Not blown away by my ZAP..

[GrimmTech]

Maybe Im doing something wrong. I watched the vids. This is the original coil came factory wound. I poked around on it until I have a good red glow all over. Just doesnt taste as good as what my cartos do. Doesnt produce as much vapor. Kinda has a metalic taste. With all the good reviews I see I feel like I've paid a good price and I'm missing something.

Thanks
Grimm

 

[KraKsX]

When it comes down to it, all gennys are the same, it's all about the wick and coil.
Sounds like that's the issue, try setting one up from scratch. ?

 

[Daniel13]

i'm no expert but i believe a metallic taste is a short (not a major one) it also might not be wicking enough, tilting helps, or maybe even turn down the voltage .2v
hope some of that helps

 

[Trick]

i'm no expert but i believe a metallic taste is a short (not a major one) it also might not be wicking enough, tilting helps, or maybe even turn down the voltage .2v
hope some of that helps

This is true. A metallic taste is always a sign of a short (unless, of course, you happen to be vaping metal-flavored juice). It's not a problem with the ZAP, per se... it's a problem with the wick and coil.

Set up properly, a ZAP will put out clouds that'll shame a carto, and definitely taste a lot cleaner.

 

[GrimmTech]

The atomizer is showing 1.9 ohms.. does that seem a little low?

 

[GrimmTech]

Also, how do I find said short and fix it?

 

[Unforeseen]

Moved to Rebuildable Atomizer Systems

 

[sanman969]

You may already be aware but aligning the air hole to the wick is crucial and makes a big difference in vapor/flavor. Adjust it a few mm in both directions to see if it changes anything.

Also, what juice are you using (PG/VG ratio) and what type of mesh (#325, #400, #500, etc) did you use for the coil? The trick is balancing all these variables.

1.9 ohms is about what I get using 4-5 wraps of #32-gauge Kanthal. It will move up/down slightly as the coil breaks in.

 

[Trick]

The atomizer is showing 1.9 ohms.. does that seem a little low?

No, that's fine, though you haven't said what you're using it on... 2 ohms should be a decent place to start, though.

As far as how to correct shorts, you do that by getting rid of all your hot spots. At the lowest voltage you can, fire up the coil and look for red. Assuming you have juice in it already (and it's easier to do this dry), there should be absolutely no red on your coil. Red is a hotspot, and it's bad. If the coil is dry, it should be evenly red across the entire coil. Any spot redder then the rest is a hotspot. You get rid of it by fiddling with the coil until it goes away.

 

[KraKsX]

i wish i had a pro to setup my coil and wick, its not bad, but i KNOW it could be much better

 

[Jimmyhat]

Out of the 13 zen genesis products I have I was only able to get one factory prepared wick and coil to work well. If I were you I would watch this video Z-ATTY-PRO Rebuildable Atomizers For ProVari - YouTube and make your own coil. The supplied wicks are fine just make sure that the ends are open so that you can see through both ends. Insert the wick and wrap it with 6 wraps of 32ga kanthal that was supplied. Hopefully this helps I know your starting over but IMO its the best way to get it working really well.

 

[Rule62]

Out of the 13 zen genesis products I have I was only able to get one factory prepared wick and coil to work well. If I were you I would watch this video Z-ATTY-PRO Rebuildable Atomizers For ProVari - YouTube and make your own coil. The supplied wicks are fine just make sure that the ends are open so that you can see through both ends. Insert the wick and wrap it with 6 wraps of 32ga kanthal that was supplied. Hopefully this helps I know your starting over but IMO its the best way to get it working really well.

Luck of the draw, I guess. I have 3 ZAPs, all bought at different times, and the factory set ups on all 3 of mine were perfect, right out of the box. All were 2.0 ohm, exactly.

 

[SteveW]

For me, the whole rba thing is about customization. The stock set up is someone else's idea of what a good experience should be and for many, it may be spot on. I have a ZAP and did not particularly like the stock wick and coil configuration. My first experiment was to remove the insulator and coil two wicks together. I found this to me a great improvement for my personal experience. My latest adventure was to use a ceramic wick and it is truly amazing. The ZAP is well built and functions technically as it should but really, it is what you make of it. Try something different and see what you think.

 

[Rule62]

For me, the whole rba thing is about customization. The stock set up is someone else's idea of what a good experience should be and for many, it may be spot on. I have a ZAP and did not particularly like the stock wick and coil configuration. My first experiment was to remove the insulator and coil two wicks together. I found this to me a great improvement for my personal experience. My latest adventure was to use a ceramic wick and it is truly amazing. The ZAP is well built and functions technically as it should but really, it is what you make of it. Try something different and see what you think.

I agree about the idea of customization. But I recommend that all new Zen users try out the factory set up first, before discarding it. It exposes the user to one option, that they may not have otherwise tried (thin wicks, insulator, 32ga wire). The factory set up provides a baseline. Is it the 'ideal' set up? Probably not; but it might be for some.

 

[GrimmTech]

where can I get a ceramic wick? I like the idea of the wick being non conductive..

 

[tenshi]

Maybe Im doing something wrong. I watched the vids. This is the original coil came factory wound. I poked around on it until I have a good red glow all over. Just doesnt taste as good as what my cartos do. Doesnt produce as much vapor. Kinda has a metalic taste. With all the good reviews I see I feel like I've paid a good price and I'm missing something.

Thanks
Grimm

Hi Grimm, Not sure how long you've had it but when I first got mine, it took awhile for it to break in (like most new coil/wick setups). Whenever I put a new ss wick/coil on, it takes like a half of a tank to get to the flavor I'm content with.

 

[varivapr]

There are only 2 main goals you need to achieve with a genny RBA. Good wicking and an even glowing coil. If you achieve both you will have good results. If you achieve one or the other you won't. Everything else comes down to tweaking and personal preference. This can be done with the original stock setup but IMO is easier to start fresh after removing the insulator. Master the 2 basic goals and go from there.

 

[DSmooch]

the whole ZAP concept is meant to keep you out of trouble. the insulator, short wick not touching bottom, easy 32g wire, pre-oxydized wicks. you got plenty in the box to play around with, learn, have fun, outperform your best carto. I suggest you give it a shot...

 

[donnah]

I too wasn't too impressed by the stock wick and coil when I first got it. Also the airy draw.. but it got better and grew on me. that it comes presetup is nice because I was new and could see what it was supposed to look like. I used it in that configuration for a few weeks and while my did clone was constantly needing adjustments and new coils to keep it going.. the zap performed flawlessly the whole time. I finally took out the stock setup, took out the insulator sheath, put in 2 of the included wicks and wrapped 30g around them for a resistance of 1.5ohms. Much more flavor and vapor! The zap was great for me to learn on

 

[GrimmTech]

well.. I seem to have a good coil and sorry wick. I popped the endcap and moved the wick around in line with the fire button. Old habits die hard and have had several dry hits because Im still wanting to press fire with my pointer finger. That "metallic" taste Im getting is a dry hit taste. Seems the wick cant keep up with the coil burn. So I can make a good coil, that wasnt too hard to poke and prod it into a good glow, but the wick sucks.. I have some #500 coming in the mail and plan on knocking out the insulator and getting a bigger wick. Does the wick need to be hollow in the middle or am I starting a "this is better than that" debate?

Thanks
Grimm