Discontinued Thermovape Cera

Mynameismud said:

Mine works well all the time since i got it rebuilt! Unlike my FFs which have all been inconsistent or broken. I know you sent your cera back and they didnt do anything...but maybe when you get your FF back contact them and see if you can do the new $25 ground up rebuild. I would send your Cera, switch and a battery you use too just so they can test everything while its there.

Should get your cera working consistently and for longer time off a single battery

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Thats my plan. I've got nothing against my cera, other than I sent it in for NO change. Is the $25 ground up rebuild up and running? Thats all I wanted to do all along, pay them to make it work like it once did!

So does this mean I'll shortly be able to use my persei handle with an adapter and a LL core? A simple push button cera LL?!

I'm going to be sending my EO and LL carts out, both for a rebuild once I get my other portable back. I'm sending in the whole vape.


OF do you know if I send the EO and the LL cart in with $50, will they check out my switch and battery tube and see if any of that needs replacing?

darkrom said:

So does this mean I'll shortly be able to use my persei handle with an adapter and a LL core? A simple push button cera LL?!

OF do you know if I send the EO and the LL cart in with $50, will they check out my switch and battery tube and see if any of that needs replacing?

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Yes, I believe it means exactly that. I hope the plan to make 601 adapters (for which Persei is about the only use I can think of?) comes to pass, many of us have been asking for just that for some time now.

I don't know for certain, of course, but IMO that's exactly what would happen if you sent the lot in. That would certainly be the intent, two cart for prepaid 'ground up rebuilds' and the Cera body and switch in for evaluation (and service as needed under warranty) with the rest of the system. Best plan, IMO. Hopefully that won't get confused on the TV end, but that might happen the first time or two, so I'd suggest contact directly with Zeki when the time comes. If you cue me in when it happens, maybe I can use it for an excuse to wonder over and annoy the boys?

This post, as well as yours, has nothing at all to do with Luna as I see it. It logically comes from the moved post of mine above yours which had some Luna information in it. I'm not sure but I think this post, the one above (yours) and probably mine above that (so it will make some sense to Cera owners who no doubt are interested) should be moved to the Cera thread? I'll report it and let the Mods sort it out.

Good luck with it, sounds like a good idea (best in fact IMO), please let me know if I can help grease the skids on it?

OF

Does anyone know how the sony vtc4 2000mah work in the cera? My local vapeshop only seems to have those

We over at the PNP thread just came across something disturbing. In this process we also found this:

LINK OF FAKE CERA DELETED

If this is allready know, please just delete this post.

Herr_Dampf said:

We over at the PNP thread just came across something disturbing. In this process we also found this:

LINK OF FAKE CERA DELETED

If this is allready know, please just delete this post.

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Woof. Chinese quality cera knockoff lol. I don't think thermovape would be sweating them much, their high quality, materials, and USA made are big selling points.

No where does the cera have BRASS in it lol. I don't think this is as big of a concern as the fake pax's were. IMO the shit MADE in china like the pax and the PNP is probably easier to clone well, but that is just my opinion.

darkrom said:

Woof. Chinese quality cera knockoff lol. I don't think thermovape would be sweating them much, their high quality, materials, and USA made are big selling points.

No where does the cera have BRASS in it lol. I don't think this is as big of a concern as the fake pax's were. IMO the shit MADE in china like the pax and the PNP is probably easier to clone well, but that is just my opinion.

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They ripped off the revolutions/darts and T1s too. Nothing new.

The thumb switch looks interesting though. Wonder if it works how the cera was originally intended and if it can be used on my actual cera might be worth it just for that although it might not be needed now with the conversion option in the horizon

Mynameismud said:

They ripped off the revolutions/darts and T1s too. Nothing new.

The thumb switch looks interesting though. Wonder if it works how the cera was originally intended and if it can be used on my actual cera might be worth it just for that although it might not be needed now with the conversion option in the horizon

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If it was easy enough to get chinese con artists to do it...thermovape would have already figured it out. IMO I'd never let chinese parts hit my cera.

I know about chinese cloning in ecigs, I didn't knew about the extent in vaping. I will edit the message, no point in advertising this crap

If anything it just shows how much better the real deal is. I don't think anyone is going to buy that shit lol. Not anyone here anyway.

Mynameismud said:

The thumb switch looks interesting though. Wonder if it works how the cera was originally intended and if it can be used on my actual cera might be worth it just for that although it might not be needed now with the conversion option in the horizon

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No way, Charlie! That's not their unit, like the Revolution rip off before it, they simply stole the photos as well. Take a careful look at the slightly off center rubber sleeve over the screw at 12 o'clock. That's a one off Beta unit, only one made that way I'm told, I got it right after that photo was taken. I'm looking at the screw and rubber tube right now, it ain't in China.......

I've no doubt they intend to make some if you order at least 10, but dollars to doughnuts (or should that be Yen?) it won't match the photo or the real Cera.

Note the comical Specifications:
"1.Thermovape T1
2.for Loose leaf
3.Simply exceptional
4.Pure"

Where did "Thermovape T1" come from? They probably have zero idea what that is. "Loose leaf" is a TV term, ever hear any other vape maker use it?

The truly sad part is good people will be duped into buying this junk thinking they're getting the one they know...... TV makes the market and educates the customer so they can cheat him.

darkrom said:

If it was easy enough to get chinese con artists to do it...thermovape would have already figured it out. IMO I'd never let chinese parts hit my cera.

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They never even built one I bet. Or even looked one over or they'd have used better graphics.....you'd hope. I think it'd be fun watching them try to deliver that feature, wouldn't it.

Given the way they screwed up the ceramic in the Revolution rip off cart (the one I got is ceramic but it sure isn't porous......evidently they never really tried the counterfeit and the real one at the same time or they'd have caught that one. In that (Revolution) case they did disassemble a cart, they copied the patented crimp ring connection on the center pin. I wonder if they actually examined a physical Cera or just responded to a 'here's a hot seller you can steal the design of' tip? One thing 'sure' is it's not Zirconia........

Be even more funny if you didn't know good folks will be beat out of hard earned money and TV will take the hit on the 'oh, those, they don't work very well' front.

Funny they missed the oil cart, but that came later......

OF

Ok gang, here is the update on the rebuilt LL carts. WOWZAA! Just like when I first opened her up! I got some of the Sony green batteries and I'm on my fourth bowl (not right in a row, maybe like a 20 min break for it to cool down) Trying to really test her out and see how far I can push her. Still AWESOME flavor as always and now the clouds O the clouds! These cores lasted me about a year each so for $25 per year per core that is a sweet deal opposed to whoops my internal battery died and another $250 for a whole new portable In addition, I think the new side switch is going to really add a new dynamic to the Cera, reinventing it so to speak And you folk and the hot MP, get your core up to spec and hone in your technique. When you got that done, she pumps vapor quickly, so the MP stays nice and flavorful! and if it gets a bit hot, run it under the tap (just the tip, pointed down!) for a few secs and you're set Now I keep going back and forth to see if it's Cera . ..FF. . .wait CERA??!! Man I need a break!

Wow great tip with the water! Never even thought of that

Completely agree with all except:

OF said:

...
"Loose leaf" is a TV term, ever hear any other vape maker use it?
...
OF

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Many _tobacco_ vapes use the term. My first thought was of the original Ploom, but from the Pax web page at http://www.ploom.com/pax we still see the title description as:
"the premium loose leaf vaporizer"
So as much as I love my TET/TV gear, they didn't coin this term.

-NDA

Nick Again said:

Completely agree with all except:


Many _tobacco_ vapes use the term. My first thought was of the original Ploom, but from the Pax web page at http://www.ploom.com/pax we still see the title description as:
"the premium loose leaf vaporizer"
So as much as I love my TET/TV gear, they didn't coin this term.

-NDA

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Of course tobacco folks use the term, it's a tobacco term.

Please read what I said again? "Ever hear any other vape maker use it?" I haven't. My point is not only does their text make little sense in places and they stole and claim as their own a photo of a pre production Beta Test unit that was posted by TV, but they even slimed part of their literature.

I think they're common counterfeiters, not a real vape maker with a product of their own to offer.

You can decide if 'their lawyers made them do it' or if TV decided on their own to use LL for cover but the result is the same. IMO using that uncommon term (in vape circles) is a 'tell'. I can also tell you from first hand experience (having written some of the text for TV and edited others) that use of that term (or "botanicals") is a requirement.

Cera is not practical for Tobacco over all IMO (OK, ready for the 'my grandmother loves it that way' posts.....). I seriously doubt if any owner owns and uses it for that purpose. My Beta unit got lots of use by curious vapers, twice that included tobacco that I saw; for exactly one solid hit each time. One of those actually in their shop. I was in for a tune up on the Beta unit and a visitor came by. He'd heard of it and obviously it was the first he'd seen (at the time there were only Beta units). He asked if he could try tobacco in it right there. Since the core is so easy to clean I said 'fine by me, go for it'....which he did. He broke up one of those American Spirit coffin nails.

A first really woosy hit put a quizzical look on his face, the next (aborted) full hit damn near killed him. My other spectator experience was not so public but just as showy and decisive. Both claimed to have 'got off' on the nicotine after they recovered their breath (but before that lovely color left their cheeks) but neither seems to have thought it was worth it.

Thanks.

OF

Well, finally took the plunge and bought a used Cera from the classifieds. All was fine the first couple days although it took longer to heat up than I thought it would. Unfortunately, now it's not lighting up at all. The guy I bought it from said he had the strap upgraded to the laser weld but shoving a ball of tin foil in there did nothing for me, unless I'm doing it wrong. It seems like it's not even making contact because the battery is not even draining at all now. Also the center part of the switch seems to be a little wobbly and even comes unscrewed a bit, maybe it lost a connection inside? Don't think thats the problem though because the foil thing still didn't work.

You want the switch tightened down as much as possible. If the foil test doesn't work, it's the strap or the cart (or the battery).

Czechyourhead said:

You want the switch tightened down as much as possible. If the foil test doesn't work, it's the strap or the cart (or the battery).

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I tried a few different batteries, even ones that previously had worked, no difference. I hope it's not the cart. How can I check if it's the cart?

Czechyourhead said:

You want the switch tightened down as much as possible. If the foil test doesn't work, it's the strap or the cart (or the battery).

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Excellent advice. The foil test completely eliminates the cap and switch (loose or not) from the situation (which is why it works so well as a troubleshooting tool: It uses the "principle of substitution" from troubleshooting theory). The problem can't be in the switch or cap (although in the end there may also be a problem there).

Since the strap has been upgraded, my money's on the cart. Batteries tend to do OK for a little while even on their last legs. That is they don't just crash. If it were mine I'd either send it in for warranty service (which might not find an intermittent connection which it sounds like we're dealing with) or the new $25 'ground up rebuild' which would include an entire new heater assembly. Another cost and delay is a bitter pill to swallow of course, but you end up with basically a brand new cart and a fresh start.

To be doubly sure you could include the body and tail cap and get them checked out (free, under warranty) at the same time?

tony yayo said:

I tried a few different batteries, even ones that previously had worked, no difference. I hope it's not the cart. How can I check if it's the cart?

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As I just said, I bet it is....."sorry about that, Chief". The best technique is 'divide and conquer'. This would mean in this case taking the core off the working Cera you don't have and trying it. Or putting the suspected cart on a known good Cera (which of course you also don't have). And then testing under real operating conditions (heat most important).

You can try to read it's resistance with a meter, but it could well read OK cold (typically does in fact in intermittent failure cases like this (the very hardest to ferret out, give me a hard failure any day)).

Lacking more equipment (like a spare Cera) you're up against it. I'd seriously consider sending it in, I bet you end up there and the sooner you get it there, the sooner you'll be enjoying it.

I'm sorry it looks like you might have bought into someone else's problem, it might just be bad timing of course or something else, but the problem is now in your lap. Fortunately TV is a great resource here, I suggest using it.

Good luck with it, IMO it's worth any reasonable effort to get on board.

OF

Pretty sure its not the batteries because i put them back on the charger and they still show green so its not drawing any power from them at all.

Just strange because last night iwas getting killer hits and then a couple hours later, nothing at all.

Hey all,
I was on the TET website this morning and I noticed that there has been an update to pay for a rebuild of your old cart when purchasing the new luna body.....in the summary below it states that:
"Any oil or liquid cartridge purchased before the Luna will require a rebuild in order to correctly fit with the Luna vaporizer body"
Does anyone know if that means once they are converted to fit the luna body properly they will no longer work as intended in the cera body?
http://store.thermovape.com/luna-vaporizer-body-p65.aspx

EditL: I was not sure which thread this was an appropriate topic for so I posted in the luna thread as well.

http://store.thermovape.com/luna-vaporizer-body-p65.aspx
http://store.thermovape.com/luna-vaporizer-body-p65.aspx

tony yayo said:

Pretty sure its not the batteries because i put them back on the charger and they still show green so its not drawing any power from them at all.

Just strange because last night iwas getting killer hits and then a couple hours later, nothing at all.

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I didn't know you had more than one, that adds yet more weight, I agree, very slim chance there's a battery problem.....slimmer than before.

OTOH, sudden death (and unexplained, if only temporary, recovery) is a hallmark of a weak mechanical connection (changing with temperature, vibration and such). Once they break free, it's all random chance until it's properly fixed. Like a flickering headlight, until the bad socket is replaced. Sorry to say, time for a trip to the shop I think.

Good luck.

thegoo said:

Hey all,

Does anyone know if that means once they are converted to fit the luna body properly they will no longer work as intended in the cera body?

EditL: I was not sure which thread this was an appropriate topic for so I posted in the luna thread as well.

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I think it has to do with the cart length, from shoulder to center tip. The exact length is more critical since there's not a spring pushing the battery directly up on it like in Cera. It now depends on sandwiching the switch body between, and that is confined by the push button shaft and matching retaining bushing out the back side.

I'm due to take all cores in for fitting/rebuilding next week. The core that came with it works fine, as do about half my others. Once in the suitable range for Luna they will definitely still work in Cera, the critical size issue is the other way. I understand from the email I got yesterday that there's a new shim/washer designed to tighten up this tolerance range. Perhaps they just got them?

Anyway, no big deal, as I understand any Luna fitted cart is fine on Cera and the Cera carts either make spec now (but need to be checked as marginal contact is bad karma) or can easily be fitted with a new part to make them so.

I'm confused these days too. I think it belongs here as well, but nobody asked...... I can cop out with 'answer them where they're asked' I guess. If it's in the wrong place our kindly Mods will have to sort it out.

OF

tony yayo said:

Pretty sure its not the batteries because i put them back on the charger and they still show green so its not drawing any power from them at all.

Just strange because last night iwas getting killer hits and then a couple hours later, nothing at all.

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Possible that my concentrate is not quality enough and it gunked it up so bad that the circuit through the cart is screwed up now? From what I'm reading a strap shouldn't fail more than once, right?

tony yayo said:

Possible that my concentrate is not quality enough and it gunked it up so bad that the circuit through the cart is screwed up now? From what I'm reading a strap shouldn't fail more than once, right?

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Almost anything is possible if you put enough monkeys at enough typewriters, but sudden death is not the sort of thing that low quality oil causes. It causes, slow, lingering problems. Getting better, the worse again, usually.

There's nothing of an electrical nature that is harmed by gunk usually, they'll run somewhat even really fouled up. If they go cold, the electrical connections have failed somehow.

Finally, no, as far as I have seen while some of the original straps have had problems, soldering them seems to have fixed that, spot welding should do even better. Last time I asked none of the repaired straps had failed. Chances there I think are very small. My money's still on the cart.

OF

tony yayo said:

Possible that my concentrate is not quality enough and it gunked it up so bad that the circuit through the cart is screwed up now? From what I'm reading a strap shouldn't fail more than once, right?

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Do you only have an EO? If so, try cleaning out your cart, then put it back on and apply downward pressure to the cart while trying to heat it up. It should still have liquid in it so if it sizzles then its probably the strap if not then its probably the cart. Gonna have to clean it up anyway to send it out so its worth a shot

Hey all,
This afternoon i picked up CERA to take out with me as I was about to leave my house for the day, i noticed it was very hot and when i took the mouthpeice out i saw vapor pouring out of the core. This was all happening without the button being depressed. The core had been sitting on my shelf over night and worked fine last time i used it yesterday. I unscrewed the switch and took the battery out and everything looked normal. After putting the battery back in and switch back on it immediately started activating and the core got scalding hot in a matter of seconds. When I took the battery out the next time, the spring fell clean off the switch. I am going to pack it up and send it back in but I was wondering if any one out there has experienced something similar?