Arizer Solo

OF

Well-Known Member
Simple solution for the moving stems . ( from a simple guy )
I place my first finger on the stem to steady it and guide it towards my mouth . I personally like the easiness to switch
stems , so I don't really mind the loose stems .

I just tried the PA mode on my Fully Charged new Solo .
And it's letting me use it old style , Not Charging at all .

Sounds like a fine solution to me, I assume you're using a straight stem? There I'm fine with some motion, it's like a big Purple Days or other stem vape then. My problem is with the bent one and gravity rotating it.

It actually is charging, or at least discharging the battery. Has to. The wall wort (charger) doesn't have near enough power (over two Amps) for the heater when it's heating on it's own. A bit under half can come from the charger (shore power), but at least the other half has to come from the battery (unlike the old style PA that could provide full power). That power can be replaced in the ten or so seconds the heater is off, only to be pulled out again in the next heating cycle or alternately the battery could be used for 100% of the power until it drops off enough to trip recharge (say 15% or so of the total?). I suspect the latter if the charge LED isn't lit.

One of these days I really should buy or borrow a new style, I still have the test cables from my earlier Solo experiments around here somewhere. But for now, the numbers say what seems to be happening can't happen the way it seems.......seems to me.

OF
 

poonman

Well-Known Member
No I steady the bent stem , right at the bend part .

I've just completed 2 sessions on PA mode .
The green light did not come on once .

I also did 1 session portable style , draining some battery .
Plugged the PA back , and now it's charging again .
Green light flashing .

I will try more PA sessions on a Fully Charged unit to see if the charge light will come on eventually ...but tomorrow .

This was my ideal PA usage for the new versions .
 

OF

Well-Known Member
No I steady the bent stem , right at the bend part .

I've just completed 2 sessions on PA mode .
The green light did not come on once .

I will try more PA sessions on a Fully Charged unit to see if the charge light will come on eventually ...but tomorrow .

This was my ideal PA usage for the new versions .

Cool. I get it, you're using a finger to retain the stem. Like so much in vaping, I had different 'luck' there (fund the grip awkward and finger tended to slide down.....I'm far to casual?).

You're leaving it plugged in, right? That doesn't count, I think, because it can be 'topping up' on the sly. I've never tried the new Solo as I've said, but for instance the Pinnacle I've been playing with actually continues to charge (drawing about half an Amp from the USB, which tapers to about .2 before it suddenly drops to zero. Several other vapes do this, signal 'full' when the tapering charge starts (customers buy based on 'fast recharge').

If it's a true PA you can do endless sessions unplugging between? The numbers say that's not possible. Or did when I went to school.....

Put another way, the old PA scheme runs without a battery, I'll bet dollars to doughnuts the new one won't. Anyone tried?

OF
 

CarolKing

Singer of songs and a vapor connoisseur
The newer model Solo that I had could be used and charged at the same time with my PA. It doesn't bypass the battery.
I bought my PA when I bought my older model Solo last July. It came in handy and I used it a lot.
 
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exit

Well-Known Member
my solo too died recently, been hearing lots of reports of solos goin bad in the same way, maybe there was a bad batch of em recently?

my last solo i just sent back ran hottest of all 4 solos i have owned (yes i've managed to kill that many in a year somehow, all warranty replacements) so i hope the next one i get also runs hot

good thing though is they extended my warranty somehow so my solo that died is still covered...

however i have been a week without a solo and it is hellish, at this point i really should have just bought a backup one as well, and soon i will because this was the worst.

UNREALTED: if you run the new model solos that can charge and heat at the same time with a pa, does it drain the battery much? i remember with my old model solo before they could charge and heat at the same time, that it would still use a little battery power.
 
It still seems you need some battery left to use the Solo when plugged in. I just got a new Solo and it does run hot I keep it on 2 and herb get's really brown. I don't really like that it get's that hot on setting 2 as I find 1 just not warm enough but 2 is getting on the hot side. I have never owned another Solo but mine does charge quick. I never leave the battery go beyond 2 as I have read completely draining a battery and then charging is hard on them. Mine is like others when plugged in and heater is engaged the Solo's charge light still flashes. While using it plugged in and charging will have to try it again it seemed to have drained a bit of the battery while using it.
 
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OF

Well-Known Member
UNREALTED: if you run the new model solos that can charge and heat at the same time with a pa, does it drain the battery much? i remember with my old model solo before they could charge and heat at the same time, that it would still use a little battery power.

There is apparently no difference between the old PA and the charger always used with the new model. Both charge, neither runs (true) PA.

You're memory is off some, the old model does not charge and heat at the same time. Ever. The voltage determines if it runs PA (if between 6.9 and 9.0 Volts) or charges (if between 10.1 and 15 Volts). If it's say 9.5 Volts you get the 'light show' (random flashing of lights) with neither PA nor charging going on.

A way of looking at it is the old one could never charge (high voltage) and run (PA mode, lower voltage) and that charging locked out heating. The new one has no PA mode (really), will run if the battery is charged enough (the old one will run without a battery at all) no matter what the input voltage is and will charge if the voltage is high enough (over 8 Volts?) no matter if it heating or not. The new one works like a cell phone for the most part? The old one had to modes (PA and battery), the new one only one (on battery, but could be charging or not).

It still seems you need some battery left to use the Solo when plugged in.

I never leave the battery go beyond 2 as I have read completely draining a battery and then charging is hard on them. Mine is like others when plugged in and heater is engaged the Solo's charge light still flashes.

I think you're right, you need sufficient charge on the battery to heat, plugged in or not. Anyone find it different?

You might rethink that charging scheme. Discharging down to zero LEDs (even running only one more session after the last LED is dark) probably doesn't hurt the battery a significant amount (there are still several sessions before lock out), however routinely charging to 'full' definitely does. Simply storing such batteries fully charged will degrade them seriously in a year or so (just sitting, not being used at all) which is why they come shipped to you 'half charged'. If you simply stop the charging after the top LED lights but before the charge cycle stops (meaning you can't leave it plugged in 'all the time so it's ready to go') you can easily double the service life of the battery, even more. Used 'normally' you can expect about 300 "cycles" (recharges) from the battery (no matter how much you discharge it between provided you don't deeply discharge). If you stop at 4.1 Volts per battery rather than the 4.2 the Solo stops at that cycle number is 600. This is basically 90% capacity, one less session per charge? Drop that to 4.0 (about the point the last LED lights) and you double that again, 1200 cycles (each with 2 less potential sessions). Right now you're 'throwing away' the lower sessions in each charge cycle. You'll get many less sessions before wearing the battery out.

The more hours they spend above 4 Volts the faster the battery dies from that alone.

Check out the stuff around Chart 4:
http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/how_to_prolong_lithium_based_batteries

It's not like topping up your car's gas tank. It's more like 'you only get to unlock the gas cap (and fill the car) XXX times before the cap won't come off'. If you run each tankfull down more the car goes more miles before it's useless. More so, if you don't fill up the last 1/5 of the tank, the cap unlocks a much larger number of times?

I think the flashing charge light while heating has nothing to do with the heating, the light would flash (because it's charging) no matter? I think this may be "masked" if the battery is nearly full, new owners would be freaking out with 'my unit was fully charged, I ran it in PA mode and now it's charging again....'?

I think we all know cell phones or laptops that are kept 'always plugged in and fully charged ready to go' that now have pathetic battery life? That, I think, will also happen to the Solo in the new scheme. Until we know more, I can't recommend leaving them plugged in and I've never recommended fully charging if you can help it (which will automatically happen if you leave it plugged in too long....).

However, even if abused in the worst way by charging Solo is still an outstanding performer. The battery will die eventually if you use it enough. Batteries are cheap, relatively, enjoy the Solo however you can?

OF
 

fubar

Ancient and opiniated inhaler
Also, I think if the stem is loose in the device then the herbs will more likely fall into the heating element.
Yes, gravity sucks.
Mine is mostly used upside down.
You get used to the balance and the herb stays put - especially with a proper fit hi-temp O ring to stop any stem wobble.
 

EveryDayAmnesiac

Well-Known Member
Well, I decided to join the Solo family again, and placed my order from puffitup last night and it's shipping today.

So I just spent more money I (kind of) don't have on ANOTHER vaporizer instead of on... like... food or gas or... dental insurance or something. :ko:

I deserve congratulations, right? :D
 

wilvape

Well-Known Member
It still seems you need some battery left to use the Solo when plugged in. I just got a new Solo and it does run hot I keep it on 2 and herb get's really brown. I don't really like that it get's that hot on setting 2 as I find 1 just not warm enough but 2 is getting on the hot side. I have never owned another Solo but mine does charge quick. I never leave the battery go beyond 2 as I have read completely draining a battery and then charging is hard on them. Mine is like others when plugged in and heater is engaged the Solo's charge light still flashes. While using it plugged in and charging will have to try it again it seemed to have drained a bit of the battery while using it.

I've been saying this for a long time, the only reason you need some battery when you use in PA mode is the only thing running on the PA is the heater, the timer and lights all work off the battery, if the PA was powering the solo all by itself you would not need any battery, this is why it wears the battery slowly , the lights and timer always run off the battery!

Will
 

OF

Well-Known Member
I've been saying this for a long time, the only reason you need some battery when you use in PA mode is the only thing running on the PA is the heater, the timer and lights all work off the battery, if the PA was powering the solo all by itself you would not need any battery, this is why it wears the battery slowly , the lights and timer always run off the battery!

But they don't. I assume you're talking about he old style of course since the new one doesn't do PA.

I initially thought this as well so I investigated it. Such is not the case. First off, the amount of power that comes from the battery as opposed to the PA (ratio of currents) changes with the voltage level of the PA. Since I can easily change my PA adapter (I made one variable) this is easy to see 'from the outside'. That is lower the voltage and the current drops from the PA but not the total. Opening the unit and measuring the battery current directly confirms that this has forced more current from the battery. It was also confirmed by doing 'run down tests', that is dry sessions one after another. You get a few dozen sessions with the PA at minimum (say 7.0 Volts) before the Solo battery is depleted but starting from exactly the same conditions but with the PA at the top of the window (just under 9.0 Volts) you get over 100 for exactly the same battery. Changing the PA to a source only good for one Amp like the charger (although at the correct voltage) crashes PA as soon as you try to start, it degenerates into flashing.

Again, bottom line, you can remove the battery and run the old style in PA mode. No battery at all. This would seem to prove a battery is not necessary????? I'm confident you can't do this with the new style but have not tried it.

OF
 

as

Well-Known Member
Well, I decided to join the Solo family again, and placed my order from puffitup last night and it's shipping today.

So I just spent more money I (kind of) don't have on ANOTHER vaporizer instead of on... like... food or gas or... dental insurance or something. :ko:

I deserve congratulations, right? :D

Do you have some pliers?
If so you have no need for dental insurance
 

EveryDayAmnesiac

Well-Known Member
Do you have some pliers?
If so you have no need for dental insurance

zACMcmL.gif


Is it safe?

:brow:
 

wilvape

Well-Known Member
But they don't. I assume you're talking about he old style of course since the new one doesn't do PA.

Again, bottom line, you can remove the battery and run the old style in PA mode. No battery at all. This would seem to prove a battery is not necessary????? I'm confident you can't do this with the new style but have not tried it.

OF[/QUOTE)


This proves to me
By removing battery could be what is needed for it to work off the PA changing electrical path. Why would the PA wear the battery down quicker just being plugged in as opposed to not and why must you need a charge in the battery to use but not if you unplug??
Bottom line for me is both my solo's run off battery for timer and lights when in PA mode![/QUOTE]
 
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wilvape,
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OF

Well-Known Member
By removing battery could be what is needed for it to work off the PA changing electrical path. Why would the PA wear the battery down quicker just being plugged in as opposed to not and why must you need a charge in the battery to use but not if you unplug??
Bottom line for me is both my solo's run off battery for timer and lights when in PA mode!

No, again, the charger does not supply enough power to run the heater alone. It will 'crash'. Like getting your car up to speed for 'a running start' to make it over a hill it can't climb from a standing start; you have to store energy in the battery before it's needed for the heater. Or it won't correctly heat for the same reason your VW can't climb 'dead man's hill' without that running start. This charge be replaced the next time the heater shuts down but will again be stripped out 10 seconds or so later. In and out. Charge and discharge. It's 'working' the battery.

Again, while I haven't done it with the new system, I know the fold one works without a battery. I think the new one not only needs a battery but it has to be able to support the heater for part of a minute at least. And if you unplug the battery during one of those 'use while charging' sessions it'll crash on the next heat cycle.

Leaving it plugged in all the time keeps the battery fully charged (to about 4.2 Volts per cell). This, alone. will destroy the battery......you don't even have to turn it on. Simply storing it 'topped up' will be fatal. This is why they come to you partially charged, and why you should fully charge the first time. You must know a cell phone or laptop who's owner has done this? It kills the battery capacity off by forming oxides in the battery for those taking notes. The oxides only form at highest voltages, but that's where the longest "battery life" (uses per charge) is and that's what sells vapes.

I agree, the two units appear to work more or less the same. But the numbers say they can't be working the same way. I think we'll be seeing that show up with more battery related problems, both from their increased need to support "PA mode" (heat while charging) and the number of owners who will now be leaving their units plugged in and therefore fully charged (a known 'battery killer'). Time will tell.

Thanks.

OF
 

moodster80

Well-Known Member
hi everyone I got a wooden stem today and tried to put it in the solo and its too big should I heat the solo up to 7 or remove the o ring I would like to see what its like compared to glass thank you everyone
 
moodster80,
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ILoveVaping33

Well-Known Member
There is apparently no difference between the old PA and the charger always used with the new model. Both charge, neither runs (true) PA.

You're memory is off some, the old model does not charge and heat at the same time. Ever. The voltage determines if it runs PA (if between 6.9 and 9.0 Volts) or charges (if between 10.1 and 15 Volts). If it's say 9.5 Volts you get the 'light show' (random flashing of lights) with neither PA nor charging going on.

A way of looking at it is the old one could never charge (high voltage) and run (PA mode, lower voltage) and that charging locked out heating. The new one has no PA mode (really), will run if the battery is charged enough (the old one will run without a battery at all) no matter what the input voltage is and will charge if the voltage is high enough (over 8 Volts?) no matter if it heating or not. The new one works like a cell phone for the most part? The old one had to modes (PA and battery), the new one only one (on battery, but could be charging or not).



I think you're right, you need sufficient charge on the battery to heat, plugged in or not. Anyone find it different?

You might rethink that charging scheme. Discharging down to zero LEDs (even running only one more session after the last LED is dark) probably doesn't hurt the battery a significant amount (there are still several sessions before lock out), however routinely charging to 'full' definitely does. Simply storing such batteries fully charged will degrade them seriously in a year or so (just sitting, not being used at all) which is why they come shipped to you 'half charged'. If you simply stop the charging after the top LED lights but before the charge cycle stops (meaning you can't leave it plugged in 'all the time so it's ready to go') you can easily double the service life of the battery, even more. Used 'normally' you can expect about 300 "cycles" (recharges) from the battery (no matter how much you discharge it between provided you don't deeply discharge). If you stop at 4.1 Volts per battery rather than the 4.2 the Solo stops at that cycle number is 600. This is basically 90% capacity, one less session per charge? Drop that to 4.0 (about the point the last LED lights) and you double that again, 1200 cycles (each with 2 less potential sessions). Right now you're 'throwing away' the lower sessions in each charge cycle. You'll get many less sessions before wearing the battery out.

The more hours they spend above 4 Volts the faster the battery dies from that alone.

Check out the stuff around Chart 4:
http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/how_to_prolong_lithium_based_batteries

It's not like topping up your car's gas tank. It's more like 'you only get to unlock the gas cap (and fill the car) XXX times before the cap won't come off'. If you run each tankfull down more the car goes more miles before it's useless. More so, if you don't fill up the last 1/5 of the tank, the cap unlocks a much larger number of times?

I think the flashing charge light while heating has nothing to do with the heating, the light would flash (because it's charging) no matter? I think this may be "masked" if the battery is nearly full, new owners would be freaking out with 'my unit was fully charged, I ran it in PA mode and now it's charging again....'?

I think we all know cell phones or laptops that are kept 'always plugged in and fully charged ready to go' that now have pathetic battery life? That, I think, will also happen to the Solo in the new scheme. Until we know more, I can't recommend leaving them plugged in and I've never recommended fully charging if you can help it (which will automatically happen if you leave it plugged in too long....).

However, even if abused in the worst way by charging Solo is still an outstanding performer. The battery will die eventually if you use it enough. Batteries are cheap, relatively, enjoy the Solo however you can?

OF
So, what exactly does this mean for the solo... I am charging it right now for the first time. When should i stop charging it to get the maximum battery life, at 4,5,6?
 
ILoveVaping33,
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ILoveVaping33

Well-Known Member
Charge it for 8 full hours for the first charge out of the box then up until the battery charging indicator light reaches 7 but is still charging after that.
too late for that, after unboxing it I tested it right away until the charge LED lid up :-)
 
ILoveVaping33,

ILoveVaping33

Well-Known Member
So I am charging it and it was on 3 already for a while. Since it's supposed to be able to run while charged I tried that and it worked. But when I finished and turned it off again I saw the charging level was at 2 again. Does that mean that it actually doesn't charge when used at the same time? That would be the same as simply unplugging it, use it and then plug it back.
 

OF

Well-Known Member
hi everyone I got a wooden stem today and tried to put it in the solo and its too big should I heat the solo up to 7 or remove the o ring I would like to see what its like compared to glass thank you everyone

Yes, until the seal 'breaks in' heat it before trying to jam the stem in.

Unless you put it there (and you should not have yet....) there should be no ring to remove. Don't attempt to remove the ring like seal in the top of the oven, it can be damaged and no replacements are sold.

So, what exactly does this mean for the solo... I am charging it right now for the first time. When should i stop charging it to get the maximum battery life, at 4,5,6?
Charge it for 8 full hours for the first charge out of the box then up until the battery charging indicator light reaches 7 but is still charging after that.

Exactly so. You should completely charge it (or any new battery in it's class) the first time. Completely, overnight is OK.....in fact good IMO.

After that I recommend stopping charging when the top (seventh) LED lights but with the charge LED still flashing. This should stop you after 4.0 but less than 4.2 Volts, costing you as much as 20% of the charge (say one session?) per cycle but more than doubling the number of cycles (twice or more the useful battery life). I suggest running it down 'fairly low' (even down to no lights one time) as doing so does very little harm to the battery. Deep discharges are bad, full charges (and long times there) rob battery life.

too late for that, after unboxing it I tested it right away until the charge LED lid up :-)

That's unfortunate. Basically a worst case IMO. Best to right now charge fully (say 8 hours) and avoid ever taking it down so far it starts the 'lock out' process (the charge light should only flash when it's charging, not when it desperately needs charging.

That's the usual advice around here I think. "Fully charge before the first use". I hope others don't follow your lead here........

I'm sure you haven't killed the battery, but you took some life off it for sure. I suggest getting back on track and enjoying it, no sense looking back.

So I am charging it and it was on 3 already for a while. Since it's supposed to be able to run while charged I tried that and it worked. But when I finished and turned it off again I saw the charging level was at 2 again. Does that mean that it actually doesn't charge when used at the same time? That would be the same as simply unplugging it, use it and then plug it back.

Yes, that's what it means. No net charging going on, you're charging then using that charge in the same minute. Charging (that is net charging) can only happen when you're not heating (and therefore 'burning power'), easier to manage perhaps, but not magic.

No, not quite the same. When plugged in at least some of the power can come from the mains when the heater is on, which is better than 100% from the battery but far from what they old version did as well.

OF
 
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