Slow response time on a ZAP

[Fra211]

Hi Guys,

I've read a few posts about some people having slow response times for the coils to heat up on the ZAP and I've been experiencing the same issue. It takes a few seconds after pressing the fire button before I get any good vapor production but once it's going, I can pretty much chain vape clouds. It's almost like I have to prime it first. It's not horrible but does take some getting used to.

For reference, here is my setup:
ZAP
28ga 5/4 wrap @ 1.4ohm
80mm 500 mesh wick, rolled solid no hole, insulator removed
4.5v

I can up the voltage to 4.9v which just about maxes the Provari's amp limit but I still get pretty much the same response time.

I have some 32ga and 30ga kanthal ready to go but I wanted to maximize the coil surface area hence the 28ga. Other than the response time, it's a solid vape.

Any input as to what I can do to get the response time down? Less coils? Use a higher ga wire? Thinner wick (I'm hesitant to do this because in the past anything thinner doesn't wick well for me)?

Thanks!

 

[jasl90]

Use the higher wire gauge (thinner wire). The Provari can't put out enough power to heat 28 awg quickly. I think you'll find 30 awg more to your liking. 32 heats up even faster but it can be tough to get more than a few coils on your wick and keep the resistance down at the same time... Especially if you're using a thicker wick.

 

[donnah]

I'm using 30g on mine and the response time is about the same as my DID. One of these days I'll try the sub 1.0 and mech mod but I wanted to master the coils and wicks of the mesh rbas first. That, plus I'm kinda afraid to go the mech route. I've got so much $ wrapped up in Provari's right now, I'm afraid I'll love it, get instantly hooked, and then get obsessed with wanting the higher end mech mods.

I may be wrong, but I think I read somewhere on the Provape site that 32g was the recommended guage wire for the zap.

 

[Fra211]

Thanks for the responses guys. I'll try different coils with both the 30 and 32 awg wire and see where that gets me. But ya, it'll be interesting trying to find a balance between how many coils I can get while keeping the resistance down with a thinner wire.

Mathematically you should be able to achieve the same power with a VV mod and higher resistance than you can with a mech 3.7v mod and lower resistance. But IMO, they are both entirely different vapes.

 

[Rule62]

As I posted in another thread, I set up a ZAP the other day with 28ga, 1.2Ω. I'd call it just ok. Not spectacular. I think it's because of the tall center post. It causes the spacing of the coils to be too far apart. After I finish up the juice that's in it, I'm going to go with 30ga, and shoot for 1.7-1.8Ω. The ZAP just doesn't seem to like 28ga on a Provari.

 

[vapdivrr]

Thanks for the responses guys. I'll try different coils with both the 30 and 32 awg wire and see where that gets me. But ya, it'll be interesting trying to find a balance between how many coils I can get while keeping the resistance down with a thinner wire.

Mathematically you should be able to achieve the same power with a VV mod and higher resistance than you can with a mech 3.7v mod and lower resistance. But IMO, they are both entirely different vapes.

you cannot get the same power on a vv then a mechanical mod unless you stack batterys. with a provari and 1 battery 15 watts is max. with a mechanical mod and lets say a 0.8 resistance you would be pushing almost 20watts. and with a mechanical mod you can even go lower with the resistance. actually i dont even know if you can stack batterys in a provari.

 

[Rule62]

you cannot get the same power on a vv then a mechanical mod unless you stack batterys. with a provari and 1 battery 15 watts is max. with a mechanical mod and lets say a 0.8 resistance you would be pushing almost 20watts. and with a mechanical mod you can even go lower with the resistance. actually i dont even know if you can stack batterys in a provari.

Yep, the Provari limits you to 3.5 amps, or 15 watts. Theoretically, a 1.2Ω coil will work, and it does. But the response time is too slow with 28ga wire. In order to get a decent vape, you have to press the power button a second or more before vaping.

 

[vapdivrr]

Yep, the Provari limits you to 3.5 amps, or 15 watts. Theoretically, a 1.2Ω coil will work, and it does. But the response time is too slow with 28ga wire. In order to get a decent vape, you have to press the power button a second or more before vaping.

i agree, i was just responding to the previous post, he stated that mathematically you should be able to acieve the same power with the provari compared to a mechanical mod, this is incorrect as you know, as the difference is that in a mechanical mod you can achieve much lower resistances then in a provari thus much more power. this power is needed for the 28g to shine

 

[Rule62]

i agree, i was just responding to the previous post, he stated that mathematically you should be able to acieve the same power with the provari compared to a mechanical mod, this is incorrect as you know, as the difference is that in a mechanical mod you can achieve much lower resistances then in a provari thus much more power. this power is needed for the 28g to shine

Yep. I have 30ga in both of my DIDs, at about 1.8Ω, and they hit harder than the 28ga @ 1.2Ω in the Provari. It was worth a try. But 28ga just isn't a good fit for the Provari.

 

[vapdivrr]

Yep. I have 30ga in both of my DIDs, at about 1.8Ω, and they hit harder than the 28ga @ 1.2Ω in the Provari. It was worth a try. But 28ga just isn't a good fit for the Provari.

yes the 28g is just a little to slow for the vv devices, but i think the flavor is better with the 28g compared to the 30g in the provari, but overall i think the 28g is best suited for higher watts

 

[albcig]

perhaps you have a very thick wick. response time is also dependent on the heat absorbed by the wick.

 

[Rule62]

yes the 28g is just a little to slow for the vv devices, but i think the flavor is better with the 28g compared to the 30g in the provari, but overall i think the 28g is best suited for higher watts

I recoiled this morning with 30ga. 1.6Ω. The response is much better, and personally, I don't detect any degradation in flavor. All in all, I think 30ga @ above 1.5V is the ticket for vv devices. 28ga is great for mechanicals, with coils 1.0Ω and below.

 

[Rymarski]

I recoiled this morning with 30ga. 1.6Ω. The response is much better, and personally, I don't detect any degradation in flavor. All in all, I think 30ga @ above 1.5V is the ticket for vv devices. 28ga is great for mechanicals, with coils 1.0Ω and below.

I had a similar situation. Was using 28g on the provari at about 1.1 ohms and response time and just not so great with the provari. Switched the coil out to a 30g at 1.4 ohms and response time is fantastic.

I will say though, with the same juice, but 28g vs 30g I do notice a substantial, maybe not overwhelming, but definitely better and more "full" flavor with 28g. Flavor on either a 1.1 ohm coil I had running on the provari or now at 0.9 ohms on the mech mod still was better than the current 1.4 ohm 30 g coil on the provari.

But Rule you said it best, 30g seems very well suited for the provari. Response time is great.

 

[BuzzKilla]

I'm using 30g on mine and the response time is about the same as my DID. One of these days I'll try the sub 1.0 and mech mod but I wanted to master the coils and wicks of the mesh rbas first. That, plus I'm kinda afraid to go the mech route. I've got so much $ wrapped up in Provari's right now, I'm afraid I'll love it, get instantly hooked, and then get obsessed with wanting the higher end mech mods.

I may be wrong, but I think I read somewhere on the Provape site that 32g was the recommended guage wire for the zap.

I'll trade you one of your ProVaris for one of my mechanicals? lol

 

[donnah]

I'll trade you one of your ProVaris for one of my mechanicals? lol

That depends on what mechanical you're wanting to trade

 

[jasl90]

I'll trade you one of your ProVaris for one of my mechanicals? lol

Did hell just freeze over???
If your loosening your grip on that Vella... Lets talk!

 

[Fra211]

you cannot get the same power on a vv then a mechanical mod unless you stack batterys. with a provari and 1 battery 15 watts is max. with a mechanical mod and lets say a 0.8 resistance you would be pushing almost 20watts. and with a mechanical mod you can even go lower with the resistance. actually i dont even know if you can stack batterys in a provari.

Sorry I should have clarified. The wmax of a mech mod is obviously higher than the Provari with a greater range. What I was saying is that it's possible to match the range of the power that the Provari can put out with a mech mod. But, lets say for example I have 12 watts on a provari with a higher resistance coil and more voltage and 12 watts on a mech with lower resistance and 3.7v, the experience would be drastically different, even though mathematically it's the same wattage.

I don't want to tangent this off into a low res vs high voltage thread though.


On a side note, I did try a 30 awg coil @ 1.8ohms and it does appear to have a quicker response time. I don't know what it is though but it feels like the flavor is a little muted. Less surface area contacting the wick maybe?

 

[BuzzKilla]

That depends on what mechanical you're wanting to trade

I got a Precise+18650 just collecting dust. a ZAP fits on there nicely
If you are actually interested, PM me and i will create a listing on the classifieds... make it legit.
don't know if i am breaking any rules by unintentionally selling a mod in the R.A.S. sub forums.....

Did hell just freeze over???
If your loosening your grip on that Vella... Lets talk!

HAHAHAHAHA... the Caravela is a keeper...
If i ever quit the nic. completely, the vela is going in a glass box, as an achievement...
If i become homeless it will be: me, a dog named scruffy, a blanket, and my Caravela!

 

[jasl90]

HAHAHAHAHA... the Caravela is a keeper...
If i ever quit the nic. completely, the vela is going in a glass box, as an achievement...
If i become homeless it will be: me, a dog named scruffy, a blanket, and my Caravela!

I need to see if I can squeeze myself onto the list at the end of summer...

 

[donnah]

I got a Precise+18650 just collecting dust. a ZAP fits on there nicely
If you are actually interested, PM me and i will create a listing on the classifieds... make it legit.
don't know if i am breaking any rules by unintentionally selling a mod in the R.A.S. sub forums.....

I've looked at the Precises a time or two.. actually, someone advised me to get one as my first "mod" a couple years ago but I balked at the price. If I get a mech, I'v kinda got my eye on a Natural. I'm sure if you did list it as a trade for a prov in the classys, you wouldn't have much trouble at all.