Arizer Solo

vaporcloud

vaporcloud

lurking kiwi
I have been trying some lower temp sessions. Have been sick with a vomit bug last 2 days and high temp sessions have been leaving me with a headache. So heeding the wise words of FC regulars, especially solo specialists like Carol and OF I have had a couple of sessions at temp 3 finishing at 4. Nice tasty hits ... small but not unsatisfactory clouds. And no headache and a nice sativa like head high. This could be a game changer. Or maybe I'm just a slow learner. ;)
 
OF

OF

Well-Known Member
vaporcloud said:
I have been trying some lower temp sessions. Have been sick with a vomit bug last 2 days and high temp sessions have been leaving me with a headache.And no headache and a nice sativa like head high. This could be a game changer. Or maybe I'm just a slow learner.
Click to expand...

Sorry to hear you're under the weather, but glad to hear you're taking advantage of Solo's versatility to modify your routine to deal with it. A real positive feature of the little guy. Glad you got the memo.

I'm not at all sure about the slow learner part, you sure don't seem like any of the guys in my group sessions........

CarolKing said:
@OF is the specialist.

I just enjoy all the benefits of the Solo. Ive just have known the great qualities for a year and 1/2.
Click to expand...

Wow, thanks for the kind words......but you're only guessing really. "Specialist" is code for 'poor guy doesn't have a life', right? As in 'he might know everything about baseball or trout fishing (or cars, but not women......nobody knows that.....) but still can't tie his shoes'. I'm OK with that I guess, knowing about Solo is better than a lot of other things IMO. I'm just glad 'special' doesn't have to do with that short yellow bus......anymore.

CK, you're clearly guilty of freely sharing your enthusiasm, experience and advice with the newbies.

You go, girl!

vaporcloud said:
You are selling yourself short CK. Your posts are always informative. And the solo has just proven to me how damn fine a little machine it is. High and fine in New Zealand where the long hot summer continues to roll on!
Click to expand...

Amen! No doubt about it, we're talkin' about the same Lady here.......

OF
 
OF

OF

Well-Known Member
ctxgooner said:
Got my back-up $55 open box poor condition solo in 2 days!!!!
The lines on the front has a few scratches and the up button is a bit jainky.....few scratches on the bottom but the plate isnt cracked......i ran a few burn-offs and now im charging her up and going to fire her up in a few.....
Click to expand...

3 days for me. 200 miles and good old USPS managed to goof it up anyway. I didn't fare so well it seems. This one's the 'good grade', and in pretty good shape physically but the battery is absolute trash. It takes 'forever' to charge (at reduced current, it's struggling) but the first 'step 7, open top' run takes it to step 2 or 3 on the 'battery meter' and the next 'session' doesn't complete. Stone dead. Then 2.5 hours of charging got me another session.

Lucky for me I've got some experimental/used packs kicking around, a swap put it right again. No need to guess why this one got sent back. Potential battery problems is a very real risk here, but 'the price is right'.

ctxgooner said:
FWIW......my new/old solo must be an older one because it cant be used while charging........m1a4

Put her through a few sesh's and she's just as good as her sister.....$55 beans=money well spent
Click to expand...

Yes, it most likely is. All of the open box ones I've seen (four now?) were old style. One has to wonder where Randy is getting them from......wonder but not question, but this 'luck' can't hold for ever.

IMO this is a great opportunity we'll someday look back on with that 'I shoulda got another one when I could' feeling.

KidFated. said:
If I get a PA solo, I'd be soo happy..
Click to expand...

Stand by to be tickled pink then, dollars to doughnuts that's what's coming your way........

Has anyone got a new ('charge while using') model? I don't recall anyone saying so.

OF
 
ctxgooner

ctxgooner

gooner
Damn @OF
I wasnt even going to mention that my battery does seem a bit "weak".....dropped 2 levels after my first session.....havent done a 2nd to see if it drops 2 more......no worries.....i'll use it till it dies and worry about switching out the battery when necessary.....

Lovin my solos
 
OF

OF

Well-Known Member
akwardsauce said:
seriously until a few days ago I never even considered a backup solo but now I feel like u read my mind. I feel like I lost out on some opportunities to lend it to some friends and show off
Click to expand...

Cool. Keep thinking pure thoughts and I bet we see another open box sale from PIU in about 3 months (near as I can tell from history).

ctxgooner said:
Damn @OF
I wasnt even going to mention that my battery does seem a bit "weak".....dropped 2 levels after my first session.....havent done a 2nd to see if it drops 2 more......no worries.....i'll use it till it dies and worry about switching out the battery when necessary.....

Lovin my solos
Click to expand...

I hear you there. A 'soft' battery is not a big deal given the cost. And, since they seem to all be 'old style' thus far those of us with PAs have another alternative to fall back on.

I'm thinking next time it comes up I'll snag another, put it right, and pass it on.

3 cheers for PIU, Randy's da man for sure.

OF
 
OF

OF

Well-Known Member
CarolKing said:
I received an open box Solo last June ($55) and it was a Solo that can be used and charged. It still works awesome.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the update. Good to know. IMO right not the odds are strongly in your favor to draw a 'true PA' version, but that can't last. 'Get 'em quick, before they're all gone'.

In other news, I decided to cut open the lame battery I got to confirm things. The results were what I expected. While one cell was in pretty good shape (apparent capacity a bit over 1800 mAh), it's mate was definitely on borrowed time (apparent capacity 210 mAh).....just enough for a single session.

So what I was seeing makes sense. A second session completely depletes the weak one and forces lockout of the pack through the protection PCB which is why the entire Solo went dark until I recharged. I plan to cut the old cells out and replace them with some new (tabbed ones) using the existing protection PCB and thermal switch......so it'll be ready to replace the next bad pack I come across.

OF
 
Ifeejulah Vapor

Ifeejulah Vapor

Well-Known Member
My open box PIU solo is arriving tomorrow. Sunce I payed 85$ im guessig it might perform better than oe they sold for 55$? Atleast im hoping so haha. About to wake n vape with some OG thats been around town. Not sick of it yet, so tasty.

Ive been using all my bubblers wth the solo but im always reminded of how awesome the the stock stem is when I use it, thick tasty clouds.
 
KidFated.

KidFated.

Unknown Member
I'm assuming my pair will be here tomorrow, my tracking hasn't worked since usps got their hands on it. I opted for the $55 black and silver, knowing I could just grab a high capacity battery if needed.

About to watch oh brother where art thou with my solo and one frosty bud. :)
 
OF

OF

Well-Known Member
Ifeejulah Vapor said:
Sunce I payed 85$ im guessig it might perform better than oe they sold for 55$? Atleast im hoping so haha.
Click to expand...

While 'hope springs eternal', I think it's a cosmetic rather than performance screening. The last one I got was the 'good' version and while the second (or maybe third.....I no longer have that one) prettiest of the ones I've bought (the silver one seems 'brand new', perhaps returned for color, it had zero smell and debris) it also came with the worst battery of the lot. Still, weak batteries are part of the risk. I think less beat up ones have a better chance of being newer and less abused battery life wise?

However it comes out of the box you're sure to enjoy it eventually I think. Best wishes that happens quickly and in the best way possible. Karma should be on your side, right?

OF
 
LiquidVape

LiquidVape

Well-Known Member
hi, new to the forums. Recently purchased a Solo and its been incredible. I got myself the f bomb (yea its expensive, but most def worth it!) And a few PVHE stems, which are also great.
Wanted to say that, packing the stem completely to the top, tightly , seems to produce the best results for me, mostly in terms of getting more good "pufs" from a session, and obviously using a screen.
Trying to go through this monsterous thread , lots of good info, hoping to find more goodies in here.

Questions!
Should you, say a few times a year, take your Solo apart and give it a proper cleaning? I've never taken it apart and don't seem to find other cleaning tips except for cleaning stems and q-tip/alcohol gently the heating chamber.

Battery life! How long will the battery be performing normally before it shows signs of weakness? Given I use my solo daily on average a charge and a half (so 4-10 sessions or so, depending on the day)

Also, anyone try/knows about the new PVHE Vortex stems from PV? Just order one (yes they are still in stock ATM..)

Cheers
 
OF

OF

Well-Known Member
LiquidVape said:
hi, new to the forums. Recently purchased a Solo and its been incredible.

Should you, say a few times a year, take your Solo apart and give it a proper cleaning?

How long will the battery be performing normally before it shows signs of weakness? Given I use my solo daily on average a charge and a half (so 4-10 sessions or so, depending on the day)

Also, anyone try/knows about the new PVHE Vortex stems from PV? Just order one (yes they are still in stock ATM..)
Click to expand...

First off, howdy! Welcome to the Forum and all the fun. Great choice with Solo, but I guess you've figured that out already?

I'd suggest never taking the Solo apart for cleaning unless there's a solid problem. Too easy to break the tabs, lose the screws, pinch or break a wire and so on with nothing to gain. I'd limit it to taking the cap off from time to time and blowing any debris out from under the oven. We've see photos of working Solos with amazing buildup down there, but blowing a shaking keeps ahead of it nicely and is low risk.

Battery life is a tough one to tie down. In broad terms it's measured in "cycles" (recharges if you will). 300 to 600 is probably a useful ball park number here. Avoiding deep discharges ('off the bottom of the 7 step meter) will effect that but also give more sessions per charge. I suggest running it to the bottom but no further as a matter of routine. Also, limiting the top of the charge (unplugging when all 7 are on but the charge light is still flashing) can double the cycle life. Or more. Double. Good reading here if you've a mind to:
http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/how_to_prolong_lithium_based_batteries

Thanks for the tip on the new stem, I'll probably be buying one to try real soon. A couple of items of interest I see:

First off, it confirms that Solo is basically a conduction vape. Extra heat is stored in the walls for use making vopor for the upcoming hit. Very similar to Ascent. It's not, IMO, a convection based vape (although it does depend on convection to spread the heat through the load). But extra thermal mass in the walls slows the recovery time but adds heat to the system when and where we really need it.

Note the text: "Due to much less air flow resistance of the PVHES Vortex, resist the urge to inhale too fast, overwhelming the Solo's heater". IMO important and often ignored/overlooked by the bigger clouds guys?

I'm not sure what he vortex part is good for (aside from looking cool) in a system where you're not supposed to be drawing fast to start with??? Yes, it makes the rapid, hard draws you're not supposed to be doing easier.....but why is that a good thing?

Anyway, welcome and thanks for the tip, even if it is going to cost me money......

I wonder how it does in Air???

Hey! I just noticed PV lists Solo as "the number 1 selling portable vaporizer on the planet", since they didn't capitalize I assume that means our planet, not theirs? How cool is that???

OF
 
poonman

poonman

Well-Known Member
Slow Draw McGraw said:
Just ordered an 18mm shorty GonG from PV.

looked at the vortex. Longer and thicker.....

http://www.planetvape.ca/pvhes-high-efficiency-vortex-stems.html

EDIT: Is getting the PVHE Shorty GonG going to change my experience drastically with my D020?

Currently, I use a straight stock stem+14mmto18mm flush adapter.
Click to expand...

Just purchased their new Vortex stem ,
looks interesting , I'll see if it does offer a better
vaping experience .

I prefer the Shorty Gong , b/c I can extract the entire bowl in 3 hits usually .
Sometime 4 with diff. strains . ABV is even colored thru out , no stirring needed .
On level 7 .
 
Ifeejulah Vapor

Ifeejulah Vapor

Well-Known Member
New vortex stem isnt for connecting to bubblers right?Just improved airflow and you pull right from it im guessing. I have noticed the stock stems have a large draw resistance. Bought the stealth adapter but I never really want to use a mcdonalds straw with my Solo. About to try just using the small stealth stem on its own.
 
Ifeejulah Vapor,
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LiquidVape

LiquidVape

Well-Known Member
akwardsauce said:
never heard of that one yet...pls report ur findings back here!
Click to expand...
Will do! expecting it Tuesday, Wednesday at the most.


OF said:
First off, howdy! Welcome to the Forum and all the fun. Great choice with Solo, but I guess you've figured that out already?
Click to expand...

Did my research, was daily smoker, and (didnt expect that) ended up not smoking after a few days with this machine. So happy ;D
I'd suggest never taking the Solo apart for cleaning unless there's a solid problem. Too easy to break the tabs, lose the screws, pinch or break a wire and so on with nothing to gain. I'd limit it to taking the cap off from time to time and blowing any debris out from under the oven. We've see photos of working Solos with amazing buildup down there, but blowing a shaking keeps ahead of it nicely and is low risk.

Battery life is a tough one to tie down. In broad terms it's measured in "cycles" (recharges if you will). 300 to 600 is probably a useful ball park number here. Avoiding deep discharges ('off the bottom of the 7 step meter) will effect that but also give more sessions per charge. I suggest running it to the bottom but no further as a matter of routine. Also, limiting the top of the charge (unplugging when all 7 are on but the charge light is still flashing) can double the cycle life. Or more. Double. Good reading here if you've a mind to:
http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/how_to_prolong_lithium_based_batteries

Thanks for the tip on the new stem, I'll probably be buying one to try real soon. A couple of items of interest I see:

First off, it confirms that Solo is basically a conduction vape. Extra heat is stored in the walls for use making vopor for the upcoming hit. Very similar to Ascent. It's not, IMO, a convection based vape (although it does depend on convection to spread the heat through the load). But extra thermal mass in the walls slows the recovery time but adds heat to the system when and where we really need it.

Note the text: "Due to much less air flow resistance of the PVHES Vortex, resist the urge to inhale too fast, overwhelming the Solo's heater". IMO important and often ignored/overlooked by the bigger clouds guys?

I'm not sure what he vortex part is good for (aside from looking cool) in a system where you're not supposed to be drawing fast to start with??? Yes, it makes the rapid, hard draws you're not supposed to be doing easier.....but why is that a good thing?

Anyway, welcome and thanks for the tip, even if it is going to cost me money......

I wonder how it does in Air???

Hey! I just noticed PV lists Solo as "the number 1 selling portable vaporizer on the planet", since they didn't capitalize I assume that means our planet, not theirs? How cool is that???

OF
Click to expand...
Thanks for the tips, and the long informative post, feeling special here!
will look into the battery article; i know there are few tips and tricks to make it last, though i came to the conclusion when i bought it, that extra year or so on the battery, isn't worth me being super OCD over battery "supervision", given i can buy a new, better, battery for ~60$, which i will probably due at some point, giving me the leisure to not stress about the battery (i already am super OCD when it comes to how to use the Solo and all it's "rituals"..)

And much relived that the cleaning process is even simpler then i anticipated.
Ifeejulah Vapor said:
New vortex stem isnt for connecting to bubblers right?Just improved airflow and you pull right from it im guessing. I have noticed the stock stems have a large draw resistance. Bought the stealth adapter but I never really want to use a mcdonalds straw with my Solo. About to try just using the small stealth stem on its own.
Click to expand...
Not a connector/adaptor/GonG; it's just another stem, built for... i will find out soon! OF seemed to have gotten the gist of it.
I would recommend the PHVE stems over stock, but i'm still a 2 month old newb to the vaping world, so take the word of other around here and other solo enthusiasts.
Also, Planet Vape (yes i am super addicted to that site....) has Demos&Deals section (from what i read, items were demos or had some kind of imperfection) where you can buy PVHE stems for ~8$ cheaper. My buddy ordered one (IMO told him to get one at full price, just in case, and 2nd one a demo), so will report on what if any imperfection i notice.
 
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OF

OF

Well-Known Member
Ifeejulah Vapor said:
New vortex stem isnt for connecting to bubblers right?Just improved airflow and you pull right from it im guessing. I have noticed the stock stems have a large draw resistance. About to try just using the small stealth stem on its own.
Click to expand...

Yes, it's intended for direct draw, it doesn't have a GonG connector, but like the stock stems you could also use it to adapt to your WT if you really wanted to.

No, it's not "Just improved air flow", it's also thicker walled for better heat retention......an important development perhaps.

Yes, the stock stems have restriction built in. Intentionally. The maker claims to 'balance' this for best performance. As the PV quote I copied above says, pulling more than the machine is designed for is not a good idea.

It's worth noting the maker doesn't offer such modified stems (although if he did, they wouldn't really be modified?). And he repeated the same basic draw restrictions on his new (but very similar) vape, the Air. IMO he knows what he's doing.

Also IMO if your unable to deal with the draw (or just lazy) this (more open stems) is worth considering. If, OTHO, your goal is 'bigger clouds' this is not the way to go. In the end it's the same heater and control, forcing it to higher levels will only over run it's capacity. Ironically this will give larger volumes of delivery but heating up the extra cold air will rob power (heat) that would otherwise make more vapor. You get a bigger volume, but it's more dilute. If you want lots of THC (and who doesn't?) pay heed to another of PV's instructions for use:
"Take a nice long slow inhalation"

Pushing it just doesn't work like with blazing.

Regards,

OF
 
J

JonaTen10

New Member
Anybody else have any ideas why my solo is overheating towards the top of the unit ? it gets hot to the touch

One more thing I can think of is about the fact I live in Mexico and maybe the solo doesnt tolerate these electrical outlets ?
 
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