Discontinued Thermovape Cera

I feel like the failures are like buying a new piece of hardware for my PC... if it lasts out a week or two you know ur sweet. I feel so bad for all you guys with issues, I'm sure things will get better and failures will get less frequent. I really hope it's soon cause I feel like a fairy dies every time I hear of a broken Cera.

On another note I have a friend coming over on the weekend to try out Cera he has had one earlier introduction but I had not worked her out properly at that early date, and have promised he will be amazed. I will let you all know his thoughts... Hehehe I plan on setting him right up I'm gonna get Cera warmed up loaded perfectly and the I'll give her about a 10 second primer puff then pass her over and tell him to give it a good ol' honk like a bong and I expect his eyes to light up in surprise about 20 to 30 seconds after that and then I expect lots of abuse thrown my way when he can speak again along the lines of... You as@ h#@let you knew that was gonna happen blah blah...

Ohhh I feel so bad hatching this plan but yet feel it has to be done for the good of mankind :-)

R

Belgianvapor said:

Is this something I can keep on doing or should I still screw the core in all the way?
She's still going strong, same way she did when I first got her.

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My understanding is the tiny bit of 'float' is designed in to make the trap self cleaning. If you're happy defeating that function, I see no reason not to do so. Keeping it from shifting might be an issue, perhaps? Maybe some shim, like a few turns of cotton thread or a loop of fine wire, at the top of the threads to stop it just before the flat bottoms out on the plate? Or maybe a similar shim on top of the MP under the cap to push it down a mite?

Fun idea.

TheRobbo said:

I feel like the failures are like buying a new piece of hardware for my PC... if it lasts out a week or two you know ur sweet. I feel so bad for all you guys with issues, I'm sure things will get better and failures will get less frequent. I really hope it's soon cause I feel like a fairy dies every time I hear of a broken Cera.

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Exactly right. In the QC biz it's called "infant mortality" and it basically happens everywhere. If you plot age along the bottom and number of failures up the side you get the reverse of Al Gore's infamous 'hockey stick graph' from the global warming thing more or less. Early on failure rate is high, then it drops way down before slowly rising again over time.

http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/logi...ore.ieee.org/xpls/abs_all.jsp?arnumber=228393

Works for people and cars. If you live a year or two your chances of dieing in any give year before 40 or so is very low. Young men are immortal, just ask them. If your new TV or car makes it a while it's going to most likely serve a long time normally before 'old age' catches up with it.

Against this backdrop are 'running changes' that improve basic reliability. Hopefully a constantly improving situation. I think that's going on only we don't appreciate it. Cera by Cera they're much improved due to several changes we've discussed to death many times over. Only it's masked because the volume is up a LOT. Where months ago a dozen or so a week went out, these days that many a day seems to be happening. So, while the total number of problems might seem high, there's a lot more good ones not reported. A new born Cera is no doubt healthier than it's older brother was when it shipped.

It all gets tied up in MTBF (Mean Time Between Failure) and a bunch of other truly boring stuff, but it's well studied and can usually be well predicted. Deming stuff.

The expected pattern on the CS end is an upcoming sudden drop in business as infant deaths work their way through the system. Each improvement paying off in lower percentages. Soon Tim and the guys can turn it all over to the Maytag Repair Man and plan a trip to the beach.....hopefully. Tim and the guys at a TV Beach Party? Now there's a visual to keep you up late at night......

OF

OF, if with shifting you mean wiggling of the core because it's not screwed in all the way, then I don't have to worry about that because it still sits snug into the body (I get a first bit of resistance when screwing the core in when it gets past the first o ring, then it gets more loose and then it starts to get snug again, this is the point where I stop, I could go on and then it gets a bit loose gain untill it is fully screwed into the body)

I think by shifting he means not screwing back in on it's own by means of something in the thread to physically stop the core from screwing in further. I do NOT recommend this as I believe the act of screwing the core all the way in so the flat plate just above the male thread of the core securely connects with the opposite flat socket (slightly recessed area) just above the female thread in the body plate is what forms a seal separating batteries from air/vapour path.

Sorry if this doesn't make sense or is hard to imagine but just take your core out for a second and look and you will see what I mean.

R

Belgianvapor said:

OF, if with shifting you mean wiggling of the core because it's not screwed in all the way, then I don't have to worry about that because it still sits snug into the body (I get a first bit of resistance when screwing the core in when it gets past the first o ring, then it gets more loose and then it starts to get snug again, this is the point where I stop, I could go on and then it gets a bit loose gain untill it is fully screwed into the body)

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Yup, that's exactly what I meant. I'm a compulsive peeker, I pull the cap off to look inside a lot. Each time running the risk of twisting it in or out.

If you've got it under control....never mind....

Regards,

OF

Oops there I go again jumping in when I'm not needed :-)
I still think my idea about screwing all the way in to confirm a seal between battery and air flow is not the worst in the world

R

Edit: I actually did a test a while back blowing some ecig vapour the wrong way into Cera and could only get it to pass that join with the core slightly undone and the top cap taped on over the join and all the holes covered.

Edit 2: OF I owe you an apology I said I would run more tests on my extra o_ring idea and never published the results, what I just suggested to b'vapour was one of the fruits of said tests which turned out I didn't need the extra o-ring, I am actually running on one to hold the cap on while I wait for spares. The air I could pull with the inlet holes blocked would stop when the unit warmed up a bit so was not an issue turns out it was mostly a pre-heat issue as I was impatient.
Edit 3:
I think the extra o-ring was also lifting the cap/MP assembly just enough to add to the load lifting issue cause it seems to work much better now
That's it I'm done :-P

TheRobbo said:

Oops there I go again jumping in when I'm not needed :-)
I still think my idea about screwing all the way in to confirm a seal between battery and air flow is not the worst in the world

R

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I think that the two o rings that are on the part of the core that sticks out of the body greatly help reducing the extra airflow you are talking about TheRobbo, when I put my lips around the core, without the mp,( putting my lips around the cera body) I can feel the extra airflow but when I put the mp on, it feels like I can only suck air trough the core itself and not trough the sides inbetween the core and the body anymore.

TheRobbo said:

Oops there I go again jumping in when I'm not needed :-)
I still think my idea about screwing all the way in to confirm a seal between battery and air flow is not the worst in the world

R

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Not a bit of it! Please do keep posting your honest views? IMO that's very important. Very. I think the seal on 'threads only' is OK, but a shim/gasket can only help. Good call.

A supply of fresh, 'outside the box' ideas is what moves this good stuff forward.....and that's the direction I favor going...... Otherwise it's 'same old same old' all day long.

Thanks, and keep it up?

OF

My Cera is most definitely running hot. It seems that combustion is something I have to watch for now, as I just combusted again… No mods, fresh battery, and a bowl of kief sandwiched between two layers of ABV. Gave it a 10-15 second pull, and Ack! Maybe it was just the ABV, or I packed too tight? Fear not (maybe just talking to myself there), further testing lies ahead.

It would be nice if my Cera and a fresh flower supply weren't playing Hide & Seek with each other. I think the flowers are hiding in Cali just like Cera; not very creative. It's about time I found my own way over there…

Cera coming tomorrow! Do their batteries come precharged? How long should I expect to leave it to charge before I can use it? I'm color blind partially, and have a hard time reading LED colors.

Does anyone have any techniques to share for the ecig cartridge? My Cera is so gorgeous & I don't think it has an issue, except I can't make vapor just yet.

Right now I have both an ecig & an oil cartridge on hand. Don't have any oil yet so ejuice will be used to break in Cera. Neither cartridge 'do' an awful lot, and by that I mean after 15 seconds or so a jet engine like sound comes out but very little or no vapor & a metallic taste. Don't think I've over/under filled but I obviously need work on the technique. Press the button & suck ain't gettin' me nowhere!

With the mouthpiece off I expect to see vapor, but only get a few spits & hisses. There isn't solid vapor production in other words. I've taken the 30-50 break in hits on each cart.

Any help is appreciated.

nopartofme said:

My Cera is most definitely running hot. It seems that combustion is something I have to watch for now, as I just combusted again… No mods, fresh battery, and a bowl of kief sandwiched between two layers of ABV. Gave it a 10-15 second pull, and Ack! Maybe it was just the ABV, or I packed too tight? Fear not (maybe just talking to myself there), further testing lies ahead.

It would be nice if my Cera and a fresh flower supply weren't playing Hide & Seek with each other. I think the flowers are hiding in Cali just like Cera; not very creative. It's about time I found my own way over there…

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Try wrapping the kief in a small piece of tissue instead of using ABV. ABV always ruins the flavor if you're vaping it off in my experience.

Been going back and forth on the design with the factory in China. It's been going really well. Almost there. Final sketch (before they build the mould and cast it to ceramic) will be sent to me tonight. I will post it here when I receive it. Here's a flavor of what we've been working on:

TheRobbo said:

I like this idea a lot it should be long enough to keep any meaningful heat from reaching your lips, it would be cool if the original MP nipple would also fit where the screen goes for folks that like it's magical properties :-)

R

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Perhaps someone would be interested in working with my contact in China on this idea? I like it but it's not very easy to incorporate with the open-flow design. They charge $100 for an initial sample with a minimum order quantity of 10 (at $6.20 apiece) or $130 for an initial sample with no minimum order quantity.

Highnstein said:

Try wrapping the kief in a small piece of tissue instead of using ABV. ABV always ruins the flavor if you're vaping it off in my experience.

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No need for any of that. You can dump the kief directly in the bowl and it vapes perfectly... even a fairly small amount. It cleans easily afterwards. But of course it's always nice to sandwich between flowers, not ABV. Then the taste is... heaven!

Quick update on my missing screw issue. Turns out it is probably not an issue according to Zeki. I have a 2nd EOC coming today, so hopefully it has all four screws and I can compare performance of the two. I really like the airflow the missing screw provides, will be interesting to compare.

toros23 said:

Quick update on my missing screw issue. Turns out it is probably not an issue according to Zeki. I have a 2nd EOC coming today, so hopefully it has all four screws and I can compare performance of the two. I really like the airflow the missing screw provides, will be interesting to compare.

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Cool, I still think it's a big deal if another works loose. I'd suggest replacement, it's what I did. Good insurance IMO.

OF

OF said:

Cool, I still think it's a big deal if another works loose. I'd suggest replacement, it's what I did. Good insurance IMO.

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Okay, thanks for the input. As always, really thankful for your input.

I am still curious to hear from JCat to see if he is still running with only 3 screws..

JCat, where u at?

OF said:

Ah, so! Well you can't prove that taste part by me I guess. In theory, CO2 will give us a more exacting extract (which is why it's used in food processing....) and can definitely be 'done right' routinely (there's a whole industry based on just that, BHO is largely a 'back room' (hopefully really outside) deal by 'amateurs' (no offense meant to the true stars of the art, I hope the intent is clear?). One is modern high tech gear delivering a nearly perfect and identical product run after run, the other not. I would not fear (good) CO2 extracts (like I said, I look for them). Time and experience will refine your tastes and opinions I'm sure and as you say, a cold definitely doesn't help that process.

And it also depends a lot on the herb you start with. Sweet buds make the best extracts since there's less 'trash' to separate out. The reality is most such extracts come from trim, leaves and other lower quality sources making it a higher hill to climb.


Best wishes.

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Chances are your not really getting C02 hash, the equipment to make it is like 100,000$.. just too expensive to make it properly and its still not as good, and if you did get some its most likely a 'back room' deal by 'amateurs'. Yes its great for food but this is THC and other cannabinoids were talking about extracting. C02 hash is not on the same level as proper refined BHO made n grade solvents plus most people lie and call it C02 hash just to sell it.

Hey all-
Here is my new Pelican 1120 case for Cera and accessories! Hope you enjoy!!
It fits nicely! It holds all three carts, extra batts and some cleaning supplies (under foam)

scottfree said:

Chances are your not really getting C02 hash, the equipment to make it is like 100,000$.. just too expensive to make it properly and its still not as good, and if you did get some its most likely a 'back room' deal by 'amateurs'. Yes its great for food but this is THC and other cannabinoids were talking about extracting. C02 hash is not on the same level as proper refined BHO made n grade solvents plus most people lie and call it C02 hash just to sell it.

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Thanks for your concern. And while I agree there are a lot of scam artists who like to use this as a dodge, I can assure you I have the genuine article. It's not a hash as such but an oil. It's coming from top end Dispensaries here in sunny California with full documentation and testing.

Yes, the gear is expensive and dangerous, but it's also in common use commercially. Lots of food and drug extracts come this way. It's my understanding that batches of trim and lower grade bud are run through those exact same machines as contact jobs. I further understand that a lot of it (maybe most) is used to make edibles (food processing again) so we never know about it.

There are some very nice BHOs out there, no question. Being 'on the same level' is a very subjective thing. Lucky we both seem happy with what's available? I still use/like BHO, but actively seek out and stock up on the CO2 oils. Very cost effective.

If you get away from honest Dispensaries for sure you're on less firm ground. However, I'm not at all sure that the worst of the CO2 extracts has more contamination than even the 'near best there is' BHO given the number of guys that 'blow' the cheapest gas they can find in some pretty haphazard ways (or so I'm told).

So, the 'buyer beware' advice is sound (as always?), but in my case I'm confident I have quite pure CO2 extract of very uniform nature.

Bluntcrush said:

Hey all-
Here is my new Pelican 1120 case for Cera and accessories! Hope you enjoy!!
It fits nicely! It holds all three carts, extra batts and some cleaning supplies (under foam)

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I love the 'under foam' part. A "false bottom Cera case"! How cool is that?

OF

BLAZING OG said:

Iam sorry to hear that, hope you get it fixed in a timely manner!!!!
Mine is out for repair for the same thing only 3 days after waiting for approx. 2 months !!!!
I feel your pain!!!!

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Thanks, I just spoke with Zeki over at TET and they are e-mailing me the return shipping info so i can get it in the mail to them today!!! Really impressed with their customer service! Now hopefully I can get my baby back before Coachella Weekend 2!!! (Wishful thinking)

Any updated on what's going on with your Cera?

Tweek said:

This is the new setup I have been playing with today:

Some of you will recognize that as the mouthpiece from the $40 knock off bubbler. I am still trying to find the best way to keep it in one place, but it works awesome! Would be cool if TET had mouthpieces like this made.

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Check it out, I rigged it up like this:



That's just the standard MP, with the 14mm GonG slid through the thermal cap, which is then slid down snug enough onto the Cera that the glass doesn't wiggle on the ceramic, but not so far that the glass ends up being pushed out of the silicone.

I don't have any screens, so when I first tried it without the UFO I had to pull very lightly (and a bit fearfully). Now with the standard setup back in place I can honk on it, as OF likes to say, while watching vapor fill up the glass and enjoying an extra bit of distance from the heat. And, the bent neck is kinda fun.

Oh, and being able to watch the vapor in a mirror helps a lot with peace of mind during those critical first two steps. So much vapor. So tasty! I'm not gonna complain about the heat of my Cera any more, I've got it under control, thanks!

This should of course work with any 14mm GonG mouthpiece.

NothingToSeeHere said:

Been going back and forth on the design with the factory in China. It's been going really well. Almost there. Final sketch (before they build the mould and cast it to ceramic) will be sent to me tonight. I will post it here when I receive it. Here's a flavor of what we've been working on:

Perhaps someone would be interested in working with my contact in China on this idea? I like it but it's not very easy to incorporate with the open-flow design. They charge $100 for an initial sample with a minimum order quantity of 10 (at $6.20 apiece) or $130 for an initial sample with no minimum order quantity.

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I would be happy to help seeing as it was my idea pm me his contact details. I know I promised a picture and didn't deliver I will try and find 5 minuet after work to smash one out. I really don't think it would be too hard to include all you would have to do would be to make sure the nipple fits through/into the hole just above the lip that holds the screen and start the taper a little further along so it doesnt foul. you could even taper quite sharply right at the end of the nipple to increase wall thickness and strength?

R

Took my CEO on a road trip to the mountain this weekend. now that's what i look for
in a portable. didn't even miss my nail! this thing is a champion.

"The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails."