Tanks, Cartos, Various Juices Question

[TarFreeMe]

Hi all,

Noob here with hopefully not a dumb/redundant question.

I recently jumped straight from analogs to the V4L ego with tanks. Undoubtedly one of the smarter moves I've made in my life! The more I vape and read and try new flavours and different cartos (Dual Coil, Single Coil, etc.) the more I find myself wondering what I may be doing wrong.

Most recent example: Sunday I was at a fairly large BBQ with ego A and ego B (B was acquired 24 hours after A to ensure I wouldn't have to deal with a dead battery and the temptation to run to a gas station). I'd estimate that the BBQ went about 12 hours. After about 8 of those hours, I was sure happy that B was a part of my life despite its sometimes tricky sticky button. The Wow Smilin Special, Bandit Berry, and Mango got me through the day nicely.

Fast forward to Monday. When topping off the three tanks I used on Sunday, I noticed that the two I used the most had pretty dark fill in the cartos. The Wow Smilin Special (my primary flavour of the day) one had even begun to turn to black ash. I chalked it up to 12 hours of BBQing and ing increasing my desire to vape and figured that these critters must not be designed for that kind of use. So I drained the tanks with a syringe to save the juice and installed my last two spare cartos. Single Coil 2 ohm in the Wow Smilin Special tank and Dual Coil 1.5 +/- 2 ohm in the Bandit Berry tank. Note: I'm almost completely stupid in the DC/SC and resistance area.

Without spilling a single drop of liquid, I refilled the tanks and dripped into the cartos. I let them sit for a few minutes and dripped some more. Repeated until looking through them, light took on a yellowish tinge. I dry hit both a couple times. The Wow Smilin Special tank worked like a champ right off. The Bandit Berry one.... not so much. It didn't seem to produce the kind of vapor I was used to and just didn't taste quite right. I poked the carto holes and dripped more juice into it and nothing seemed to help much.

Fast forward to Tuesday. The Bandit Berry tank works like a champ as well! I'm happy because that's one of my top three favourite flavours.

At this point, I'm as confused as the next noob. I believe each of my tanks came with the Single Coil 2 ohm cartos but can't swear to that as in my excitement I slapped everything together so fast that I didn't notice. I assume that the Bandit Berry may be a thicker juice than the Wow Smilin Special.

Sorry for the long post but can any of you honorable vets/experts point me in the right direction as to what I may have done wrong with the filling process? Also why my cartos went so bad so fast? They were both only 3-4 days old and I've read several posts where people have said that even with chain vaping, their tank cartos last weeks. I have one that I chain vaped for the better part of two weeks and it's still in good shape.

Thanks much in advance for any help.

 

[keyzygirl]

Cartos are funny,some last for a week or more and some last a day. Did you try rising them out and letting them dry?

 

[TarFreeMe]

Cartos are funny,some last for a week or more and some last a day. Did you try rising them out and letting them dry?

I didn't try that but I will. My co-worker just told me he's done that with some success.

Glad I didn't throw them away just yet!

Thanks for the advice!

 

[ian559]

TarFreeMe,

I am by no means a expert but I do love my tanks... The V4l tanks come standard with dual 1.5 cartos. Replacements can be ordered from 1.5 to 3.

I vape Smilin as well. So far for me Smilin and Nuport are the hardest on my cartos in the tanks. I have had lots of days in the 3 months using tanks that my juice will darken the next day after heavy vaping the day before. It also happens to me at times if I let them sit a day or 2 with no use. A burnt like residue will build up in the carto from normal use. Heavy vaping makes that happen faster. Then when my tanks sit I have seen some dark seep into my tank like you describe a time or 2. I personally dont mind the off color and will just finish the tank off vaping it as long as it does not taste foul to me. I dont replace the carts until they start gurgeling, the draw becomes to tight, or it taste aweful.

 

[TarFreeMe]

TarFreeMe,

I am by no means a expert but I do love my tanks... The V4l tanks come standard with dual 1.5 cartos. Replacements can be ordered from 1.5 to 3.

I vape Smilin as well. So far for me Smilin and Nuport are the hardest on my cartos in the tanks. I have had lots of days in the 3 months using tanks that my juice will darken the next day after heavy vaping the day before. It also happens to me at times if I let them sit a day or 2 with no use. A burnt like residue will build up in the carto from normal use. Heavy vaping makes that happen faster. Then when my tanks sit I have seen some dark seep into my tank like you describe a time or 2. I personally dont mind the off color and will just finish the tank off vaping it as long as it does not taste foul to me. I dont replace the carts until they start gurgeling, the draw becomes to tight, or it taste aweful.

I've only seen the darkening of juice on one tank. I started with sour apple and once I found mango, Smilin, and Bandit Berry, I've neglected that tank.

The darkening I've experienced most recently was the batting (or whatever you call it) in the carto.

That's good to know that the Smilin is hard on the cartos being that it's my primary all day'er. I've concluded today that I prefer the Single Coil 2 ohm cartos with that juice and will be stocking up on them ASAP.

Thanks much for the reply!

 

[Morandir835]

TarFreeMe (sir or Ms.?) Bandit berry is a thicker juice indeed, the USA line has a higher vg content in comparison to all but the wow vg line. The single coil cartos aren't going to last as long at lower voltage as the dual coils will. They don't burn off enough juice...

 

[TarFreeMe]

TarFreeMe (sir or Ms.?) Bandit berry is a thicker juice indeed, the USA line has a higher vg content in comparison to all but the wow vg line. The single coil cartos aren't going to last as long at lower voltage as the dual coils will. They don't burn off enough juice...

I would say sir but I'm really not that formal of a guy.

Thanks for confirming my suspicions on the juice. It even tastes a little thicker if that makes any sense at all.

I wondered about the single coils not lasting as long but it just seems like the sweet spot for my preference with the Wow Smilin Special. I'll have to experiment with different ranges for other flavours I guess until I find good matches. At less than $3 a carto, I don't mind trying a few different ones to keep me satisfied and away from the analogs.

Thanks much for your reply as well as all the tech spec posts I've seen from you here and on V4L's site. One day I might even be able to make sense of it all.

 

[plantlvr]

Hi TarfreeMe! I've been vaping for awhile but am only in month 3 of using tanks and I have noticed that different juices are harder on the tank cartos than other juices. It's still a learning curve, but it's still so much fun! Much better than smoking ever was

 

[Morandir835]

Any questions you can always pm me sir, have no issue walking you through anything.

 

[TarFreeMe]

Hi TarfreeMe! I've been vaping for awhile but am only in month 3 of using tanks and I have noticed that different juices are harder on the tank cartos than other juices. It's still a learning curve, but it's still so much fun! Much better than smoking ever was

That's for sure! I didn't really have any serious intentions to quit smoking and kind of stumbled upon vaping by accident when my coworker walked in doing it one day. By lunch I had my first OEM ego kit and haven't taken even a puff of a cigarette since. Sure wish I would have started this a long time ago!

Should be picking up a couple handfuls of various cartos tomorrow so I can hopefully find the right combination for my favourite juices. But I know how I am, I'll probably be in the market for a good VV mod by then and have to start the whole process over.

Thanks to all for the great replies and advice! It's all a big help in understanding more about my new <del>addiction</del> hobby.

 

[TarFreeMe]

Any questions you can always pm me sir, have no issue walking you through anything.

Very much appreciated, Sir. You've been a bigger help than you know already with your tech posts and the like.

 

[keyzygirl]

Morandir is super smart and super helpful. I am always awed by his tech stuff.I admit I dont always understand it,but I know it takes a huge amount of time and effort and I appreciate all he does to help and inform this community. I may get mad,but it doesnt lessen my admiration for the things he does do. I know that I couldnt give the answers he gives to most of the questions asked. He definetly does his homework.

 

[TarFreeMe]

Morandir is super smart and super helpful. I am always awed by his tech stuff.I admit I dont always understand it,but I know it takes a huge amount of time and effort and I appreciate all he does to help and inform this community. I may get mad,but it doesnt lessen my admiration for the things he does do. I know that I couldnt give the answers he gives to most of the questions asked. He definetly does his homework.

I don't understand most of the tech stuff yet either, but I'm sure gonna try to get there. I seriously doubt I'll ever make it to his level though so it's a good thing he and people like him are around for the rest of us.

Thanks again to everyone for all their help. The whole journey away from cigarettes and into vaping can be completely overwhelming. It's good to know there's a great group of people ready and willing to answer all the questions and offer up advice. It was this forum where I learned about all the physical cessation oddities that were freaking me out for the first couple weeks after quitting cold turkey (does it count as cold turkey still if I vape?). Hopefully one day I'll be able to help someone with answers to their questions and pay it forward.

Cheers!

 

[EleanorR]

Congrats, TarFreeMe!

(I too was an "accidental quitter" due to the fantastic gifts of vaping and V4L/ECF. )

 

[Morandir835]

Just doing my part Ms. Keyzy, as always anyone who needs me to break it down in simplier terms just pm me and will do my best to walk them through it.

 

[Robertogee]

V4L almost three years. New to tanks (2-3 weeks). Love 'em. BUT . . .

Was interested to see how much variation there is in the cartos. I use the stainless steel SC 2.0 ohms too. I can't seem to get more than about two days out of a cart, no matter what I try.

Even bought an ultrasonic cleaner and tried the vodka routine. Per the V4L video, I soak 'em in HOTTEST possible water from the tap. Two or three times, over 30-45 minutes. THEN the ultrasonic.

Taryn spin-dry them into rubbers to get moisture out.

Stuff with rolled paper towel to absort leftover moisture. Dry overnight or longer.

With the WOW carts, and older ones, I never had any problem cleaning them and getting DAYS and DAYS of use from one cart.

Same juice for the past two years, so it's not the juice.

But so far I haven't been able to extend the life of these tank carts beyond about two days, max.

What's the secret? Or is it just the luck of the draw, cart-wise?

Thanks.

 

[Morandir835]

Robertogee sir what voltage are you running the single coils at?

Here's a link for you as well- http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/vapor4life/274026-some-info-cartos-tanks-lifespan.html

 

[Robertogee]

They're on Titan XL manuals -- which I love.

 

[Morandir835]

If you're using lower voltage sir, they won't last as long sadly. Just too much juice for a single coil to handle. How many refills are you getting?

 

[Robertogee]

Interesting. Thanks. I'm getting a kGo (arrives tomorrow). Tried to order an eGo from V4L but they were out of stock except for pink. The more I kept reading, the more it seemed people favored the kGo over the eGo. It runs at around 3.5 volts, I believe.

I thought from the V4L site that the tanks would work fine with the Titans, but I see your point. Of course, I'll keep enjoying the Titans. I get about 5 hours per charge, the way I vape. I'll just stop using the tanks on them.

It sounds, from what you're saying, that I can expect greater longevity with the SC 2.0 ohm cartos with the kGo. And now that I think of it, ALL the videos I've watched involving tanks were on mods rather than Titan-like e-cig batts.

Thank you again!