switching from old to new atomizer

[Bastage]

ok you've been using the same atomizer for 2-3 weeks debating on whether or not to replace it with a new one...performance drops and drops until you finally say ok to hell with it and pop in a brand new one. I like that feeling when you take your first few puffs off the brand new one, nice smooth draw, the taste is great and the vapor cloud just boils out of them. It makes you go "oh yeah, i really love these ecigs". Would be nice if they stayed that way for longer but I'll take what I can get. I might start replacing them once a week just to avoid constantly messing with them. Not sure about other ecigs, but the 901 flavor just doesn't hold that "brand new" taste for much longer than a week. They do last longer than a week, but that's when I start noticing the taste change and slight vapor decrease. It will be more expensive, but I think it would make for a much more enjoyable vaping experience if your atomizers are always in top shape. One good thing is, you'll have plenty of spares in case you run out of fresh ones. Even at 1 a week it's still reasonable (35-40 bucks a month for atomizers).

 

[usehername]

I agree. I carry an old working atomiser with me for emergencys but I want this to be as consitant as possible.

 

[womblebat]

Hi Bastage,

I was having the same problems with my 901, it really seems like the luck of the draw with atomizers, the one thing i found if my atomizer was starting to fade a bit was to drip with it.

happy vapin!

 

[usehername]

Even with regular cleaning there is a point where you have to retire a sickly atomiser. Problem is it can degrade so slowly you might not notice it much until you do replace it. Then you wonder why you put up with it for so long.

 

[SuperStack]

I'm pretty sure I understand why the performance drops on these.

The coil becomes caked with crud after a few days of vaping, then this in turn causes it to heat up more and transfer less heat to the liquid, which then damages the coil's conductivity in the process - sort of a double whammy effect.

So what's left is a crud-ridden, damaged coil that simply doesn't perform properly. But if we could find a way to keep the coil free from this buildup, or at least minimize it as much as possible, then this would mitigate a lot of the performance problems and extend its lifespan.

So at the moment, and until further design improvements are made, the issue still rests firmly on what the most effective way is to clean them.

It would really require a scientific method approach using controlled conditions, with the testing of various cleaning substances/techniques - and then ripping apart the atomizer and carefully examining the coil in great detail under magnification to see what effect it has on crud removal.

On a sidenote, I've always wondered if vinegar is such a hot idea - because while its acidic nature may help in dissolving the crud, it may also slowly eat away the metal on the thin coil itself - although its difficult to say how much exposure would need to occur before that alone caused a performance drop.

There's still so many unknowns with so much of this. People have varying ideas and opinions as to what's best, but concrete scientific testing is what really matters at the end of the day.

Purchasing a brand new atomizer every week does seem a bit drastic - I guess if someone has enough free cash to burn then it may be the hassle-free way to go - but in these difficult economic times, many out there will likely be very interested in finding ways to increase lifespan/performance of these to the greatest extent possible I think.

 

[Trumpybloke]

I have posted this in another thread , but wonder if an ultrasonic cleaner bath filled with fresh PG might be the way to go ---- anyone got one to try...I will hopefully have it to try in a few weeks , but feel free to beat me to the punch... I am thinking the ultrasonic vibes might dislodge the crud , and using PG as the medium, means cart is always moist... PG is also a good solvent, well hey , the crap came in on it didn't it??

Who will be the first to say " Hey Trumps good thinking but its crap !! LMAO

 

[Bastage]

Trump, I don't have an ultrasonic cleaner but that sounds like a good idea. Where can you buy PG to cut liquid or clean atomizers with? Never used the stuff.

 

[ZambucaLu]

yvilla posted this link the other day:

Propylene Glycol USP - Propylene Glycol - Bulk - Wholesale

I also heard you can get it at country tractor stores in the cow section....LOL

Lu

 

[ZambucaLu]

FYI:

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/tips-tricks/2175-cleaning-atomizer-3.html#post63281


Lu

 

[CalPilot89]

I only use my atomizers for 3 days tops before cleaning. I boil them in water for 10-15 minutes and then blow them out and let them dry for at least 2 days. They are as good as new and perform perfectly.. Give it a try...

 

[invidregis]

I use an ultrasonic jewelery cleaner, cleans the atomizer so good it takes the some of the paint off too.

 

[trog100]

if one assumes what they work like when new is what they should work like all the time.. they need replacing once a week for a heavy user..

if u are happy with semi worn out ones.. make them last as long as u like..

if there is one big downside to e smoking its the inconsistency of it.. regular replacement of hardware cuts down the inconsistency.. but it dosnt come free..

regular replacement of hardware gives better more consistent e smoknig... fact.. the rest is just waffle.. sacrifice chickens.. say prayers.. do whatever u like.. none of it works as well as regular hardware replacement..

of course this leaves the nasty horrible truth.. good e smoking can be expensive..

trog

 

[spyderuk]

Most of my 901 atomisers have become hard to draw. I've tried the quick soak in hot water in a mug, then went onto 10 minute boiling and they got a little better but not as good as new. This is after around 7-10 days use on 901 stock batteries.

I now have 1 favourite little atomiser and this fella has had a heck of a lot of use over the last 13 days. It never overheats like some others I have and it has only had 1 kind of juice through it, almost a 15ml bottle's worth. I don't drip it I just top off a cart. I use a fresh cart every 2 to 3 days. I know it is not a long life span compared to others but it is doing great. Same vapour, same throat hit and same taste since day 1. I have not drained or cleaned this atomiser yet. Maybe this is one rare super atomiser

Right, this one is the one that came with and lives on the SD. Now I think the consistent power maybe vapourising the liquid more efficiently than a regular stock 901 battery. The reason I believe this is due to my other atomizers when used on the SD have improved in there overall performance. Still a little hard on the draw but noticably, not as bad as they used to be. The vapor output has also been increased, or so it seems.

I am not going to clean this atomiser and just going to vape it day after day until it degrades. It will be interesting to see how long it lasts.

 

[New Year quitter]

I'm pretty sure I understand why the performance drops on these.

The coil becomes caked with crud after a few days of vaping, then this in turn causes it to heat up more and transfer less heat to the liquid, which then damages the coil's conductivity in the process - sort of a double whammy effect.

So what's left is a crud-ridden, damaged coil that simply doesn't perform properly. But if we could find a way to keep the coil free from this buildup, or at least minimize it as much as possible, then this would mitigate a lot of the performance problems and extend its lifespan.

So at the moment, and until further design improvements are made, the issue still rests firmly on what the most effective way is to clean them.

It would really require a scientific method approach using controlled conditions, with the testing of various cleaning substances/techniques - and then ripping apart the atomizer and carefully examining the coil in great detail under magnification to see what effect it has on crud removal.

On a sidenote, I've always wondered if vinegar is such a hot idea - because while its acidic nature may help in dissolving the crud, it may also slowly eat away the metal on the thin coil itself - although its difficult to say how much exposure would need to occur before that alone caused a performance drop.

There's still so many unknowns with so much of this. People have varying ideas and opinions as to what's best, but concrete scientific testing is what really matters at the end of the day.

Purchasing a brand new atomizer every week does seem a bit drastic - I guess if someone has enough free cash to burn then it may be the hassle-free way to go - but in these difficult economic times, many out there will likely be very interested in finding ways to increase lifespan/performance of these to the greatest extent possible I think.

They should make atomizers that can be opened, perhaps with a tiny hinge, so you can scrape off the crud with a needle, that would be way better than any other cleaning method, and far less likely to kill atomizers.

 

[usehername]

if one assumes what they work like when new is what they should work like all the time.. they need replacing once a week for a heavy user..

if u are happy with semi worn out ones.. make them last as long as u like..

if there is one big downside to e smoking its the inconsistency of it.. regular replacement of hardware cuts down the inconsistency.. but it dosnt come free..

regular replacement of hardware gives better more consistent e smoknig... fact.. the rest is just waffle.. sacrifice chickens.. say prayers.. do whatever u like.. none of it works as well as regular hardware replacement..

of course this leaves the nasty horrible truth.. good e smoking can be expensive..

trog

That is it in a nutshell. Constantly fussing with a dying part will lead to frustration and dissatisfaction. It should not be a contest to see how long you can suffer through a marginally functioning atomiser. It is like pulling old butts out of an ashtray because you might get three more hits off of them.

 

[trog100]

when u have manual switch and decent battery spyder atomizer life can be extended..

one simply hangs on the switch longer than when the atomizer is new.. plus the extra battery power helps cook the liquid.. the downside being hanging on the switch too long might cause the atomizer to wear out quicker.. dunno.. he he

we sometimes get a couple of weeks out of one.. we also only use the one at a time not swap about as some do.. wear one out then bin it seems the best approach..

i know i smoke mine differently than i used to do.. long eight second switch presses and a double draw being the norm.. i kind take a draw half inhale then take another and inhale the both..

but the longer u try and make the buggers last the less well they work.. a bit like torch batteries chuck em when they get dimmer or continue until there is no glow at all..

trog

ps.. i have been poor enough to pull old buts out of the ash tray and have another go... he he

but the real problem here is people are simply mislead as to how long these things should last.. once people know the score they stop the frustration and simply accept the real cost of e smoking..

 

[Frankie]

What does extra batteryx power mean? Higher voltage? Higher current with the same voltage? USB is 5V. Does that qualify for extra (non-battery) power that will prolong atomizer life?

 

[spyderuk]

Trog. I have found myself double hitting it without any issues. The only thing is sometimes if the cart is going a bit dry you get that slight tinge to it. A few drops in the cart and off you go again.

I only swap out an atomizer if I want to swap juice. I found some combinations are bad and take a while to clear up. Menthol to cola was bad for me. I would rather swap the atomiser in this case. I keep my atomisers with the bottle of juice with an elastic band lol That's how I know my old atomisers have a bit more life in them than they did before.

 

[trog100]

What does extra batteryx power mean? Higher voltage? Higher current with the same voltage? USB is 5V. Does that qualify for extra (non-battery) power that will prolong atomizer life?

just to use the one example.. a 901 battery first of all it isnt big enough to do the job its being ask to do.. its a donkey on steroids doing the job a carthorse should be doing.. it does it but only just and its rate of attrition is high..

this is simply down to the size factor.. a carthorse wont fit into the desired small smoking tube.. this is e cig battery fact..

a normal 130 mah 901 battery leaves the charger at 4.2 volts.. when new its capable of delivering the current of near 1 ah an e cig heater coil needs without any noticeable voltage drop.. as the battery ages the time its capable of doing this drops off..

a bigger carthorse battery dosnt suffer from this problem.. it delivers the required current for much longer and it lives for far longer..

a usb socket is five volts but there is some kind of regulator in line somewhere to cut the current delivered to the heater coil.. its better than the normal battery but has wires which are not ideal.. the wires also break after not that much usage.. poor quality cable.. not enough copper strands in it and poor stress relief at the bend points..

no portable battery powered device will work properly without an adequate sized battery.. when the chinese designed e cigs they put form over function.. okay for light occasional use but thats about it.. they are not fit for heavy 30 a day type use

a decent power supply and a manual switch improves e smoking.. combined with a nice fresh atomizer and the whole thing gets workable..

a certain user skill is needed but that comes with practice..

none of this is what the average e smoker wants to hear their new wonder device not being quite up to what its made out to be but that dosnt alter things..

trog

 

[Frankie]

I will try to translate it into a language even I understand: Battery power means longer time between charges and longer time between battery tosses, not something more powering the atomizer as the 2 cr (7v?) battery mod does. Is that right?

I actually thought bigger batteries provide higher current or something. Bigger battery lasting longer is sort of obvious. After all, it is bigger.