Coil Trouble?? Burning Out Fast! Please Help!

[soulsearcher921]

Hey everyone! I'm new here because I recently just bought my first box mod and I'm having some trouble with it.

So I got the Smok R80 TC just the other day (the bundle kit) from my local vendor and I FREAKIN' LOVE IT!!! There's a problem though that's really bumming me out... the damn coils!!

I used the first coil that was pre-installed into my vape. It was a Micro CLP2 0.3 ohm coil. By my mistake, and out of my ignorance for box vapes, (not to mention my overwhelming excitement) I loaded the atomizer up with juice and starting firing away. IT WAS AWESOME AS CRAP!! I started off around 40 watts, switched around to 50, 60, and back down to 30. The coil lasted a little less than a day before I started tasting this nasty burnt taste. (I put that coil back into my vape this morning, and I was only able to take about 2 or 3 good hits before the burnt taste came back, so I'm assuming I ruined it beyond repair.)

So after I figured I'd burnt out the coil somehow, I switched to the backup coil they gave me, a Micro STC2 0.25 ohm. I was nervous about it burning out...and within an hour, my worries had come true...it did! And even quicker than the last coil! I usually start off on 40 watts...which is on the low side for these kinds of coils, or at least that's what they say. I don't "choo-choo train hit it", just straight inhales, so I don't think the way I'm hitting it is the problem. I do tend to chain vape sometimes, so maybe I just used it too much? I find that hard to believe because the drags I take aren't very long and I usually take 5-10 hits max in a row before setting it down.

I know I'm a newbie when it comes to these kinds of vapes, as I've been smoking the eGo One vape pen for a while and I figured I needed a serious upgrade. Can somebody please tell me what I'm doing wrong? The wattage range for the 0.3 and 0.25 coils say 30-60, and now when I try to vape with them I can only use about 17 watts and I STILL get the burnt taste...I guess I'll have to pitch them....

 I do vape with high VG a good bit of the time, but my eGo One was able to withstand all of it...it makes me sad to think that's what I'll have to resort back to! :/ I also heard letting them "pre-juice" before I start vaping? Can somebody explain that process to me? Or as a matter of fact, can someone explain ANY other kinds of procedures I can do to prevent my coils from burning out so quickly? I will be really bummed if I just wasted a good chunk of my money on this...and I'll also be super bummed if I'm forced to vape on less than 30 wattage...I'll get better clouds and flavor on my eGo One.

So yeah, don't laugh, I know I'm new to this stuff. I don't know if it's me doing something wrong, faulty coils, the atomizer, or the tank itself...but I'm going to take a wild guess that it was me. If someone can give me some advice for the next time I'm able to purchase some new coils, that would be fantastic.

Thank you guys for your help!

[Tam]

Pre-juice is what we call "priming" a coil. To prime, all you have to do is to put some e-liquid onto the wick of your coil before putting it into your tank. Then, once you have it in your tank full of juice, let it sit for a few minutes (I prefer to let it sit for at least 5 minutes or more). This will let the wick get thoroughly soaked in the liquid so you don't get a dry hit and burn up your coil.

As for how much power to use, start low -- I would go with 10W and vape. If it's not doing it for you, bump it up a little, vape. Repeat in small increments until you get the vape that works for you. There is also a breaking in period on some coils so once you get the vape you want, vape on it a little until it gets broken in properly.

One more thing -- on your tank -- if you're using a high VG liquid, make sure to open up the airflow. If it's not betting enough air, you run the risk of getting dry hits.

Good luck and welcome to Vapor Talk.   

Edited March 31, 2016 by Tam
Posting before finishing the first cup of coffee is never a good idea.

[soulsearcher921]

26 minutes ago, Tam said:

Pre-juice is what we call "priming" a coil. To prime, all you have to do is to put some e-liquid onto the wick of your coil before putting it into your tank. Then, once you have it in your tank full of juice, let it sit for a few minutes (I prefer to let it sit for at least 5 minutes or more). This will let the juice get thoroughly soaked in the liquid so you don't get a dry hit and burn up your coil.

As for how much power to use, start low -- I would go with 10W and vape. If it's not doing it for you, bump it up a little, vape. Repeat in small increments until you get the vape that works for you. There is also a breaking in period on some coils so once you get the vape you want, vape on it a little until it gets broken in properly.

One more thing -- on your tank -- if you're using a high VG liquid, make sure to open up the airflow. If it's not betting enough air, you run the risk of getting dry hits.

Good luck and welcome to Vapor Talk.   

Thanks a bunch for the info, I really appreciate it!  If you don't mind, I do have a couple more questions...

So when breaking in a new coil, could you elaborate a little more on how much I should smoke it before bumping the wattage up? Like roughly, how many hits before I'm able to increase, and how much should I increase by? I'm scared of burning up a coil again...

Also, when I go to order my new coils, do you recommend a certain type for the Smok R80 TC? The CLP2 0.3 or the STC2 0.25? Not sure if you have had experience with this type of model, but I figured I'd ask just to be safe! Thanks again!

 

 

Edited March 31, 2016 by soulsearcher921

[FXRich]

I personally don't use coils below .5 ohms, so can't give you any advice on what wattage to use on those coils you listed. I do know that the lower the resistance is, the faster a coil will heat up so the longer you keep the button pressed the hotter the coil will get, unless you use TC which will limit the wattage after the initial high wattage surge. You also may have a wicking problem, personally I prefer a 30 PG 70 VG ratio, but that's me, everyone has their own preferences, some coils have the cotton packed so tight that they have a wicking problem with high VG juices. Also like Tam stated airflow is very important, and with low ohm coils you need lots of airflow over the coil to help cool it.

[Bebop]

If you're going to use premade coils at that low of resistance you better plan on buying coils frequently.  You just aren't going to get much life out of them until you get to the point where you are building them yourself and rewicking them.  That's the trade off with hi watt coils.  

 

The factors that contribute to coil life are proper air flow and the type and content of your juice.  Some juices are coil wreckers. Particularly dark sweet juices.  Without enough airflow the juice just cooks on the coil shortening it's life.  These hi watt premade coils are a bit of a scam. They're fantastic for a day or so and then they're gone.  

 

The saving grace is using a tank that lets you rebuild/rewick for pennies on the dollar.  Not only can you build a better coil that will last longer but you can clean and rewick pretty successfully that'll stretch a coil out for weeks.

[Tam]

12 hours ago, soulsearcher921 said:

Thanks a bunch for the info, I really appreciate it!  If you don't mind, I do have a couple more questions...

So when breaking in a new coil, could you elaborate a little more on how much I should smoke it before bumping the wattage up? Like roughly, how many hits before I'm able to increase, and how much should I increase by? I'm scared of burning up a coil again...

Also, when I go to order my new coils, do you recommend a certain type for the Smok R80 TC? The CLP2 0.3 or the STC2 0.25? Not sure if you have had experience with this type of model, but I figured I'd ask just to be safe! Thanks again!

Personally, I'd vape (not smoke) it two to three times. If it's not doing it for you, bump it up around 0.3 - 0.5W then vape again. Once you get that harsh vape/dry hit/harsh throat hit, then back it down a few watts and that should be the sweet spot for that coil and juice combination.

Sorry, I can give you general information but I'm not familiar with your particular tank/mod.