Problem with the Protank I got yesterday

[The Ocelot]

Actually not a problem, more of an observation of a situation most of you won't encounter.

My house is cold, very cold. Due to the price of propane I only heat a few rooms at night and the room I keep most of my gear in isn't one of them. Since e-liquid becomes more viscous at lower temperatures it can take a while for my delivery systems to warm up in the morning and the juice to flow properly. I use 70%pg/30%vg.

My pryrex carto tanks can be fussy, as the glass is quite cold, but with the heating coli running up inside of the carto, the filler doesn't take too long to heat up. As the coil is warming up the juice in the filler, the rest of it in the tank picks up radiant heat from the carto and starts wicking fairly quickly even though the glass part of the tank is still cool to the touch.

Not so with the Protank. It was not a happy camper this morning. Being made of thick glass and metal, of course it's cold, and so is the metal airflow tube running up the center. With just a heating coil at the bottom, it has a lot of components to heat up before the juice warms enough to thin and vaporize. I had to hold it in my hand and get the entire unit warm before it would stop gurgling and start working.

As I said, it's unlikely most of you will experience this, but in my case, I will be keeping the Protank in it's box in the bedroom.

 

[finagle69]

I had to hold it in my hand and get the entire unit warm before it would stop gurgling

I couldn't stop laughing.

But yes. I've experienced the same thing with my pyrex carto-tanks. But because the carto is SS, it doesn't take long to get back up to temp. Just a little thing, but seems like you've got a decent solution for your case.

 

[FogHawg]

Warmer weather is coming Ocelot!

 

[The Ocelot]

Sadly, not in my house. I have no west facing windows, although on the upside I don't need a/c. Perhaps I shall make Protank a blankie.

 

[EddardinWinter]

Actually not a problem, more of an observation of a situation most of you won't encounter.

My house is cold, very cold. Due to the price of propane I only heat a few rooms at night and the room I keep most of my gear in isn't one of them. Since e-liquid becomes more viscous at lower temperatures it can take a while for my delivery systems to warm up in the morning and the juice to flow properly. I use 70%pg/30%vg.

My pryrex carto tanks can be fussy, as the glass is quite cold, but with the heating coli running up inside of the carto, the filler doesn't take too long to heat up. As the coil is warming up the juice in the filler, the rest of it in the tank picks up radiant heat from the carto and starts wicking fairly quickly even though the glass part of the tank is still cool to the touch.

Not so with the Protank. It was not a happy camper this morning. Being made of thick glass and metal, of course it's cold, and so is the metal airflow tube running up the center. With just a heating coil at the bottom, it has a lot of components to heat up before the juice warms enough to thin and vaporize. I had to hold it in my hand and get the entire unit warm before it would stop gurgling and start working.

As I said, it's unlikely most of you will experience this, but in my case, I will be keeping the Protank in it's box in the bedroom.

You may have to snuggle up with your Protank until the warm days of summer, Ocelot. I imagine it is unlikely to be the strangest bed mate you have had.

 

[serenity21899]

Well I won't be taking my stuff out in the cold for any length of time. I would definately keep the stuff in the heated room overnight.

 

[The Ocelot]

I was going to "like" your comment lion, until I got to the last line.

Anyway, I solved the airflow problem on the Twist. I had forgotten that the type "B" eGo thread cover will completely block airflow if screwed up toward the tank too tightly. This is the old-style cover that is flat on both ends and does not have vents or a tiny flange like the one for the vivi mini nova (which are type "D"). I'm still working on a solution for the mod.

eGo Cone Thread Sleeves : GotVapes.com, E-cigarette Supplies - Atomizers Cartomizers Mods Juice and more

 

[EddardinWinter]

I was going to "like" your comment lion, until I got to the last line.

Anyway, I solved the airflow problem on the Twist. I had forgotten that the type "B" eGo thread cover will completely block airflow if screwed up toward the tank too tightly. This is the old-style cover that is flat on both ends and does not have vents or a tiny flange like the one for the vivi mini nova (which are type "D"). I'm still working on a solution for the mod.

eGo Cone Thread Sleeves : GotVapes.com, E-cigarette Supplies - Atomizers Cartomizers Mods Juice and more

Don't lose your sense of humor, Ocelot, it is one of your most endearing qualities. I don't mind you not "liking" it. If you did not laugh, however, then I am devastated by my ill-advised jape.

 

[The Ocelot]

Don't lose your sense of humor, Ocelot, it is one of your most endearing qualities. I don't mind you not "liking" it. If you did not laugh, however, then I am devastated by my ill-advised jape.

It wasn't ill-advised per se, just plebeian. I thought lions were more clever than that, having a larger brain then, ummm, I don't know, a Labrador?

^zzzzzzzz

 

[EddardinWinter]

It wasn't ill-advised per se, just plebeian. I thought lions were more clever than that, having a larger brain then, ummm, I don't know, a Labrador?

^zzzzzzzz

Fair enough, although I would say it was more crude than uninspired.

 

[LazyBulldogge]

A bit worried about your observation there - I'm guessing that means it'll flood when going from a cold to a warm environment (outdoors to indoors in the winter) as well, like the Kanger T3? If so, damnit
Oh well, ordered one earlier today, and excited as a kid on Christmas Eve to get it

 

[The Ocelot]

A bit worried about your observation there - I'm guessing that means it'll flood when going from a cold to a warm environment (outdoors to indoors in the winter) as well, like the Kanger T3? If so, damnit
Oh well, ordered one earlier today, and excited as a kid on Christmas Eve to get it

I don't see how that would happen - the liquid is getting thicker due to the cold, but as it warms up I can't imagine it will get much thinner than it's original viscosity, if that makes sense. And the Protank doesn't appear to be able to flood unless it's filled so high there's juice above the center tube; leak perhaps (so far mine hasn't), but not flood.

 

[LazyBulldogge]

I don't understand "how" or "why" it happened with the T3 either, but it did nonetheless, every single time I walked from the cold outdoors to the warm indoors. I have a theory (based on pure guessing), that the pressure changes due to the temperature in the chamber, causing the flooding of the coil.
Oh well, guess I'll just have to wait and see

 

[The Ocelot]

I don't understand "how" or "why" it happened with the T3 either, but it did nonetheless, every single time I walked from the cold outdoors to the warm indoors. I have a theory (based on pure guessing), that the pressure changes due to the temperature in the chamber, causing the flooding of the coil.
Oh well, guess I'll just have to wait and see

You could keep it in your under your jacket or somewhere else warm...

 

[Ben C.]

I don't understand "how" or "why" it happened with the T3 either, but it did nonetheless, every single time I walked from the cold outdoors to the warm indoors.

My thoughts were that it is the condensation occurring between the two long tubes because of the temp differential between them. Then you suck the condensation up from between the tubes and get the gurgle. T3's were ok, but sucked as an 'outside in cold weather with the smokers for a vape at work' vape. Because the opposite was true as well... going from inside to out started some gurgling very quickly. Never had this issue with a Stardust style.