Pros and Cons of Subtank OCC versus RBA
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Like others have posted... with stock coils, I go approx 15 watts on a .5 ohm coil. I rebuild the stock, use slightly less cotton than they use, and I can go up higher. I have the subtank mini in transit and use a subtank nano, so no RBA deck yet. I dont think I'll use it when it comes anyways, since the occ coils are so easily rebuildable.
I used the .5Ω OCC's at 28 watts with the airflow wide open and never got burnt hits. Rebuilt them to .6Ω and worked just as well. 29 to 32 watts I would get the occasional dry hit at the end of the draw, 32+ is just too much. I stopped using the OCC's because I was just going through too much juice. I can see how pushing a pin through the wick could improve the wicking, but compared to the RBA set-up I use, the flavor with the OCC's is muted regardless.
With the RBA deck, which I use exclusively now on both my STm's, I build spaced 1.3Ω (+/- .1Ω) coils and at 23 watts using the 2 hole airflow (one slot STm) and the vape is fantastic. I vape 65vg/35pg. Never a burnt hit to be found, never leaks, the flavor is great and I am not burning through so much juice. No need to dremel out the channels or do any fancy wicking. I just trim the wick about 3mm above the sleeve, push the cotton down to the deck, juice it and clear a path from the top to the channels below, works every time.
I had gotten accustom to big lung hits, so switching to the 2 hole airflow took some getting use to, but the benefits are worth it. Better flavor, less juice consumption and longer battery life. The STm's are great tanks, but as a sub-ohm tank, while it can do it, there are better options. They really shine when you use higher ohm coils and dial back the airflow and wattage.
With the RBA deck, which I use exclusively now on both my STm's, I build spaced 1.3Ω (+/- .1Ω) coils and at 23 watts using the 2 hole airflow (one slot STm) and the vape is fantastic. I vape 65vg/35pg. Never a burnt hit to be found, never leaks, the flavor is great and I am not burning through so much juice. No need to dremel out the channels or do any fancy wicking. I just trim the wick about 3mm above the sleeve, push the cotton down to the deck, juice it and clear a path from the top to the channels below, works every time.
I had gotten accustom to big lung hits, so switching to the 2 hole airflow took some getting use to, but the benefits are worth it. Better flavor, less juice consumption and longer battery life. The STm's are great tanks, but as a sub-ohm tank, while it can do it, there are better options. They really shine when you use higher ohm coils and dial back the airflow and wattage.
On the OCC coil head take a sewing needle and run it through the center of the hole out the other side and it will help with wicking just be sure not to mess the cotton up. The rba base isn't very good for max vg! I see a lot of people drilling holes in it similar the the OCC coil head. Hope that help!
The concept of poking the Cotton in the OCC Head with a Pin or a Needle is a Great Technique. And Really helps with Wicking.
But I'm Not Sure if I would Drill Out the Side Holes or Not? Is the OCC Head made from Stainless Steel? Or is it Nickel/Chrome plated Brass?
I would like to see Kanger make the Hole Size in the OCC Head 3.5mm.
Hmmmmm I just OCC but rarely get burnt hits and I'm always 30-40 watt range on a kbox. I like the sewing needle idea. Should make it even better.
When it comes to Dry Hits, so much depends on How Thick, or How Thin, a e-Liquid is.
I couldn't bring myself to drill holes in it either! I just don't use it but I do have a buddy that dremeled the juice channels out a little bit with good results. I just don't want to mess mine up unfortunately.
I typically use 65VG/35PG or 70/30 when option is available if that makes a difference. I have never purchased "MAX VG" mixes or anything below 50/50 and only certain mixes can I go 40 watts.
I have No Problem Recommending to someone that they Enlarge the e-Liquid slots on the RBA Section. Because it is Stainless Steel.
I'm just unsure of what the OCC Heads are Made of.
One of the Problems with VG in e-Liquids is when a Retailer says that their e-Liquids are 35PG:65VG is one Does Not Know if the 65% is Pure VG? Or if it is 65% Diluted with Water VG?
Most of the Retailers that I know use VG that has been Diluted with Water. How Much water? That can Vary from Retailer to Retailer.
Absolutely! I have no clue what the OCC coil head is made of and I wouldn't modify that. The sewing needle trick solves its issues. I learned that trick from Mike Vapes and I have never had a issue with it after doing that. I just wish they would have did a better job with the rba section. I am interested in getting my Zephyrus sub ohm tank just for the rba section.
I doubt anyone could vape with a Subtank at 37 watts and not get burnt vapour !.
If they say they can, well....................What you gonna do !.
25 watts is perfect.... 26....27 s'ok, maybe 28 starts getting a bit hot for my liking.
You could always continue with 37 watts and still wonder why your burning your vapour and keep on asking why.
If they say they can, well....................What you gonna do !.
25 watts is perfect.... 26....27 s'ok, maybe 28 starts getting a bit hot for my liking.
You could always continue with 37 watts and still wonder why your burning your vapour and keep on asking why.
The redesigned STm, due to release with the Subox, apparently has a redesigned RBA as well. I guessing that means the juice channels will be wider since they state it will work with higher wattage.
I would Imagine so.
Kanger (as well as All the OEM's) watch what us ECF "Beta Testers" do to make their products work Better.
My guess is chromed brass for the occ Head. Could be wrong, but it marks when you use tools on it just like chromed brass.
I doubt anyone could vape with a Subtank at 37 watts and not get burnt vapour !.
If they say they can, well....................What you gonna do !.
25 watts is perfect.... 26....27 s'ok, maybe 28 starts getting a bit hot for my liking.
You could always continue with 37 watts and still wonder why your burning your vapour and keep on asking why.
*I think one thing that may getting missed here is how long people are hitting it and how long is really needed. I quit smoking 3 months ago. I'm hitting in a Subtank Plus Havana from Rocky Mountain at 3 to 4 seconds @ 35-40 watts mouth to lung and it is not burnt tasting at all and satisfying.
Now, if I hit it 3 times, 4 seconds each draw in 20-30 seconds, sure it starts to get toasty. Now if I switch over to Nicoticket Beetleguise or whatever it is called I pretty much have to hit that at no more than 25-30 watts or it is a dry hit burn no matter how I slice it or dice it.
I don't have the lung capacity to hit anything for a 10 second direct inhale. I'm totally satisfied how I go about it.
If that makes sense
I also don't disagree that 25-30 watts is perfectly acceptable to live on an OCC coil all day long.
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It appears that they've redesigned the OCC as well. The wick holes are larger and they are going with a vertical coil rather than a horizontal coil.
*I think one thing that may getting missed here is how long people are hitting it and how long is really needed. I quite smoking 3 months ago. I'm hitting in a Subtank Plus Havana from Rocky Mountain at 3 to 4 seconds @ 35-40 watts mouth to lung and it is not burnt tasting at all and satisfying.
Now, if I hit it 3 times, 4 seconds each draw in 20-30 seconds, sure it starts to get toasty. Now if I switch over to Nicoticket Beetleguise or whatever it is called I pretty much have to hit that at no more than 25-30 watts or it is a dry hit burn no matter how I slice it or dice it.
I don't have the lung capacity to hit anything for a 10 second direct inhale. I'm totally satisfied how I go about it.
If that makes sense
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I use my Subtanks for direct lung drawing only. About 5 or 6 seconds at 25 watts and my favourite at the moment is Capella Apple Pie and Vanilla Custard. Do like plain ol Cappuccino too quite a lot. Only use the RBA deck, can't be doing with the OCC coil arrangement. The thing with the Cappuccino for me is that it really is the closest thing to smoking Tobacco i can find. As strange as it sounds i can relate Coffee to Tobacco. Really, it's a lot like smoking a cigarette and drinking a coffee both at the same time. Does that ring any bells ?. Use it a lot in my Kayfun in the mornings. It's truly sublime. Great in the Subtank lung drawing when the Kayfun comes up short. Can't lung draw in the mornings, it's just too much, but come 11am'ish i'm hitting that Subtank loaded with Cappuccino, no sweetener nothing. What smoker doesn't enjoy coffee and a smoke ?. Don't get any better than that does it !.
Regarding OP. 37watts is over spec for the Subtank to wick fast enough. Wicking issues boil down to several issues. 1) Coil output, in your instance you are 7watts over spec of what they were designed for. 2) Juice viscosity, I've notice this with the OCC heads, thicker VG liquids over 18-22 watts after about 3 to 4 seconds start to get dry in flavor, 70pg/30vg over 30watts fall prey to this after about 5 seconds.
My RBA decks, I can push 35watts depending on the liquids, but then again they are both built with nickel/titanium wire for temp control set at 280F (very this liquid that doesn't wick fast) and 460F on my second which runs a 60pg/40vg juice.
Remember with vaping, even though we like to dial in out hardware to our preferences, some times we have to dial ourselves into what the hardware can handle as far as its peak performance.
In this instance, dial it down on your wattage to about 30watts, should fix the issue, still getting dry at the end of a long pull, bump it down in 2 watt incriments until it does handle the long draw and pull, may lose some flavor, but it is better than burning out the coil and wick prematurely by over stressing the coil head beyond what it is capable of, or thin your liquid out a bit with some unflavored pg or distilled water, vodka or everclear alcohol, not much but just a bit.
My RBA decks, I can push 35watts depending on the liquids, but then again they are both built with nickel/titanium wire for temp control set at 280F (very this liquid that doesn't wick fast) and 460F on my second which runs a 60pg/40vg juice.
Remember with vaping, even though we like to dial in out hardware to our preferences, some times we have to dial ourselves into what the hardware can handle as far as its peak performance.
In this instance, dial it down on your wattage to about 30watts, should fix the issue, still getting dry at the end of a long pull, bump it down in 2 watt incriments until it does handle the long draw and pull, may lose some flavor, but it is better than burning out the coil and wick prematurely by over stressing the coil head beyond what it is capable of, or thin your liquid out a bit with some unflavored pg or distilled water, vodka or everclear alcohol, not much but just a bit.
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