Combustion at low temps?

[Morpheus212]

I have this old whip vape that has always started a flame in my bowl if I put the temp any higher than 340 F. Even at 310 F it was starting to burn. Mind you all, this is my first and only vape (so far); I've just had it for a few years. So as I look through the vape forums finally, I see everyone is vaping at 360 F to 390 F. I couldn't imagine turning this one up that high; would catch fire almost immediately. I also don't know what could be going on. (BTW, it's not the comp it's sitting on. It's usually not sitting on the comp)

Could it be that the weed I get here in the desert is bone dry and ready to burn? Nah, not even paper burns until 451, the only thing I remember from that book.

Could my vape just be horribly wrong on it's temp gauge? Do I just have to go with the feel of the hit and ignore the numbers completely?

Am I packing the bowl too densely? Do I maintain a layer on the screen or let it fall on it's side when I place the bowl on the vape? I started making sure it stayed packed because none of the weed would vape before.

Do I just have a weird/shitty vape? Lemme know what you guys think.

 

[Hippie Dickie]

Lemme know what you guys think

i think you need a BBQ thermometer so you can check the setting.

 

[max]

The numbers on these cheap digital boxes should just be used for reference points. Don't try to set your temp by real vaping temps. Find the lowest setting where you get vapor. You already know the setting that gets you combustion. Find a happy medium between the two. I'd start low and move the temp up when you stop getting vapor. Stop at the point of your choice, but certainly before you get combustion.

The thermometer that Hippie suggested will help you determine what temps you're really dealing with, but keep in mind that the real vaping temp has to be measured during your draw, since the cold air you're pulling in during the hit is a factor.

 

[Morpheus212]

BBQ thermometer

Thanks for quick reply. But darnit. I do not have a thermometer that goes above 190 F.

but keep in mind that the real vaping temp has to be measured during your draw

Yeah. I suppose I agree. It just feels so weird to put it as low as 280 F. Maybe it's just 100 F off.

 

[SD_haze]

Yeah. I suppose I agree. It just feels so weird to put it as low as 280 F. Maybe it's just 100 F off.

Not only is the temperature read-out a reference point, but if you set it at a specific temperature and keep using it, a lot of the cheap digi whip vapes actually get hotter the longer its used, which could definitely cause combustion if you're not dialing the temp down during the sesh.

 

[Egzoset]

Salutations Morpheus212,

Could my vape just be horribly wrong on it's temp gauge?

I'd be willing to bet my reputation there's just no temperature sensor present at all in this product. A few good snapshots of the wiring leading to the heater assembly would most likely provide us with enough clues to determine if this device is of the "rheostat" type (where the user has control over power level instead of temperature) or otherwise (e.g. the "thermostat" type).

Some days i wish the new version of this site had made it mandatory for every single manufacturer to publish details like this since of the 210+ devices mentioned on FC quite a few vaporizer models happen to run on electricity!... But that's only an opinion.

 

[Morpheus212]

Sure enough, I set it to 250-270 F and it hits great. Why it would seem to be almost exactly 100 F off, well, who knows.

Anyway, thanks for your replies and patience.

 

[max]

Why it would seem to be almost exactly 100 F off, well, who knows.

IMO, just coincidence. Through the years I've seen all kinds of numbers being with these vapes. There's a reason why good, brand name vapes of the same type (like Vapor Brothers), don't use digital displays/controllers. $150-210 for a VB analog box, but you can get digital for $25-30? You can't even get a simple flame powered VaporGenie that cheap.

 

[Puffers]

Just a thought but my ssv has a stat in it right? And after it gets up to full temperature you can hear the relay inside click, does yours do something similar? If so i would think it has a stat inside its just no where near accurate.

 

[Morpheus212]

Hey, sorry for my late reply. I ended up setting the vape to 260 F - 280 F, exactly as though it was 100 degrees higher than the readout. Now it works beautifully and I get 5-8 good hits out of a bowl. MMmmm.

Just a thought but my ssv has a stat in it right? And after it gets up to full temperature you can hear the relay inside click, does yours do something similar? If so i would think it has a stat inside its just no where near accurate.

I don't believe I've ever heard this thing make any discernable noises.

A few good snapshots of the wiring leading to the heater assembly would most likely provide us with enough clues to determine if this device is of the "rheostat" type (where the user has control over power level instead of temperature) or otherwise (e.g. the "thermostat" type).

The bottom plate is heavily frosted plastic that I don't care to take off and try to replace, and I don't think a camera is going to pick it up. I'm pretty sure this thing is current-controlled though, "rheostat" as you said. I don't see anything inside other than a couple wires leading to the back of the heating rod.

Anyway, thanks for all your help guys. Now I know I just need to get a better quality vape whenever I can afford it. I was thinking of going bagged.

 

[Egzoset]

Salutations Morpheus212,

I don't see anything inside other than a couple wires leading to the back of the heating rod.

If this means only 2 wires connect to the heater and there's nothing else around which might happen to be a temperature sensor then you may have your explanation indeed...

Now I know I just need to get a better quality vape whenever I can afford it. I was thinking of going bagged.

You mean "bagged" as in balloon? Like with the Arizer Extreme Q, DragonVap VP-500, HerbalAire, Oracle, Vapir Vapormatic Deluxe, Vaporfection viVape, Volcano, Zephyr Iön, etc?...

 

[Morpheus212]

You mean "bagged" as in balloon? Like with the Arizer Extreme Q, DragonVap VP-500, HerbalAire, Oracle, Vapir Vapormatic Deluxe, Vaporfection viVape, Volcano, Zephyr Iön, etc?...

Yes sir. That of course won't be for a while, as I'm restricted by finances and privacy for the time being, but it seems to me that balloon is the way to go for group vaping as well as solo. I like the idea of filling one balloon and being done for a while, with another 4-7 balloons in the bowl (atleast that's the idea I get from the reviews I've seen).

 

[Egzoset]

Hi again!

...it seems to me that balloon is the way to go for group vaping as well as solo.

Then in that case i'd point out you can fill a negative-pressure ballon using practically any vaporizer, as long as its vapour port will attach to your tubing, that is!... Essentially, i'm thinking of a vacuum system where a large enough sealed cavity sucks the air around a ballon to inflate it (no need for a fresh-air intake port where to connect the pump). This method might be fun to experiment with and most of all there would be no extraneous synthetics in your vapour path: only 1 tube connecting the bag as directly as possible.

...I like the idea of filling one balloon and being done for a while, with another 4-7 balloons in the bowl (atleast that's the idea I get from the reviews I've seen).

Many months ago i was using nothing else but bags myself although i found that blending/diluting flavours made this solution less attractive for private sessions. My HerbalAire produced very decent bags capable of entertaining 4 persons, depending on the vegetal load - especially when i added a slight amount of extract (hashish). More people if rotating a pair of bags i guess.

In any case just don't loose the mouthpiece early during your party!!