So frustrated

[tatty29]

Iv had this issue a couple of months now and I'm at the point of really thinking about giving up. Iv been vaping 2 years and about 4 months ago upgraded to a sub tank mini and Istick 50w ( I now have two). I started building on the RBA and all was fine then all of a sudden my coils started distorting and melting. some of you may remember my posts on here and I got some great tips and advice Whitch seemed to sort it so I got a second sub tank. All was good for a while but low and behold its started again with both tanks. At the moment I'm using the occ heads which I'm not a fan of. I even took them to my local vape shop for advice and for some one to take a look. I was told there was nothing wrong with my builds and the decks looked to be fine. Was suggested I try a different kanthal which I did and also guy at shop built me a new coil which worked fine ( ocashnaly they do) needed to rebuild again today and now well it's all just a mess. First time the ohm meter read 47.6 and that shocked the life out of me. So I kept trying and through 6 coils they ranged from 7 ohm thro to 32. After that my ohm reader gave up and either read 0.00 or -.-- I tried both readers just to make sure my new ones not playing up and they both read the same. I'm at a total loss because apparently I'm doing nothing wrong. If it was just one tank I could understand it and figure it out but it's both and I'm at a total loss.


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[Huckleberried]

Can you tell us what you're using and maybe post a pic?

Moving this to coils for some assistance.

 

[tatty29]

I'm using a1 kanthal
26g or some times 24g
3mm coil.
5 wraps

Mainly wrapping on an imitation kuro coiler but have tried wrapping round a screw driver.

I have switched wires a couple of times and tried closed coils and spaced coils ( as some one said I may be slightly overlapping them).

The most recent coil was one that came with the subtank. That won't read at all on either of my ohm readers but on the Istick it reads 1ohm when it's meant to be 0.5.

I'm currently using a friends diy eliquid. Could this have an effect on the deck at all?

The pre coiled occ head I have in at the moment doesn't read on the ohm meter but is at 0.6 on my Istick.
Will post a pic as soon as I can. At work at the moment.

Thanks for moving to the correct location Huckleberried


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[tatty29]

Neither of these coils would read on the ohm reader.

Picture 1. Coil from subtank box ( I fired this up later and also ended up like last picture).

Picture 2. Reading from sub tank coil.

Picture 3. My coil.

Picture 4. My coil from the side.

Picture 5. My coil reading.

Picture 6. What happens when I fire up any coil.

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[sychosis]

I agree , I am a industrial electrician an it sounds like a dead short, ( the opposing positive and negative touching or loosing insulator strength ) I would think by melting coils you have a dead short issue I agree with Jim , check your insulator the plastic and rubber ones on the machine , it may also be a good idea to pick up a 510 thread volt meter to check your mod output , the same issue on 2 differant tanks leads me to think you may have a differant issue you are not seeing , maybe voltage issues with your mod . Douglas you have a regular dripper you use on either of your mods , if so how does it act ?

 

[Discobob]

Didn't the kanger have some sort of insulator issue that they were replacing for free??? Thought I came across a thread about it can't remember....

Lemme see if I can find it.

 

[Deeks]

Didn't the kanger have some sort of insulator issue that they were replacing for free??? Thought I came across a thread about it can't remember....

Lemme see if I can find it.

Something about the original insulators melting so Kangertech was preplacing them for free or something along those lines. I don't know if it was causing dead shorts or not but I'm sure the smell and taste of a fried insulator wasn't pleasant.. yucks.

 

[Neunerball]

The newer Kanger Subtanks have the new insulation already.

To the OP, I have to agree, there seems to be a shortage somewhere.

 

[tatty29]

Thanks guys. I will check this all out as I'm at my whits end.

The insulater is that the band around the post that goes into the air flow?

I don't have a dripper just my two sub tanks as I wasn't willing to go any further till I have sorted this issue out and can be confidant in what I'm doing and my equipment. I have a 510 thread adapter I can use on the ohm reader so I'll also check that.

No one find any thing wrong with my coil in the pictures then?

Thank you all for the advice much apreciated


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[Neunerball]

Regarding picture 6. Once you get the Ohm reader to read the resistance of your coil, you can put it on the mod. However, reduce the power to 15W and pulse the fire button to slowly heat up the coil. After each pulse, squeeze the coils with your tweezers a bit. When the coil (not the legs) starts glowing from the center out, you're ready to wick the coil.

 

[Nitrowolf72]

Kanger was giving out free peek insulators for the original subtanks because of shorting issues. Not sure if you can still get them but it may be worth a try.

 

[tatty29]

Neunerball. That is usherly what I do with my coils befor wicking and that coil in picture I literally hand my finger on the button for less then a 1/2 second. I don't even get a chance to use my ceramic tweezers. I have two ohm readers and each step I check the resistance. I don't wanna take any chances.

Nitro wolf. I will defiantly try that. Although I'm thinking goin to the shop as it be much quicker and I'm just not getting on with the occ heads at all. I would have gone today if I didn't have to wait in for the plumber. I'm just hoping I can get em.


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[Neunerball]

Are you tighten down the screws with the same force? The reason for asking is, when you tighten a screw too much, squeezing the wire, you create a resistance, which can lead to a heat build up at that connection. You want to tighten just enough, so the wire can't move, and of course evenly force on both screws.

 

[tatty29]

I usherly tighten them both quiet a bit. I'll try letting up n see if that makes a difference.
The insulator is that the coloured band round the post that goes into the air flow? I ask because one of mine doesn't have it at all and I'm wondering if that's what people are talking about. If it's unsafe I'll put em out the way till I can get some.


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[tatty29]

Hi Jim. Thanks for the info. I'm going to take it into the vape shop and ask them to fully take it apart and have a look as I'm not sure what I'm doing and I'm getting a little confused. Also he took a look befor and told me there was a part missing but didn't think it was an issue so I'm going to also see if I can get that fixed so I know every thing is 100%. I tried looking up the insulator on the net and found three different ones. One on the deck under a post one one on the underside which inserts into the airflow ( which is the one that was pointed out as missing ) and one also around the pin. Rather then do any thing and make it more dangerous I would rather have some one take a look.
I will let every one know what happens.


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[tatty29]

Hi Jim. I went and saw some one else at same shop as other guy wasn't there. She said that the insulator I'm missing is most likely the cause ( so the bloke I saw last time was wrong and could have done me some real damage with his advice) as the occ heads work fine each and every time. Unfortunately they don't stock parts ( and I'm surprised at how few vape shops there are that deal in just vape equipment in London this is my nearest and the next one after that is nearly 20 miles away) but she did say maybe the ones on the occ heads would fit it and if not to look online but she's not sure I can get replacement ones. With out it the RBA deck is completly shot.

I also have two different models of the subtank. I have both a 1 and a 2 and now I have changed my wire the model 2 has had two successful coils with no problems so I'm hoping that's over with that one.

I know I said I didn't want to get into any thing else till I had sorted this issue out but they didn't have any other rebuild able tanks ( the company is prepairing to move to a new premises and not bringing in as much stock till new shop is open and I'm going away for a fortnight) so after much debating and conversation with both women in the shop I got a dripper as its not my coils I should do ok with this and it will give me much better building options ( which I have been wanting to do for a good while and why I got the subtank in first place as there were options for both building and pre built coils).

So my strategy at the moment is to find that missing insulator on the net and in the mean time use one sub tank with the RBA and one with the occ coils whilst I'm out of the house and when I'm home to use the dripper and master building different coils.

Sorry for the long rambling message but I think I got every in there that happened. And I will keep you posted.


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[tatty29]

Well let's hope it is. She said it's more then likely that's what it is. Wud be nice tho if that's it. As for the model 2 I'm hoping that's ok but it's only been two coils so I'll give it a few more befor I will defiantly relax about it . I sticks are both fine but if I get on with the dripper I'll prob be upgrading both my battery's for some thing better but for now I'll be happy with what I have especially as money is tight. Yeah I have seen the decks sold separately I think they £7 although I'm not really confidant with buying on the net as Iv had some really crappy stuff. Just need to know now we're to get my kanthal from as the shop here is charging me £1 a meter and that's expensive but then I'll be raring to get building properly.


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[tatty29]

VAT here has been 20% for couple of years now. I tried eBay and 10m for £3 but it's not good so I tried a different seller 100m £10 but I'm not sure if that's ok at min although it comes from a speciality company. The shop quoted me £7 for 10m.
I'm hoping to be able to build some of the more complicated multi wire build eventually although I won't prob go below .3 as any thing lower scares me a little but I don't see that as a bad thing. I currently have my dripper on a simple duel coil at 0.6 and I'm def seeing a flavour improvement on the dripper verses my subtank which I'm enjoying emensly. I would like to be able to blow sum big clouds. Not as an every day thing but just ocashnaly when I fancy it.


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[tatty29]

I can see the attraction of clouds and I like the idea but having a lil one I'm not willing to fog out the house with her around. Iv found even when using my subtank out and about I get stares because of the amount of vape It produces. It's not excessive or any thing ( or to me it's not) but it's more then the pen style throw out and that's what most people are used to seeing.
I'm caught between the two really because I like the clouds but I also like flavour. To be honest for me it's about having the options to suit my mood. Befor I upgraded and had the pen style there were really not many options except for what flavour and nic strength I wanted but now I have all the options open to me I want to explore them all.


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[Jasonfox1988]

All about the flavour brooo


happy vaping

 

[tatty29]

Few weeks ago extreamilly stressful situation my battery died on me an was horrified I didn't put my spare in my bag I went and brought some fags and taking a toke on it the first thing I thought was taste yuck lungs wow not pleasant and completly different sensation and same as you defanantly not any were near enough smoke. It's prompted me to never have another cig again.
I sapose you could be right although I don't think any one could mistake me for having a cigar. I'm not discreet with my vaping set up and just often get looks of disgust.
I vape a friends diy liquid at moment which I do pay him for at what is a good price if I brought out a shop or web site but have just got feed up of the almost flavourless taste after a couple of hours with each one in my tanks. So was looking at vg e liquids and amazed me at the prices but whilst looking I came across some sites for making diy liquid so that's possibly another avenue I may take as it seems like it could be much cheaper and I'll get the flavours I want hopefully lol.


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[Jasonfox1988]

I loose taste of a flavour after a wile i think thats due to ya taste buds geeting to know that flavour thats why i change almost daily lol

 

[Pax]

I have had 2 problems with my RBA on my Subtank Plus. The first was that the insulator assembly was not seated properly as a result of the center connection screw not fully tightened. The other was the coil (Kanger's .5 pre wound) looked fine but the screws were slightly loose. Now that I have made it a habit to check these things every time I rewick and I have had no issues. What I have had issue with is the OCC Ni coils. I think I may have gotten a bad batch. Will soon start to wind my own as the RBA is, in my opinion, that way to go. I would agree with others who have said that it can be the Mod, as it is a system and anyone of the components can play a role.

 

[tatty29]

Yeah Iv read else were its because you get used to the flavours. When I read this I started switching between flavours every couple of hours. I think some of it is down to how much flavouring he's using because some times they are fine but others it doesn't even take a few hours. This is why I want to diy cuz then I can have as many flavours as I want and be able to change em as often as I want. Hopefully that will help.

Pax. It sounds like you have sorted it. I'm glad you found the solutions. I agree that when the subtanks work they can be great. I need to get replacement parts for mine but still hope to use them even though I have just brought my first dripper out of desperation to not go back to the stinkies. I originally brought my subtanks for it gave me options to build and be lazy with the occ coils.



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[tatty29]

Just a little update on my subtank mini issues.
The one that was the worst out of the two I'm thinking of giving up on as now when I put the occ coils in they are reading off the charts but previously they whew fine.This is now leading me to think it's posibly some thing to do with the air flow section that is the problem as well as the RBA section. I have taken it all apart to find nothing obvious wrong.


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