microcoil hell

[ionian]

Well, from memory, if it's a short it can only be where the wire is touching something, so a quick checklist:

Do you have any wire sticking out of the base, where you've cut it? It might be tiny but needs to be close cropped, the wiggle method is best for this.

Are the wire legs twisted and touching each other?

Is the coil too high or too low in the unit?

Is the coil to wide, or not central in the unit, and touching the side?


I can't think of any other place that could cause a sort, anyone else?

[Roscopecotrain]

Jan 19, 2014 12:16:39 GMT ionian said:

Well, from memory, if it's a short it can only be where the wire is touching something, so a quick checklist:

Do you have any wire sticking out of the base, where you've cut it? It might be tiny but needs to be close cropped, the wiggle method is best for this.

Are the wire legs twisted and touching each other?

Is the coil too high or too low in the unit?

Is the coil to wide, or not central in the unit, and touching the side?


I can't think of any other place that could cause a sort, anyone else?

Agree with that. I used to cut the wires and that caused a short. Wiggle it and it works a treat.

I tend to use a 1mm screwdriver for my protanks as i can squeeze more wraps in then.

Sent from my Galaxy Note 2

[Deleted]

Jan 19, 2014 11:55:53 GMT fisher said:

Jan 19, 2014 11:50:48 GMT @freefromsmoking said:

Just as an aside fisher you don't need to use your camping stove or indeed any sort of torch .... once you have wrapped your coil tightly around a drill bit, mount it in your base and check that all is well resistance-wise ... Then pulse the coil until it is red hot, release the power switch and squeeze the coil with tweezers while it is still hot ... repeat the pulse and squeeze operation a few times and Bob's your mum's brother.

 I was worried wouldn't get the tweezers in place before it cooled too much

Mod in left hand, tweezers at the ready and in close proximity in right hand and there will be sufficient heat in the coil to position the tweezers and squeeze  ...  just remember to release the power switch before you position the tweezers 

[fisher]

Jan 19, 2014 12:27:06 GMT @freefromsmoking said:

Jan 19, 2014 11:55:53 GMT fisher said:

 I was worried wouldn't get the tweezers in place before it cooled too much

Mod in left hand, tweezers at the ready and in close proximity in right hand and there will be sufficient heat in the coil to position the tweezers and squeeze  ...  just remember to release the power switch before you position the tweezers 

  I ripped it out, redid, had similar problem. It looks like a fraction of wire still sticking from the base, despite the wriggling method, so used the clippers and got it neat ( I think) ohms higher than I wanted, but at least it is working. Leaving to soak a little before I try vaping from it. I expect it will now leak

[ionian]

Jan 19, 2014 12:31:22 GMT fisher said:

Jan 19, 2014 12:27:06 GMT @freefromsmoking said:

Mod in left hand, tweezers at the ready and in close proximity in right hand and there will be sufficient heat in the coil to position the tweezers and squeeze  ...  just remember to release the power switch before you position the tweezers 

  I ripped it out, redid, had similar problem. It looks like a fraction of wire still sticking from the base, despite the wriggling method, so used the clippers and got it neat ( I think) ohms higher than I wanted, but at least it is working. Leaving to soak a little before I try vaping from it. I expect it will now leak

Positive thoughts fisher! Great that you've got it working, and the cotton expands so shoul block any leaks. Just keep it upright.

if all else fails, use the ionian method - sell all your Kanger bcc's in a fit of rage and buy kayfun style attys instead

[Greg]

I would say its defo your poor wiggling. When I first starting microcoiling evods I had no issues using snips to trim the coil wires but when I moved to protanks I was always getting a short, a head that was fine in an Evod would short in a protank. I assume the tolerances must be a little tighter in protanks. Once you ready to trim the coil leads hold the head top and bottom between thumb and index finger a squeezes a little just to compress the rubber grommet a fraction then wiggle each wire until it breaks then release pressure. Never had another shorton a protank since using this method

[fisher]

Thanks for all your help everyone. It isn't leaking yet, so...

[robby]

Jan 19, 2014 11:50:48 GMT @freefromsmoking said:

Just as an aside fisher you don't need to use your camping stove or indeed any sort of torch .... once you have wrapped your coil tightly around a drill bit, mount it in your base and check that all is well resistance-wise ... Then pulse the coil until it is red hot, release the power switch and squeeze the coil with tweezers while it is still hot ... repeat the pulse and squeeze operation a few times and Bob's your mum's brother.

I totally deny that scandalous accusation in the last line!!!!

[Deleted]

Jan 19, 2014 15:23:23 GMT robby said:

Jan 19, 2014 11:50:48 GMT @freefromsmoking said:

Just as an aside fisher you don't need to use your camping stove or indeed any sort of torch .... once you have wrapped your coil tightly around a drill bit, mount it in your base and check that all is well resistance-wise ... Then pulse the coil until it is red hot, release the power switch and squeeze the coil with tweezers while it is still hot ... repeat the pulse and squeeze operation a few times and Bob's your mum's brother.

I totally deny that scandalous accusation in the last line!!!!

[chykensa]

Jan 19, 2014 12:41:28 GMT Greg said:

I would say its defo your poor wiggling. When I first starting microcoiling evods I had no issues using snips to trim the coil wires but when I moved to protanks I was always getting a short, a head that was fine in an Evod would short in a protank. I assume the tolerances must be a little tighter in protanks. Once you ready to trim the coil leads hold the head top and bottom between thumb and index finger a squeezes a little just to compress the rubber grommet a fraction then wiggle each wire until it breaks then release pressure. Never had another short on a protank since using this method

I've had an identical experience in the past, and now use the wiggle method too. No more shorts or low ohm readings since!

[Deleted]

I would rather wiggle than face the snip any day

[ionian]

[fisher]

Now waiting for my fogger v3 clone and steam turbine genesis clone to arrive, then I can panic again over failures!

[ionian]

Jan 19, 2014 20:10:59 GMT fisher said:

Now waiting for my fogger v3 clone and steam turbine genesis clone to arrive, then I can panic again over failures!

I've not tried a genny, but the fogger is exactly the same sort of mc/cw build as the protank, it's just a bit more fiddly to install, and you must remember to wrap your coils the right way (back to front). Keep practicing and it'll be a doddle when it arrives, promise

[fisher]

Aha, another Kent member, if I get in too much trouble I may make a house visit