to getting one but, as is always the case with me, the more I learn the more questions I have!

 

[Papadragon]

Mesh last longer than silica taste better in a tank vamo is good but provari is better price range vamo works great low res is no go for vamo or prverie 1.3 and higher only mech will last longer no computer bounds to die and u can run lower res on them I run .6 on mine if you need to now more ask away

 

[Jazzi Mike]

In case you had trouble deciphering the language of the above poster, I think the Vamo would be a good item to have in your arsenal in terms of beginning to rebuild. The resistance meter in the device is a great feature to have. Once you have a coil set up and you start to fire it, a really good practice is to check the resistance periodically to ensure that it stays at the same level. The added safety features of something like the Vamo also help with RBAs. With that being said, your MVP will be fine to use an RBA with.

As far as what wicks to use, it really is a personal preference. You did not say what particular RBA you are waiting on in the mail, so I can't offer specific advice. SS mesh wicks have really good flavor, but they are a PITA to set up when you first get started. They are mainly used with genesis style atomizers (ala The RSST, AGA T2, etc...), but they can be used in other set ups. Conversely, you can use other wicks in genesis style atomizers as well. Silica really is probably the easiest to learn with on account that it is most forgiving as far as shorts, etc...

 

[johthohar]

In case you had trouble deciphering the language of the above poster, I think the Vamo would be a good item to have in your arsenal in terms of beginning to rebuild. The resistance meter in the device is a great feature to have. Once you have a coil set up and you start to fire it, a really good practice is to check the resistance periodically to ensure that it stays at the same level. The added safety features of something like the Vamo also help with RBAs. With that being said, your MVP will be fine to use an RBA with.

As far as what wicks to use, it really is a personal preference. You did not say what particular RBA you are waiting on in the mail, so I can't offer specific advice. SS mesh wicks have really good flavor, but they are a PITA to set up when you first get started. They are mainly used with genesis style atomizers (ala The RSST, AGA T2, etc...), but they can be used in other set ups. Conversely, you can use other wicks in genesis style atomizers as well. Silica really is probably the easiest to learn with on account that it is most forgiving as far as shorts, etc...

I ordered it from OKCVapes.com. Some of their items don't seem to have any real branding or names so I didn't know what to call it. The product description says "Miniaturized version of the Smokteck RDA." Here is a link to the item I purchased. They're product descriptions sometimes have a frustrating lack of detail, but I went through them rather than one of the bigger websites because I just moved from that area and I've been in their physical store a few times. I know and trust them and they have amazing customer service and really quick shipping. If being able to see what I ordered brings any other insights or advice to mind I'd appreciate it, but what you've already told me does help quite a bit! Thanks!

 

[G2matt]

From my own experience, i use ss mesh for tobacco flavours and silica wick for fruit flavours. I do on occasion do it the other way around but always go back to the original setup, the flavours/equipment seem to complement each other better.
Looking at the link, you've gone for a dripping atty and as far as I know you will only use silica in it. If you're looking to do ss mesh wick then try a rsst, aga t2 or aga s they're a good place to start.

 

[ClippinWings]

actually a dripper can use many wicks... Mesh, bamboo, cotton, ceramic, etc... But silica is the most common... and is clearly where you would start...

honestly any Rebuildable is a lot of trial and error... start by building what you know... and change from there.

Realize that rebuilding gets addictive... chasing the perfect vape, don't be surprised if your building a new coil every day or two for the first few weeks.

 

[Papadragon]

Wow !I just read that man I can spell. Rba r realy realy not that hard don't let people over exsplain somthing and get worried .wrap your coil space the wires even and don't let the wires touch the post and wow u did it ! It realy is that easy and sorry for the bad post kids were acting up . Have fun and don't over think it on a vamo u have protection from shorts it will just say low ohm

 

[johthohar]

Looking at the link, you've gone for a dripping atty and as far as I know you will only use silica in it. If you're looking to do ss mesh wick then try a rsst, aga t2 or aga s they're a good place to start.

Thanks. Yes, I'm aware that this style would primarily be used with silica wick. I almost got a genesis style atty but thought this would be a better one to start out on and experiment with. I was just wondering what others have found to be the pros/cons to other styles of wicking.

Realize that rebuilding gets addictive... chasing the perfect vape, don't be surprised if your building a new coil every day or two for the first few weeks.

I've read as much elsewhere. And if the rate at which I've been eating up information on RBA's is any indication this will probably be the case with me. I LOVE tinkering with stuff like this where you have so much room for customization. For example, I got into modding XBox 360 controllers for a few months and spent a couple hundred hours doing custom paint jobs and LED's on every controller I had before I switched out my 360 for a PS3 whose controllers are more difficult to reassemble and gave it up. Knowing myself like I do... I'm probably going to wind up with drawers full of every different kind of RBA material and tool imaginable about six months from now. Good thing my rent is free at the moment!

 

[johthohar]

on a vamo u have protection from shorts it will just say low ohm

So, the MVP doesn't have protection from shorts? I thought I read that it did somewhere. This is one of those things that really worries me. I'm terrified that I'll mess up a build and ruin a $100 battery.

Or, you know.... light myself on fire. Which wouldn't be a first.

 

[vapdivrr]

the mvp does protect you from shorts. it will shut down if there is a problem. I guess there is 2 main types of vaping, one is dripping and the other is not dripping. I do believe that rebuilding drippers is a good place to start and I see no reason to go out and buy another pv right away. having a pv with a resistance meter is a nice feature but if you have a meter it is not mandatory. once you have mastered the builds on the rda your getting you then can decide a few things from there. if you are then interested in a tank system you can try a genesis device, and at that point you can buy another mod, and the vamo would be a good choice. once you have vaped this device and are pretty good at it you then might be interested in trying lower resistances, that's when a mechanical mod comes into play. as for the different types of wicks? well its just a matter of buying some and giving them a go. some like mesh, some like ceramic, some like silica, etc, you just don't know until you try. other types of devices not mentioned above is a design like the kayfun, which is a bottom wick design, kind of similar to a Penelope, ithaka, or ody atomizers, these don't have a wick from the top going down into the juice and are pretty user friendly. also you have a dripping type atomizer that you don't actually have to drip, they are similar to your atomizer that you are getting, the only difference is they are feed with juice from below by squeezing a small bottle in which the juice is then forced into the atomizer. these are called bottom fed devices, the most popular is the reo mod. lots of options out there, but it takes time and patience to work it all out. this is fun if your the type to tinker, if not then its all over whelming. good luck my friend

 

[johthohar]

the mvp does protect you from shorts. it will shut down if there is a problem. I guess there is 2 main types of vaping, one is dripping and the other is not dripping. I do believe that rebuilding drippers is a good place to start and I see no reason to go out and buy another pv right away. having a pv with a resistance meter is a nice feature but if you have a meter it is not mandatory. once you have mastered the builds on the rda your getting you then can decide a few things from there. if you are then interested in a tank system you can try a genesis device, and at that point you can buy another mod, and the vamo would be a good choice. once you have vaped this device and are pretty good at it you then might be interested in trying lower resistances, that's when a mechanical mod comes into play. as for the different types of wicks? well its just a matter of buying some and giving them a go. some like mesh, some like ceramic, some like silica, etc, you just don't know until you try. other types of devices not mentioned above is a design like the kayfun, which is a bottom wick design, kind of similar to a Penelope, ithaka, or ody atomizers, these don't have a wick from the top going down into the juice and are pretty user friendly. also you have a dripping type atomizer that you don't actually have to drip, they are similar to your atomizer that you are getting, the only difference is they are feed with juice from below by squeezing a small bottle in which the juice is then forced into the atomizer. these are called bottom fed devices, the most popular is the reo mod. lots of options out there, but it takes time and patience to work it all out. this is fun if your the type to tinker, if not then its all over whelming. good luck my friend

Thanks a LOT! This made me feel a lot better about simply experimenting on my own and trying different stuff.

 

[tom_chang79]

Realize that rebuilding gets addictive... chasing the perfect vape, don't be surprised if your building a new coil every day or two for the first few weeks.

So true, gonna do a microcoil tonight! I built two regular coils yesterday, 1.8 and 1.7 ohms, tonight's target is a microcoil 2.0 ohms!

 

[Baditude]

I don't have more to add except to make sure you know and understand the fundamentals. Know about the value of using the best batteries that you can buy, which type (protected or high drain?), what exactly is a short and a "hot spot", and how can you recognize one and eliminate one.

Know the basics of Ohm's Law, or at least understand how to compute the factors you need to know from this formula: Ohm's Law Calculator I'll suggest not trying sub ohm coils until you are very comfortable and have been successful with normal resistance coils on an RBA; but should you decide to try them, be sure your battery has the amp capacity to handle sub ohms - only a few do.

If you don't know how to use a multimeter, learn how. Never fire a coil which you don't know the resistance. Resistance can change on a coil, so check it often. Just taking the cap off an RBA and brushing the coil can cause it to change as can a loosened thumb screw. Multi-Meter How to for Electronic Cigarette users - YouTube

This information, along with some other information resources are in my blog, "Advice and tips for vapors looking to try an RBA."

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

 

[johthohar]

I don't have more to add except to make sure you know and understand the fundamentals. Know about the value of using the best batteries that you can buy, which type (protected or high drain?), what exactly is a short and a "hot spot", and how can you recognize one and eliminate one.

Know the basics of Ohm's Law, or at least understand how to compute the factors you need to know from this formula: Ohm's Law Calculator I'll suggest not trying sub ohm coils until you are very comfortable and have been successful with normal resistance coils on an RBA; but should you decide to try them, be sure your battery has the amp capacity to handle sub ohms - only a few do.

If you don't know how to use a multimeter, learn how. Never fire a coil which you don't know the resistance. Resistance can change on a coil, so check it often. Just taking the cap off an RBA and brushing the coil can cause it to change as can a loosened thumb screw. Multi-Meter How to for Electronic Cigarette users - YouTube

This information, along with some other information resources are in my blog, "Advice and tips for vapors looking to try an RBA."

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

Thanks, this is great. I already have a multimeter and a working knowledge of how to use it. I actually already watched the video you linked while "researching" this yesterday. I've familiarized myself with Ohm's Law (though the finer points of it elude me as I am anything BUT an electrical engineer) and have a watts-volts-ohms-amps calculator bookmarked on the toolbar at the top of my browser. So, I think I was already set on those two points.

I THINK I've got the gist of shorts and "hot spots". This happens when coils are touching or overlapping or making contact with one of the posts or the base of the atomizer correct? And can also be caused by using an SS mesh wick that wasn't thoroughly oxidized? I could use some more tips on spotting and eliminating these issues. Everything I've found on this so far is a bit vague.

My BIGGEST area of confusion is on the different types of batteries. Do I need to be über careful with all the battery safety when using VV APV's with built-in protection and amperage limits? Or is this knowledge primarily a must-have for mechanical mods? How do I know what the C-Rating is for a battery? I've only seen it listed on a very few product descriptions.

If a deeper technical understanding of batteries is really only needed for mechanical mods then I'll probably take my time learning it as I don't see myself moving on to those for quite some time. Also, I don't know that I really see the point of ULR coils unless I get really crazy with this and decide to "chase the cloud" so I don't know that I would ever make the move to mechanicals in the first place if this is the main attraction associated with them. But I may be confused on the point of ULR's in the first place.

I just want to apologize in advance (or possibly belatedly) if I'm being a nuisance. I do try to find this information on my own but it's EXTREMELY time consuming to sort through the mountains of knowledge contained in this forum and elsewhere on the web without anybody to show me the ropes in person. Please understand that everything I've learned prior to posting on these forums I learned on my own with little or no outside help. None of my friends who vape are into it enough to be that knowledgeable and the guys in vape shops are always so busy and I dislike crowds. Considering all that I am very grateful to the people on here who have been so patient with me. ECF is a great community and vaping resource!

 

[johthohar]

Got my first RBA in the mail this morning! Didn't like the prewrapped coil that came on it so I did my own and so far so good! GREAT flavor (much better than I was getting from my clearos) but it's not quite producing enough vapor or throat hit for my taste so I may try another one later this evening. Thanks for all the help guys!!