hey all! I'm from northen British Columbia Canada - but will be moving south in a week! My name is Pearl; and I've been a pack a day smoker for about a year now. Really wanting to move towards vaping but haven't really been having any luck. I started a month ago on a kangerteck mini and recently bought myself an alien by smoke. $220 and 4 days later I've burnt through the 2 coils it came with and the vape store I bought my rig from couldn't help and had no extra coils - so it looks like I'm back to the ciggys for now!
Become a Patron!
Still struggling with vaping!!
- Thread starter fernwehh
- Start date
JuicyLucy
My name is Lucy and I am a squonkaholic
VU Donator
Diamond Contributor
ECF Refugee
VU Challenge Team
Member For 5 Years
Welcome to VU
Bummer you are having a rough time with it all - but don't give up!
I'm assuming the atty that came with the Alien was a Baby Beast or the Big Beast.
The coils that go in those atties are readily available online
What were the ohm rating on the coils and how high were you running the mod? What juice are you using?
The reason I ask is that two coils in four days seems awfully short to me....
Bummer you are having a rough time with it all - but don't give up!
I'm assuming the atty that came with the Alien was a Baby Beast or the Big Beast.
The coils that go in those atties are readily available online
What were the ohm rating on the coils and how high were you running the mod? What juice are you using?
The reason I ask is that two coils in four days seems awfully short to me....
Eeee my first reply to my first post! And so helpful! This was why I switched from kamgertech... now I'm thinking it's something I am doing wrong? I'm vaping at 25 - 36 w but I had an issue where I messed my settings up and being a newb had some issues figuring everything out. I have it set to N tho I think the prebuilt coils are something else? Ohms are at .132 volt is 2.245 amps is 17.1
Attachments
Oh! You asked about juice anddddd I was using the decoded Bigfoot 75vg/25pg blend in mini donuts... I switched to spellbound sugar cane
Last edited:
For a noob, only use your Alien in Wattage mode. The N next to your wattage indicates 'normal.' That's good. Leave it in normal mode.
It looks like you are using the baby beast tank. If so 25-36 watts is too low. Depending on which coil you are using, increase your wattage (see pic)
Something is way wrong if you burnt through 2 coils in 4 days vaping at such low wattage. Hopefully you didn't throw them away. Wash them with warm to hot water. Thoroughly dry them. Prime them again with your vape juice and try again.
To learn how to operate the alien you can watch videos on youtube. Here's a link to Mike's vape video. He goes over controls at about the 7 minute mark. If you don't like Mike, feel free to watch other reputable reviews of the alien.
Sent from somewhere in Vietnam.
It looks like you are using the baby beast tank. If so 25-36 watts is too low. Depending on which coil you are using, increase your wattage (see pic)
Something is way wrong if you burnt through 2 coils in 4 days vaping at such low wattage. Hopefully you didn't throw them away. Wash them with warm to hot water. Thoroughly dry them. Prime them again with your vape juice and try again.
To learn how to operate the alien you can watch videos on youtube. Here's a link to Mike's vape video. He goes over controls at about the 7 minute mark. If you don't like Mike, feel free to watch other reputable reviews of the alien.
Sent from somewhere in Vietnam.
Last edited:
Lastly, the vape store you bought your rig from is Shit. 220 CAD is more than double the going rate. The fact they don't stock coils for the baby beast is crazy. Maybe time to find a more reputable store.
The good news is you picked a very good rig. It should meet your vaping needs for a while. You'll get past this problem and be off cigs again. Keep trying. Ask away if you need any more information.
Sent from somewhere in Vietnam.
The good news is you picked a very good rig. It should meet your vaping needs for a while. You'll get past this problem and be off cigs again. Keep trying. Ask away if you need any more information.
Sent from somewhere in Vietnam.
Last edited:
You don't have to rely on local stores, that's what web based stores are for, which have better stocks at better prices.
Always make sure to keep stocks of what you need so that you won't have to fall back to stickies.
Always make sure to keep stocks of what you need so that you won't have to fall back to stickies.
Welcome to VU Pearl
Welcome, Pearl!
Good advice above ^^^
My wife and I have 3 Aliens and 4 Baby tanks, though she only uses her Subtank Mini on her Alien. We love 'em.
And, as said above, coils should last much longer. I get 2 weeks minimum from them. Just hang in there!
Good advice above ^^^
My wife and I have 3 Aliens and 4 Baby tanks, though she only uses her Subtank Mini on her Alien. We love 'em.
And, as said above, coils should last much longer. I get 2 weeks minimum from them. Just hang in there!
I have 3 Baby tanks and love them.I prefer the X4 coils over the others but that's just me. I have one coil that's 5 weeks old and still good.
My suggestions are Power mode only, the coils are Kanthal and not for any TC mode..
Q2 45 watts
X4 40 watts
T8 50 watts.
Those are the settings I use and yea buy on line much cheaper. Also come here for help. Were not all always 100% correct but much much better than most counter jockeys.
EDIT: I just came from a local B&M and the employee was sucking on his baby and we were commenting on how long the coils last. BTW Welcome to the VU.
My suggestions are Power mode only, the coils are Kanthal and not for any TC mode..
Q2 45 watts
X4 40 watts
T8 50 watts.
Those are the settings I use and yea buy on line much cheaper. Also come here for help. Were not all always 100% correct but much much better than most counter jockeys.
EDIT: I just came from a local B&M and the employee was sucking on his baby and we were commenting on how long the coils last. BTW Welcome to the VU.
KingPin!
In my defence, I was left unsupervised ^^
VU Donator
Platinum Contributor
Member For 4 Years
VU Challenge Team
Reviewer
Welcome to VU 
Couple of other thing to note which can affect coil life
priming them properly didn't see anyone mentioning this make sure they are nice and juiced up when inserting a new coil...I tend to pin my pre made coils helps wicking
Type of juice your using ...the browner the colour normally the quicker it will clog your coils
The VG/PG ratio you could try reducing VG helps wicking although will increase throat hit (this one is personal choice)
Not sure how long you draw for? If you like to take long inhales have a look at the temp control section in power mode your coil will keep heating all the time you push the button
note that you won't need to do this if your coil is kanthal metal on that mod
Lastly an obvious one but I'll say it anyway lock or turn off your device when not using it
Couple of other thing to note which can affect coil life
priming them properly didn't see anyone mentioning this make sure they are nice and juiced up when inserting a new coil...I tend to pin my pre made coils helps wicking
Type of juice your using ...the browner the colour normally the quicker it will clog your coils
The VG/PG ratio you could try reducing VG helps wicking although will increase throat hit (this one is personal choice)
Not sure how long you draw for? If you like to take long inhales have a look at the temp control section in power mode your coil will keep heating all the time you push the button
note that you won't need to do this if your coil is kanthal metal on that modLastly an obvious one but I'll say it anyway lock or turn off your device when not using it
Last edited:
All the above is good info. I'll reiterate on the backups. When I was buying coils I would keep a lot on hand just in case, like 5 at a minimum before buying back to 10-15. I've had coils last months, I've also had them die in minutes. More than once I went through 3-4 in a week, then one would last me 4 months. Same with devices, everything really. I always have a backup, and there's usually a backup for the backup.
Also, with the Baby, try to keep the e liquid level above the juice holes, exposed cotton in the coils. I try to refill before I get to about half a tank. Well saturated cotton is less likely to burn. A little more power but shorter pulls seem to help too.
Coil life on that tank has been anywhere from 5 days to a month and still going.
For longest coil life, the original Sense Herakles is dated now, but the most reliable I've tried, of many. Stopped me from buying analogs. Tobeco Super Tank is similar, but more popular now due to top fill capability, different sizes, variety of colors.
Upcoming Sense Blazer Mini similar to Baby, and looks like it may need less frequent refilling due to coil design. Size is bigger than Baby, smaller than Big Baby.
Coil life on that tank has been anywhere from 5 days to a month and still going.
For longest coil life, the original Sense Herakles is dated now, but the most reliable I've tried, of many. Stopped me from buying analogs. Tobeco Super Tank is similar, but more popular now due to top fill capability, different sizes, variety of colors.
Upcoming Sense Blazer Mini similar to Baby, and looks like it may need less frequent refilling due to coil design. Size is bigger than Baby, smaller than Big Baby.
The herakles plus coils also last a really long time. I only use mine on occasion but when that my daily thing I could get a month out of a coil if I wanted to. Out of the many bought I think I got one or two duds.
Pearl, are you trying to make giant clouds with your vape, or just trying to replace those cigs ?
Your new gear is better suited to clouds. Maybe revisit your Kanger mini.
Are you doing the mouth-to-lung type draws on your vape ? That's most like smoking cigs ; draw into mouth , remove hardware, draw from mouth into lungs and exhale. For that, you would usually want a lower wattage and high restriction setup.
If you were burning coils too often, try not using 'sweet' juices. Stay within or a little below wattage range for the coils. Think about your 'pull' as the airflow part of a process. Begin drawing air and push button, vape what you like, release button and continue drawing a bit more air (to cool the coil ) before stopping. I think many people stop drawing air and *then* release button. That leaves a very hot coil and shortens it's life.
Fwiw, as an ex-smoker, I use daily an Emow (high restriction at about 10w) or my Mini (high restriction at about 15w).
Your new gear is better suited to clouds. Maybe revisit your Kanger mini.
Are you doing the mouth-to-lung type draws on your vape ? That's most like smoking cigs ; draw into mouth , remove hardware, draw from mouth into lungs and exhale. For that, you would usually want a lower wattage and high restriction setup.
If you were burning coils too often, try not using 'sweet' juices. Stay within or a little below wattage range for the coils. Think about your 'pull' as the airflow part of a process. Begin drawing air and push button, vape what you like, release button and continue drawing a bit more air (to cool the coil ) before stopping. I think many people stop drawing air and *then* release button. That leaves a very hot coil and shortens it's life.
Fwiw, as an ex-smoker, I use daily an Emow (high restriction at about 10w) or my Mini (high restriction at about 15w).
I want to add emphasis to priming the coils when you install a new one.
You can insert the coil dry, fill the tank and let it soak with the airflow open for at least 30 minutes, then close the airflow almost all the way, and suck on it a few times without pressing the fire button.
Or
You can drip juice onto the cotton from the top, slowly so it absorbs without flooding the center. Do this until you see the cotton get wet on the outside of the coil. Then install the glass as fill the tank. Wait 5 to 10 minutes then close the airflow down almost all the way and dry hit it, no power.
Lastly, breaking in a new coil is important too. Lets say the recommended range for your coil is 40-60 watts.
Start at 40 watts and take a couple of very quick short hits. Up the power to 45 watts and repeat. I do this a couple 3 times before I get to the wattage I'm going to use, say 55, then take bigger draws.
We all go through the same learning curve. Took me months, some burnt coils and dry hits to figure this stuff out. Would have been easier if I'd find VU earlier.
Don't give up! I'm 8 months without cigarettes after a 48 year pack a day habit.
You can do it!
You can insert the coil dry, fill the tank and let it soak with the airflow open for at least 30 minutes, then close the airflow almost all the way, and suck on it a few times without pressing the fire button.
Or
You can drip juice onto the cotton from the top, slowly so it absorbs without flooding the center. Do this until you see the cotton get wet on the outside of the coil. Then install the glass as fill the tank. Wait 5 to 10 minutes then close the airflow down almost all the way and dry hit it, no power.
Lastly, breaking in a new coil is important too. Lets say the recommended range for your coil is 40-60 watts.
Start at 40 watts and take a couple of very quick short hits. Up the power to 45 watts and repeat. I do this a couple 3 times before I get to the wattage I'm going to use, say 55, then take bigger draws.
We all go through the same learning curve. Took me months, some burnt coils and dry hits to figure this stuff out. Would have been easier if I'd find VU earlier.
Don't give up! I'm 8 months without cigarettes after a 48 year pack a day habit.
You can do it!
Today is my one year anniversary of not smoking. I've had the baby beast and alien kit for about a month and will say the wattage ratings on the coils are very high for what's needed. I use my q2 baby beast coils at around 40 watts and that coil has lasted for over 2 weeks. When I've run them higher they have lasted for just a few days. Congrats on taking this first step. Once you get the basics down it gets a lot easier.
I take long pulls when vaping and the coils that came with my big baby beast do not wick fast enough to keep up. So I burnt them pretty fast to. Smok makes single barrel coils I think they are the Q coils in .4 and .6 I have the .4 in mine vaping at 55 watts and I can take long pulls without any dry hits. These coils also have the best flavor for me. I was not happy with the Big Baby Beast until I found these coils. Good Luck quiting smoking.
SnapDragon NY
Senior Moderator
Staff member
Senior Moderator
VU Donator
Diamond Contributor
Press Corps
Member For 5 Years
VU SWAT
Hi Pearl and welcome- Hopefully you got some great answers here! Always make sure that you have spare coils, and backups! No way would smoking a cigarette would be my backup plan, I would still buy a gas station cigalike before that!
Quitting smoking is very hard- I know because I smoked for 30+ years and with a cheap gasstation ecig, juice, cartridges and Will Power, I did it, it was not easy, but NO way was I ever going to smoke cigarettes again!
Best of Luck!
Stay Strong and Vape On!
Quitting smoking is very hard- I know because I smoked for 30+ years and with a cheap gasstation ecig, juice, cartridges and Will Power, I did it, it was not easy, but NO way was I ever going to smoke cigarettes again!
Best of Luck!
Stay Strong and Vape On!