Power fluctuating- time for a deep clean I think.

Hello everyone.

Tuesday last week, I received a new mech and RDA, A Wotofo phantom and Lush RDA. I put in a dual coil, SS build, which upon settling seems to be around 0.25 Ohms.

I usually vape regulated, but have been so impressed with this I have mainly used this mod alone since I got it.

The thing is, since yesterday I have noticed when I fire, during each hit I can kind of feel the power increasing/ decreasing slightly if I move the button around. This did not happen before. I have checked the RDA on an Ohm meter and a regulated mod to ensure it is OK, and all is fine there.

I have simply been giving the contacts a wipe with a damp cloth, as they are Rhodium plated, but think it may be time to give the mod a more thorough clean to get its performance back to new again.

Now, I have heard in the past that things such as Ketchup are good, but I just wondered what is best to use. I was thinking a toothbrush and simple soap and water, but want to check what is best before I go ahead.

The mod actually performs better than my other mechs, including some Hybrids, but I do recall these working better as well when new. I ideally need to give them all a thorough clean to get them performing at their best, as I am really enjoying going mechanical at the moment.
There is no visual build up of grime on the mod, or its threads or contacts, but I do know mechs need regular cleaning and maintenance to work their best.

I may of asked this in the past, I do have memory problems though so apologise if I have. Also, thanks to everyone here that helps me out with my questions.

conanthewarrior said:

...Now, I have heard in the past that things such as Ketchup are good, but I just wondered what is best to use. I was thinking a toothbrush and simple soap and water, but want to check what is best before I go ahead...

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I'd use the Ketchup only on copper, in order to get rid of the patina on the outside of the mod. For contacts, I'd rather use a q-tip w/ some alcohol. For stubborn spots, I'd use some extra, extra,...fine sanding paper, or one of those rubber eraser for ink, that has some fine sand in it.

I'd start with a NEW battery and being 1000% sure ALL the contacts are tight and clean. MOD AND ATTY. Especially the switch. Is switch magnetic or spring? This sounds like a dirty switch or weak contact in the switch. If not loose contact in the atty.

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Sounds like a dirty contact on the switch. An ink eraser should do the trick without scratching anything.

Thank you all for your replies.

The parts that are bare copper actually still look very clean, still as if the mod was new out of the box. The outside of the mod is coated with white paint, so it is only really the threads I can clean, and the contacts at the switch and the top of the mod.

I am using brand new batteries for the mod- I ordered 2 new LG HE4's to use with it exclusively. Whenever I buy a new mod, I usually buy some new batteries, so do have a lot of batteries, some a lot newer than others. However this mod has only been using the brand new ones.

It is a spring loaded switch. It came with a very stiff spring, and also a softer spring. I changed to the soft spring as the hard one was very stiff, I really needed to use both hands to use the mod, or kind of hold it like a claw to be able to fire.

I will try giving an eraser a go on the switch, and also the top contact too. Everything is fitting together nicely, and not loose so it must just be a simple clean for the contacts. I will give this a go soon and update how it goes .

Thank you all for your help and advice, I used a eraser to clean both the bottom fire button contact, and also the top positive contact, and it is now hitting consistently again.

It wasn't a huge difference before, but it was enough to notice when you pressed a certain way it was a bit more powerful. Now however I press it is working well, and like brand new again.

How often do you personally clean your mechs? And how often do you give them a more thorough, deep cleaning? As I haven't used mechs that often before, this is the longest I have used a mech mod for actually without a break. I did go regulated yesterday, but this was because I went to London for the day and it was more convenient.

As I am enjoying using mechs at the moment a lot more than previously, I can see myself continuing to do so, so a average scale for cleaning would be handy.

Thanks again, Conan.

How often do I deep clean my mech? Externally never... it's brass and I want it to be patina ed and to an extent corroded looking....... internally. The contacts and threads get cleaned every time they are exposed. Basically the electrically important spots are KEPT cleaner than the day it arrived. Fwiw the dirt that get you is that dirt you can not see without complete disassembly of the mod.



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HondaDavidson said:

How often do I deep clean my mech? Externally never... it's brass and I want it to be patina ed and to an extent corroded looking....... internally. The contacts and threads get cleaned every time they are exposed. Basically the electrically important spots are KEPT cleaner than the day it arrived. Fwiw the dirt that get you is that dirt you can not see without complete disassembly of the mod.



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Ok, that is fair enough. So do you clean at each battery change? I guess it is different for each user and I need to find my own happy medium for cleaning my mechs.

Most of them have only got light use, then might be used every now and then. It is only since I got the latest I have really enjoyed going unregulated. The eraser on the contacts seems to have got it performing like new again, which I am very happy about .

Pretty much yeah we all find our happy medium..... Form and Function. The parts of my mod that are involved with make my my work to it fullest SAFELY....., I keep spotless.. I wipe down the INTERNAL parts of the mod any time I open it.. Just like it clean the 510 connections everytime I remove an atty. I have 3 mechs and a regulated mod. A plastic squonker Smokeless Owl, Aluminum Squonker cReo and a Brass Origin Mechanical. The squokers get a soap and watter bath about once a month or so. Both have cooper contacts and juice tanks so I have to clean them more.

On the brass mech, which is all brass except for the SS topcap and 510 threads. I do wipe down the outside and occasionally will even rinse it off. I just dont worry about stains scratches dents and tarnish ect. Now the threads and contact points, get polished any time that day 1 golden shine fades. And get thoughly cleaned anytime I can see them.

I take an eraser to my batteries terminals as well as my button connection on my Noisy Cricket every battery change. About every three days I take a light wire brush and a couple squirts of Deoxit red to every bit of threading, as well as my connections and battery terminals. The Deoxit really helps things from gunking up as fast, but since I've been cleaning my mech's more frequently I've come to notice the performance drop when it's dirty. Plus I like playing with my toys.
Eraser, old tooth brush, wire brush, Deoxit/Noalox and you should be perfect.

plastic-ashtray said:

I take an eraser to my batteries terminals as well as my button connection on my Noisy Cricket every battery change. About every three days I take a light wire brush and a couple squirts of Deoxit red to every bit of threading, as well as my connections and battery terminals. The Deoxit really helps things from gunking up as fast, but since I've been cleaning my mech's more frequently I've come to notice the performance drop when it's dirty. Plus I like playing with my toys.
Eraser, old tooth brush, wire brush, Deoxit/Noalox and you should be perfect.

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I have found on my noisy crickets just a plain terrycloth dry rag scrub on the threads keeps it clean. Every battery change. Way better than q-tips. Even qtips with alcohol. And quick, easy, and no mess. No visible residue at all. Can definitely tell when you need a cleaning by the way it hits.

conanthewarrior said:

Thank you all for your help and advice, I used a eraser to clean both the bottom fire button contact, and also the top positive contact, and it is now hitting consistently again.

It wasn't a huge difference before, but it was enough to notice when you pressed a certain way it was a bit more powerful. Now however I press it is working well, and like brand new again.

How often do you personally clean your mechs? And how often do you give them a more thorough, deep cleaning? As I haven't used mechs that often before, this is the longest I have used a mech mod for actually without a break. I did go regulated yesterday, but this was because I went to London for the day and it was more convenient.

As I am enjoying using mechs at the moment a lot more than previously, I can see myself continuing to do so, so a average scale for cleaning would be handy.

Thanks again, Conan.

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I clean the contacts before use once a week and use an ultrasonic cleaner with hot water and a half cup of lemon juice for deep cleaning once a month.

Ok then, so it seems anywhere from each battery change, to weekly for the contacts, I noticed this start to happen around 2 weeks after getting the mod, so weekly or twice weekly will probably be enough for this mech.

I did notice yesterday though something I thought was a little odd. I have been using 2 new HE4's for this mod, but needed to put a fresh battery in, and both were charging. I used one of my second newest batteries, a 25R. It didn't seem like I had to adjust for battery rattle (the battery wasn't moving or rattling), but I did have to press very hard for the mod to work. If I pressed gently it either didn't fire, or fired weakly.

When I changed back to a HE4, a gentle press was enough to make it function properly. Due to this I will probably just use the HE4's in future, but I couldn't actually see a reason this should of been happening- the battery is like all my others, in good condition, with no indentation at the positive end so should of been making good contact, but strangely wasn't unless pressed hard.

Your mod just likes HE4's.

Zamazam said:

Your mod just likes HE4's.

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Lol, in all seriousness though, does this ever happen? A mod working better with one brand of battery than another?

I've just never come across it before, and do have quite a lot of mods. If it is just a quirk and it works well with LG batteries, I will keep using them.

I have mechs that only perform well with VTC's and some that only like Samsung Baby Blues. no idea why.

Zamazam said:

I have mechs that only perform well with VTC's and some that only like Samsung Baby Blues. no idea why.

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Maybe battery height and a short button?


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Zamazam said:

I have mechs that only perform well with VTC's and some that only like Samsung Baby Blues. no idea why.

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Ok then, it must be fairly common then- I will just use HE4's in this mech .

By baby blues, do you mean the older Samsung 25R? If so, I miss that colour. Something about that blue colour just made me feel safe whenever I put one in a mod, I don't have any left now in their original wrappers due to tears or replacing them.

I did think this issue was sorted, but it could be that I only just really noticed it. If I press dead centre of the button, it will be hit and miss if it will seem as powerful as it should be, but if I kind of sweep my finger around the button, there is a slight increase in power.

It isn't a massive difference, but enough to notice. I guess the switch sometimes does not touch the bottom of the battery with completely even pressure maybe? As I have cleaned everything up, and everything seems to be adjusted as it should be.

I'd say it's how much copper is in contact with the negative pole on the battery, a press on the periphery of the switch won't put the whole copper contact in touch with the negative and kinda press the positive into better contact with the positive contact if there is any play, even 1mm between the battery and the contacts.

Zamazam said:

I'd say it's how much copper is in contact with the negative pole on the battery, a press on the periphery of the switch won't put the whole copper contact in touch with the negative and kinda press the positive into better contact with the positive contact if there is any play, even 1mm between the battery and the contacts.

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Yeah that is what I meant by the switch not making even pressure to the bottom (negative) of the battery.

It doesn't seem like there is any play at all, but I will definitely check to see if I can adjust it any more. I think it may just be a quirk to this mod though, and instead of pressing dead centre of the button I just will have to press slightly off centre. Not the biggest deal, and I probably will get used to it .

Thank you for all your help and advice .