Vertical Coil Build Help

[madvillan]

Hey guys, after watching Kanthal Kid's video on how to build a dual vertical coil, I decided to give it a try. Using 26 gauge kanthal and 6 wraps around a 2.4mm screwdriver(might be around 6/64"?), it came out to .4 ohms. I'm using a Samsung 25R 20A 18650 battery, Beacon mod, and Quicksilver RDA. It looked good when I fired it up without the top cap, but when I start to take a hit, it gets hot pretty quickly. A lot quicker compared to my regular dual micro coil builds at the same resistance. I've also noticed that the wick is very close to the top(I'll try to include pictures). Is this what is causing it to heat up so quickly? Could it be that the Quicksilver doesn't have the proper airflow for this build? Am I doing anything wrong? Any help is appreciated, thanks.

 

[madvillan]

To clarify, with my first hit, when it is warming up, it is decent. My problem is after the first hit, it gets so hot that it starts to burn my lips after a few seconds. With my regular builds,I usually take around a 4 second hit. But with this, I get burned after about 2 seconds.

 

[madmonkey]

Hi, I don't have a quicksilver but I was looking at the pics and with the cyclops slots it looks like you should have good enough airflow for a .4 build. I do have a storm V2 that I am quite fond of and it is designed specifically for vertical coils so I will see if I can help but I am no means an expert on the subject....

I have what may seem like a stupid question but I have good intentions with it...is this the first time you've built this low and is it just seeming like the top of the atty is getting hotter than normal or the whole thing?

This is my reasons for asking...from the looks of the pictures it looks like your coils are positioned about as close as they can get (they are very nice looking by the way, looks like you did an awesome job on them,) to the atty walls. This makes sense as you need the room to position the leads right to make the build work in the atty...but normally you want to try to keep the coils as close to the posts as possible without them touching the posts...this helps keep the heat centered so I can see how having them closer to the walls would heat the walls slightly faster but I don't know if it would make a noticeable difference...also...with vertical coils the vapor is different.

The wicking is different and the way the heat comes off the coil is different...I honestly don't know the exact science behind it but when i watch the vapor come off my vertical coils in my storm it seems like it is more focused into a narrow stream from the coils being turned vertical than the wider vapor stream from horizontal coils...maybe the heat is focused directly upward causing your cap to heat up...I've been playing with my Storm as I am writing this trying to work it out...it seems like the top gets slightly warmer than the bottom, but only slightly...and I use a thick stainless drip tip on it that is over an inch long so the heat doesn't really get to my lips...but even at .51 I've got it set up with a 27 gauge dual coil setup because it doesn't like thick wire it is still a very warm vape.

I don't know if this helps at all but I wanted to try. Good luck...maybe try building a 28 gauge build and see if a slightly smaller wire helps keep the heat down?

 

[madvillan]

lol thanks for the complement. I only recently started building, just before Christmas, so its nice to know someone else thinks they at least look good.
So after my first post I decided to take it apart and just go with my regular coil build... but the same thing happened. It heated up fairly quickly. Then I read your post and took a look at my coils, and they were pretty close to my atty walls. I pushed them closer towards the posts like you suggested and it fixed the problem!
Also, no its not the first time I've built this low. Its the third time lol. Started with .8 then kept going lower. Just last week was my first time going down to about .3-.4. The first 2 times with this resistance it would only heat up after chain vaping, which I heard was common. I build new coils every 3-4 days or so just to practice. I guess I set those coils up closer to the posts. Next time I try to go vertical I'll try to make them as close to the posts as possible. I think that should help. But how should I wick it? The way I did it, having the wick going over the centre post screw, it seems like its only a mm or two away from the bottom of the drip tip. Is it ok for it to be like that?
And I know this is off topic but, when should I charge my batteries? I can't find any definitive answer online. I usually charge when I notice a drop in performance. When I put in the charger, it usually read around 3.7V-3.9V. Will it ruin the battery life or anything if I'm charging them around 4V or anything higher? A few times I've charged a battery when its just over 4V just for the sake of having a full charge. Should I avoid this?

Sorry if I am asking too many questions. I've been vaping VV/VW mods with regular tanks for about 9 months, but just started with mech mods and building, and I'm loving it so far!

 

[madmonkey]

Don't apologize....I would happily sit here all night without sleep answering questions I have the right answers too or directing you to someone who does than have something go wrong for you and have a tragic thread to respond to instead...I am more than happy to answer...it's my way of trying to PIF by helping as many new vapors as I can and passing on what I've learned like those that helped me. There is a lot of little things to learn and pay attention to rebuilding. It's good to ask these things

I used to rebuild every time I needed to rewick but with work being way busier than normal I've gotten lazy...I set aside one weekend a month and just tear into all my builds, I rewick as needed but usually Saturday night since my social life disappeared has become "Mod Envy and coil winding" night to redo the ones that can't wait like my ADV kayfun.

It's good you started with higher resistance builds and worked your way down...there is a bigger safety margin with the higher builds, even if they short the short will pull less amps and give your more wiggle room to safely take care of your freaked out battery. Safety above all else is key. Charging your batteries before they are completely drained is actually good for them...they will last longer if you only run them down partway and recharge them as you are stressing them less by only partially discharging them....that drop in performance is pretty much when all of us change them...that's why super sub ohming all day'ers go threw a shit ton of batteries....if we actually used them to their "rated" capacity most of your vaping experience would be horrible.

As for wicking...the "horseshoe wick" going over the centerpost is fine....it's a really easy wick to drip on and the only way it would be a problem is if it obstructs airflow...it can be close to the hole but as long as it's not blocking it you're ok. I love vertical coils but my Storm I mentioned is a bitch for my fat fingered hands to wick. The only way I can do it with is tweezers but the storm has a reduced conical top cap that the center post almost sticks out of so I do two separate wicks for the best airflow but i've seen them wicked both ways. It all comes down to wicking preference.

I am glad I could help you and it was an "easy fix" type solve...anything else please ask...everyone's very friendly and helpful here. If I can't answer it someone will be able to help you get sorted out. Happy Vaping!

 

[madmonkey]

bty...I don't know if anyone else has but I'd like to welcome you to "The Underground"....the best and most friendliest vaping forum on the web. I think you'll love it here....there's ton's of good stuff and friendly people here to help your vaping journey out. Kick back, put your feet up and stay a bit...you'll enjoy the entertainment.

 

[madvillan]

Thanks a lot for all the info and warm welcome. Really appreciate it. Been looking for a good forum to join and looks like I've found one!