The Arizer Air

Gentle Friends,

Some 'battery meter' tests for your perusal and amusement. After an failed attempt taking hits (too inconsistent I think due to draw differences) I went back to my standard battery test in Solo. That is fully charge the battery, do no stem (top open) maximum heat sessions back to back. Each was 10 minutes long, when it timed out, I'd quickly remove and measure the battery voltage before starting the next session noting the color at the start of each. I lost an average of half a minute each time, give or take, the 11 sessions taking just under two hours total. The 12th attempt stalled with the lower light red and the top light flashing blue a little over a minute in:

Gn (4.23V)
Gn (4.01V)
Wh (3.89V)
Wh (3.78V)
Or (3.70V)
Or (3.63V)
Rd (3.59V)
Rd (3.53V)
Rd (3.47V)
Rd (3.44V)
Rd (3.41V)
Rd (3.39V) Aborted.

Note these are unloaded voltages, but taken quickly after the load was removed. I'd expect the 'under load' voltage to be a few tenths of a Volt lower. The data seems uniform. It seems this is about half the drain rate normally seen when taking hits (guys report about an hour max. not two), this is also a 'brand new' battery. So, I'd say a typical Air session is about two test sessions?

From this I think you can expect about five sessions, one each on Green, White, and Orange before the last two on Red? Since there are only 3 LEDs in the display it seems to go: Green, add Blue and Red for White, remove Blue (leaving Green and Red) for Orange, finally dropping the Green for a Red display. Using their 'heat level steps' for the colors that's 3, 2, 4 and 5 (the 'color orders' in the scales don't match).

In my case my color blind eyes can sort it out if I carefully watch the window, the Red LED is perfectly centered, the Green at the edge at 11 o'clock. I'm pretty confident of the colors I reported above. This should be easy to verify. Start at Red, recharge say 10 minutes and see what you get? Then charge another 10 and so on working out the colors as you replace charge in small steps?

OF

Sinclue said:

Not intending to imply that the Titanium was different than other new models. Just referring to it in relation to my first on from Black Friday sale (BF). I think its just an additional color choice.

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Not taken. Wondering. Just.

Their next major change, I hope, is to implement temp dial in for the spectrum.

I'd jump hoops for that.

so I think I may start carrying a screen with me, I have no trouble without the screen, but since I got the new stems pretty much all my friends are getting bits of weed in their mouth when they use it...

djonkoman said:

so I think I may start carrying a screen with me, I have no trouble without the screen, but since I got the new stems pretty much all my friends are getting bits of weed in their mouth when they use it...

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Screens are always good to have, 'specially with (IMO) the large size holes in the AA stems. Gives satisfaction shaping one's own shaped DIY curvies.... Been there, dome that.

stark1 said:

Screens are always good to have, 'specially with (IMO) the large size holes in the AA stems. Gives satisfaction shaping one's own shaped DIY curvies.... Been there, dome that.

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Got a specific techniques for shapeing screens or any tips?

Thanks

You could use a sharpie to shape them .
A 1/2 screen will sit flat in solo stem so use a 5/8 in screen to shape and cut.
Sharp scissors or a good nail clipper should work.
Seems stiffer screen is needed for the Black tipped Air stems.

I drilled a hole in a 2x4 and used a deep well socket and hammered the screen through the wood and trimmed the corners works real nice.

You could also put a screen in the black top where the silicone washer is to help with the herbs passing through.

If you don't want to or can't shape yourself theres domed screens on eBay too.just search for 1/2 domed screens.

@OF yes it goes green, white, orange, and then red as you observed. I find the power meter very useful myself. I can see if you didn't have it, it wouldn't be a big deal. But having it is nice.

I haven't seen white. I've only charged once so far so maybe it's there or my unit is a bit older.

Thanks for the measurements, @OF

MeditativeMind said:

I haven't seen white. I've only charged once so far so maybe it's there or my unit is a bit older.

Thanks for the measurements, @OF

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You're welcome. I have, I think, examples of the only two possibilities. IMO if you get anything other than a Blue flash on power up, it's the new style. The steps are narrow enough that you might be able to miss one. Again, if you want to see them all I suggest you slowly add charge in steps (say 10 or 15 minutes each) and check the levels between chargings. I've done this, it's how I confirmed the color order before the above test confirmed it.

OF

Again, @Sinclue
I ordered the screens you suggested. They are very effective. @OF sold me on idea to also use these on my GonGs to make them shorty style. Mine look like @olivianewtonjohn Shorty style stems.

This is my last post about batteries!

I have been doing a lot of research as I never like being pushed into a corner by a manufacturer (however good they are). I now believe that Arizer was really looking out for us in their choice of battery. The electrical specifications and the chemistry (IMR) make these batteries not only ideal for a maximum performance they are also the safest option.

The summer is just around the corner here and I hope to be spending as much time as possible on my boat. Fire on a boat is the most frighting prospect so choosing a battery that will vent rather than burst into flames in the unlikely event that something goes wrong is an obvious choice. So I have ordered 2 official backup batteries and 2 extra stems for my air. I have chosen peace of mind over saving a few euro's.

jtttttt said:

Still waiting on a 14mm gong and some other attachments. It came with one black tipped attachment ...

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The black mouthpiece can fit pretty well in a 14mm opening while you're waiting for your gong.

DrRishi said:

he electrical specifications and the chemistry (IMR) make these batteries not only ideal for a maximum performance they are also the safest option.

The summer is just around the corner here and I hope to be spending as much time as possible on my boat. Fire on a boat is the most frighting prospect so choosing a battery that will vent rather than burst into flames in the unlikely event that something goes wrong is an obvious choice. So I have ordered 2 official backup batteries and 2 extra stems for my air. I have chosen peace of mind over saving a few euro's.

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I think you're spot on. That exact battery is, it seems, the very best choice for this demanding application. Better than other IMRs, let alone more common Li-ions. I know the fire risk first hand, a seaman's worst nightmare. The factory units are cheap insurance/peace of mind indeed.

OF

Is it odd that my 1rst gen Air is always in 'standby' mode when being charged? The top light isn't flashing blue like normal standby, but just pushing up or down turns heater on. Can't really turn off when charging. Anyone else have this?

Also, is there a range in battery level that is more or least efficient in terms charging efficiency?

TIA

Vapormatic said:

Is it odd that my 1rst gen Air is always in 'standby' mode when being charged? The top light isn't flashing blue like normal standby, but just pushing up or down turns heater on. Can't really turn off when charging. Anyone else have this?

Also, is there a range in battery level that is more or least efficient in terms charging efficiency?

TIA

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That is normal. When you plug the charger into the unit it powers on. If you try turning it off with the charger plugged it will come back on by itself. It won't heat up until you select a temp.
[edit] I think I misunderstood. The only light I see when charging is a flashing green lower light. The upper blue light only comes on when I press a button (up or down) and indicates the temp setting selected. Is your unit getting warm when you are charging?

Not sure what you mean by charging efficiency. It charges at a constant rate I think.

Vapormatic said:

Is it odd that my 1rst gen Air is always in 'standby' mode when being charged? Anyone else have this?

Also, is there a range in battery level that is more or least efficient in terms charging efficiency?

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Yes, we all have it. It's common to both types. And IMO completely logical. It's automatically in 'pseudo PA mode' (use while charging) as many might expect. And the processor has to be on while it's charging anyway?

I'm not sure what he second question really is. What is "charging efficiency"? If you use the engineering term (power out over power in) the extremes are less efficient than the center part of the range, by several percent typically. If you really meant 'fastest recharge time' (efficiency aside) the answer is still 'it depends' but the rules change.

Charging from dead is slow, say .63 Amps. This slowly rises to about .80 up to the last 20% or so (80% of full charge). So the end of that is at a much faster rate. However, shortly after that point the rate rapidly rises to about .83 Amps as it shifts from Constant Current (which actually varied a bit.....) to Constant Voltage for the finishing charge. Then it drops, uniformly and to a very low point. This takes about 20 more minutes were the current slowly falls to under .1 Amp so the average charging rate for the last 20 or 30 minutes of recharge averages only about .45 Amps, the slowest ('worst'?) part of the cycle. It takes maybe 20% of the total time but contributes less than 10% to the charge total. If you're in a hurry, avoid that part?

So, if the goal is to recharge for say a single session in the fastest possible time that's probably something like 60 to 85% of full capacity. Lower is a bit slower, but higher up (toward 100%) risks hitting the slowest possible charge rate.

OF

Thanks, was planning to solar charge the battery when away camping this summer and wondered how to get most efficient charge when power might be limited. Here's adafruit charger with 6V, 2W panel, but I guess that'd give 333mA max, even @4V?

As for filters, I just cut a brass filter down to size and it fits perfectly and does not come loose, and space is maximized since it is flat.

Vapormatic said:

Thanks, was planning to solar charge the battery when away camping this summer and wondered how to get most efficient charge when power might be limited. Here's adafruit charger with 6V, 2W panel, but I guess that'd give 333mA max, even @4V?

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Good idea, but I suggest something like this might be a better call:
http://www.amazon.com/Poweradd-Apol...=1425409790&sr=8-1&keywords=solar+usb+charger

It has the advantage of being left in sun to charge while you're elsewhere (with your vape....), it should hold two plus recharges for your Air.

If you want to collect still more power, something like this perhaps:
http://www.amazon.com/Portable-Char...=1425409790&sr=8-4&keywords=solar+usb+charger

Here, of course, you'd need to stay plugged in. You can use a general rule of thumb of 3 hours 'full sun ratings' in winter, 5 in summer for an 'all day pointed South at a good angle' performance. In good sunlight at typical latitudes (say 35 degrees) you can get about 1000 Watts per square meter for those times. So your collection rate can be fairly accurately estimated by multiplying the fraction of a square meter the solar panel has by 1000 Watts times 3 or 5 as a 'best case'.

Folding panels come in many sizes, and such systems (with and without on board storage) come waterproofed if that's important.

OF

Skeena said:

As for filters, I just cut a brass filter down to size and it fits perfectly and does not come loose, and space is maximized since it is flat.

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Pics not really understanding what you did ? are you using brass for a filter ? Im not so sure i would want brass in my air path. Here is a good read on the forum about brass and vaping - http://fuckcombustion.com/threads/is-brass-safe.788/

I am not that worried about using the brass filters for now, the air outside is probably worse.

As to what I did, here is an image

Skeena said:

I am not that worried about using the brass filters for now, the air outside is probably worse.

As to what I did, here is an image

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Ok buddy suit ya self. I think most of have been doing this here with the exception of using brass screens. Also allot of members have started using domed screens as well and if you purchase a pvhe stem they come with a flat screen. Personally i found no difference in using a screen vs no screen. If you read through the thread though you'll see allot of posts regarding the screen method. Best of luck with your Air and Enjoy .

Anyone know where they sell attachments for dabs?

I saw one that looks like a vile with a straw attached to it.

I'd rather not sandwich a dab in herb and risk getting my plate gunked up

MeditativeMind said:

Anyone know where they sell attachments for dabs?

I saw one that looks like a vile with a straw attached to it.

I'd rather not sandwich a dab in herb and risk getting my plate gunked up

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I put wax between my herb all the time.. it melts and soaks into the herb. It really doesn't make it any more messy unless you put a enormous dab.

OF said:

It has the advantage of being left in sun to charge while you're elsewhere (with your vape....), it should hold two plus recharges for your Air.

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So how do you plug the Air into this charger?

Did I miss/space out on a USB>Air cable that isn't part of the auto charger package?



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