The Arizer Air

[UnshavenFish]

So with using the search function I stumbled upon this third party external charger that was mentioned awhile ago. Well I decided to give it a try and thought I would give my thoughts.
It works, when the cord is in properly. It's always losing power, it has to be held in a certain position otherwise it will not be on. It's really inconvenient and frustrating but it does work when it does decide to power on.

I think you'll find it's a cable not 'power bank' issue. As we've discussed several times, Air uses the same size (4mm) connector at five Volts as Solo uses at 12 V. For safety sake, the Air one is longer. You need about 12mm of tip, not the more common 10mm, for reliable connection. Sometimes you can shave enough plastic off to make it work OK.

That would be the factory Air charger connector on top, a correct diameter but too short cable from EBay in the center, the modified one (which works fine) on the bottom. On the right is the ring cut off.

Any of the many USB cables suggested by other members should work. Lots of links in this thread.

OF

First off i would ask what cord you are using as i don't think it is the air/solo cord being used as @OF suggested (unless i have read wrong), the nitecore should use a figure 8 (c7 type) cord for home use and the round hole is for the car charger (cord) option, the figure 8 cord in the UK is used on most portable radios as well as many other devices so you might have another lying around you can try? I find with the figure 8 it connects really good due to the design.

 

[solodolo420]

First off i would ask what cord you are using as i don't think it is the air/solo cord being used as @OF suggested (unless i have read wrong), the nitecore should use a figure 8 (c7 type) cord for home use and the round hole is for the car charger (cord) option, the figure 8 cord in the UK is used on most portable radios as well as many other devices so you might have another lying around you can try? I find with the figure 8 it connects really good due to the design.

Yes! That is the one that came with it from Amazon. Maybe ordering a new one will solve the problem.

 

[OF]

I guess I am a little confused, what do those cables have to do with that external charger?

Nothing, unless the cable you're using happens to be built in (I've only seen one Power Bank like that, for a Play Station??). Otherwise, having fiddled with both Solo and Air a fair bit I'll put my money on shaky contact with the center pin on the plug.

In my 'gadget experiments' I got to be close friends here since my gadget (charge controller) drops out very quickly (under .01 seconds) if the contact is broken (something neither Air or Solo care much about). There are 3 separate inner pin diameters used in 4mm connectors (1.5, 1.6 and 1.7mm IIRC) having that off doesn't help either.

Again, dicey connections I think you'll find related to the cable. For the above reasons. The cable is the biggest chance for a non player IMO. What cable are you using?

Your call, as always. Good luck with it.

OF

 

[UnshavenFish]

Yes! That is the one that came with it from Amazon. Maybe ordering a new one will solve the problem.

Depending what part of the world your in you should be able to pick up a figure 8 cable for £2/$3'ish from somewhere like maplins or tesco (UK) or RadioShack? (US) that should at least point you towards it being a cable or unit issue. If a new cable does the same thing i would think about asking for an exchange on the charger.

Hopefully like @OF suggested it might just be that the cable is a bit off and that is what is causing issues,
I have not had this problem with any of my nitecore chargers (i2,i4,D2) and when charging I'm like a fly around shit so i would notice, i should add i used my own cables as the ones i had around the house seemed better quality and longer than the ones in the box.

 

[Slow Draw McGraw]

1)70mm Arizer Air stem
2) PIU GonG
3) Arizer Solo Straight Stem

EDIT- Results are in. I put a @Sinclue suggested screens(tagging him im just begging for a like) and made it a shorty.

So this report relates to both the Arizer Air and the Solo. I had them both going on max temp. I will not comment on which one produced bigger clouds until further testing.
There Is no "high efficieny cuts" So this creates resistance on my pulls through the bubbler. Buuuuut, this resistance creates a slow milking action and really fills it up. Very large hits. Very.
If you dont like resistance, you can rock the stem from side to side and it opens up airflow a lot and you still get huge rips! Huge. I do this on my PV GonG already.
This peice is well worth the money. I hope Randy stocks up! Both the Air and Solo performed excellent.

 

[olivianewtonjohn]

I think you'll find it's a cable not 'power bank' issue. As we've discussed several times, Air uses the same size (4mm) connector at five Volts as Solo uses at 12 V. For safety sake, the Air one is longer. You need about 12mm of tip, not the more common 10mm, for reliable connection. Sometimes you can shave enough plastic off to make it work OK.

That would be the factory Air charger connector on top, a correct diameter but too short cable from EBay in the center, the modified one (which works fine) on the bottom. On the right is the ring cut off.

Any of the many USB cables suggested by other members should work. Lots of links in this thread.

OF

I think you are slipping up Mr. OF! He is saying his external charger doesnt power up without pressure on the connector. Sounds like a replacement is in order its defective

 

[OF]

I think you are slipping up Mr. OF! He is saying his external charger doesnt power up without pressure on the connector. Sounds like a replacement is in order its defective

Anything is possible, but in my experience "It works, when the cord is in properly. It's always losing power, it has to be held in a certain position otherwise it will not be on." is almost always a cable not unit/connector problem.

Power banks seem to universally have normal USB connectors for outputs which are extremely reliable parts used in both desktop and laptop computers for a long time. Cables, OTOH, are not as reliable in general (breaks and shorts inside connector ends and cable damage give extra opportunities). This (higher failures of cords/cables) is why makers often add the extra cost of connectors to make cable replacement possible rather than the entire unit needing service.

Given the OPs report above (intermittent operation with 'fiddling' with the cable) and the known cable issues with some examples tried for this specific cable (and lack of a 'known good factory' one), I'm guessing cable.......

OF

 

[Gray Area]

@OF it's not a power bank, and there is no cable from it to the air.
It's simply an external battery charger and the op is having probs with the cord from that to the wall socket providing power to the charger itself...

 

[solodolo420]

I'm sorry, I should have been more specific. I didn't know what type of cord it used so I was talking in general terms. I currently have it on my stand and have been using it without a problem so far, I am just trying to not touch it, otherwise the power just goes out. I'm guessing it's the cord but with so many option, I am not sure which one to get.

 

[photobooth]

I'm sorry, I should have been more specific. I didn't know what type of cord it used so I was talking in general terms. I currently have it on my stand and have been using it without a problem so far, I am just trying to not touch it, otherwise the power just goes out. I'm guessing it's the cord but with so many option, I am not sure which one to get.

Are you talking about:
1. The stock charger that charges through the Air, plugs into the back of the Air
2. A 3rd party/non-Arizer charger that plugs directly into the back of the Air
3. The Nitecore IntelliCharger i4 for charging the 18650 batteries externally/separately from the Air you quoted in the initial post http://fuckcombustion.com/threads/the-arizer-air.16415/page-182#post-769840

I feel like everyone is getting a little confused, I know I am!

 

[solodolo420]

I'm talking about the IntelliCharger i4 Figure 8 c7 cord, the one that came with the external charger I purchased through Amazon. Plugs the external charger into a wall socket.

 

[UnshavenFish]

I'm sorry, I should have been more specific. I didn't know what type of cord it used so I was talking in general terms. I currently have it on my stand and have been using it without a problem so far, I am just trying to not touch it, otherwise the power just goes out. I'm guessing it's the cord but with so many option, I am not sure which one to get.

It will tell you the input on the back of your charger this is the UK version but it should be something like:
AC 100-240v
50/60HZ 0.25a(max)
DC 12v 1A

The DC 12v 1A relates to the car charge cable (someone correct me if I'm wrong here)
From the other info (AC) it should work in either UK or USA with the right end (wall plug) on the figure 8 cable

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FIGURE-OF...1-5M-SKY-/111353961877?_trksid=p2054897.l4275

Im in no way recommending this seller or site but using it as an example of the cable you will need (if in UK, if anywhere else it just has to have your country's wall plug on the other end to the figure 8)

So if this is the kind of cable any will do as long as it it the figure 8 end, lots of options out there but they should all be the same in function as all it does is supply power to the charger.

Edit: if you have a laptop you might already have one of these cables as some use them going from the wall to the AC adapter on the cable

 

[SiDankies]

Is ED on FC? I need a wooden stem.

 

[biohacker]

Haven't been in this thread for a while since i've been having an affair on my Air with the Crafty! All is good again, and Crafty is no longer in my life.... just wanted to say that the batteries I bought from @CentiZen are working great and my nitecore d4 charger rocks!

The taste out of this vape is super intense! For a while I was a bit bummed about the airflow I was getting, but I stuck a 1/2" screen down into the oven and it's been forcing the stem off the bottom and the 4 holes, and making it enjoyable again.

I love my ARIzer AIR!

 

[Slow Draw McGraw]

Haven't been in this thread for a while since i've been having an affair on my Air with the Crafty! All is good again, and Crafty is no longer in my life.... just wanted to say that the batteries I bought from @CentiZen are working great and my nitecore d4 charger rocks!

The taste out of this vape is super intense! For a while I was a bit bummed about the airflow I was getting, but I stuck a 1/2" screen down into the oven and it's been forcing the stem off the bottom and the 4 holes, and making it enjoyable again.

I love my ARIzer AIR!

Hey buddy, glad you're back, I posted about a GonG you might like. I remember you didn't favor the "High efficiency" of Planet Vape GonGs. Well the PIU GonG made by Namaste might be what you been looking for. Bowl is the same as a standard stem, with no bowl cuts or channels cut on the side. People agree it will work to hit dry with its length between an Arizer Air stem and A straight Solo stem. Dual purpose? Still seems right to call it "high efficiency."

 

[OyVape]

Hey Fellow Air people, I have ordered 3 stems from Arizer, both the 60mm and 70mm with the Delrin mouthpieces. Unfortunately, none of them unscrew! I contacted Arizer about the first stem I ordered, tried running it under cold water (their suggestion) but no luck. So they graciously replaced the stem for free and gave me free shipping on the replacement so I ordered 2 more mouthpiece stems. But the new ones won't unscrew either! I have contacted Arizer again but it sounds like they don't believe it's possible. I politely suggested maybe they got a bad batch from a manufacturer but they claim their stems pass QC.

Frankly, I can't believe this either but I don't know the cause of the problem or how to fix it. Why would all 3 stems be stuck like this? Wonder if it has anything to do with some vacuum-packaging process when they put the stems in the little plastic bag for shipping?

Has anyone else experienced this, or know how to get the mouthpiece off without breaking the stem? I want to use them but there's no way to clean them if they don't unscrew.

 

[KidFated.]

Hey Fellow Air people, I have ordered 3 stems from Arizer, both the 60mm and 70mm with the Delrin mouthpieces. Unfortunately, none of them unscrew! I contacted Arizer about the first stem I ordered, tried running it under cold water (their suggestion) but no luck. So they graciously replaced the stem for free and gave me free shipping on the replacement so I ordered 2 more mouthpiece stems. But the new ones won't unscrew either! I have contacted Arizer again but it sounds like they don't believe it's possible. I politely suggested maybe they got a bad batch from a manufacturer but they claim their stems pass QC.

Frankly, I can't believe this either but I don't know the cause of the problem or how to fix it. Why would all 3 stems be stuck like this? Wonder if it has anything to do with some vacuum-packaging process when they put the stems in the little plastic bag for shipping?

Has anyone else experienced this, or know how to get the mouthpiece off without breaking the stem? I want to use them but there's no way to clean them if they don't unscrew.

Maybe they'll loosen when warmer?

 

[OyVape]

I actually tried using one to see if the heat would help but no luck.

 

[al bundy]

Is ED on FC? I need a wooden stem.

Under "vapor related equipment "

http://fuckcombustion.com/threads/eds-tnt-wooden-vapor-tubes-vapor-stems.3342/

 

[OF]

Maybe they'll loosen when warmer?

I agree, I'd expect the plastic to expand faster than glass. I also think friction from the gasket is in play.

If you have an ultrasonic cleaner I'd try several minutes in a soap solution. The cavitation not only might vibrate it free but should help slip the soap (think lubricant) into the tight spots (like penetrating oil would on a too tight bolt).

And wrapping a couple of rubber bands around the stem (one on the glass, one of the plastic) can improve your 'grip' to rotate without crushing as much.

OF

 

[OyVape]

I agree, I'd expect the plastic to expand faster than glass. I also think friction from the gasket is in play.

If you have an ultrasonic cleaner I'd try several minutes in a soap solution. The cavitation not only might vibrate it free but should help slip the soap (think lubricant) into the tight spots (like penetrating oil would on a too tight bolt).

And wrapping a couple of rubber bands around the stem (one on the glass, one of the plastic) can improve your 'grip' to rotate without crushing as much.

OF

Don't have an ultrasonic cleaner...what about WD40?

 

[KidFated.]

Don't have an ultrasonic cleaner...what about WD40?

Id try dawn dish soap first. If that's how you wanna go. Warm water

 

[UnshavenFish]

Maybe a hot (not boiling) water bath (not in your bathtub though lol) drop it in for a few minutes i would also agree with @OF about some sort of rubber for better grip, but grip the black part closer to the glass not the thin end to turn. And remember glass does not like cold to hot or hot to cold too quick.
And i would probably try ISO (short time) before wd40 not sure if ISO would help but i have a ton and it cant hurt, also quicker to clean afterwards i would think.

 

[OF]

M but grip the black part closer to the glass not the thin end to turn.

And i would probably try ISO (short time) before wd40 not sure if ISO would help but i have a ton and it cant hurt, also quicker to clean afterwards i would think.

Good point, for sure don't use the flatted end of the MP as a handle..... You want straight rotation and strain only over the thread area.

ISO seems a worthwhile trial, although it's a lousy lube. I'd think long and hard about WD-40 lest you taste it forever.....even if you do get it apart and wash it out.... OTOH you don't need to ever disassemble it, really. You can clean it quite effectively assembled. Try it. I've done so by 'pumping' hot PBW solution in and out by a syringe and short piece of rubber tube (stick the other end in a half full glass of solution).

The same technique (pumping the solvent back and forth) also works well with bent Solo stems and 510 based hot wire oil carts (like KISS and Dabbler). I use two different size tubes, 1/2 and 3/8 IIRC. The larger one couples/seals well to the Air and Solo stems.

OF

 

[Sinclue]

Don't have an ultrasonic cleaner...what about WD40?

Doesn't have to be a high powered ultrasonic cleaner. You can get one off Amazon for $20-$25.
Immerse your item in ISO in a small glass then put it in the cleaner. Fill the cleaner around it (up to ISO level) with slightly soapy water and run a couple of 3 minutes cycyles.. Pour out ISO, rinse, and dump back into soapy cleaner water. I even use 70% ISO and it works fine.


WD-40 petroleum based so probably not a good idea.



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