Arizer Solo

[beyond6strings]

@His_Highness @arb @Buzzbomb Almighty Thank you for the tips. I was planning on the charge and the burn-off. I wish manufacturers were clearer about things like that. Thank god for this forum. It's saved me pains others less fortunate than me have endured I'm sure.

I was planning on going screenless at first as that is Arizer's recommendation for peak flavor. I use a medium coarse grind for all my vapes.

The thing I'm oddly excited about is the Aroma Therapy cup and the lowest setting of 122F-it's the perfect temp to dry bud out before grinding for vaping. It's so humid where I live, with no central AC, that I've had to dry my stored bud twice this summer. Pop it in the oven on the lowest setting, about 125F, and set a timer for 10 minutes. And I keep everything in airtight containers. Obviously they're not. But it's been hovering around 85% most of this week-it sucks, so maybe airtight still lets H2O in.

 

[SloJimFizz]

..and you can't stand it up with the plug in the bottom.

That's the only way to charge.
Arizer and @Pipes has a solution for that.

Charging up after a stem full. Space Jesus has now got me in a head lock giving me a noogie.
Good addition to your collection @beyond6strings
As you've noticed, lots of love, support and help here for the Solo.

 

[beyond6strings]

That's the only way to charge.
Arizer and @Pipes has a solution for that.

Charging up after a stem full. Space Jesus has now got me in a head lock giving me a noogie.
Good addition to your collection @beyond6strings
As you've noticed, lots of love, support and help here for the Solo.

I am very much looking forward to getting mine. I needed a good session vape in my quiver, and everything I've heard about the company and the device is telling me I chose wisely. And hell, at $108US even a broke ass musician can afford one.

 

[fernand]

Love the Solo, but I have to go give a shout to the Magic Flight Launch branch, 'cause that's the most USEFUL piece of gear I have.

WIth manicured nugs over 20% THC, and such a variety of third generation re-hybrids with names like Sour Cherry Cloud Cookies, ya needs to SAMPLE and compare, and 20mg loads on the little Launch box are unbeatable for that.

 

[arb]

The more I use the solo the more I love it,gave away the solo 2 before I broke the screen.

 

[Cheesequake]

Tried the ArGo since I assumed it could only be better than the Solo 1/Air 1. Man was I wrong. Just put in an order for a Northern Lights Edition Solo 1 while they're still on sale. Going to be selling the ArGo ASAP.

If you care about big clouds and good flavor the Solo 1 is what you want.

 

[Maczilla]

sorry if this has been asked a thousand times but is the vapor cooler on the solo 1 vs the air or the same? so I read the solo has lower temp settings so technically it can be cooler using them correct?

 

[fernand]

I only have the Solo, but what I see is that they use the same tubes, and work much the same. The temp range that the different units cover HAS to be similar to handle dry herb and concentrates for different preferences. So it's going to be entirely up to you how you set it. The physics are inescapable too. If you draw faster the heater won't keep up, so you'll get a cooler vape ;-)

 

[beyond6strings]

Tried the ArGo since I assumed it could only be better than the Solo 1/Air 1. Man was I wrong. Just put in an order for a Northern Lights Edition Solo 1 while they're still on sale. Going to be selling the ArGo ASAP.

If you care about big clouds and good flavor the Solo 1 is what you want.

Thank you for the recommendation. I got mine today, charged it full +3 hours, did a burn-off, and went through a couple of lightly packed, 1/2 bowls.

I'm very impressed. The flavor is fabulous. Very even, rich ABV after temp stepping from 4-6, and another stepped from 5-7 with a bit deeper ABV. I'll probably do 4-6 when I'm by myself, and put it on 6 and pass it around when I'm hanging out with others.

I'm very impressed.

EDIT: I just tried a bit larger stem to begin my evening. Lightly tamped, coarse grind. I also took a gander at what each level meant temperature-wise and stepped from 3-5 over a full 12-minute session. Man-oh-Man. I actually understand what people talk about now when they talk about good taste. I love my Lil' Bud; it's very tasty for on-demand, and unregulated. But there's really something to be said for dialing in a temperature-either for taste or effect or a bit of both.

@ataxian hope you're well my friend. I think of you when I use the Solo. It's definitely civilized.

Tomorrow morning I'm going to try it on level 2 with some Blue Dream, and step up to 4 before I head into the studio.

 

[Cheesequake]

NLE arrived today. It's purdy.

Performance is 10/10. Getting bigger clouds on temp 2/3 than I was on max temp with my ArGo.

 

[arb]

I was sorely tempted to get that version........still kind of aches a bit.
Would really balance out the black and silver ones.

 

[OF]

I was sorely tempted to get that version........still kind of aches a bit.
Would really balance out the black and silver ones.

That's not the only option there.....let's remember our very own @ataxian has a history of painting them. Although you might check on his choice of colors first?

OF

 

[arb]

Sounds quite..............civilized.

 

[OF]

Sounds quite..............civilized.

Ah, you know the man. He's not completely civilized himself you know, just consider how he treats defenseless glass pieces?

OF

 

[arb]

At least he can still be around glass.......lolz.

 

[beyond6strings]

Damn I love the Solo. I've started temp stepping 2, 4, 5 and then stopping. For me this vape isn't for pushing higher temps, and it extracts everything I need in that range, and tastes good throughout.

From now on, there are two vaporizers I'm going to tell new vaporists to look at; and both are <$110.

The Solo, or @DDave Mods Dynavap M/Water Wand Kit. If they're new to cannabis and have never smoked I'd tell 'em to get the Solo, and if they are heavy smokers but new to vaping the DDave Mods DynaKit all the way. You could not spend your money more wisely. And smart folks would pony up $200 and get both, cuz...VAS

 

[fubar]

tl;dr Anyone know of any battery portables that will use pass through wall power for heating other than the first Solo models?

Note - I'm NOT looking for charging while heating - they all seem to do that - I want the wall power to be passed directly to the heater. Please don't suggest a Solo 2 or argo or whatever - they charge while heating and that's exactly not what I'm looking for.

Does anyone here still use the earliest Solo (mostly M1A serial numbers...) in pass through power mode with the special 8.5v/5A power supply? I have two of those old beasts - they hit more like a desktop when plugged in with the pass through power supply - they charge but won't heat when the 12v charger is plugged in. All subsequent models and all the other portable battery vapes I can find seem to have adopted the pass through charging mode which drains the battery while heating and charges it at the same time - probably the best known way to quickly degrade a lithium battery. Stupidity in my view.

Bring back the pass through power mode!

 

[KidFated.]

Bring back the pass through power mode!

Completely agree, but I don't see it happening..

 

[arb]

I just bought a e nano for this exact reason.....don't want to suck the life out of my solo sitting on the couch.

 

[OF]

Does anyone here still use the earliest Solo (mostly M1A serial numbers...) in pass through power mode with the special 8.5v/5A power supply? I have two of those old beasts - they hit more like a desktop when plugged in with the pass through power supply - they charge but won't heat when the 12v charger is plugged in.

Bring back the pass through power mode!

I do regularly. Probably over half the time. I have two 'OG' units in rotation and a back up one stashed away. I too appreciate the advantage and am well pleased Arizer was forward thinking enough to design it in (much simpler, that means cheaper, to go 'use while charging' like everyone else). Sadly we customers (always right you know) 'demanded' the superior (to us) 'use while charging which is rightly not allowed on the OGs. 12 Volts can only charge, and you can't run while that's going on to further needlessly abuse the battery pack so hard to replace.

I don't use the special power supply, instead built some regulators to reduce 12 Volts (at 2.5 Amps) down to 8.5. Pipes sold his version for a while as "AIO" (All In One). Then Arizer 'improved' Solo on our insistence.......

When PIU was selling returns for $60 or so, I bought several, tested them (replaced a couple of battery packs) and passed them on to friends and friends of friends at 'good guy prices'. One later needed a battery transplant, but AFAIK all are still in service.

My favorite model, even over Solo II (with it's longer battery life).

I'm afraid it's never coming back, Sales trumped Engineering on this one? They usually do you know. Them and the Bean Counters (Accounting).

Weekend regards to all. Good Solo weather here.

OF

 

[hans solo]

My solo ll is finally back after an absence. Got the error 7 multiple times and sent it back. Arizer was stellar in their handing of the issue. They sent out a replacement unit promptly.

 

[arb]

Does your replacement have a serial number on the bottom?
Just curious as my air 2 replacement did not.

 

[OF]

The goal is not to get fully whacked but to experience enlightenment.

None less than Kinky Freedman his own self tells us "The road of excess leads to the Palace of True Enlightenment".........creating somewhat of a conflict?

OF

 

[fubar]

I do regularly.
...
...
I'm afraid it's never coming back, Sales trumped Engineering on this one? They usually do you know. Them and the Bean Counters (Accounting).
...
OF

Sigh. Sad face. I'll admit my EQ/DDave setup is probably more efficient, the old solo on mains power is pretty close and a little easier to move about.

In case anyone cares, the OEM QILI 8.5v/5A power transformer does not seem available now so it looks like it's DIY time as OF said.

>instead built some regulators to reduce 12 Volts (at 2.5 Amps) down to 8.5.

Is 12v/2.5A up to it? 30W but the QILI claims 42.5W regulated power.
Might want more like 4 or 5A at 12v given the inevitable losses in regulation?
Heater on cycle seems short and it works for you, so I guess it doesn't matter..

 

[OF]

Is 12v/2.5A up to it? 30W but the QILI claims 42.5W regulated power.
Might want more like 4 or 5A at 12v given the inevitable losses in regulation?
Heater on cycle seems short and it works for you, so I guess it doesn't matter..

Yep, 2.5 will do it. Some of the units I tested would limp by at 2.25. The current drops a bit as the heater in Solo get's hotter and it's resistance goes up. If you can get past the first 15 seconds or so the demand drops a bit. Pipes and I used LM350s (Five Amp versions of LM317) and a couple of resistors and a 'fast' (mono ceramic) cap to keep it stable. Mine look like this being built (let's hope this photo thing is workable....

https://i.imgur.com/RVhL6d7.jpg

And with the input and output cables being attached:

https://i.imgur.com/hzdrC7y.jpg

You can see about how much heatsink is needed. After testing I glue everything in place with hot melt glue. I've built a couple dozen and have yet to have any problems. Pipes built and sold a lot more as I recall before the market disappeared.

Being a series regulator, the 350 is nearly 100% efficient from a current POV. Except for a few dozen mA to run the regulator and feedback divider, all the current from the 12 Volt source makes it to the load (although at a reduced voltage of course).

Good luck with the links, you should be able to open the direct links at least?

OF