Discontinued Thermovape Cera
- Thread starter SameOldTim
- Start date
lol a thread is what you make it
You will always have a variety of opinions and experiences...including good ones. It's the valuable nature of the game.
Cheerful Dub
Spaced Station
So if we had a 510 adapter to the 3/8-24 Cera threads we could use other handles/mods with the carts, right? Why don't they just offer one of those and that way we can all short circuit or piecemeal our own ways to independent version twos? I have just discovered a few other mechanical mods manufactured in the USA that would not only fit the bill but apparently work marvelously if this was an option.
Hulk go ahead and be mad, just don't smash, lol.
OF, there is some negativity for sure but that is just natural IMHO. Your info and input is very valuable to me and to many others but sometimes I think you are to close to TET to have an honest opinion of what is going on with us customers. EDIT: this requires a better explanation of what I intended to say. Close to TET as a friend is close to a friend, not as some shrill sent here to make things look good when they are not. OF has been great at keeping us updated with REAL info about the Cera and has also graced us with a deep understanding of damn near everything. So the friend thing, I will defend a friend against wrongful accusations with out a doubt but sometimes i can make excuses for their actions when they should really stand on their own two feet and take care of it. Sometimes i feel my complaints are being taken as an attack on TET and brushed aside, IMO this is not helpful to me or to TET, my feelings are not hurt by this nor do i take it in a negative way, i just would love to see the info travel to TET. I apologize to all, especially OF, if they thought I was accusing OF of anything wrong, I do not feel that way, I just did not explain myself very well. I hope I did a better job of it this time.
I am somebody that has sent in a unit twice now, I also own two complete oil units, an extra EO cart, an LL cart, 16batteries, and multiple chargers plus lots of different drip tips now. I have a bit of money wrapped up in this unit because the EO carts are just that good. Just because TET can make an awesome EO cart, better then anything out there IMO, it does not mean they are nailing the rest of the business practices I expect from high end equipment. No hate, just simple facts from my point of view.
I own two bodies because one body just can't last more then 3 weeks of my typical use before the strap fails. Maybe some have no problems but I also know most have not put 30g or more of oil through their original Cera plus plenty of LLuse. I accept I may not be the norm and I accept new products need some tweaking hence the second Cera and my hopes are the problems will be addressed and I can give my second unit to somebody else one day.
My original EO cart was rebuilt once and returned better then previously however the new oil carts perform so much better then my original ones both in airflow and quickness of heat. I sent my original oil cart in with the original Cera to see if a rebuild will get it closer to the newer ones, if not it is pretty useless to me in comparison to the new ones.
OF
Well-Known Member
"Out of chaos comes order". Nietzsche is generally credited with it, it is a fundamental part of Freemason doctrine I understand, and IMO is part of the process.
It's also important, I think, to remember the internet is not reality. It's a highly distorted view of 'facts' all too often I think? Real enough to those involved and posting of course, but far from an objective slice of what's really happening in the real world.
We joke about 'it must be true, I read it on the internet' but I think many forget the joke when the next 'secret truth' comes along?
Interestingly enough, much of the most glowing posting going on right now seems to be about the Ascent, improved Hercules, leakproof Omicron carts and other upcoming wonders the common man can't actually have yet....... A case of 'hope springs eternal'? Also, I think, in the nature of the internet?
I'm not so sure Al Gore really did us such a great favor inventing the thing......
Yes, I know that's the case, I've done it and posted them here (at least some of them). Same as I know (and have shown) there are other options than Cera as designed.
This is a Free Market here, noting prevents you or I (or anyone else for that matter) from doing exactly that. offer it to the market, and 'let the market decide'? We each get to decide to do that or not (and when), so does TV. I believe they will when their schedule calls for it. Remember, Pipes built and sold PAs for T1 long before TV got to it.......
[quote="GR, post: 409547, member: 9165" Your info and input is very valuable to me and to many others but sometimes I think you are to close to TET to have an honest opinion of what is going on with us customers.
[/quote]
Thanks very much, it's of course my goal to be helpful.
I don't think my opinions are objective, which is why I try to state clearly what they're based on. However, I do take exception to the 'they're not honest opinions' part. I think that's grossly unfair to say, I am in no way connected to them financially (despite the many claims in the past) and consider myself as honest as I can be with this and all my other dealings with people. It's what I want from others, so the Golden Rule demands it of me.
I call them like I see them with no hidden agenda.
OF
So it seems a balance to the negativity is in order.
My experience with the EO cart is 100% positive. I had a slight learning curve but far easier of one then any other vape with little to no down side. I love dabbing and have some gorgeous custom glass that is very functional as well, yeah some pretty stuff works damn well, and I have an assortment of nails and skillets to suit my needs and different oils. There are two particular oils I have that are tedious to get the best flavor from a nail or a skillet but are super simple to get the flavor from the EO cart and I no longer chase the dragon on a nail with these oils. There is only one oil with tons of florals that I get from a nail but become one dimensional in the Cera, still tasty though.
The EO cart has changed how I can enjoy oils. My torch and glass are away until young ones are not around and neighbors are no longer walking in the door unexpected for a visit and some coffee. The EO cart is always handy for use and there is no settling for a tasteless hit just to get my relief. What more can I say? EO cart equals awesome flavor with a big of a lung fill you want.
I am not somebody that can review the LL core, I just have never enjoyed vaping flower all that much. Way to many years of smoking an ounce of great bud a week that vaping flower just doesn't hit all the nails for me. So I just don't consume much flower at all at this point in my life.
i certainly didn't mean to sound like i thought you had a hidden agenda and i do feel like you call it like you see it, a very nice quality in my book.
But sometimes i feel like some of us in our "real" complaints, ok that is very subjective, get swept under the mat by some of your answers. I will gladly take the occasion brush off for the wealth of knowledge you share any day.
My experience with the EO cart is 100% positive. I had a slight learning curve but far easier of one then any other vape with little to no down side. I love dabbing and have some gorgeous custom glass that is very functional as well, yeah some pretty stuff works damn well, and I have an assortment of nails and skillets to suit my needs and different oils. There are two particular oils I have that are tedious to get the best flavor from a nail or a skillet but are super simple to get the flavor from the EO cart and I no longer chase the dragon on a nail with these oils. There is only one oil with tons of florals that I get from a nail but become one dimensional in the Cera, still tasty though.
The EO cart has changed how I can enjoy oils. My torch and glass are away until young ones are not around and neighbors are no longer walking in the door unexpected for a visit and some coffee. The EO cart is always handy for use and there is no settling for a tasteless hit just to get my relief. What more can I say? EO cart equals awesome flavor with a big of a lung fill you want.
I am not somebody that can review the LL core, I just have never enjoyed vaping flower all that much. Way to many years of smoking an ounce of great bud a week that vaping flower just doesn't hit all the nails for me. So I just don't consume much flower at all at this point in my life.
i certainly didn't mean to sound like i thought you had a hidden agenda and i do feel like you call it like you see it, a very nice quality in my book.
But sometimes i feel like some of us in our "real" complaints, ok that is very subjective, get swept under the mat by some of your answers. I will gladly take the occasion brush off for the wealth of knowledge you share any day.
OF has disclosed his relationship to TET on several occasions, usually because he is called to defend against implications like yours. I have never had any reason to doubt what he has told us, and I don't believe he has ever misrepresented his opinions. You are entitled to interpret his disclosure differently and temper your assessment of his opinions accordingly, but you are not entitled to post a challenge to his honesty. Anything further along this line will get you a warning point.
Haywood
Onward Thru the Fog
Amen to that.
I think the TET Cera cores are the best in the business; unbeatable taste, coils that don't burn out, the ability to completely clean it at home and make it work like new, no solder or silica wicks. But I also think the Cera "handle" is a HUGE mistake. Drop it on something hard and it cracks. Electrical problems with the strap and the bonds for some (many?), even after a trip or two back to TET for fixing. All the changes to the switch(es), with the result being less than wonderful, at least from my perspective. The LL core requires keeping the button pressed for a LONG time to work properly, and a while a bottom button is fine for an oil/juice core, it really isn't ideal when you have to hold it down for minutes on end. Their theory that a pure mechanical mod is more reliable than an electronic one certainly hasn't panned out with the Cera handle, with all the advantages of an electronic mod absent.
I have been patiently waiting for months for an official adapter (did they really need to use a thread that no one else in either the mmj vape or e-cig industry uses). I have two mods (handles) here that will work MUCH better, and last MUCH longer than the TET Cera handle. One is stainless steel and brass, pure mech (no spring), and has less resistance than the Cera and its strap and spring. Plus I can use 18650, 18500, and 18350 batteries in it (it's tiny with the 18350, perfect for when I need something small that only has to last for an evening out). My electronic wooden mod, though as OF pointed out, looks a little like a short 2x4, will deliver 20 watts directly to a core, with no voltage drops to speak of, and will never get hot. It holds one or two 18650s, and even with one battery will last much longer than the Cera handle, as it will provide constant voltage to the core even after the battery itself goes below 3.5V or so. It just needs the core to be 0.8Ω or more. So I may have to ask Tim to custom wind me a LL Cera core.
My generation 1 TET LL stuff (T1 and Evo) is great, within its limits (eats batteries, gets really hot), and the EO DARTs work just fine. Better than fine; they work great. But I'm willing to wait until TET works out the (few) remaining weak points in the Cera LL core (the internal mounting system is a bit fragile for my tastes; certainly more fragile than the gen 1 system). And I have high hopes for the upcoming EL (e-juice) core redesign. I don't think I'm ever going to buy a Cera handle though, unless there are significant changes...
I absolutely love TET and the guys that work there, but I guess I'm not as good at keeping my negative thoughts to myself as OF seems to be. I still want to do all in my power to support TET. I make a good living and can afford to buy Ti cores. Yet I still don't think it's time for me to buy from the Cera line. I hope that changes sooner, rather than later.
I knew I should have added "Don't respond here, send me a PM."
You might see it that way but I have to consider what impression the impartial reader might get, and I think a lot of them would conclude that you were implying that OF was sometimes dishonest. I don't care what you think, or what I think for that matter, I care what they think so I have to tell you to zip it. That's my job.
Now. if you have anything more to say, don't respond here, send me a PM.
Cheerful Dub
Spaced Station
Yeah, the main sticking point for me in terms of negativity with products of this nature is the performance is directly engaged with your immediate brain chemistry.
Nobody says "eh, whatever, I'll deal with it later" when the carts get hot and the hits get wispy. At the moment of questionable performance - panic, rage, desperation, all the stages of grief are sprinted through in short order as your mind becomes even more transfixed on the next dose.
You aren't a fool at the end of a pipe with a fire at another end anymore, remember? Now you are a highly evolved fully conscious human being, don't forget
When it's good, it's all good and you can forget about performance criteria other than "yes please". Which means you don't need to come post to FC or call Zeki to enjoy it, you just do -
So that's another reason we perceive a lot of negativity here, aside from the fact that based on sample size alone, the forum members are going to be a lot more vocal about their experience than those who do not participate.
I would be significantly more displeased if I had no backup sources for vaping during the interim repair periods, but thankfully I always had my old T1 gear or the glass rig with titanium. I suppose that's a lesson for putting all your eggs in one basket, even if the basket has a really good warranty, you should still have a backup.
Due to this "flow", I don't see how the EL cart improvements would not immediately supersede or also apply to the EO design. As I have heard it explained, the only differences between the two being the windings and resulting electrical performance characteristics and not the physical arrangement of components. But I am not going to question that development path. More of an artifact of curiosity in my own mind.
At this point it is clear the cores work well in their intended applications. I have been using my EL since day one and never cleaned it and it has yet to kill me, so if they improve it in any way more power to them.
At the same time, I can see how in a relative cost analysis to a high end $100 e-cig mod, power handle, combo, etc - the EL core by itself is incredibly over priced and incredibly under-performing. As someone who just recently converted to "dripping" and wanted both functions in one device, it works admirably and I do not feel cheated.
However, I don't even think you can buy a "cadillac" $250 e-cig mod of comparable value if you wanted to - actually - for my own interest - if you go to the Provari website and add a V2 with all bells and whistles but no battery cell it will set you back $200. So yeah, if you had any E-cig experience it would make absolutely zero sense to ever spend $250 on the current EL arrangement. Obviously they are attempting to address this, particularly if that market was their bread and butter.
Nobody says "eh, whatever, I'll deal with it later" when the carts get hot and the hits get wispy. At the moment of questionable performance - panic, rage, desperation, all the stages of grief are sprinted through in short order as your mind becomes even more transfixed on the next dose.
You aren't a fool at the end of a pipe with a fire at another end anymore, remember? Now you are a highly evolved fully conscious human being, don't forget
When it's good, it's all good and you can forget about performance criteria other than "yes please". Which means you don't need to come post to FC or call Zeki to enjoy it, you just do -
So that's another reason we perceive a lot of negativity here, aside from the fact that based on sample size alone, the forum members are going to be a lot more vocal about their experience than those who do not participate.
I would be significantly more displeased if I had no backup sources for vaping during the interim repair periods, but thankfully I always had my old T1 gear or the glass rig with titanium. I suppose that's a lesson for putting all your eggs in one basket, even if the basket has a really good warranty, you should still have a backup.
I think it is interesting that the EL core will be doing a little "jig" as it were - if the lineage is AVA > RES > REV > CERA EL/EO - then how or why it would skip back to gen one? Even if this side note is bullshit, which it probably is, the original distributor representative who sold me my T1 "kit" told me to my face that TV modified their AVA carts to run Oil at their request, which resulted in the "window" loading Rev carts. This ties into their claims of this being an ancillary market, however -
Due to this "flow", I don't see how the EL cart improvements would not immediately supersede or also apply to the EO design. As I have heard it explained, the only differences between the two being the windings and resulting electrical performance characteristics and not the physical arrangement of components. But I am not going to question that development path. More of an artifact of curiosity in my own mind.
At this point it is clear the cores work well in their intended applications. I have been using my EL since day one and never cleaned it and it has yet to kill me, so if they improve it in any way more power to them.
At the same time, I can see how in a relative cost analysis to a high end $100 e-cig mod, power handle, combo, etc - the EL core by itself is incredibly over priced and incredibly under-performing. As someone who just recently converted to "dripping" and wanted both functions in one device, it works admirably and I do not feel cheated.
However, I don't even think you can buy a "cadillac" $250 e-cig mod of comparable value if you wanted to - actually - for my own interest - if you go to the Provari website and add a V2 with all bells and whistles but no battery cell it will set you back $200. So yeah, if you had any E-cig experience it would make absolutely zero sense to ever spend $250 on the current EL arrangement. Obviously they are attempting to address this, particularly if that market was their bread and butter.
OF
Well-Known Member
Thanks very much for clearing that up. As I said, I don't pretend to be objective but take honestly very seriously. A personal thing in a world that doesn't always seem to share my opinion on the topic, but very important to me. Honor and respect you earn, or so I believe. I'm happy to put it off to an unfortunate choice of words?
I understand that not championing every problem or concern to show up is not always popular and can sometimes be seen as dismissive or even antagonistic unfortunately, I try to guard against that, but obviously fail often enough. This perspective comes from long years is Customer Support at many levels. From running a Service Depot supporting a national network of dealers and agents, to direct service calls including travel to some truly strange places and going to sea to get to where the broken stuff was. A lesson from all that is in cases like this many (I'll even say in the TV case most) of the original claims don't pan out. The fact is, despite all the chatter about 'blown heaters', of the many many thousands shipped the duds fit into a coffee cup when they showed me early this year. "User error" is, unfortunately, the most common fault found by a large margin, not only here but usually. Ask anyone with wide CS experience. If you're running a good company you fix the quality issues before you ship. No reflection on the owners, just the way it works out. In that confusion are themes (like strap issues) that have to be ferreted out and addressed of course, not an easy job. My bias is tempered by that experience. As pilots say 'trust your instruments'.
It's wise to temper my opinions with that I think.
Thanks again for setting the record straight, that bit seemed out of character, glad to hear is was.
That is great! Borderline profound IMO.
I knew you were more than just another pretty face, glad we didn't run you out before you could show your true colors.......
OF
OF I also added an Edit to the original post trying to clear things up in that post with out changing all the quotes to it. Sorry, many times I am guilty of speaking without thinking, typing as well, it sounded different and funny in my head but there was a million other thoughts in my head at that moment. Again I am sorry for posting that at all, it offered nobody any help so was truly pointless, I guess this post is as well. Wow I am not really that good at the warm and fuzzy stuff either.
Just got around to using my EO for the first time, and it's pretty awesome. I have a wax that is putty consistency at room temperature. When I first loaded, it sort of bubbled and then dripped to the lower chamber. Some residue (very small amount) is still left in the well and the ridge at the bottom of the well. I push my drip tip in, and now the bottom of the drip tip, the lower inside of the drip tip and the ridge at the bottom of the well have wax residue. Is this normal? If so, is there a way to capture that residue for reuse? If not, is there a cleaner way to load the core?
As a side note, I'm finding that one of the coolest things about LL is the reclaim. About once a week I take a razor blade and swoop it around the inside of the cap, then the full bottom of the MP. I then put the reclaim in the bowl with a little bud topper, and those bowls seem to last forever! Effortless clouds with the reclaim in there. Question though: Since metal rubs off on the ceramic, is there any harm to harvesting reclaim this way? I would hate for tiny particles of metal to remain on the cap only to be inhaled.
As a side note, I'm finding that one of the coolest things about LL is the reclaim. About once a week I take a razor blade and swoop it around the inside of the cap, then the full bottom of the MP. I then put the reclaim in the bowl with a little bud topper, and those bowls seem to last forever! Effortless clouds with the reclaim in there. Question though: Since metal rubs off on the ceramic, is there any harm to harvesting reclaim this way? I would hate for tiny particles of metal to remain on the cap only to be inhaled.
Buzzard217
Member
Well, my Cera is no longer working. I have contacted TET via email and received their troubleshooting. I followed their instructions to no avail. For those that have gone through this process, how does the rest of this process pan out?
OF
Well-Known Member
Never happened.....musta been two other guys?
I'm not good with that warm and fuzzy stuff either, too subjective for me I guess? Definitely not a strong suit. I'll go with honest and hope that carries the day.
Thanks again, vape if you got 'em......
Sounds pretty normal to me, different concentrates, especially the harder ones) can sometimes be a trial to get melted in. I wouldn't worry about stuff under the drip tip, it'll find it's way down as more condensate collects.
I think it's worth taking a careful look at the last part of the load before poking it down. Sometimes that seems to have a lot of off color junk in it, I've used a toothpick to scoop it out and vape it elsewhere rather than get inside where I'll eventually have to deal with it in some future cleaning adventure.
I know the razor blade reclaim idea, Tim showed me once......be careful of the sharp part. The concentrate won't vape well once you mix blood in with it.
OF
Haywood
Onward Thru the Fog
I have no direct knowledge of what internal changes are going on in the redesigned EL core. From what I've read here, TET is re-working something to provide e-juice users a more typical experience; faster vape production and the like. However, while the original EL core was the same as the EO core except for the windings, I have no reason to believe the changes to the new EL core won't make its use with EO concentrates less wonderful. The EO core can deal with all manner of concentrates, from thick to thin, pure to contaminated. Maybe changes to the design that make the EL core better for thin liquids (e-juice) also make it worse for gooey impure concentrates. And if so, then the choice between buying an EO core versus an EL core may well depend on what you're vaping in it, rather than whether you like a 14 watt core versus a 16 watt core. Until TET releases the new EL core, we're all speculating by relying on hearsay and the little those that have actually talked with TET about this have reported back here. I have faith in TET in any case, both in their engineering expertise and in their honorable business practices.
I agree with your assement of the Cera cores. If there had been a factory TET<->510 adapter I would already have both a LL and EO/EL core in Titanium. I think the improvements in the cores over Gen 1 are absolutely worthwhile.
Actually, I don't agree with you about this. I don't think that the Cera line is overpriced at all. I think the cores are a good value (at least in SS), and better than anything of a similar nature available anywhere. Both my custom mods cost more than a Provari. If there were a TET<->510 factory adapter, I would still recommend both the Cera LL core and the Cera EO core to my friends with a limited budget. I just wouldn't recommend the Cera handle. I would stear them to e.g., a Sigelei mech mod, either the #19 if they prefer a bottom button, or a #20 if they prefered a side button on the top. Both are available in the $35 range.
One thing I'm not sure about is whether I'd recommend a EL core to a friend that only wanted it to vape e-juice for the nicotine. I still think the EL core is the best "dripping atomizer" on the market, but the vast majority of e-cig people I know don't want to drip anymore; they want something with a tank that they only have to fill once or twice a day. I have no idea how much e-juice the EL core can hold without leaking though; maybe I am underestimating its capacity...
Medical Mark
Well-Known Member
Hey tweek,
The Cera has been a huge disappointment to me, all the hyped and fuss.
It really is a unreliable unit I haven't used mine in some time to pouch effort for bad results.
I used to think this thing would be so handy being in control of every aspect when vaping, but is not possible with this vape.
Sorry thermovape but you took a gamble and lost cause the Cera is not worth the money or the time it takes to use it properly.
Tastes awesome when it works but even when its working I really can't tell if its functioning the way it should.
I'm so disappointed, sorry just am.
OF
Well-Known Member
Exactly square with my speculation.....
I think Cera isn't really all that serious a contender in the e-cig world. Smaller, lighter, easier to carry and more feature laden units dominate there. To compete Cera will have to fit the pocket and the use better.
Haywood, once again, has it right I think.
Cera was, and is I think, for the occasional users with herb and concentrates, not so much the 'all day long sippers'. The line included an attempt to 'carry over' the oil cart to that their needs but it falls short on several fronts. Too much mass in play makes it slow to react (the grab a quick hit reflexively, not build it like we do.....can you see a 'juice freak' milking a glass piece?) and the repeated heating rather than the quick flash they're used to shifts the taste and with it the enjoyment. Scaling up Revolution/DART (itself a reworked e-cig design turns out to be a screaming success....for concentrates. We turned a spirited sports car into a comfortable dump truck in the process.
From what I've been shown, the current design gets back to the successful AVA model for the heater, but I think it's using an expanded ceramic reservoir to increase use between loadings. We know that through the AVA line TV management is very tied to that market, in additon to being owner/users themselves. They understand what needs improvement, probably know how to make that happen, and will definitely know when it does.
If I were a betting guy I'd expect a new EL core with the new smaller Cera.....if not before.
OF
coffinoff
Well-Known Member
Very sad to say my Cera just stopped working. It ran great for about 6 weeks since I first got it back. Will definitely miss my time away from her. Really hope this doesn't become a pattern.
Man this sucks. Just catching up on the thread after a while and it's depressing as hell seeing stuff like this all over. Mine still works (knock wood) but I'm anxiously anticipating failure at any moment now.
OF
Well-Known Member
Type casting......
I might not get top billing, but I'm taller and get more lines.
And I could have be cast as Jabba......
Maybe if I had a better agent?
OF
Sonics420
Well-Known Member
Very sad to say my Cera just stopped working. It ran great for about 6 weeks since I first got it back. Will definitely miss my time away from her. Really hope this doesn't become a pattern.
I've already sent mine in 3 times.. I hope it doesn't become a pattern also..
Did yours have the laser welded strap? I just want to know because you might still have a soldered one. I noticed my switch has been getting a little hot too, and I just got this thing back from TET.. I am just going to deal with it for now though SMH.