Random Hotspots?

[mekks082]

Long story short I have been using rba's for over a month now (2xDUDs, AGA-T, ZAP). I run only 500 SS mesh and 32g kanthal wire.

My wicking is good, the initial setup is good but after less than a tank I ALWAYS get a hot spot, I fix the hotspot only to get another within a short period of time. This happens on all my RBAs and I am at a loss. Is this normal or am I doing something wrong?

I always though as the gunk built up on the coil I would have less of a chance of a hot spot?

 

[Thrasher]

mmm the only guess i can come up with is maybe the wire is loose to begin with OR somehow the wick isnt big enough sitting in the hole and pulling air over it through the airhole is moving it causing the coil to become loose or out of position. or as you move it around the fluid is knocking it out of position.

 

[mekks082]

Any way it could be a coil that is too tight? I always feel like i'm wrapping it too tight.

 

[Thrasher]

it could very well be the coils are uneven in tension. and as you poke one you make another one looser. not sure as usually an adjustment usually fixes it, never had them keep coming back.

since going to what people call the drillbit method i have to do very little adjusting and the coils work fine for a long time.
do you wrap the coil right on the wicks? when doing this i tried to keep a paperclip or pin in the wick to make it stiff until i was done.

 

[mekks082]

I wrap the coil right on the wick and make sure I have no gaps between the coil and the wick (I do not see how the drill bit method could get it prefect against the wick?).

My wick is pretty thick, it does not move much when I wrap it.

 

[Thrasher]

it may be loose/tight dunno what else it can be.

the way to make the drillbit method work is to roll the wick the same diameter as the drillbit/screwdriver etc. then slide it in so it kinda floats in the coil.

i use a little Phillips screwdriver and roll my wicks on a paper clip and when im done they wick is the exact size of the screwdriver. i figured out my own version of all this but so far i roll a wick, oxidize it with a little juice and a lighter. twist a coil, drop the wick in, check it for hot spots dry, then wet and usually just a poke or two and done. maybe takes me 15 minutes total now to rewick my geni's

 

[Kamoch]

I wrap the coil right on the wick and make sure I have no gaps between the coil and the wick (I do not see how the drill bit method could get it prefect against the wick?)

What I do after screwing in a drill bit coil is insert my wick & give it a slight turn to loosen the wrap up just enough to get rid of any gaps between wick & coil. I find this easier than wrapping wire around the wick directy as I coud never get an even wrap no matter how hard I tried.

 

[jaybirdtherangerfan]

Thrasher, what size patch of ss mesh do you start with to roll your wick?

 

[Thrasher]

Thrasher, what size patch of ss mesh do you start with to roll your wick?

im bad i quit actually measuring a while ago and kinda say mm thats close enough but let me see here.................

i cut it the same height as the pos post and trim down after rolling if needed but usually about 20 to 25 mm wide i would guess. and the paper clip i use for rolling it measures .6mm and i will just roll as tight or lose as necessary to fit in the coil properly.

one of the things i have seen is some people take the coil off the drillbit i dont know if everyone does, i stick the screwdriver in the atty wick hole and pull the neg connection tight first and screw it down, then with the SD still in the coil i pull the pos wire tight as i can get it to tighten up the whole coil before i lock it in. then test the wick with the clip still in it.
if need be i will unlock the pos and pull it a bit tighter while holding the paperclip to keep it from touching the pos terminal, then lock it in again. usually takes about 5 min after that to adjust it.

 

[mekks082]

I might try this tonight, need to find a drill bit that is too my liking.