The Extreme-Q Vaporizer

J.R.R.Tokin' said:

Let me clarify that statement. Throughout this thread - which I have read in it's entirety - there are several discussions relating to the high pitched whine. I did a quick search and here are a few posts discussing the issue - #1578,1871,2471,2605,2862,2878 - there are more I just couldn't be bothered to list them all

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I did the same search before asking for the URL. I also searched the old Extreme thread. The reason I asked is that while the whine is discussed several times, there are only two posters (vape4life and Karma) who thought the whine might be coming from the heater. Everyone else says that it comes from the power brick. I thought perhaps you knew of another thread were the whine was actually shown to be coming from the heater.

I don't think ceramic heaters whine. If they did, then we'd see comments from owners of all sorts of vapourizers, and we don't.

I'm almost certain it didn't come from the heater, only the power brick, however rocking the bowl did affect the whine.

My power bricks would also "hiss" even with the EQ powered off, and then as soon as I turn it on, the hiss would stop. This required me to actually unplug the unit between uses due to the annoying sound.

I've written some posts on this hiss and whine a while back.

No big deal, i'm moving on to Cloud ticking soon enough! Rather it, then the high pitch squeel.

My new custom setup (Using only EQ and MFLB parts, and small glass jar):

Modded cyclone bowl:
http://i44.tinypic.com/122m05u.jpg

Plus glass jar mini bubbler:
http://i39.tinypic.com/2u5yqfm.jpg
http://i44.tinypic.com/vxho9d.jpg

Plus EQ equals SSV-like vaping experience:
http://i42.tinypic.com/2i6jsrp.jpg
http://i44.tinypic.com/szbhn8.jpg

Hits really great.

@Seek -

That's very imaginative, my hats off to you.

A month ago I might have been inclined to try it. But now I have the Cloud so . . . well, you know. (But my Q is still in service for bag socials and just for occasional variety.)

Hey Pakololo. I had a quick read through as well. There are several people that report the noise throughout the thread - including myself. OBG - who is is a great contributor to the thread - has a great post about the noise in detail #2606 but states it first in #2473.

Other areas that the discussion takes place are around posts #2604 - #2865 - #3384. You are right though as not all report that it's the heater - but some do. On my unit I'm pretty certain that the noise comes from the region of the heater, but have never found it to be an issue.

I hope that clears it up a bit

I have "the whine." I'm 21, so I trust my ears well (the whine is in a high enough frequency range that not all can hear it, or hear it well. As your ears start to age, they take wear and tear...excessive loud noise exposure without hearing protection, and in some cases, just life, can dull your hearing in some frequency ranges) So, no offense, but age will probably play a factor in weather or not you can hear the noise, and how accurately you can hear it.

I can confirm it does come from the heater. I experimented while the EQ was taken apart, and couldnt fix the whine. BUT, it is in the heater. you can wiggle/move the heater cover around and make the noise stop/change. I would say this noise is different, yet similar to the clickling noise in the VXC. It seems to be directly proportionate to the het setting, in that it's noise is different when the unit is heating, vs sitting maintaining temp, vs dropping temp. I believe the noise comes from whatever regulates the power in the EQ, not the brick. I have numerous times (before just taking the EQ apart) placed my ear near the power brick, and the sound doesnt come from there, it's from the heater area.

I have a couple friends who actually won't use the EQ anymore, because of the noise. While I also have a few friends who cannot hear it at all.

I guess I have 'Young Ears' 'cos I can hear it too. I'm glad you've had a proper tinker and have isolated where the noise was coming from. For me it was definitely in the heater region of the vape, not the power brick - though others may have that problem.

For me it's a non-issue. Unless I'm in a totally silent room with no windows open - doesn't happen to me often till bed - I don't notice it.

Purpl3_Haz3 said:

. . . it is in the heater. you can wiggle/move the heater cover around and make the noise stop/change. I would say this noise is different, yet similar to the clickling noise in the VXC. It seems to be directly proportionate to the het setting, in that it's noise is different when the unit is heating, vs sitting maintaining temp, vs dropping temp. I believe the noise comes from whatever regulates the power in the EQ, not the brick . . .

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If moving something makes the noise change immediately, that usually means it's pressure related. A noise that changes as a constant proportionally to the heat setting (like the Cloud) is usually a voltage regulator. A (garden-variety) brick that makes a noise is usually due to a failing transformer. (But note this is just what is typical; there are other possibilities.)

Everyone is correct here. I can confirm the whine from the heater (or the EQ itself anyway) and stopped it with a wiggle of the bowl/heater cover or changes in temp. However there is definitely a separate issue with the bricks, but it's more of a HISS sound.

It definitely comes from the brick for me, the unit itself that I have is silent (thankfully). I'd rather have a whiny supply than worry about why the unit itself was whining.

Now I'm looking into hooking it up to use a water bong I just saw that mini bubbler you made, Seek...that's really cool.

Also yes - it is a switching power supply issue I think with the whining. I tried all the tricks and it still does it so I just need to contact the store and see what they say before contacting Arizer again.

My unit has both these sounds. The whining noise was there all the time (I think that's switching supply), but the clicking began when I disassembled it all the way to the ceramic heater. Don't really know, where I changed anything that started to make this clicking. I think it comes from the heater. Maybe some vibrations from wires? I've moved them a bit because they were clawed by tightened screws (seemed wrong to me). Now they are loose, maybe because this they are free to vibrate.

Seek said:

. . . I think it comes from the heater. Maybe some vibrations from wires? I've moved them a bit because they were clawed by tightened screws (seemed wrong to me). Now they are loose, maybe because this they are free to vibrate.

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I've never heard of a noise from vibrating wires. But besides electrical controller components (eg., VR's, chokes), expansion/contraction of materials such as ceramics can emit noises.

I've discovered one really interesting thing. When I just draw from the whip my style (elbow pack direct draw does this too) it doesn't vape evenly, always leaves brown spot somewhere and the rest is green. Yeah, known fact, only few vapes (HA, VXC...) heat air so its the same temp both in the center and edges of the flow. But the spot was always on diferent places. That made me think why - where that random thing occurs. It's the angle of these GonG joints. Everytime I put it randomly (well with the cyclone bowl you simply don't know what angle it is, it looks the same at all 360 degrees) so it makes spot. But when I am turning slowly the GonG joint while hitting (i turn the heater one) it never leaves any spot! Only a big light one indiacating that the heat distribution was way more uniform.

It's like turning the SSV wand I see in vids and for the same purpose. Now I use my EQ almost exactly like SSV. SSV would be a bit easier for this though. But I have EQ.

I was initially about to purchase the EQ but discovered the VXC as I love vapor bonging but have grown impatient of the long wait and now am back trying to make a educated decision.

EQ + New Tube
or
VXC+ Wait Time

Currently I have a lot of work to do but I hope to learn more as I invest my time on this thread. Peace n Pot everyone

NewSchoolExplorer said:

I was initially about to purchase the EQ but discovered the VXC as I love vapor bonging but have grown impatient of the long wait and now am back trying to make a educated decision.

EQ + New Tube
or
VXC+ Wait Time

Currently I have a lot of work to do but I hope to learn more as I invest my time on this thread. Peace n Pot everyone

Click to expand...

Are you asking for opinions?

Anyone here know where I can find replacement dome screens for my Extreme Q for a half decent price?

I want to order a bunch of them (8-10) like I usually do from rockwise, but their website is down and everywhere else seems to charge a ridiculous amount for them.

NewSchoolExplorer said:

I was initially about to purchase the EQ but discovered the VXC as I love vapor bonging but have grown impatient of the long wait and now am back trying to make a educated decision.

EQ + New Tube
or
VXC+ Wait Time

Currently I have a lot of work to do but I hope to learn more as I invest my time on this thread. Peace n Pot everyone

Click to expand...

Have you preordered the Cloud yet? If not you'll be waiting a bit, so i'd go EQ + new tube, and then when you can get a Cloud, sell your EQ and keep the tube to use with the Cloud! Pow! You'd be doing yourself a favour anyway by not getting any "early adopter" issues. I don't think the EQ had any early adopter issues, same with the E, and v-tower for that matter. The Solo on the other hand.... don't even wanna go there lol

vape4life said:

Have you preordered the Cloud yet? If not you'll be waiting a bit, so i'd go EQ + new tube, and then when you can get a Cloud, sell your EQ and keep the tube to use with the Cloud! Pow! You'd be doing yourself a favour anyway by not getting any "early adopter" issues. I don't think the EQ had any early adopter issues, same with the E, and v-tower for that matter. The Solo on the other hand.... don't even wanna go there lol

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Thanks for your input.
@oldiebutgoodie: Both, I was simply putting my thoughts in this thread so I can remember to come back and become fully acquainted with the EQ but your opinions are more than welcome.

I was using the No2 for Vapor Bonging and did not like the restricted pull and looking for something that can produce THICK clouds through a water filterated pipe without that sort of restriction/drag.

I woudn't keep the EQ tube for the VXC. Silicone is way better. It's been a long time since I used the PVC tube last time.

I assumed tube = glass water bong

Hello this is my anti-elbow pack ,i am waiting so long for my smallest cyclone,so i I have tried this laboratory 19\26mm joint.and I was surprised how this one works better than the elbow original.this ABV is made whitout a stirring at 180-185 whit preheating my amnesia at 200 for 2-3 mins.very nice vapor sweet and fresh in the throat.

NewSchoolExplorer said:

@oldiebutgoodie: Both, I was simply putting my thoughts in this thread so I can remember to come back and become fully acquainted with the EQ but your opinions are more than welcome.

I was using the No2 for Vapor Bonging and did not like the restricted pull and looking for something that can produce THICK clouds through a water filterated pipe without that sort of restriction/drag.

Click to expand...

OK, I just didn't want to offer unsolicited opinion. So, as far as

EQ + New Tube
or
VXC+ Wait Time

Click to expand...

I've never used the No2 so I don't know your reference point. From your post it sounds that you want to hit big (i.e., thick clouds thru the bong) but want to minimize drag. Assuming that's correct . . . a large number of Q users here use the "elbow pack" to get big hits. Just recently it was asked whether the Q can deliver as big a hit as the SSV/Buddha and the replies, consistent with those in the past, were essentially that you can get close with the Q but only if using the elbow pack. However, the elbow pack adds noticeable drag, and a whip setup also creates more drag than a direct connect setup. IMO this is one of the major differences between the Q and the Cloud: The Cloud has remarkably little drag and with it direct connected to a good no/low drag water piece like it's own HydraTube, you can get very big smooth hits without any drag to speak of. Now all that said, you can still get nice sized hits off the Q with just the Cyclone and no elbow pack, that is, without the drag of the elbow pack, but you've got to have the lungs for it and the bowl probably needs to be at least half full because the air ratio will be much higher.

On the other hand, the Q is a third of the price of a Cloud, and then there is the wait time. VXL has just made some manufacturing process improvements as well as added glass blowing capacity, so shipment volumes will be picking up. AFAIK VXL is still taking pre-orders. You might try a PM to Stonemonkey55 and just ask him for a time-frame estimate. I would guess that you would have to wait until at least mid-late summer, though.

Personally, I'm happy to have both the Q and the Cloud, but that is largely because I use the Q with balloons for social situations; for direct draw, I'm hooked on the Cloud. If I were in your shoes now, I would probably only buy a Q if I intended to also use the bag, had no other back-up, and I had the extra cash to burn. Otherwise I would wait several months or even longer for the Cloud, and make do with what I had or get a very inexpensive alternative to get me by that would also be decent back-up for later.

Just my . Hope it helps.

Extreme Q hits really well!
Had the bowl packed about 1/8 full, set to 210C (V3 model), and still hitting after 5 tokes!

foolie said:

Extreme Q hits really well!
Had the bowl packed about 1/8 full, set to 210C (V3 model), and still hitting after 5 tokes!

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foolie, I'm really glad you posted that.

NewSchoolExplorer, IMO this illustrates how subjective the terms "thick" and "big" clouds are. To me, that's a big tube full of thick vapor there. But apparently for many, I dunno maybe most, the SSV hits bigger and so that's used as a big hitting benchmark. For you, the Q may hit plenty big without the elbow-pack and therefore without that drag. It depends on your own definition. It looks like foolie is just using the Cyclone. (Note the short whip and higher temp; that reduces drag and adds density, too.) For myself personally, I'm willing to sacrifice density for less drag and less irritation, so I don't elbow pack and I don't go above 190C and I get what most would probably call medium clouds. This is also why I switched to the Cloud, i.e., it has less drag, less irritation, but great density even at lower temps. Still, I like the Q a lot and heartily recommend it - just not as much as I do the Cloud.

Wow, you're getting vapour that thick with the cyclone only 1/8th full? My experiences with that little amount were not as good...basically would throw the bits around and get mostly air. I only had good experiences with the bowl around 1/2 full or more and had to stir often.