Is Temperature Control a pipe dream with the Smok Alien and 316L Claptons?

[Seehad]

I've been through a few threads and noticed that some users were saying the Alien doesn't do a great job of temperature control with 316L. I'm building 26/32 AWG SS 316L Fused Claptons and there is no difference in temperature whether it's all the way down at 100C or up to 600F. My current build is .273 ohm and even at the lowest temperature, the coils will glow if I dry fire it without cotton. I'm using the RBA deck on the TFV8. I've had temp control work with titanium but never tried doing titanium claptons. I had one build with 26/40 AWG that would seem to do some actual temp control, but only every other hit or so. I did change the setting to .0092 for 316L but that made no difference.

 

[shawn.hoefer]

You don't say what box you're using. I'm running a fused SS316L clapton single in my Rose V3 on my Smok R200, and aside from a slow ramp up, it's working fine...

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[Seehad]

The mod is a Smok Alien running 1.2.2 firmware

 

[shawn.hoefer]

I'll check this build on my Alien tomorrow...

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[downInTn]

Yeah the temp control with SS hasn't worked for me either. It would seem to work for one puff then not the next or it would fluctuate wildly. I gave up on it, made going back to watt mode seem so nice. This along with paint chipping I would not buy again. Love the form factor though.

 

[Seehad]

Yeah the temp control with SS hasn't worked for me either. It would seem to work for one puff then not the next or it would fluctuate wildly. I gave up on it, made going back to watt mode seem so nice. This along with paint chipping I would not buy again. Love the form factor though.

Glad to know it's not just me. Paint has been chipping off for me as well.

 

[SirRichardRear]

it works decent for me, jsut need to set the temp higher then you normally would. I mean it's no DNA or FSK mods, but it's on par with the rest of the TC devices

 

[Seehad]

it works decent for me, jsut need to set the temp higher then you normally would. I mean it's no DNA or FSK mods, but it's on par with the rest of the TC devices

The temp makes no difference. Like downInTn, it will work once every once in a while but most of the time TC never kicks in, no matter how low or high I set it. Even at 200F, the coils will glow which is much higher than 200F.

 

[SirRichardRear]

The temp makes no difference. Like downInTn, it will work once every once in a while but most of the time TC never kicks in, no matter how low or high I set it. Even at 200F, the coils will glow which is much higher than 200F.

mine doesn't do that at all. IMO mine kicks in a bit early so I'll set the temp a bit higher then i usually do. Try reloading the firmware maybe?
Even the DJLsb tests show it works decent enough

 

[Seehad]

It did the same thing with 1.2.1 that it does in 1.2.2. I was watching a video review of this and when it was in temp mode, the cold temp when first firing it was much higher than mine. No matter how warm this thing is, it starts at 77F which is wrong.
Just popped the TFV8 on evic mini and if I select TC SS316, it reverts back to watts, so I guess there is just a poor connection on the TFV8 RBA. Guess I'll try rebuilding again and use some replacement screws on the posts.

 

[SirRichardRear]

It did the same thing with 1.2.1 that it does in 1.2.2. I was watching a video review of this and when it was in temp mode, the cold temp when first firing it was much higher than mine. No matter how warm this thing is, it starts at 77F which is wrong.
Just popped the TFV8 on evic mini and if I select TC SS316, it reverts back to watts, so I guess there is just a poor connection on the TFV8 RBA. Guess I'll try rebuilding again and use some replacement screws on the posts.

yeah sounds like your resistance is jumping so the mod is working as intended

 

[Seehad]

yeah sounds like your resistance is jumping so the mod is working as intended

Yeah, it looks like the RBA deck is bunk. I tried just some 26AWG coils in there and they still start off in temp mode, glow, then revert to watts. I dropped the same coils i was using on the TFV8 RBA into my drip atty and it's working fine on the Alien.

Guess I'll order a new RBA deck. Unless someone has a recommendation for a better RBTA that does well with fused claptons.

 

[SirRichardRear]

Yeah, it looks like the RBA deck is bunk. I tried just some 26AWG coils in there and they still start off in temp mode, glow, then revert to watts. I dropped the same coils i was using on the TFV8 RBA into my drip atty and it's working fine on the Alien.

Guess I'll order a new RBA deck. Unless someone has a recommendation for a better RBTA that does well with fused claptons.

the TFV8 one is good. also a supreme, boreas, griffin 25 +, are a few good choices

 

[Seehad]

the TFV8 one is good. also a supreme, boreas, griffin 25 +, are a few good choices

I've read the insulation is a little shady on some of the RBA decks included with the TFV8 when I was having issues showing a shorted coil. I'll just try a new deck and see if that resolves my issue.

Thanks!

 

[mjag]

They have that new goon style RBA deck for the TFV8, I like it better than the stock RBA that comes with the kit. Not sure if this is the best price, just the first one that came up from a US vendor on google, might want to check vapecrawler http://sweet-vapes.com/new/smok-tfv8-rba-16.html

Maybe it is a 510 issue with some Aliens, the SS316L performance on mine is mediocre no matter were I have my TCR set. SS304 works great though with TCR set to 105, really odd. It is actually the worst performing mod I have in SS316L TC, either it is anemic or too much, no in between. I still use it though, just with either a SS304 build or just power mode.

I have about 4 tiny paint chips on mine and I am really gentle with my mods, my fire bar has gotten a lot more clicky over time as well. I like the mod but I am glad I only got 1, no desire for another one based on how it has held up.

 

[Seehad]

They have that new goon style RBA deck for the TFV8, I like it better than the stock RBA that comes with the kit. Not sure if this is the best price, just the first one that came up from a US vendor on google, might want to check vapecrawler http://sweet-vapes.com/new/smok-tfv8-rba-16.html

Maybe it is a 510 issue with some Aliens, the SS316L performance on mine is mediocre no matter were I have my TCR set. SS304 works great though with TCR set to 105, really odd. It is actually the worst performing mod I have in SS316L TC, either it is anemic or too much, no in between. I still use it though, just with either a SS304 build or just power mode.

I have about 4 tiny paint chips on mine and I am really gentle with my mods, my fire bar has gotten a lot more clicky over time as well. I like the mod but I am glad I only got 1, no desire for another one based on how it has held up.

That goon looks perfect! I've been using the RBA with a fused clapton in wattage mode and even then was getting some short errors. One of the posts was slightly bent so I've been good the last couple days after bending it back. The default RBA doesn't make a great connection and I ordered a Pharaoh clone which looks like it will make better contact. I tried looking for SS304 but I couldn't find any 32 AWG for the outer wire.

Yeah, this thing chips a bit... I noticed a big flake off on this side so i ran my nail down it and it peeled off like it had paint thinner on it..

 

[downInTn]

Yeah the paint isn't adhering like it should. As popular as this mod is it's going to be a major issue



I'm thinking about dissembling mine to strip it and re-paint but I haven't been able to quit using it long enough to look into it.

 

[SirRichardRear]

That goon looks perfect! I've been using the RBA with a fused clapton in wattage mode and even then was getting some short errors. One of the posts was slightly bent so I've been good the last couple days after bending it back. The default RBA doesn't make a great connection and I ordered a Pharaoh clone which looks like it will make better contact. I tried looking for SS304 but I couldn't find any 32 AWG for the outer wire.

Yeah, this thing chips a bit... I noticed a big flake off on this side so i ran my nail down it and it peeled off like it had paint thinner on it..
View attachment 68380

The paint job on some of this suck. I guess I got lucky. I'd be kinda pissed if mine peeled that like that.

Also why would you order a clone of an atty that is under 30 bucks for an authentic?

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[Seehad]

It's a trial to see whether I'd like that style or not.

 

[mjag]

Wow, the paint really sucks. Mine looks like it might be going that way and that's with gentle use.

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[Eskie]

So far the paint is holding up well on mine, even knocking around in a car cup holder. I really didn't want to do it out of concern for the screen as I didn't get a protector with my mod, but it survived unscathed for several long, banging around trips

 

[Seehad]

Just wanted to update so others considering this mod for actual temp control understand how this mod performs. I got the goon rba deck for the TFV8 and the Pharaoh. I can say, without a doubt, the Alien sucks at temp control (at least with SS 316L). While the TC kicks in most of the time now, it does a terrible job of maintaining that temp. I pop the same build on the evic mini, and that mod handles it infinitely better. It's a bummer because I really like the form factor and size of the Alien, despite the bad paint job. On the plus side I found my new favorite build.. I twisted 3x28g, cut it in half and used those as the core for a fused clapton with a 40g and 6 wraps. Installed on the Pharaoh, it's dreamy.

 

[SirRichardRear]

Just wanted to update so others considering this mod for actual temp control understand how this mod performs. I got the goon rba deck for the TFV8 and the Pharaoh. I can say, without a doubt, the Alien sucks at temp control (at least with SS 316L). While the TC kicks in most of the time now, it does a terrible job of maintaining that temp. I pop the same build on the evic mini, and that mod handles it infinitely better. It's a bummer because I really like the form factor and size of the Alien, despite the bad paint job. On the plus side I found my new favorite build.. I twisted 3x28g, cut it in half and used those as the core for a fused clapton with a 40g and 6 wraps. Installed on the Pharaoh, it's dreamy.

It's decent. not great

Still, they smooth out TC in their firmware So i expect it to get better with the next update

 

[Chemdawg]

Djlsb has great reviews..
My first alien quit working before I could even update.. gunmetal paint quality was horrible. Chipped within first wk.
Had ordering issues local vape shop (small town) had store credit so finally bought the gold&black. Paint flaked off again first week... 30 days later the screen feels loose front to back. I can't even keep a mod long enough for me to figure out tc modes
So far my cheap kanger 75w has outlasted
1x wismec 2/3..and.. 2x alien 220's
Before switching to sub ohm.. i owned 1 innokin svd that lasted 3 years.

 

[gakudzu]

Djlsb has great reviews..
My first alien quit working before I could even update.. gunmetal paint quality was horrible. Chipped within first wk.
Had ordering issues local vape shop (small town) had store credit so finally bought the gold&black. Paint flaked off again first week... 30 days later the screen feels loose front to back. I can't even keep a mod long enough for me to figure out tc modes
So far my cheap kanger 75w has outlasted
1x wismec 2/3..and.. 2x alien 220's
Before switching to sub ohm.. i owned 1 innokin svd that lasted 3 years.

The Hohmwrecker G2 is about as solid as a mod gets. It also has the best non-DNA temp control on the market. I hardly use my Aliens any more since getting a G2.

 

[Chemdawg]

The Hohmwrecker G2 is about as solid as a mod gets. It also has the best non-DNA temp control on the market. I hardly use my Aliens any more since getting a G2.

I'll have to check thar out.. thanks.

 

[Chemdawg]

I bought some hohm life 18650 batteries and had to rewrap them after few weeks use.. hopefully the mods are better

 

[gakudzu]

Well battery wraps are thin plastic, and it's usually the mod and/or rough handling that tears them. The G2 is milled from a block of aluminum, so it is a bit tougher lol.

We have a thread for G2 enthusiasts:
http://vapingunderground.com/threads/hohm-wrecker-g2.191406/
It's gotten quite long, but it's a good read.