Thinking about changing from smoktek tank to vision nova tank.

[bobothewizard]

So I am starting to get a little angry with my smoktek tank and the replacement dual cartos. These replacement carto's are right around $2 each and they are only lasting me about 3 days before they are done, and thats if I do not get any dud's which I have been getting. I am using a 80/20 pg/vg mix that I mix myself so the juice is not very thick at all.

So I am thinking about trying one of these new vision nova tanks with the wick things in them, but I am wondering if you all had any success with them and how long the heads are lasting you? One question I had is it looks like the wicks are situated on top of the tank? This doesnt make alot of sense to me as the wicks looks like they are small and what happens when the juice gets below the wick?

 

[thinkingaboutit]

You burn cartos way fast compared to me and I have at least 50% VG.

I am not switching...but trying the nova soon. Lots of rebuildable info available.

 

[Crack3dOne]

Try volcano's DCT cartos. They are 2.59 each if you buy 5 or more (2.99 for less) but they are made for a 80/20 mix and I;ve found that they last a little over a week to two weeks. Doesn't hurt to try. Oh, and I've tried Smoks and I perfer Volcano DCT over smokes. Better flav and less to no leaking problems. That's what I use for my big tanks. I punch Boges for my smaller tanks.

And to the Wick question. You have to tip/tilt the tank to wet the wick when the juice falls below.

 

[DigitalDiatribes]

Opinions on the Vivi Novas seem to be pretty polarized, but considering my own personal experiences I don't like them.

Well, I do.

Sometimes.

If I get it working right (no leaking, no burning, etc. etc.) it vapes like a freight train. But the trick is getting it to work right.

 

[Flyer]

But the trick is getting it to work right.

That's definitely true, but I haven't found it difficult. No way around having to tilt/tip frequently...it's the nature of the beast. Screw the atty head and end caps on snuggly, if they're loose, they'll leak, period. Doing this has resulted in zero leaks, zero dry hits for me for over two months. The heads are super easy and cheap to rebuild.

 

[DigitalDiatribes]

I managed to get the thing running smooth the last time I refilled it, works great with a little RY4 on my Twist. I've been thinking about trying a rebuild on the 2.8 atty, how easy is "super easy" to do it?

 

[Flyer]

Just did a rebuild this morning and timed it - 7 minutes. But, my first one took about 30 minutes. The hardest part for me was figuring out how to wrap the coils properly on the wick. I'd be happy to give you more info if you need it. Also figure my material cost at a whopping 5 cents a head!

 

[DigitalDiatribes]

Absolutely, I'll take any help I can get.

 

[Ralikar]

I'm waiting for the vivi mini--any day now!

 

[mostapha]

But the trick is getting it to work right.

Suggestions? I have one coming in the mail (had to see for myself), and apart from maybe having to fluff the wicks and make sure things are tight, is there anything I need to do?

Disclaimer: if it works, it works. If it's better, it's better. If it absolutely blows, I'm probably not going to rebuild it because I just don't care that much compared to just using cartos.

 

[Flyer]

Absolutely, I'll take any help I can get.

Here's a great vid on how to do it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HP9Y7tF78Yo

I bought Kanthal A-1 33 awg resistance wire on ebay. You can use 32 - 34 awg wire.

A mountain of info on choices of wicking materials here-

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/modding-forum/284030-wick-materials-safe-vs-dangerous.html

I use two strands of 100% unbleached/undyed crochet thread from Hobby lobby. I boil it 3 times for 10 minutes changing the water each time.

I use a large straightened safety pin to hold the wick and wrap 4 - 5 coils which give me 2.3 - 2.7 ohms.

I start a new wick with my voltage down to about 3.3 volts. Take a few vapes and then bump it up another tenth of a volt. I keep doing this until I get to where I want it. Not sure but it seems to break things in this way and also tells me where my best vape is going to be on the new head.

Vivi Nova's always take less voltage than a carto though.

 

[tj99959]

I'm waiting for the vivi mini--any day now!

I think Vision ran out of plastic to mold, everything they make seems to be on the "any day now" list.

 

[JAY73]

i highly recomend the nova i am using the same 1.8 head that came with it and a replacment head i just clean and switch out everyother day no problems...

 

[Dougiestyle]

I use both, depending on my mood. I have DCTs and the Vivi Nova V2. I found it to be easy to rebuild. The flavor seems to be muted vs the DCTs, tho. It does, however provide a very large cloud. I've rebuilt 2/3 of the heads (one as soon as I received it). I also drilled the center pin out on the top and bottom. This improved the flavor to me. I've used cotton cheesecloth and cotton yarn for wick material. It's easy to burn and the cotton needs recovery time to wick. It doesn't like more than 2 long draws back-to-back. I only get around 5-6 days befor my DCTs need a new carto, tho. I use thicker nicquids and I've found that widening the holes on the pre-drilled/flanged cartos helps tremendously with wicking.

The biggest difference in the two tanks is that one behaves like a CE2 with the coil wrapped around the wick and the other has a hole down the center with juice contact around the circumference of the coil(s). Alot depends on how you like the vapor being produced. IMO I like the function of the DCT better. I like the manufacture/re-build-ability of the Vivi better. Conclusion-both have their merits and should be decided for youself.

 

[tj99959]

Here's a great vid on how to do it.

Vision Vivi Nova, Part 2 - Changing Wick (COTTON) & Final Impressions - YouTube

I bought Kanthal A-1 33 awg resistance wire on ebay. You can use 32 - 34 awg wire.

A mountain of info on choices of wicking materials here-

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/modding-forum/284030-wick-materials-safe-vs-dangerous.html

I use two strands of 100% unbleached/undyed crochet thread from Hobby lobby. I boil it 3 times for 10 minutes changing the water each time.

I use a large straightened safety pin to hold the wick and wrap 4 - 5 coils which give me 2.3 - 2.7 ohms.

I start a new wick with my voltage down to about 3.3 volts. Take a few vapes and then bump it up another tenth of a volt. I keep doing this until I get to where I want it. Not sure but it seems to break things in this way and also tells me where my best vape is going to be on the new head.

Vivi Nova's always take less voltage than a carto though.

There, fixed that for ya

Like I said before, turning the power down was the hardest thing for me to wrap my head around. It just somehow seemed unnatural.

 

[Flyer]

Thanks for the assist tj!

 

[mostapha]

Mine came in. First impression is a very vehement "meh". (version 2.5…short wick, no holes on the bottom cap…really long center post)

It's a bit easier than carto tanks, and we'll see what happens. I'll use it for a little while, but I'll probably ditch it when my new cartos come in unless it really impresses me in that time.

 

[nnote]

Mine came in. First impression is a very vehement "meh". (version 2.5…short wick, no holes on the bottom cap…really long center post)

If it's short wick, it's v2.0 .....
I use the 2.5 and also use 2.5 heads on my v1 tanks. v1 heads were faulty to begin with...
I run 6 nova tanks all with v2.5 heads, a few rebuilt and they are wonderful.

 

[Flyer]

I'll use it for a little while, but I'll probably ditch it when my new cartos come in unless it really impresses me in that time.

Rebuild your own heads with cotton and I bet it impresses you!

 

[oxygen thief]

I like the vivi nova. It does what it's designed for. I can clean it and switch juices in 10 minutes. It hasn't leaked. So for $12.50 it's hard to complain.