Tobeco Zgripper 36?

[systemcrash]

Okay, it's official: I love this thing. This has been my go-to mod for a week now. Not sure what was going on with the chip at the outset, but after a week long burn-in, the circuitry is performing fantastically. I have decided against using HoH's clone service and I'm instead putting that money back for an authentic ZNA as soon as Zen releases a model with a native 18650 form factor (and hopefully a dna 40). It's bound to be in the works.

I should receive mine today. Your last comments gave me hope regarding the pre-order. After reading all the issues that some users had, I lost hope and drop any expectation to use the zgripper daily. I want to replace my cloupor dna 30 for really longtime with a better mod but with all the issues, I accepted that it might not gonna happen with my upcoming zna. Your last comment gave me some hope

Can you confirm that you don't have any issues with different setup? (between 0.5 toi 1.5 omh) Or they still persist? What kind of setup are you using?

Anyway, I guess I will use some kind of burnin process with some 1.5 resistance to start with the 1st week.

 

[Confuzzled1969]

I really like the form of that one, wonder if I can get one and just buy DNA 40 board and install myself? Got me thinking... But I may just buy a DNA 40 board and build my own...

 

[monkey39]

Okay, it's official: I love this thing. This has been my go-to mod for a week now. Not sure what was going on with the chip at the outset, but after a week long burn-in, the circuitry is performing fantastically. I have decided against using HoH's clone service and I'm instead putting that money back for an authentic ZNA as soon as Zen releases a model with a native 18650 form factor (and hopefully a DNA 40). It's bound to be in the works.

In the meantime, my quest to discover whether or not this device is actually Z2 threaded continues. Wouldn't mind picking up an obsidian tube for it to complete the look!

It wasn't so long ago that Tobeco was the company to avoid in favor of EHPro, HCigar, Infinite, and the like. This is the third Tobeco device I've acquired over the past few months, and all have been of outstanding quality (the black KFL+ above is also Tobeco, and it's the only KFL clone I own out of 4 that performs exactly as well as both of my SvoeMesto authentics).

I'm gonna go ahead and call this device a winner!

Can you tell us what build and at what watts you're vaping at? I think my "Check Atomizer" issues are gone, but I'm still experiencing the voltage drop issue around when my battery meter drops below half. Right now my battery meter is showing around a 40% and there's a noticeable weakness to my vape and it's showing around 3.4v when I hit the fire button. I've actually gone through 4 (Edit: make that 3 - can't count today) batteries today trying to keep my vape consistent. I'm using a Fogger with a 1.1 ohm build @ 20 watts.

Edit: maybe I need to burn-in my device some more? I've only had it since last Friday and haven't used it exclusively because of the issues I've been experiencing. Or try a higher ohm build? I'll build out a 1.5 ohm coil on a spare Kayfun tonight.

 

[retrox]

I'm running at 1.5 ohms on that Tobeco KFL, and I've pretty much been using that atty on this mod exclusively. My ADV has been locked in at 22.5 watts and the unit is firing at 5.8v consistently throughout every battery cycle. I'm running it until the battery gauge is at 1/2 with no voltage loss (as per beano52's advice), and the battery is depleted to around 3.7v when I swap out. That's what I'm considering a "cycle."

Interestingly, I just tested a VTC4 off one of my mechs that was discharged down to 3.62v, and couldn't fire above 5.2v with that battery in the Zgripper with it set to 22.5 watts. So there is definitely a correlation between battery charge below ~3.7v and dropoff with this chip. This is my first DNA-style regulated device, so I have no idea if this is normal behavior for the boost circuitry. I only know that my Provari will fire at the specified voltage setting right up until the battery needs to be recharged. But... well, that's a Provari for you I guess.

I vape about a full KFL per day, and one LG HE2 (2500mAh) lasts me an entire day at ~22 watts. So the chip in this device may leave something to be desired for heavier or higher-wattage vapers, but it's damn near perfect for me.

 

[monkey39]

I've been running a 1.6 ohm on one of my Kayfuns tonight @ 12 watts all night with no problems so far, and my battery meter is down to around 30%. Couldn't run it @ 20 watts because the vape got too hot.

Maybe the dual coils on my Fogger were trying to pull too much juice from the battery? I'll try a single coil build on another device (edit: meant another RBA) that has a bit better heat dissipation, see if I get the same results as you at higher wattages. Anyway, I'm thinking this isn't so much a defect as it is a limitation. I can live with that!

Sent from my Galaxy Note 2 using Tapatalk

 

[jasezero]

Full battery, multiple batteries, and still getting the voltage drop issue on a Kayfun at 1.4 ohms. Very frustrating. I tried reaching out to vaportekusa and no response. Gotta see what I can do now

 

[systemcrash]

Full battery, multiple batteries, and still getting the voltage drop issue on a Kayfun at 1.4 ohms. Very frustrating. I tried reaching out to vaportekusa and no response. Gotta see what I can do now

They won't answer your email. You should just call them... but again... they won't do anything.

I might replace the board myself...because this voltage drop is really annoying.

 

[zoiDman]

Full battery, multiple batteries, and still getting the voltage drop issue on a Kayfun at 1.4 ohms. Very frustrating. I tried reaching out to vaportekusa and no response. Gotta see what I can do now

Did you pay for it with PayPal?

If so, they can Probably help you.

 

[jasezero]

Did you pay for it with PayPal?

If so, they can Probably help you.

Unfortunately not, went through my credit card. Might have to do a charge back if I don't hear from them.

 

[zoiDman]

Unfortunately not, went through my credit card. Might have to do a charge back if I don't hear from them.

I'm sure it ill Work Out.

But sometimes it is a just Big Hassle and it might take going Back and forth with VT.

Is VT a Registered Supplier here on the ECF. If so, maybe you could PM and ask them What is Going On?

 

[jasezero]

They finally got back to me. I can return for a store credit. Or replace with another unit. At this point who knows when they'll get more. I'll probably just use the credit for a Russian 2.0.

 

[zoiDman]

They finally got back to me. I can return for a store credit. Or replace with another unit. At this point who knows when they'll get more. I'll probably just use the credit for a Russian 2.0.

Store Credits is something that have Always ...... me Off.

The Only thing I would want from VT is a Zgripper. So if I got one, and there were Problems, getting a Store Credit Isn't much of a Solution to me.

 

[muriarte]

I just received my zgripper and was havind a lot of "check atomizer" issues. I saw that the center pin was not making a connection with my Russians and since the Russian doesn't have an adjustable center pin, I used a Rose V2 that has, but kept getting the warning...

So I checked that the center pin on de 510 of the zgripper is adjustable, but just one way: down or into the mod itself: so I took it out and filed away some of the delrin insert with my leatherman, until it was almost flush with the metal ring, this allowed the center pin to make a connection with all my tanks. Hope that this helps someone having issues with the center pin not making contact.

 

[zoiDman]

I just received my zgripper and was havind a lot of "check atomizer" issues. I saw that the center pin was not making a connection with my Russians and since the Russian doesn't have an adjustable center pin, I used a Rose V2 that has, but kept getting the warning...

So I checked that the center pin on de 510 of the zgripper is adjustable, but just one way: down or into the mod itself: so I took it out and filed away some of the delrin insert with my leatherman, until it was almost flush with the metal ring, this allowed the center pin to make a connection with all my tanks. Hope that this helps someone having issues with the center pin not making contact.

I don't have a Zgripper. But these are the Type of Posts I like to read.

Because I know Someone will come along having the Exact Same Problem you had and read what you Posted.

 

[monkey39]

I just received my zgripper and was havind a lot of "check atomizer" issues. I saw that the center pin was not making a connection with my Russians and since the Russian doesn't have an adjustable center pin, I used a Rose V2 that has, but kept getting the warning...

So I checked that the center pin on de 510 of the zgripper is adjustable, but just one way: down or into the mod itself: so I took it out and filed away some of the delrin insert with my leatherman, until it was almost flush with the metal ring, this allowed the center pin to make a connection with all my tanks. Hope that this helps someone having issues with the center pin not making contact.

Hmm, my center pin adjusts both up and down. It's reverse-threaded - turning it clockwise raises it, counter-clockwise lowers it.

My "Check Atomizer" issues seem to have been related to the plate inside the device under the top cap. As was stated previously, it is spring-loaded - just needed to poke it a bit until it aligned itself properly.

 

[muriarte]

Hmm, my center pin adjusts both up and down. It's reverse-threaded - turning it clockwise raises it, counter-clockwise lowers it.

My "Check Atomizer" issues seem to have been related to the plate inside the device under the top cap. As was stated previously, it is spring-loaded - just needed to poke it a bit until it aligned itself properly.

Mine was all the way up, but it was not long enough to make a connection...

I have found also the issue of power loss when the battery is below half, very noticeable.

Cheers!

 

[monkey39]

I have found also the issue of power loss when the battery is below half, very noticeable.

Oh yeah, I get that too, mostly when I use dual coil builds (my favorite RBAs are Foggers). I've been having better luck using Kayfun single coil builds on this device. Currently running a single coil 1.6 ohm build @ 17-20 watts, power levels stay more consistent for longer. Think I'll just designate this device my Kayfun mod.

 

[peraspera]

The ZGripper 36 wouldn't recognize any of my atties. I adjusted the screw, put on an atty and inserted a battery. The chip started smoking instantly and made the battery cap so hot it burned my fingers. The battery was inserted correctly. Scary stuff.

Vapor Tek emailed me that they will replace it if they have one in stock or issue a store credit. They really don't carry anything that particularly interests me so lesson learned about pre-ordering cheap Chinese mods.

 

[retrox]

That's terrible, peraspera! Sounds like a hard short. Hope you didn't lose the battery.

I am having the same experience with mine as you, monkey39. The voltage loss comes quickly with drippers >.7, but seems more stable for longer at around 1.5 ohms with the same wattage setting. It almost seems as if the harder you push the boost circuit, the better the chip performs. Which is kinda weird.

 

[GnarlyCar]

So I'm tired of messing with this thing. I want to put a DNA 30 or 40w chip in it, but I can't figure out how to get to the chip to get it out. Anyone had one apart yet?