Getting frustrated with recoiling Protank heads

[chykensa]

Hi all
Just had a frustrating few days trying in vain to recoil Protank heads with .2 Kanthal and 2mm Ekowool. I get the coil (minus the top post) showing 2ohms or thereabouts, lower the volts and give it a pulse or 6 to get it glowing nicely, but when I reattach the top post the coil drops to about 0.6 ohms. Off comes the top post, try again, 2.1ohms as I was getting before, pop the top post back on, and once again showing .6ohm.
I've given up after 4 attempts and got it working with a doubled strand of 2mm silica. Works well both without and (more to the point) with the top post.
What am I doing wrong!?
The most frustrating thing of the lot is that until about 4 days ago, I was getting them to work first time, and they would last for at least a week with a fairly sweet juice. I don't bother cleaning and dry-burning, just disassemble and recoil.
Fortunately I have just checked and I have plenty of 2mm silica and some 3mm too, so I'm not stuck for supplies, just pondering what I could possibly have done wrong or different to have such a high failure rate. I'm sure it's something simple, but I buggered if I can work out what it is.
Your help and advice would be appreciated, as ever
Andy

[Di]

Could it possibly be that a part of the coil was touching the top post in some way?? Not sure if that is the answer, but if not someone will know the reason you got a low ohm reading.

[chykensa]

Di - well, I thought that might be what was happening, but really couldn't see how, I made sure the coil was well away from the sides of the base unit, and pulled it well down when replacing the grommet and bottom pin, but I can only think that the Ekowool was too thick and raising the level of the coil until the top pin touched it.
Using the 2mm silica meant that the coil was thinner, therefore keeping the coil lower and avoiding the top post.
Hmm, will be interested to see what others think!

[DiscoDes]

As Di says it sounds like the coil is shorting. Make sure it's low down in the groove. I always add a "flavour" wick on top so mine never short out.

Sent from my Nexus 7

[DiscoDes]

I just did about 30 in the last few days, no shorts.

Sent from my Nexus 7

[DiscoDes]

Easiest stuff I've found to use is the pre-wound coil. I can get about 2 ohms with about 7 turns left on the centre wick.

Sent from my Nexus 7

[Di]

Sept 29, 2013 22:50:38 GMT chykensa said:

Di - well, I thought that might be what was happening, but really couldn't see how, I made sure the coil was well away from the sides of the base unit, and pulled it well down when replacing the grommet and bottom pin, but I can only think that the Ekowool was too thick and raising the level of the coil until the top pin touched it.
Using the 2mm silica meant that the coil was thinner, therefore keeping the coil lower and avoiding the top post.
Hmm, will be interested to see what others think!

I've noticed that Ekowool can expand a bit when the juice soaks into it (only noticed this when coiling an Igo and getting dry hits, took the top off and the wick looked strangled by the coil!) Maybe that is what has happened and coil has been raised either upward or outward?? I always use a thin mixing needle when coiling now to allow for the expansion.   



But then again maybe that's just my poor eyesight   

[charon]

chykensa
Ditto all the above, I have found just using 1.5 doubled over with 5 wraps of Kanthal A1 0.2 gives me 2.1ish every time on protanks and Evods .. Also works on CE5 cleareos, but a bugger getting the wicks the right length.

[chykensa]

Thanks for the replies folks, I think I'll stick with the 2mm silica doubled for the time being. I know Super-Shiny uses 2mm Ekowool, and doesn't bother with flavour wicks, so it will be interesting to get his take on this problem too.
At least the head I made last night is still working, so I'll see how long that lasts.

[Super-Shiny]

chykensa

Few thoughts. try a new head, are the coils snug against the wick, not too tight though as Ekowool expands a bit when it has juice on it.

Once coiled push the coil down the center with your finger or something to make sure even if the Ekowool did expand a little it would not protrude above the top.

Deffo sounds like the top part is touching the coil as said above as when you put two strands on it stops.

[gapy360]

+1 to Super-Shiny suggestion, def got to be the coil touching something when the post is attached