VapeXhale heater mods

lazylathe

Almost there...
Following on from the thread here:
http://fuckcombustion.com/threads/f...per-cheap-unauthorized-and-unsupported.11412/

Where i bought an unsupported Cloud off e bay, returned the first one for DOA and now the second one is also DOA.
I decided to try and figure out what was wrong with the vape and then see if i could fix it!

When i opened the unit i saw that the ceramic heater was cracked in 3 places.
Checked the continuity with a multi meter and saw that there was no current flowing through the heater.
I am sure the cracked ceramic severed the connections to the thin heating elements rendering it useless.
Out with the diamond disc to cut through the ceramic heater and gently remove it from the bamboo.
Quite and easy job to accomplish and then i scraped the bamboo clean from the bonding material.

Desoldered the heater connections and the thermocouple from the circuit board.
One tip, if you decide to remove the thermocouple note that the wires do not tin and soldering back to the board is quite difficult! An easy way around this is to bend the wire into a small U-Shape and then solder into the holes in the circuit board. This way it is a more mechanical bond and the wires stay fastened well.

Wrap new heater around bamboo and secure with aluminum wire so that there is maximum contact with the bamboo. Ensure you place the thermocouple between the bamboo and the heater!
Replace the insulation and we are almost ready to test it out!

I needed to enlarge the holes in the casing to accommodate the larger bamboo, easy to do with a Dremel type tool.
The only issue i have is that i cannot fasten one screw because the heater mat is pushing against the board slightly. I have added some extra insulation on the bottom to protect the board from heat and it works really well.

Solder the new heater to the same connections on the board and put everything back together again.
I tested it outside the enclosure to make sure it actually works.
At noon it is really hot and the extraction is really fast!
Moving it down to the 10 -11 o'clock position seems to be the best for many its and tasty vapour!

I have been in contact with the seller on e bay and he has been extremely helpful!
I told him what i had done and that i knew i had destroyed any chance of getting another replacement.
I was okay with my decision and was willing to accept any failures.
Luckily for me the seller offered a new bamboo and heater assembly for me to install!!!
ALL FOR FREE!!!
Amazing service and help, even after i disassembled the unit!

Enough talking and on with the pictures!!!

The modded unit all together
P1040244_zpsa3168fe7.jpg


The new Silicone heater mat
P1040248_zps0ad60782.jpg


The broken ceramic heating element
P1040242_zpsd0593b8c.jpg


The connection to the original ceramic heater
P1040243_zps3e506cef.jpg


The top of the unit with the silicone heater just visible
P1040245_zps61468b0e.jpg


Silicone heater wrapped around the bamboo
P1040249_zps8849b693.jpg


The soldered connections of the silicone heater to the board
P1040251_zpscbea437d.jpg


And the final test!
Red LED at switching on
P1040246_zps834e9ff6.jpg


And a few minutes later the GREEN LED comes on!!!!
P1040247_zps7d634de2.jpg


I will try and take a video of it working a bit later!
The after effects from last night are still lingering after 3 to 4 1/4 to half full ELB's...
 

Tweak

T\/\/34|<
Awesome lazylathe.

Which brings up an interesting idea, could a glass blower somehow integrate the heating coil/element straight into a piece of glass?

I'm tearing my toaster apart as we speak. :lol:

I wonder how this compares to a normal cloud.

Great work my friend, :cheers:. I may be contacting you if my VXC ever goes out, :evil:.
 

lazylathe

Almost there...
So i tried to shot a quick and dirty video!
Next time i am going to get a friend to vape and i will record it.
Doing it yourself takes some serious effort!!!

I used my phone…
First time i turn on the picture mode…
Took a few pictures before figuring it out…
Got the video mode going and by this stage, after two hits i am stoned beyond belief already!
Set up the phone and hit record…
Kind of got some vapour but the angle was all messed up and i am too baked to try again…

Numb face, arms etc…
If the original is as good as this frankevape is then i will be truly amazed!!!
Makes me want my EVO even more!!!

Video is busy uploading, i will link to it soon!
Time to go fly…

Here is the video…
Prepare for the worst! I am still coming down…
 
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Hippie Dickie

The Herbal Cube
Manufacturer
lazylathe said:
if you decide to remove the thermocouple note that the wires do not tin and soldering back to the board is quite difficult!

ain't that the truth ... i'm using a thermocouple with 30awg leads (0.010") - i make several loops and jam it into a plated through hole in the pcb, then lay on the solder to physically hold it in contact with the trace. seems to hold up just fine after thousands of heat up/cool down cycles.
 

lazylathe

Almost there...
Atta boy @lazylathe! Thanks for sharing your experiment with us, much appreciated. I submit that the title of the thread needs changing. The only thing that makes "fake" appropriate in the other thread title is the unauthorized nature of the sale, this mod/repair applies to any cloud+...

I like that!!
Thanks i will see if i can get a mod to change it to something more appropriate then!
:tup:

@vtac Could you please change the thread title to "VapeXhale heater mods"
Thanks!

Edit: And so far the best thing is the outer shell only gets WARM to the touch!!
Even the aluminum housing that has HOT stamped on it does not get burning hot.
So i guess that is a plus!
 
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marduk

daydreamer
Nicely done! Looks like if the heater was an inch or so shorter, you would be able to see the LED light up at the joint like a standard Cloud.
 

thesoloman

Well-Known Member
This is really awesome that you managed to do this, i worrying over my cloud dying and now i wont have to worry as much.
I had figured i could rig up some heating coil to make it work, but you sir blew my idea out of the water. :clap::tup::tup:

I think I'm going to see if i can purchase or have sent to me extra bamboos, incase it does break ever(:
 

lazylathe

Almost there...
So i have been cycling the unit on and off the whole day.
Put about 2 full ELB's through it since this morning and every time it blows me away!

I have to say that fresh ground is way better than pre ground material for me.
The last session had me sitting down with the room spinning and feeling nauseous, kind of like the first time ever all again!! Wicked!

Can't wait for my EVO to arrive so i can compare!

lazy...what does this do to temperature? it sounds like it runs a little bit hot, but I have no expertise in reading or understanding electrical specs.

I didn't see this in this thread:

And the link to the heaters:
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Customized-Silicone-Flexible-Heater-For-3d-Printers/1286648139.html

I think the silicone heater mats focus more of the temperature in one direction.
I placed the side with the thinner covering on the bamboo so the thicker outer cover seems to keep a lot of the heat in and not radiate it outwards.
This could also be why it runs cooler to the touch.

And just for you i tried to over use it and almost coughed my guts out!
I managed to do three massively fast pulls one after another and the vapour was thick and heavy all three times and it kept up. I came out second best though and had to sit and meditate and calm down for an hour….
 
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lazylathe

Almost there...
Lol!
I was lucky that I had something lying around that I could experiment with.
I am sure someone on Alibaba could fabricate a similar heater to the original cloud heater.

I am just happy that this monster is keeping me very medicated with quite a lot less herb!
 

lazylathe

Almost there...
Update time:

The heater seems to be holding up nicely so far, although it is not a leave on all the time vape.
Time to heat up and produce vapour is 2:20. Not sure how this compares to the legitimate version?

So for me this is a perfect time as i can prepare the herb, clean out an ELB and reload and then it is ready to vape!
1/4 full ELB's seem to work really well!
 

olivianewtonjohn

Well-Known Member
Update time:

The heater seems to be holding up nicely so far, although it is not a leave on all the time vape.
Time to heat up and produce vapour is 2:20. Not sure how this compares to the legitimate version?

So for me this is a perfect time as i can prepare the herb, clean out an ELB and reload and then it is ready to vape!
1/4 full ELB's seem to work really well!
How long does it take for it to reach temperature?
 
olivianewtonjohn,

Tweak

T\/\/34|<
It takes 2 minutes and 20 seconds for the LED to turn GREEN.
Then i place the ELB in, the direct draw stem on the joint and start inhaling.
So i guess around 2 minutes and 30 seconds to reach temperature.

Is that good?

Mine takes about the same to go green, but I prefer it to heat up for a good 5-15 minutes before getting thick clouds.

Does your casing get hot at all?
 

lazylathe

Almost there...
One thing i am finding with this modded unit is that i seem to have a weed hangover the next day for a long time!
Kind of like when i used to drink too much the night before. I quit drinking almost 2 years ago so now my vapes have taken the glasses place!

Anyway i find i can handle maybe 3 1/4 full ELB's and then i am DONE!! And this is over the course of a few hours!

Ripping it with my Pinnacle WT has changed this beast into an amazing vape!!
Can't wait to compare it to the EVO when it finally arrives…
Looks like it will not be this year….
 
lazylathe,

lazylathe

Almost there...
Hey Lazy - I have a completely defunct cloud that was deemed unrepairable. I would love to send it to you for free, if you can fix it feel free to give it to a member that may be less fortunate than we've been.

I will do it for you if you pick the member.
Lets see how this goes and if it is successful i have two more heaters i will donate!
 

lazylathe

Almost there...
can you post some pictures of your setup? also, what temp are you running to get the hangover?

This is what the ghetto setup looks like at the moment
2013-12-28173016_zpse4a670aa.jpg


So far i run it at 10:30 to 100:00 and no more.
The ABV i get is dark for me but still too green for others.
This is what 4 hits looks like, when i load it is a bright green
2013-12-28173340_zpsf06ca251.jpg


I can get it a lot darker but i hate the taste at those temps so never go really dark like some do.

I think my friend is coming over one day soon and i will get him to do a proper test!
He has iron lungs and loves combustion, so he always goes for the darkest ABV he can get.
Pictures will be taken of the load before and after use.
 
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