I hate temp control. Am I doing something wrong?

[bluraff3]

My wife got me an istick 40 for my bday. I've tried temp control with a lemo 2, an atlantis and now the thunderstorm. With every tank I find that it either hits the temp limit way too fast to get a satisfying drag or it powers it down so much that I end up vaping what feels like 5 watts. I've turn the limit all the way up to 600 degrees - it's best at this setting, but still pretty shitty compared to regular old kanthal vaping.

I assume I'm doing something wrong or the istick just sucks. People rave about TC, but so far I really hate it.

 

[Mattp169]

Question #1
are you definitely using NI200 coils on all these tanks?

 

[Powerman]

Well maybe maybe not. I have a D2 and that's it. I don't even know if my box is really good for TC.

My mini sub tank could not go over 20w without burnt hits. The Ni coil in the crown is much better. I didn't care for warm vape. So the D2 was consistent, cool and better. But the SS coils in the Crown are even better. I turn one up to 50j and 450F. I got used to and like warm vape now. Not hot, warm. But the .5 coils in the other at 65w is just better. The TV just seems to not have the same flavor punch.

I don't know if that is coil material, limited power output in TV mode, or the coil not heating up as fast. Hard to say.

If I set my temp to 450, and it only takes 40j to get there... Then it doesn't matter if it only goes to 50j. But that is only 50w output, and I'm comparing to SS at 65w. So it might not be fair.

I have DNA200 coming. I will be able to see exactly what is going on then. Especially if the initial power spike for TC is better. And compare SS to Ni in a apples to apples trial.

 

[Powerman]

Question #1
are you definitely using NI200 coils on all these tanks?

Fair question. I wondered myself.

 

[DevAuto]

Well maybe maybe not. I have a D2 and that's it. I don't even know if my box is really good for TC.

My mini sub tank could not go over 20w without burnt hits. The Ni coil in the crown is much better. I didn't care for warm vape. So the D2 was consistent, cool and better. But the SS coils in the Crown are even better. I turn one up to 50j and 450F. I got used to and like warm vape now. Not hot, warm. But the .5 coils in the other at 65w is just better. The TV just seems to not have the same flavor punch.

I don't know if that is coil material, limited power output in TV mode, or the coil not heating up as fast. Hard to say.

If I set my temp to 450, and it only takes 40j to get there... Then it doesn't matter if it only goes to 50j. But that is only 50w output, and I'm comparing to SS at 65w. So it might not be fair.

I have DNA200 coming. I will be able to see exactly what is going on then. Especially if the initial power spike for TC is better. And compare SS to Ni in a apples to apples trial.

Hey @Powerman ... If I follow what you wrote, you are using SS coils with TC on a D2? You do know that the D2 isn't actually designed for TC with SS coils. Did I mis-read something?

 

[bluraff3]

Question #1
are you definitely using NI200 coils on all these tanks?

Definitely. Some I built myself, some premade.

 

[bluraff3]

Well maybe maybe not. I have a D2 and that's it. I don't even know if my box is really good for TC.

My mini sub tank could not go over 20w without burnt hits. The Ni coil in the crown is much better. I didn't care for warm vape. So the D2 was consistent, cool and better. But the SS coils in the Crown are even better. I turn one up to 50j and 450F. I got used to and like warm vape now. Not hot, warm. But the .5 coils in the other at 65w is just better. The TV just seems to not have the same flavor punch.

I don't know if that is coil material, limited power output in TV mode, or the coil not heating up as fast. Hard to say.

If I set my temp to 450, and it only takes 40j to get there... Then it doesn't matter if it only goes to 50j. But that is only 50w output, and I'm comparing to SS at 65w. So it might not be fair.

I have DNA200 coming. I will be able to see exactly what is going on then. Especially if the initial power spike for TC is better. And compare SS to Ni in a apples to apples trial.

I like a cool vape myself. Usually vape around 33w on the atlantis 7ml tank, so I get a dense tasty vape that's pretty cool. The istick TC forces you to go 40w in temp mode, so what comes out is a bit hotter than my usual, then it powers down really quickly and leaves me very unsatusfied.

 

[DevAuto]

My wife got me an istick 40 for my bday. I've tried temp control with a lemo 2, an atlantis and now the thunderstorm. With every tank I find that it either hits the temp limit way too fast to get a satisfying drag or it powers it down so much that I end up vaping what feels like 5 watts. I've turn the limit all the way up to 600 degrees - it's best at this setting, but still pretty shitty compared to regular old kanthal vaping.

I assume I'm doing something wrong or the istick just sucks. People rave about TC, but so far I really hate it.

FWIW, not everyone likes TC. Ni/Ti do vape a LOT differently than Kanthal. It may also be that the coils you are using just don't perform well on the iStick ... or it could be that your assessment of the iStick is correct and it sucks. I can't personally say one way or the other as I don't have one to test with.

 

[Mattp169]

Question #2 what are the ohm of your coils?

 

[bluraff3]

FWIW, not everyone likes TC. Ni/Ti do vape a LOT differently than Kanthal. It may also be that the coils you are using just don't perform well on the iStick ... or it could be that your assessment of the iStick is correct and it sucks. I can't personally say one way or the other as I don't have one to test with.

Fair enough. Curious what other's experience with the istick have gone. I'm thinking its gotta be the device because people really love it and my experience has been pretty much terrible all around.

 

[bluraff3]

Question #2 what are the ohm of your coils?

Between .1 and .25 I think (I tried a bunch of different coils). Best results were probably with the higher ohm coils.

 

[DevAuto]

It is always possible that you got a bad device. Is there a local shop that carries them in your area? Perhaps you could go try one of your tanks on a different iStick and see if the results are any different?

 

[Discobob]

The I stick TC is not a very good TC device to judge, I bought one for my lady and the temp to me is waaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyy off. I have been vaping tc for a while and I know what my builds should vape like, so if I took my rda off of my vaporshark and put it on the I stick I would have to turn my temp up to 580 to get the same vape that 450 was giving me on the vaporshark. I found that using titanium with this mod worked very well as TI on TC mode would put it back to the same vape as my other devices...if that makes sense.

It is not defective, I returned mine and got another one and same thing. I found its just not an intense TC device, for my lady its great and with a smaller tank like the EGO one tank with a single NI coil it works great, but with RDA builds it just doesn't seem to cut it for me.

Try some titanium wire, you will get better results in my opinion.

 

[f1r3b1rd]

@bluraff3 ove only used an isitick40 for a brief minute amd heres what ice gleamed....
Make sure you are using a nickel coil and taken the tank off and let them sit untouched for about 15 minutes then set it up. make sure both are at ambient temperature and don't fire it until you have it all set.
If you're using your own made coils, make sire the connections at the post are secure.
The istick 40, is not the best tc mod on the market for a host of reasons, primarily is you have very limited to no control on anything its doing. Its more of a taste of tc. Sometimes that good, sometimes not so much....tl is very finicky at first all of us that use it had a learning curve,

 

[AmandaD]

My first Istick 40 was defective and had to be replaced (it wouldn't lock in temp). The second one is fine. Be sure you're locking in the temp on a cool coil and tank otherwise you'll get a funky vape.

 

[Powerman]

Hey @Powerman ... If I follow what you wrote, you are using SS coils with TC on a D2? You do know that the D2 isn't actually designed for TC with SS coils. Did I mis-read something?

Sorry... 2 D2s, 2 Crowns. One SS in power, one nickle in TC. Can't wait to get my DNA to try SS in TC.

 

[DevAuto]

Sorry... 2 D2s, 2 Crowns. One SS in power, one nickle in TC. Can't wait to get my DNA to try SS in TC.

Yup, I did misunderstand something. Thanks for clarifying ...

 

[Myk]

With my eGo One it totally sucks with an (not very) old coil. It jumps to temperature and then gives not much. Sounds like your issue.

With my TFV4 when it got low it wasn't feeding fast enough and had similar. My next build I fixed the feed rate but had too much around the coil so it was flooding, that was similar but required turning the heat way up.

I haven't had a problem with my SubTanks except when I first tried touching coils, that will definitely cause some crazyness and can go too weak or burnt.

I like TC because it's cool and smooth the whole way through. I would think from your description of what you like that you'd like it. I suspect it's your build or wicking.
Unless of course it's like others said and the iStick TC40W isn't good.
I wouldn't give up on TC until you at least try another mod. You can always use them in regular non-TC mode.

 

[f1r3b1rd]

I've read with some of the subtanks, if youre using thick juice and it wont wick well, the pricking the coil with a pin can help

 

[yamooo]

I hate to ask this but are you locking in your resistance at room temp?

 

[bluraff3]

Wow. Lot of helpful stuff here. Thanks everybody! My coils are wicking plenty well (I'm never getting even remotely dry hits), so I don't think that's the issue. I am locking the resistance, so I don't think that's the issue either. I've tried putting the mod and atty together cold, but I'll try that again tonight just to be sure that's not my issue.

I might play with some titanium in the future. Long term I was hoping to love temp control and get a device that can TC steel. I'm thinking the istick is just not a great device. When the finances look right, I'll probably try a better device. Like it was said, if I still hate TC, o can always stick to power mode.

 

[PuffPuffPass]

If you get it right, TC is great. If you get it wrong, it simply sucks.

I can't tell you how many times I've swapped tanks and coils in the last week. And have been met with poor vapor production, or none at all. But that's all my fault, for being in a rush. I constantly swap back and forth between power and temp modes. And I'm constantly forgetting which tank has what coil.

Read through everything twice, follow the advice people are trying to give you. And you'll get a great experience.

 

[addappt]

Wow. Lot of helpful stuff here. Thanks everybody! My coils are wicking plenty well (I'm never getting even remotely dry hits), so I don't think that's the issue. I am locking the resistance, so I don't think that's the issue either. I've tried putting the mod and atty together cold, but I'll try that again tonight just to be sure that's not my issue.

I might play with some titanium in the future. Long term I was hoping to love temp control and get a device that can TC steel. I'm thinking the istick is just not a great device. When the finances look right, I'll probably try a better device. Like it was said, if I still hate TC, o can always stick to power mode.

You won't get dry hits, you'll just run out of juice in your wicks and it will be tasteless. That's the beauty of TC.

 

[The Vape Crusader]

You won't get dry hits, you'll just run out of juice in your wicks and it will be tasteless. That's the beauty of TC.

I disagree with this. You can definitely get a burnt hit from a TC coil if there's no juice in your tank. I've learned that the hard way with my Triton... accidentally vaped in "fill mode" so to speak, which means no juice was flowing to the cotton. 5-10 hits later, BLECH!

 

[addappt]

I disagree with this. You can definitely get a burnt hit from a TC coil if there's no juice in your tank. I've learned that the hard way with my Triton... accidentally vaped in "fill mode" so to speak, which means no juice was flowing to the cotton. 5-10 hits later, BLECH!

I can run dual Ti coils on my RDA until the cotton is pure white and dry without anything but flavour and Vapor loss. Just depends on what and how it's setup I guess.

 

[The Vape Crusader]

The I stick TC is not a very good TC device to judge, I bought one for my lady and the temp to me is waaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyy off. I have been vaping tc for a while and I know what my builds should vape like, so if I took my rda off of my vaporshark and put it on the I stick I would have to turn my temp up to 580 to get the same vape that 450 was giving me on the vaporshark. I found that using titanium with this mod worked very well as TI on TC mode would put it back to the same vape as my other devices...if that makes sense.

It is not defective, I returned mine and got another one and same thing. I found its just not an intense TC device, for my lady its great and with a smaller tank like the EGO one tank with a single NI coil it works great, but with RDA builds it just doesn't seem to cut it for me.

Try some titanium wire, you will get better results in my opinion.

This has been largely my experience as well with my 40w TC. It definitely has its purpose. It's very small for its power level, it's temp control, it works well with an eGo one XL, and I personally prefer the prebuilt nickel coils. I use it as a "knockaround device," something I wouldn't mind losing, traveling with, etc. But it was my first box mod... so I consider it a good cheap entry level TC mod... Yeah it can be inaccurate and weird sometimes, but it's an iStick... you knew what you were getting into .

 

[hustlaz]

I use a subtank mini with my istick 40w.

The nickel coils work fine with it - i usually have it set to about 270 degrees Celcius. That produces a decent flavour, and heaps of clouds. A lot.