Discontinued Pax Vaporizer by Ploom

[Live-N-Learn]

So still no solution, just more questions to this top secret temp light problem

Cmon gang lets hop back in the mystery machine

 

[TheDudeNextDoor]

However it works, I think we can all agree at least that the fact that blowing into the mouthpiece of a Pax fixes the temp light issue is proof that there is a God.

 

[Live-N-Learn]

However it works, I think we can all agree at least that the fact that blowing into the mouthpiece of a Pax fixes the temp light issue is proof that there is a God.

Yeah this is true, I do feel like I outwitted my Pax with this move, however it is an uneasy feeling to know that I did not ever resolve the issue rather put a quick band aid on it. I don't like to be outwitted by a machine, I love my Pax but it is a machine nonetheless, and I want answers!

 

[Bluntcrush]

i have tried blowing into the MP (as well as also warming the Pax up in my hands) and this DID seem to help with the temp light issue. I just don't understand how this can be possible, or how adding some lube will change anything. Except possibly making it so that resin can not build up on the sensor. I know we will all be happy once we understand this fully.

 

[Live-N-Learn]

Inserting, turning it on, nothing happens.
FFFFFFFF FFFFFFFFFFf, There I blew on it and it works! Sounds familiar? LOL

For the homie who posted the NES trick.

 

[Bluntcrush]

I guess we were never able to get a representative Ploominatti to join up here and help us by answering some questions and hints and tips for use and cleaning. I remember at the beginning of the thread there was some talk of this. What ever happened with that?

 

[pakalolo]

However it works, I think we can all agree at least that the fact that blowing into the mouthpiece of a Pax fixes the temp light issue is proof that there is a God.

It hasn't been foolproof for me. It almost always works. To add to the confusion, occasionally just removing and replacing the mouthpiece works. Nudging the mouthpiece and holding it until it goes green almost always works too, but once in a while it will go back to temp display even after it has heated up. There is no doubt that the mouthpiece is part of this flakiness, but we still don't know exactly how that circuit works.

The lubrication solution that Ploom is advocating doesn't help me understand the circuit. If it is a connection issue (and all my experiences support that theory) then either the lubricant is conductive or it is allowing a connection that requires something to move freely. Since Ploom said it was a food-grade lubricant I'm guessing it is a conductive silicone grease, so that wouldn't give us any clues as to which is the case.

 

[JPB]

Pull the tube out of mouthpiece look through it. I see a circle of gummy stuff there, blowing dislodges the chunks which are what stops this thing by offering no electric contact. I think that it only contacts from the top of vapor tube, the rim only. That's evidenced by reports that blowing up the mouthpiece and the dental brush clean of pipe and spring area working very well. That is cool pakalolo for the images of inside pax. See a 18650 battery! If we change the wiring to spring contact plate, glue in the magnet too, and switch the hex nut for a thumb screw we can do battery replacement on the go! These batts are avail cheap and chargers which charge two up also available all at my local electronics store. So slide cover off, swap batt, slide on cover, turn thumb screw and keep it vaping? Now I'm buying another one just to mod it for heavy, I mean excessive use. This way we see how long the heater element lives too. Now it's late bed becons and paxing just as I dose off is just best, pax will standby...then power off, that way one can pass out in stealth and safety. I'm always on low till end, reload, place abv on top as packer mat. Then when all powdered up and oven is chock full of abv then I switch to high and cook and stir it off. Abv almost black then. Ya gotta love this thing it's just right, in winter makes nice hand warmer ;-)

 

[Live-N-Learn]

It hasn't been foolproof for me. It almost always works. To add to the confusion, occasionally just removing and replacing the mouthpiece works. Nudging the mouthpiece and holding it until it goes green almost always works too, but once in a while it will go back to temp display even after it has heated up. There is no doubt that the mouthpiece is part of this flakiness, but we still don't know exactly how that circuit works.

When I do my MP cleaning I swap for a fresh one. And I can tell you that putting in a new MP doesn't help.
Once it gets cold the next morning I will have the temp light problem even after a thorough clean, so to my experiences that doesn't work. The whole hold your MP until its hot thing I gave up once I figured out the NES Trick. (NES trick sometimes wont work for me either but very very rarely) When I hold the MP like that it frustrates me, and what frustrates me even more is it will go green, I will let go and it will show the temp light again 90% of the time. Both aren't reliable for me but
I still ISO clean my extra MP so its fresh to death.

 

[Bluntcrush]

Maybe the lube is the same stuff they put on the paddles when they are about to shock your heart. That is a medical grade lubricant.

 

[Mynameismud]

I guess we were never able to get a representative Ploominatti to join up here and help us by answering some questions and hints and tips for use and cleaning. I remember at the beginning of the thread there was some talk of this. What ever happened with that?

They realized thier product wasnt as good as they thought

 

[pakalolo]

Pull the tube out of mouthpiece look through it. I see a circle of gummy stuff there, blowing dislodges the chunks which are what stops this thing by offering no electric contact. I think that it only contacts from the top of vapor tube, the rim only. That's evidenced by reports that blowing up the mouthpiece and the dental brush clean of pipe and spring area working very well. That is cool pakalolo for the images of inside pax. See a 18650 battery! If we change the wiring to spring contact plate, glue in the magnet too, and switch the hex nut for a thumb screw we can do battery replacement on the go! These batts are avail cheap and chargers which charge two up also available all at my local electronics store. So slide cover off, swap batt, slide on cover, turn thumb screw and keep it vaping? Now I'm buying another one just to mod it for heavy, I mean excessive use. This way we see how long the heater element lives too. Now it's late bed becons and paxing just as I dose off is just best, pax will standby...then power off, that way one can pass out in stealth and safety. I'm always on low till end, reload, place abv on top as packer mat. Then when all powdered up and oven is chock full of abv then I switch to high and cook and stir it off. Abv almost black then. Ya gotta love this thing it's just right, in winter makes nice hand warmer ;-)

Except that the experience I reported earlier was with a mouthpiece that had been thoroughly cleaned with ISO minutes before.

Much earlier in this thread someone posted about his experiences trying to swap in a different battery. He couldn't get it to work properly so he ultimately had to recommend against it.

They realized thier product wasnt as good as they thought

I don't think that's it. Ploom has bent over backwards to pretend their market is actually tobacco smokers. Joining here would undermine that somewhat, I'd think.

 

[TheDudeNextDoor]

They realized thier product wasnt as good as they thought

Do you have some inside information the rest of us do not have, or is this just a thread crap?

 

[JoeKickass]

It hasn't been foolproof for me. It almost always works. To add to the confusion, occasionally just removing and replacing the mouthpiece works. Nudging the mouthpiece and holding it until it goes green almost always works too, but once in a while it will go back to temp display even after it has heated up. There is no doubt that the mouthpiece is part of this flakiness, but we still don't know exactly how that circuit works.

The lubrication solution that Ploom is advocating doesn't help me understand the circuit. If it is a connection issue (and all my experiences support that theory) then either the lubricant is conductive or it is allowing a connection that requires something to move freely. Since Ploom said it was a food-grade lubricant I'm guessing it is a conductive silicone grease, so that wouldn't give us any clues as to which is the case.

Yes I agree it's a bit puzzling but I'm positive the problem is the outside surface of the inner tube (or maybe the top of the spring... lol like I said it's puzzling) getting contaminated with resin. I'm thinking the area where the spring is just too hard to get 100% clean...

I'll use a multi meter today to find out which bits have voltage and how much current flows and that should solve it for good.

 

[VaPeD&CoNfUsEd]

I gave mine it's first cleaning today. Not because of any malfunction but just to prevent one. Man it gets nasty between the oven and screen. Had to scratch at it with my xacto knife the 91% ISO wouldn't touch it (same with the screen). This was after 4 days and 20-23 oven loads.

 

[terpsfan726]

I gave mine it's first cleaning today. Not because of any malfunction but just to prevent one. Man it gets nasty between the oven and screen. Had to scratch at it with my xacto knife the 91% ISO wouldn't touch it (same with the screen). This was after 4 days and 20-23 oven loads.

20-23 oven loads?!?! Damn, that's a lot...

I would clean much more often than every 20 oven loads for future reference

 

[VaPeD&CoNfUsEd]

Yeah well it's a new toy so I've been using the shit out of it! As its newness wears off it'll get used less. Not to mention I probably shouldn't stay on the level I've been on for the past 4 days. Gotta get back to reality at some point!

And it really wasn't that bad considering how many loads I've put through it.

Plus I was kinda trying to push it to see if I would see any kinds of malfunctions. And the answer was no. No temp light, no stuck sticky or slow MP, no drawing problems, nothing.(again ploom assured me that this is the newest model) so maybe they've worked some kinks out. Just a thought.

mod note: Please avoid back-to-back posts, use Edit instead. Two posts merged.

 

[KingAnimal]

I just got a PAX on Thursday night, its been 2 full days now,a nd my PAX started having the temp light issue yesterday. I have cleaned it and it just not that dirty to be a issue with build up, even thou I did use it a good bit friday night with no issues. I have not called ploom yet, but will try tomorrow. I am surprised to see so many people ok to accecpt oil or something like that, something just seems wrong with mine. I turn it on and it will instantly go to the temp color right away (orange) and sit there until I touch the mouthpeice or move it around some, but sometimes it goes right back to orange again unless I hold the mouthpeice some. I am almost always able to get it to work but I should not have to be messing with it like that to get it to work, every PAX review I have read so far just talks about how simple and easy it is, and I got an issue day two WTF? My mouthpiece seem loose when inserted, like it does jiggle around some, so I think the issue just seems like a bad connection to me, simple as that. I have been thinking of just ordering a new mouthpeice for 20$ off the website, but I should not have to do that! I feel stupid for spending so much money on something that broke so fast, I was just out showing it of to people telling them how cool it was.

 

[Bankrupt-Music]

Had this same issue, heater doesnt work. I had my Pax since August and in Nov it didnt heat up anymore one day, it wasnt a cleaning issue either. Took me over a month to get a new one from Vapeworld and it cost me close to $50 with the shipping and customs charges. This left me with a sour taste and for any other Canadian out there looking for a Pax order it straight from Ploom. What pisses me off is this was a defaulty unit and i ended up paying a good chunk of change to get a new one. I am willing to give the Pax another chance and i have noticed some differences from this new unit compared with the one i ordered in Aug. I will evaluate this new unit some more and post my differences in a little bit. Glad to be back PAXIN! YEE!

Had the heater issue as well and had to send mine back in (ordered mine directly from ploom so they took care of the shipping). I got an entirely different unit and i must say as this one performs leaps beyond the first one i received. I took it on vacation yesterday and used it with my brother (who also hit the original) and he said his review went from a 2 to a 9.5 in terms of quality.

 

[TheDudeNextDoor]

I just got a PAX on Thursday night, its been 2 full days now,a nd my PAX started having the temp light issue yesterday. I have cleaned it and it just not that dirty to be a issue with build up, even thou I did use it a good bit friday night with no issues. I have not called ploom yet, but will try tomorrow. I am surprised to see so many people ok to accecpt oil or something like that, something just seems wrong with mine. I turn it on and it will instantly go to the temp color right away (orange) and sit there until I touch the mouthpeice or move it around some, but sometimes it goes right back to orange again unless I hold the mouthpeice some. I am almost always able to get it to work but I should not have to be messing with it like that to get it to work, every PAX review I have read so far just talks about how simple and easy it is, and I got an issue day two WTF? My mouthpiece seem loose when inserted, like it does jiggle around some, so I think the issue just seems like a bad connection to me, simple as that. I have been thinking of just ordering a new mouthpeice for 20$ off the website, but I should not have to do that! I feel stupid for spending so much money on something that broke so fast, I was just out showing it of to people telling them how cool it was.

Don't give up yet, King. My mouthpiece did that exact same thing. I could jiggle the mouthpiece (and it does move some when seated) and it would flash purple, then temp color, then purple, then temp color, etc. I cleaned the switch area and it stopped doing that. I agree it's a little early for that to happen to you, but we all know it is the design flaw that we have to deal with. Have you cleaned it thoroughly? Read through the Vaporpedia article linked in my sig if you aren't sure.

 

[KingAnimal]

I cleaned it just like it walks you thru it on the website, I dampend a pipe cleaner with a wipe and stuck it in the mouthpeice. When I look inside the mouthpeice it looks clean, I only see a metal tube on the inside, nothing special, no build up, it looks new. My mouthpeice seems to look like the new kind as pictured on your link. I mean honestly the thing looks almost new still and I can not believe its not working liek all the videos I watched over and over before I bought the thing.

I also just cleaned it like you mention on your link, and it seems to work for a min then start acting up agian.

 

[kushcloud]

One thing i noticed with my new Pax is that i believe the temp settings are all operating lower than the August Pax. For example, i usually vape med-high and at high setting my ABV is still light brown/brownish compared with dark brown i use to get. The clouds on high are also less than i use to get before. Build quailty seems a little better tho. The battery also doesnt last me as long as before. Ploom has definitely been tweeking the Pax. I hope i can break it in some and it will start operating like before but i highly doubt it. I got some more testing to do but will keep you guys informed. Time to Pax and watch Home Alone 1, RIP John Hughes one of the best.

 

[TheDudeNextDoor]

Well, let's talk battery. I've been avoiding posting this until I was sure it was not going to get better, but it seems to only be getting worse. I started out getting 3-5 session on one charge. After a scant two months of use, daily use however, I am now getting an average of 2 sessions per charge. I can get a third one at times although it will start warning me with the flashing red light during the session. Today, it didn't even get me through 2 sessions. It just flat cut out on me halfway through the second session. Sucked, too, because I was in the middle of town and didn't have any other option onboard.

Ploom said 80 percent after 300 charges, but I have come nowhere close to that, even using it daily. This is troubling to me.

 

[JoeKickass]

Ok so the multimeter just brought up more questions... The voltage is 3.3v between the catch and the actual spring and the current is less than a milliamp (I couldn't measure it)

The inner tube does not have a voltage but seems to play a part in the circuit. It's possible the spring has 3.3v and the catch and the inner tube are sensors that enable warm-up when both are energized.

The catch should always be in contact with the MP because it slides on the outside and you can feel the resistance when you try to pull the MP out. I think what must be causing the problems is the top of the spring and the inner tube must both contact the mouthpiece.

The reason I think it should be resin related is because the temperature seems to make a big difference. I simply don't get the temp light issue in hot weather or during a sesh and temperature shouldn't make that much of a difference in a clean switch. Maybe sanding the bottom/bottom-inside of the mouthpiece to rough it up a bit would help make good contact with the top of the spring in cold weather, I think I'll try it.

The fact that the current is so small means that we really only need the tiniest bit of metal to make good contact for the circuit to work, the grooves in a rough sanding or filing job should help cut through the resin and make that contact.

I'll let you guys know how it goes!

 

[KingAnimal]

I just do not know if it makes sense that this is related to residue build up, mine is just too new and to clean, it looks new, and I have barley used it. Lets be frank, if this thing has a residue issue and is this clean, then this is a design problem. I can get it to work by messing with the mouthpeice, but it sucks I have to do that at all.