Want go get into RBA's, Few Questions

[boshans]

Hey all, so I was looking at getting into rba's, but I have a few...well maybe a lot, of questions. I am probably going to get a AGA-T2, I was looking at a igo-l, smoketech rsst, octopus, some other stuff, but I think I like the AGA-T2 the best. Is it? I know the igo and octopus are dripping, but hey I wouldn't mind if it works better. So anyway, mostly have some questions about the coil/wicks and stuff...

Can you use two coils with the aga-t2? There seems to be two holes to stick a wick into, and multiple posts for the wire itself. Do you have to put the each wires pos and neg lead on a different post, or can you use the same ones? Like can I put two neg wires on one post, and the two pos leads on the other post? Well actually there is only one positive post so you would put both wires on that one positive right? What about the negative ones? If I can dual coil, and I make both wires at say 2.0 ohm, does that mean the whole thing together will be 2ohm, or 4ohm?

Do these have to be run at such low resistances? Everyone I see says they are running at like .6-.8 ohms...I don't really want to run that low to be honest, can I make it run at 2.0 ohms?

When I oxidize the mesh, do you have to oxidize the entire thing, or can you just torch the top part that touches the wire and a little bit further down than that, but leave the bottom part that goes into the liquid non-oxidized? I am thinking you can, since the pulse method only oxidizes the very top right?

One last thing I can think of right now, I see people are drilling the whole out...does it matter how big? What size drill bit is ideal? Does this even have to be done if I want to run at 2.0ohms? I see some people are just drilling it out because they are running at really low ohms.

If I wanted to use silica/cotton/whatever, it would be the exact same process as using mess? Minus the oxidizing of course, but you would just wrap and connect the same right? And with a U-wick, you only wrap the coil on one side of it right, not both sides?

I think that was about it...I thought I had more questions but maybe not, I have a good grasp on how to coil and do the wicks and everything

 

[Hiding]

Can you use two coils with the aga-t2?

Yes you can. If you want to use 2 mesh wicks it's easier to pull out the post that is meant for silica wicks. If you don't you have no hole to fill it with.

Do these have to be run at such low resistances?

No you don't have to run sub ohm coils. In fact if you are running on a regulated device (Provari/Vamo/etc) you can't. They won't work under 1.3ohm. That said I haven't tried 2ohm coils, when I setup for the VAMO I am for 1.5-1.8ohm.

When I oxidize the mesh, do you have to oxidize the entire thing, or can you just torch the top part that touches the wire and a little bit further down than that, but leave the bottom part that goes into the liquid non-oxidized?

It's better to burn the entire thing once to remove any machining oil left on it. But you don't need to full oxidize anything other then where the coils touch.

One last thing I can think of right now, I see people are drilling the whole out...does it matter how big? What size drill bit is ideal? Does this even have to be done if I want to run at 2.0ohms?

It depends on the hole you are talking about. Drilling out the air hole in the cap, is more of a personal preference. If the draw is to tight for you, then start with the smallest bit you can find. Biggest I would go would be 1/16th, that's a pretty airy draw. Also don't think it's needed for 1.5ohm+ coils.
People also drill the wick hole larger. That helps wick the juice faster, again probably not needed on high ohm coil. But could actually help you get that higher ohm coil. To reach 2ohm, you will need to use 32awg kanthal and use a good number of wraps, 6/5 maybe even 7/6.
Making the wick hole larger would allow you to use less wraps, since it would take more wire to make it around the wick.

I can't answer about the silica wicks, I haven't tried using one in an aga-t.

 

[boshans]

Can you use two coils with the aga-t2?

Yes you can. If you want to use 2 mesh wicks it's easier to pull out the post that is meant for silica wicks. If you don't you have no hole to fill it with.

Do these have to be run at such low resistances?

No you don't have to run sub ohm coils. In fact if you are running on a regulated device (Provari/Vamo/etc) you can't. They won't work under 1.3ohm. That said I haven't tried 2ohm coils, when I setup for the VAMO I am for 1.5-1.8ohm.

When I oxidize the mesh, do you have to oxidize the entire thing, or can you just torch the top part that touches the wire and a little bit further down than that, but leave the bottom part that goes into the liquid non-oxidized?

It's better to burn the entire thing once to remove any machining oil left on it. But you don't need to full oxidize anything other then where the coils touch.

One last thing I can think of right now, I see people are drilling the whole out...does it matter how big? What size drill bit is ideal? Does this even have to be done if I want to run at 2.0ohms?

It depends on the hole you are talking about. Drilling out the air hole in the cap, is more of a personal preference. If the draw is to tight for you, then start with the smallest bit you can find. Biggest I would go would be 1/16th, that's a pretty airy draw. Also don't think it's needed for 1.5ohm+ coils.
People also drill the wick hole larger. That helps wick the juice faster, again probably not needed on high ohm coil. But could actually help you get that higher ohm coil. To reach 2ohm, you will need to use 32awg kanthal and use a good number of wraps, 6/5 maybe even 7/6.
Making the wick hole larger would allow you to use less wraps, since it would take more wire to make it around the wick.

I can't answer about the silica wicks, I haven't tried using one in an aga-t.

Awesome, I am using an eVic btw, should have mentioned that. So with two coils I would connect the wires to the same posts then correct. The ones you connect the wire to when you are using one mesh wick, you would connect the other wires to the same posts? Probably not right? Since the distance between the coil and post would be really far then on the second wick?

 

[Hiding]

Can you use two coils with the aga-t2?

Yes you can. If you want to use 2 mesh wicks it's easier to pull out the post that is meant for silica wicks. If you don't you have no hole to fill it with.

Just wanted to double tap this.
I have 2 aga-t2's and looked at both, one of them I wouldn't be able to, it doesn't have the extra screw holes. The second does, so I'd have to say it will matter on which version of it you get. I ordered both of mine from the same vendor, so I guess it really matters which one they got in the latest shipment.

 

[Hiding]

Awesome, I am using an eVic btw, should have mentioned that. So with two coils I would connect the wires to the same posts then correct. The ones you connect the wire to when you are using one mesh wick, you would connect the other wires to the same posts? Probably not right? Since the distance between the coil and post would be really far then on the second wick?

Both would use the postive post, but you would wrap them on opposite side, and then use different negative posts/screws.

Some good pictures in this blog: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blogs/bigsteve940/3943-dual-coil-aga-t.html
And this thread: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/stormys-vapor-cellar/351028-thumbs-up-aga-t-genesis-r-2.html

 

[jasl90]

Hey all, so I was looking at getting into RBA's, but I have a few...well maybe a lot, of questions. I am probably going to get a AGA-T2, I was looking at a igo-l, smoketech rsst, octopus, some other stuff, but I think I like the AGA-T2 the best. Is it?

It all boils down to personal preference. Myself, I haven't touched my AGA-T since I got the RSST. There are things I like about the AGA better than the RSST but there's more that I like about the RSST...

I know the igo and octopus are dripping, but hey I wouldn't mind if it works better. So anyway, mostly have some questions about the coil/wicks and stuff...

Can you use two coils with the aga-t2? There seems to be two holes to stick a wick into, and multiple posts for the wire itself. Do you have to put the each wires pos and neg lead on a different post, or can you use the same ones? Like can I put two neg wires on one post, and the two pos leads on the other post? Well actually there is only one positive post so you would put both wires on that one positive right? What about the negative ones? If I can dual coil, and I make both wires at say 2.0 ohm, does that mean the whole thing together will be 2ohm, or 4ohm?

Yes, you can run dual coil/dual wicks in the AGA-T...
If you're just getting started, my advise is to keep it simple until you get the swing of things. There can be a big learning curve when it comes to setting up genisis attys. Don't make it worse on yourself by trying to get tricky straight out of the gate.
Like any good coach would say, "focus on the fundamentals".

Do these have to be run at such low resistances? Everyone I see says they are running at like .6-.8 ohms...I don't really want to run that low to be honest, can I make it run at 2.0 ohms?

That's the beauty of RBAs in general. You can set them up at whatever resistance you like.
The fact is that discovering what's best for you for you and your PV is all apart of the learning curve. You'll discover that what works on regulated device like a ProVari, isn't so good on a mechanical and vice versa.

When I oxidize the mesh, do you have to oxidize the entire thing, or can you just torch the top part that touches the wire and a little bit further down than that, but leave the bottom part that goes into the liquid non-oxidized? I am thinking you can, since the pulse method only oxidizes the very top right?

Under the coils is fine.

One last thing I can think of right now, I see people are drilling the whole out...does it matter how big? What size drill bit is ideal? Does this even have to be done if I want to run at 2.0ohms? I see some people are just drilling it out because they are running at really low ohms.

Again, personal preference... Personally I like a 1/16" opening, but, that's a little airy for some folks. My recommendation is to try it stock. If you like it, keep it that way. If you think it's a little tight, open it up a little. Just remember, you can always make a hole bigger but it's a PIA to make it smaller.

If I wanted to use silica/cotton/whatever, it would be the exact same process as using mess? Minus the oxidizing of course, but you would just wrap and connect the same right? And with a U-wick, you only wrap the coil on one side of it right, not both sides?

It's up to you. The traditional U wick only has a single coil but it's not uncommon to see dual coils as well.

I think that was about it...I thought I had more questions but maybe not, I have a good grasp on how to coil and do the wicks and everything

Good luck. Hope this helps.

 

[boshans]

Great! Thanks everyone...and so basically those two tiny screws on the aga can both be used as negative leads, I thought there was a specific negative lead post or whatever, but from those pics that's what it looks like...I guess I have to hope I get one with two holes...weird that some of them are different. But yeah I definitely am going to start out with just one wick/coil...I guess the only reason I want to use two coils/wicks is to get more vapor...that's one of the reasons to use two coils right? It produces more vapor? If not I couldn't really care less if I use one coil that is really good and makes the same amount of vapor as two.

And can someone tell me what the hell that post with the hole in the middle is in this pic? Can you take that out and use it as another wick hole? It's from cloudsofvapor, it is like one of the only sites I found that has them in stock...so I am assuming they would probably send one that looks like this one, maybe not though. Is there another wick hole right next to that post? Bad angle on the pic, wish they had a top angle.

 

[Vego]

Well, with the model shown one of those screws is the for the fill hole.

The post with the hole in it is the one Hiding was referring too as the silica wick post... which can be removed with vice grips. If you remove it, you could make a U wick and be okay. Though, putting an additional wick&coil in there I think would make the negative lead too long and run too close to the positive post to be feasable.

If you get a model like mine, you'd have no problem with a two wick solution. You could just use the silica post as the negative lead for the second one and still have a fill hole open.

 

[Hiding]

The post with the hole in it is for making a coil for silica/cotton wicks. You can pull that post out. Takes some force, they are pressure fit in. Then the hole where it was is a good place for the second wick, however:

The one in your picture wouldn't actually work for 2 wicks. Once you made both wicks you'd have no place to fill the liquid. You'd need to either drill a fill hole or figure out some way to get the liquid into the tank.
The latest one I got from discountvaper actually has 3 of the screws into the top plate. I don't know if they are all like that now, or if mine was a freak of nature or what.

Edit: Vego beat me. But ya, his picture is the one I just got from DV.. I order both of mine from there, first looked like the one you posted. Second like the one Vego posted.

Also DV still has some: http://www.discountvapers.com/aga-tiamat-plus-w-glass-tank-same-as-aga-t2/
Maybe request one with 3 screws (4 holes) if you are really interested in dual wicking in the future.

 

[Vego]

Then again, that setup you see in the picture is kickin' so good, (.9ohm 28g K 400#) I really have no inclination to put another wick&coil in there. That's some CopperCreek Cake juice in there, and it's so damned tasty and vaporful my toes curl every time I take a hit No need for another wick IMO if you get it set up right.

 

[boshans]

Oh I didn't even know DV had any, I thought I looked there. I would rather just order from Eric, plus I'd get a discount anyway since I have ordered from him a lot already. Plus it's awesome that he gives two tanks with it, even though one is plastic.

So in the picture Vego posted...that big phillips head screw that is flat next to the silica post, you can remove that? Or is that where you can put another negative lead? So basically you remove the silica post, put another wick in there, connect the positive to the main center post, and the negative post would be that phillips screw, and then you still have the fill hole? Does the fill hole usually have a screw in it also? That's what you mean by 3 screws?

 

[boshans]

Oh one last thing...about the dual coils...so if I make two coils both at 2.0ohms...would the entire thing be 4 ohms, or would it be 1 ohm? Or does it stay at 2 ohms? I think I read whatever you make the coils all together it would be half the ohms going to the actual device, but I am not sure.

 

[Hiding]

that big phillips head screw that is flat next to the silica post, you can remove that?
It unscrews. It's either for a second wick or the fill hole. Or could be for the second negative lead.

So basically you remove the silica post, put another wick in there, connect the positive to the main center post, and the negative post would be that phillips screw, and then you still have the fill hole?

Exactly. You can also just connect your negative lead to the silica post (that is what it's for, the negative lead on the silica wick), but it reduces the room you have for the coil. So imho it'd be better to remove it and put the wick there. It may need to be drilled out bigger then the hole that is there for the post. I've never removed it, so don't know how big the hole is compared to a wick hole. Just read here or seen on youtube.

Does the fill hole usually have a screw in it also? That's what you mean by 3 screws?

Yep. and Yep.
Some people remove the screw from the fill hole to help wicking. If the wick it setup good, it shouldn't need to be removed. That said, one of my aga-t's is running with out the screw right now.. It'll give dry hits when I put it in. I believe that wick is just a little to tight in it's wick hole. I just haven't taken the time to try rolling it a bit tighter.

 

[Hiding]

Oh one last thing...about the dual coils...so if I make two coils both at 2.0ohms...would the entire thing be 4 ohms, or would it be 1 ohm? Or does it stay at 2 ohms? I think I read whatever you make the coils all together it would be half the ohms going to the actual device, but I am not sure.

If both are 2ohm on there own, it would be 1ohm together.

 

[boshans]

anyone know what the hell kind of wire comes with the aga-t2? i think its nichrome, but i have no idea what kind. have like 6/5 wraps and it says 3ohms...well at first it said 4 and then went down to 2.4, now 3....lol. think im just gonna have to wait till tomorrow when my kanthal comes in.

also how do you know when the mesh is oxidized enough? mine turned like a bluish tint and i guess blackish...more blue though. that ok?

also...can the mesh touch the center post when it is inside the tank? would that be equally as bad as it touching the bottom of the tank?