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Pico assistance

Waltheraustin

Bronze Contributor
Member For 4 Years
I see where people love the pico but I'm either doing it wrong or I've messed something up. If I let it sit for while, all is good but when I used it repeatedly, I don't feel like I'm getting the vape. I was trying to use thick juice so I stopped until I get my new tank. I went back to a 70/30 mix and even tried a new coil to see if the old one just got clogged up but I don't think that is the issue. My cheaper amigo pen mod works better I'm sad to say. I've tried lowering the wattage so slightly below 20 works best but it still happens where the first hit is good but the other ones behind that first hit are no where near as good. Is something.else clogged other than the coil since that can't be it?


Maybe I'll just use the pen until the kanger mini comes in.

Thoughts?

Thanks!


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Waltheraustin

Bronze Contributor
Member For 4 Years
I've going to try priming the coil more aggressive this time. I'll be back with good news hopefully


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RBVapes

Bronze Contributor
Member For 4 Years
This may sound silly, but vape in front of a mirror. The PICO is a 75W single cell device so one of two things is happening. Either (depending on config) it's hitting temp protection or it's over-drawing current from the battery. If you vape in the mirror you'll be able to see the screen. If it shows temp protection, you'll need to bump up the power (unless of course you're running in plain wattage mode). The more common thing I've see with these is a "Weak Battery" warning. When that hits it'll shut down. For example, we've found that an LG HE2 battery will frequently bump the "Weak Battery" notification once it nears half capacity whereas the HE4 or VTC4/5 are fine to the end.
 

Waltheraustin

Bronze Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Yes, it's the melo 3 and it's the Eleaf .5 coil. I'm using wattage mode and running it low.


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AmandaD

Platinum Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Sounds as if it needs to be run between 20-30 watts to perform properly: http://vapingunderground.com/threads/say-hello-to-the-new-eleaf-melo-glassomizer.45169/

I'm trying to search for the wattage range on those coils - here's another link that suggests 30-100 watts, but I"m not sure if these are the same coils: http://www.hoosierecig.com/Eleaf-replacement-coils-for-MELO-MELO-2-and-MELO-3-tanks_p_1227.html

Double checked: 30-100 watts for the 0.5 kanthal coil: https://www.eleafus.com/ec-atomizer-head.html
 

Waltheraustin

Bronze Contributor
Member For 4 Years
If I put the wattage up, I get little to no vape on the second hit. My guess is it's using all the liquid it has and doesn't have enough time to get more juice on the coils when I hit again unless I wait


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RBVapes

Bronze Contributor
Member For 4 Years
I've used the Pico with the included MELO3 Mini, but I always run it in Temp Control (400-450') with the SS coils. Again, the only issue I had is my 20A LG couldn't keep up so I switched it to my Sony's and have had no issue since.
 

Waltheraustin

Bronze Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Tank filled all the way? How is your battery , all charged? also could just be a bad coil?

I keep the battery charged up and the tank usually full. This is the third coil in a week. Do I need to give the coil more time to soak it up?


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Waltheraustin

Bronze Contributor
Member For 4 Years
I've used the Pico with the included MELO3 Mini, but I always run it in Temp Control (400-450') with the SS coils. Again, the only issue I had is my 20A LG couldn't keep up so I switched it to my Sony's and have had no issue since.
How is that battery to the 25r?


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Whiskey

Diamond Contributor
Member For 4 Years
I keep the battery charged up and the tank usually full. This is the third coil in a week. Do I need to give the coil more time to soak it up?


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I would, just to eliminate that being the issue. Have you tried a different tank set up on it as well?
And RB could have something there too, what are your batteries?
 

RBVapes

Bronze Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Are you using the original blue Samsung 25R or the newer green one? I have the green ones and can test with that to see how it performs. The official datasheets show it as rated at 20A continuous. While it can deliver higher pulse rates it'll quickly pass it's max temp and the mod will shut it off.
 

Waltheraustin

Bronze Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Are you using the original blue Samsung 25R or the newer green one? I have the green ones and can test with that to see how it performs. The official datasheets show it as rated at 20A continuous. While it can deliver higher pulse rates it'll quickly pass it's max temp and the mod will shut it off.


They are blue like I see in the pics. Which batteries should I look at?


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Waltheraustin

Bronze Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Getting a kanger mini tank soon so that will help eliminate that


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RBVapes

Bronze Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Well that and the Kanger Mini runs (assuming you mean SubTank / TopTank) at a lower wattage so the battery you have would be fine. That 25R Blue should work fine in wattage mode if you keep it at <50W. Otherwise, your best bet would be Sony VCT's or I've personally had good luck with the LGHE4's. The latter are only rated at 20A as well, but they seem to be more tolerant of a higher discharge.
 

Waltheraustin

Bronze Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Super frustrating, I'm going back to the pen mod until this thing gets the new tank.


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JERUS

Gold Contributor
Member For 4 Years
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No error messages on he screen right? What you're describing I get in 2 cases. First, low battery, it'll give me a hit, but then go "wtf are you doing, trying to kill your battery?" well paraphrasing from the "low battery" message. Second is too low of resistance on a coil, sometimes something right on that limit (In the Pico's case I believe it's .1Ω) will heat up and change it's resistance enough to not fire a second time in succession.

If it was not enough time to get the juice in there you'd know it by a nice burning taste and feeling.

In any case that I could help you figure out you should be getting a message of some sort, so if you aren't, well, sucky and I hope you figure it out.
 

Waltheraustin

Bronze Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Only thing I see is an message about 10s but I guess that is a preventive measure added. That's all. I'll play with it some more and hopefully I'll be blown away by the new tank.


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RBVapes

Bronze Contributor
Member For 4 Years
So just following up, I cranked up the Pico with a MELO3 Mini (.3 Ohm Kanthal Coil) and a Samsung 25R. I've had no issues. The highest I've run it is at 50W. Any higher and it's too hot. That said, no cut offs and no vaping issues. For my personal taste, this MELO 3 works best around 30-40W.
 

JERUS

Gold Contributor
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The Melo 3 is a significantly better tank IMO.

Here's a question... Have you done the math?
Let's say for example your SS coil is .55 ohms.
That means the maximum power the 4.2 mod can deliver is ~32 watts. And that's with a full charge only.

IOW, you can turn the power up to a thousand watts but still, all yer gonna get is about 30. (driving .55 ohms)

If you want a warmer vape, (and to be able to use more than 30 watts of your 75 watt mod) then lower your resistance.
Naw, it'll convert the amps into voltage. There are restrictions in that and it's not the most efficient thing, but it certainly is more than pure ohm's law. There is a bypass function on the pico that would make it work that way, but it's not limited to 4.2v it can push higher. I use a 1.11Ω build on my Pico, it says it's giving me 7v, and while that may not be accurate I know it's much closer than the 4.2v as I've taken the tank and tossed it on my series mech (going to be about 7v). I've also run it on bypass mode. My 40w vape with this build is far closer to the series vape I was getting than the bypass try (which would have theoretically been lower than 15w)

Anyways I would never take a factory coil at .5Ω to anywhere near 100w, not only is there no need, the wicking would almost surely fail. 60 maybe 70w is where I'd expect them to completely cap out.
 

Waltheraustin

Bronze Contributor
Member For 4 Years
The Melo 3 is a significantly better tank IMO.

Here's a question... Have you done the math?
Let's say for example your SS coil is .55 ohms.
That means the maximum power the 4.2 mod can deliver is ~32 watts. And that's with a full charge only.

IOW, you can turn the power up to a thousand watts but still, all yer gonna get is about 30. (driving .55 ohms)

If you want a warmer vape, (and to be able to use more than 30 watts of your 75 watt mod) then lower your resistance.

Really, it's better. I wonder why it was suggested. That stinks! I was hoping for a revelation when I got it.

Have to be honest but my amigo pen that I got is so much more enjoyable than the pico. Maybe I just need better coils. The kanger .5 coil is what I have and I'm only guessing but maybe that's my disconnect? Are the coils for the melo 3 readily available? Maybe my local shop has them so I can buy 1 and try it. Already dumping more money than I hoped.

Wife is gonna shoot me lol



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JERUS

Gold Contributor
Member For 4 Years
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Member For 1 Year
Really, it's better. I wonder why it was suggested. That stinks! I was hoping for a revelation when I got it.

Have to be honest but my amigo pen that I got is so much more enjoyable than the pico. Maybe I just need better coils. The kanger .5 coil is what I have and I'm only guessing but maybe that's my disconnect? Are the coils for the melo 3 readily available? Maybe my local shop has them so I can buy 1 and try it. Already dumping more money than I hoped.

Wife is gonna shoot me lol



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The Melo III can use Atlantis coils according to the thread
http://vapingunderground.com/threads/aspire-atlantis-coil-fits.110143/

Those are going to be in any vape shop and probably a lot of smoke shops, one of the most common types of coils. I'd go ahead and grab the .5Ω ones, I usually enjoyed those in my Atlantis around 50w but you could have different preferences (I'd start at 30w and move up until it's to your liking).

So while maybe the melo specific coils aren't readily available, there should be something like them that will work at any shop you go to, it's just too common of a style for them not to stock something that will work.

And get used to the money dumping, even when things are going right you see more and more shinies and you gotta collect them all! :D
 

Waltheraustin

Bronze Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Ok, I'll grad those and try it and then sell the kanger. I thought the kanger were heavily recommended.

Thanks a ton!


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Waltheraustin

Bronze Contributor
Member For 4 Years
One more question, are the larger ohm coils better for Maxvg? That's the issue and what the kanger was going to fix for me.


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JERUS

Gold Contributor
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One more question, are the larger ohm coils better for Maxvg? That's the issue and what the kanger was going to fix for me.


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First Kanger is fine, they're the default starter setups, that's how they specialize. To put it another way, there are a lot of things out there that are better. But, you may find you like it? Personally I have a bias against them because how prone to leaking their old tanks were, so I haven't even looked into any of the newer things, but that's bound to happen when you aim for the cheapest option, QC is going to take a hit and I'd think they'd have fixed it.

Higher resistance basically just means it'll take less power. When you get over 1Ω for the premade coils they usually have more restricted airflow set to the liking of MTL, where the opposite is true as well and lower resistance set with more airflow for DL. Neither is specifically better for max VG, though there aren't many higher resistance coils meant for max VG. VG is kind of a cloud chaser thing in general, there are those with VG or PG issues, but that isn't the norm as far as I can tell. On those Atlantis coils I would not try to use Max VG, but you can use 30pg/70vg just fine. There are others of that same style that may be able to handle Max VG though (by style I mean ones that will fit the Melo).
 

JERUS

Gold Contributor
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Yeah I had that wrong I'm pretty sure. Honestly I haven't really researched my regulated mods, and at this point I don't even use any other than the Pico regularly. It's the Buck-boost stuff though, using an inducter or something to boost the voltage. Either way I know that the vape on my Pico at 40w with ~7v being reported on the screen is nearly identical to the vape I get tossing it onto my series mech that is about 7v for sure, so it's doing something!
 

Waltheraustin

Bronze Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Well, I've learned my lesson and bought some distilled water. Maxvg was bought in fear that I would be allergic since I'm allergic to everything else


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Timmerz

Member For 4 Years
Reviewer
I use the Pico often, so if im reading this right you are getting a good first hit then nothing on the second. You dont mention a dry/harsh taste on the subsequent hit. If the wick was dry it would be very obvious it would taste burnt, acrid, and terrible. Are you letting your finger off the button before you take the second puff or holding it the entire time?

IF you are getting a dry/burnt subsequent hit and just didnt say so, you can take a pin and poke a hole in the wicking material of the coil. This helps greatly with that melo/ecr/herakles/atlantis/triton style coil.

you are 100% certain you are using a kanthal coil and not accidentally running a nickel coil in wattage mode?
 

Waltheraustin

Bronze Contributor
Member For 4 Years
I use the Pico often, so if im reading this right you are getting a good first hit then nothing on the second. You dont mention a dry/harsh taste on the subsequent hit. If the wick was dry it would be very obvious it would taste burnt, acrid, and terrible. Are you letting your finger off the button before you take the second puff or holding it the entire time?

IF you are getting a dry/burnt subsequent hit and just didnt say so, you can take a pin and poke a hole in the wicking material of the coil. This helps greatly with that melo/ecr/herakles/atlantis/triton style coil.

you are 100% certain you are using a kanthal coil and not accidentally running a nickel coil in wattage mode?

Thanks for your help! I got the suntank mini that is working great with the Maxvg! I've learned now that I like Maxvg much better now and thankfully so since I have so much of it :)

I did get an atomizer short code the other day with the new suntank mini but I've learned not to screw it down so tight.

I'm happy! I found a couple of places that gives samples online for shipping costs so I've got even more juice coming. I should have what I need minus some additional coils to get me to my stopping place. Haven't smoked in over a week now!


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