Setting up an RBA to vape like a 1.8ohm io6, preferably so it works on an ego

[nick[0]]

Brief context: After running into supply issues with the io6, I decided I ought to seriously make the jump to RBAs, and picked up a "Phoenix v4" aka Mini Octopus. The silica wick I bought with it hurt my lungs, so after a bit of research I turned to (locally available) to thin cord organic Romanian hemp, with thin cord organic American cotton as a back-up. Boiled both, and build a four or five strand looped hemp wick, with about a 6/7 or 7/8 wraps 30 gauge (AWG?) Kanthal; 'wrapped a true 1.8ohm coil, with standard-looking spacing, no shorts. It wicks great.

I'm not sure if it's because of the gauge, or because I'm using Kanthal, but my ego rejects this 1.8ohm coil (metered 2.4ohm - 0.6ohm for the multimeter leads) as a short. Battery life on my Precise 16340 (AW IMR) is way shorter than an 1.8ohm io6, so I'm guessing that the coil is drawing way more current. Also, the vapour is about the same (maybe slightly less) comparing this build to an io6, the length of draw about the same, but I get much more of a nicotine buzz.

What do I need to do to make it vape like an io6, preferably so it works on an ego? The form-factor of the "Phoenix v4" is what I'd call perfect, and on both the ego and Precise 16340 the hand-feel is sublime. My increasingly thrifty advanced vaper, but ego-loving friends have been asking me if I've managed to figure this out yet, since they're also very excited about RBAs! Is Kanthal too hot-rod for an ego, or do I just need the right gauge? What would that be in Kanthal and nichrome?

 

[classwife]

Moved to Rebuildable Atomizer Systems

 

[UncleChuck]

What brand/type of eGo battery are you using? A 1.8ohm load is a 1.8ohm load whether it's coming from a cartomizer or a rda. One 1.8ohm atty isn't going to draw any more or less current than any other 1.8ohm atty. If the battery is refusing to fire and suggests a short, I'd look for some issue with the 510 connection on either the atty or the battery.

I have several different makes of the atty you are having issues with, and they all have a pretty high center post on the 510 connection. Is it possible you are screwing it down too tight, and the pressure from the long center pin is causing a short in the ego's 510 connection? Try to unscrew the atty, and then only screw it down hard enough that you can feel the center pin make a connection, but don't screw it down any further, and see if it fires. If it does, it's a problem with the long center pin.

As far as the poor performance you are getting when used on your other device, I'd say that's probably due to the wire gauge. 7 wraps or so of 30ga would take a lot of power to heat up well, probably something in the 5 volt range would be best. If you plan to use non-vv devices, and don't want to do sub-ohm builds, I'd suggest at least 32 gauge in the 1.5ohm range to get better performance. There will be less surface area with 32ga which will allow it to heat up better with standard battery voltage.