Overheating Cartomizer

[TJVJR]

This is a LR stainless Boge Caetomizer being used on my Kgo . It started out working well and never reach the point of tasting burnt . I filled it about 4 times and then airflow started feeling restricted so I cleaned it. I try to clean my cartos after 5 - 7 fills and keep them topped up to promote longevity but this one started giving trouble prematurely. I cleaned it using a syringe and hot water and used a small wire to insure the center hole was clear . After letting it dry out I refilled it and let it set to be sure it was saturated . Immediately it had a burning taste and sudden lose of airflow again. I used the small wire again and found it was stopped up with a hard black chunk . I then boiled it for about 15 minuets and repeated my normal syringe method of cleaning. After that all was well for the first few puffs but then it began to heat up. The vapor coming from it is hot , To the point of having no taste. The cartomizer itself almost gets hot enough to burn my lip even using a plastic drip tip.The airflow is great , just the overheating. Is it shorted? I quit using it fearing damage to the battery. Anyone run into this? Thanks all .

 

[KeithB]

It might be shorted but I wouldn't think that'd give you any vapor. I think any carto or atty will gradually drop in resistance with use, some faster than others. You might have more crud in there that's actually burning, giving you hot smoke instead of vapor. If you had a Multimeter, you could check it out and know for sure if it's shorted or too low resistance. If there is any doubt, cartos are cheap enough to throw away and start a new one.

 

[TJVJR]

Yea this is more of an curiosity issue. With the ohm meter I check for 1.5 ohm , Correct?

 

[KeithB]

LR Boges should read around 2 ohms, the last batch I got were labeled 2 - 2.4 ohms. I don't think they changed the cartos, just more accurate labeling. You'll also want to measure the resistance of the leads on your multimeter and subtract that from the reading you get when you measure the resistance of your carto; assuming you meter doesn't do that automatically.

 

[5vz]

It's time to toss it. You could take it apart to see what is going on so you would have a better understanding. It could be built up goo, it could be dislodged or still wet filler, it could be the wires are just worn or breaking. I don't bother cleaning cartos anymore. If they were not doing what you just described afterward, the taste is just yucky to me after cleaning.

 

[DaveP]

Hot, dry taste from a cartomizer is a sign of incomplete saturation. I sometimes get a pack of Boges that are too tightly packed and slowly take the juice. Use the method below to fill them the first time and then add a couple of drops when you start to notice dryout and loss of flavor. After you use the condom method to fill, let the carto sit in the condom for 5 minutes before you pull it out. Blow it out lightly into a napkin, screw it on, and vape.

 

[Katya]

There are three reasons why solid, good quality cartomizers like Boge develop burnt taste:

1) They are vaped dry--fill them properly, let the eliquid saturate the filler completely, then top off early and top off often. Since the plyfill in Boges is usually wrapped very tightly, I use a syringe and a needle (18g, sharp) to fill them properly for the first time. Don't eyeball it--they take a bit more then 1 ml, or ~25 drops, depending on the size of your dropper and the liquid you're using.

The problem with the plunger method demonstrated above is that it needs to be performed correctly; if you do it too quickly, the juice will travel the path of the least resistance--the center tube--and will not penetrate the filler. If you have to use this method, take the endcap off and plunge the carto's threaded end very slowly into the condom and watch the eliquid's progress; as soon as it begins to pool at the top of the filler, stop and let it soak in.

2) They are vaped hot--respect the Ohm's Law; ~4.5-8 W is a safe range for cartomizers, IMHO.

Watts (power, heat) = Voltage (V) squared divided by Resistance (Ohms)

A multimeter is your friend. I test all my atties, just in case.

BTW, if your atty reads a very high resistance (K Ohms, M Ohms.. or infinite Ohms) then it is "open," which means dead...

If it isn't "open", but reads substantially higher than the stock numbers.... it is fixin' to go open--just as bad.

3) They are refilled too many times--6-8 ml is reasonable, a bit more if you're using very clean and clear juices. The dark, thick, sweet juices will ruin your cartos faster. And remember that cartos are disposable. I don't recommend washing them at all. I tried at the beginning, but they never worked afterwards like the fresh ones do. Why bother and risk subpar performance, shorts, burning etc.?

Good luck and happy vaping!

 

[TJVJR]

Two others from the same box check close to 2 ohm(s) , the one in question is reading 1.3 ohm(s) .

 

[Katya]

Two others from the same box check close to 2 ohm(s) , the one in question is reading 1.3 ohm(s) .

Throw it away. 1.3Ω is too low for the eGo class batteries. It's not shorted yet, technically, but a shorted atty would have killed your battery in an instant. And any carto reading 1Ω or less will fry the MOSFET and kill your battery anyway, so there...

2.0Ω is what it needs to be.

Happy vaping.

 

[TJVJR]

Thanks for the conformation , I'll be careful with hot cartos and check them often .