What happens when an atomizer fails

[drum of ny]

I am curious why atomizers fail. It would be awesome if someone who understands electronics and ecigs could explain what happens. I understand that atomizers get clogged up. I don't understand how these atomizers go from underperforming to dead. Is there a catalyst? Why do they stop all together?

 

[J W in Texas]

" Question What happens when an atomizer fails "

Well, I usually cry a little, bury it, say a few words and then break out another. I usually forget about the deceased atty after the first new vape.

 

[tribalmasters]

" Question What happens when an atomizer fails "

Well, I usually cry a little, bury it, say a few words and then break out another. I usually forget about the deceased atty after the first new vape.

Awwwwww bless!!
I toss erm as soon as they become wimps, they are nothing but trouble after that!! They go cold because the wire gets snapped or something like that

 

[breakfastchef]

Essentially, atomizer failure is much like a burned out light bulb. The tiny wire that heats up the smoking fluid breaks. No continuity, no vapor.

 

[2kool2]

yeap, The wire is just to small.

 

[trog100]

the part that matters after a few day use..

trog

ps.. the other bit just to give perspective..

 

[Caesarea]

the part that matters after a few day use..

What a pity it isn't a continuous belt that moves on, you could perhaps advance it, like a cap pistol or a machine gun, maybe into a cleaning process then back to the start in a circle....

I hate to see such waste...

8-o

 

[Sun Vaporer]

The Residue--left uncleaned on the coil, builds up, which does not allow heat dispursment and the atomizer starts to become "Whimppy. In turn the residue does not allow the coil to expand or contract, and the coil then snaps off its contact points and causes the failure. I can not concur in the light bulb analogy as the coil does not burn out or break in and off itself. Rather is becomes dislodged fro one of its two contact points and no longer receives current running though it-------Sun

 

[kinabaloo]

The break in the nichrome wire could be either due to mechanical force (deposit buildup) or burn out (lightbulb style). Breakage or deterioration in the soldered joints is occasionally also a reason.

The attys that fail quickly (within a day or two) probably burn out because of an irregularity (inherent weakness or 'hot spot') in the wire.

After the first few days, the build-up of deposit is the main reason for failure - either through mechanical stress causing a snap (between the coil proper and the join - where the wire is hot but not held in place by the deposit, at least as strongly), or burn out as the coil is increasingly heat-insulated by the deposit (same likely location for the same reasons). The outside of the coil/deposit is getting less hot (diminished performance) but under the deposit the wire is getting hotter as the deposit thickens over time. It will be hotter than it looks, with the color significantly influenced by being viewed through the very dark brown deposit.

Atomizers which seem dead but spring to life again or otherwise show a wide variation in performance might be attributable to a deterioration in the soldered join, from which we know that tin leaks from the solder alloy under the conditions of heat and contact with juice. A sizeable amount of tin ends up in the deposit material.

 

[praga]

I've had fairly good luck with the "coca cola method" of atomizer revival. Do a search for it, it works great unless the atty is completely shot.

 

[kinabaloo]

If done early cola can work well but it becomes less and less effective as the deposit hardens over time and the percentage of amorphous carbon (inert to chemical reaction and solvents) increases as the organics degrade.

 

[trog100]

The Residue--left uncleaned on the coil, builds up, which does not allow heat dispursment and the atomizer starts to become "Whimppy. In turn the residue does not allow the coil to expand or contract, and the coil then snaps off its contact points and causes the failure. I can not concur in the light bulb analogy as the coil does not burn out or break in and off itself. Rather is becomes dislodged fro one of its two contact points and no longer receives current running though it-------Sun

the wire in a light bulb can be shock dislodged but it actually just slowy burns away..

atoms leave the wire and deposit on the inside of the glass.. this is why the odd very old low power light bulb goes black.. the black discolouring is the element..

atomizer wires are quite robust and actually dont burn away that often.. they do go wimpish which is why we say use new ones after two weeks..

also inside the atomizer is some sometimes poorly done very thin wires going from the brass end bits to the heater coil.. these can fail..

but if you treat atomizers as semi disposable items.. buy them cheap and have spares... atomizers are not a problem..

the problem is people thinking they are anything other than semi disposable items.. and the people who sell them as anything other than such..

trog

 

[kinabaloo]

Yes, starter kits should have at least two atomizers. It's not only the cost of the atomizer, but perhaps more so the hassle of not having a backup. Best to puy 5 or more, at bulk discount, at a time, which also saves on postage.

Yes again, in general terms the nichrome heater wire is robust and with no deposit buildup would almost certainly last far longer. The deposit is mostly the 'dry deposit' left behind when the juice is evaporated. The amount varies greatly between juices. The flavorings were mostly designed for food where there is no issue of dry deposit following evaporation. Juices could be made much better for the purposes of vaping.

 

[irangeles]

Buy and e-cig from e-cig.com either the E8 or E9, the atomizer is in the cartridge, so once it dies, if it does, you chuck it

 

[2kool2]

Yes, starter kits should have at least two atomizers. It's not only the cost of the atomizer, but perhaps more so the hassle of not having a backup. Best to puy 5 or more, at bulk discount, at a time, which also saves on postage.

Yes again, in general terms the nichrome heater wire is robust and with no deposit buildup would almost certainly last far longer. The deposit is mostly the 'dry deposit' left behind when the juice is evaporated. The amount varies greatly between juices. The flavorings were mostly designed for food where there is no issue of dry deposit following evaporation. Juices could be made much better for the purposes of vaping.

I agree kinabaloo, Starter kits should come with two atts and three batteriers...Now that would be a nice starter kit.

 

[RazorNribbonz]

I think my first 2 atomizers died.. One was a little over a 2 weeks old and the other was brand new but I had washed and stored it... You speak of the attomizer being "cold"= dead.. Well mine will still heat up to the touch when vaping, but absolutely no vape.. Are they like, semi dead? lol

 

[trog100]

it all comes down to what folks expect or need from them.. they are okay for light use but for heavy use to keep the as new performance they need replacing quite often..

the original ruyan e cig which the current ones are still pretty much copies of was made to supplement real smoking not entirely replace it..

in short.. light occasional use.. not all day and every day total replacement use.. like we are now using them for..

they are okay for this kind of use but they just wear out way quicker than most folks expect them to... once you know this and buy the spares all the frustrations will go away.. the cost will go up but done correctly they can still work out pretty cheap..

trog

 

[RazorNribbonz]

I don't know trog..I'm not even full time vaping until I get all my stuff in..So its very light use and my two 901 addys just gave out tonight...I know theyre disposable and I dont mind replacing but, that makes 4 going out all in one week..First two weeks were fine...Now that..worries me...repeating> the glass is half full ..the glass is half full... its juuust a fluke lol