Discontinued Thermovape Cera

[Chill Dude]

Just wanted to report back on my defective switch problem. I called Zeki at Thermovape this morning and explained that my Cera wasn't heating up properly. I then told him I used a ball of foil in place of the switch and my unit fired up hot and quick. He said no problem he'll go ahead and send me a replacement switch. Excellent customer service and an awesome product. Thermovape rocks!!

Can't wait to receive my new switch, but for right now I'm going to stuff a wad of foil in there and vape away on some nice Fire OG Shatter!!

 

[tedthehed]

6 amps crackling thru alumium foil gives me an uneasy feeling, could you make a jumper of some sort out of copper?
like a copper band on your finger with a flange that wedges up between contact and cera?

just chattering...hey speaking of shatter you remember that chimp named Chatter ( "whats the matter with you?") on tv. ?

he was awesome.

 

[skesseks]

Well, my switch has now gone sour. Wad of aluminum foil 5 seconds to bright glow, switch 15 or 20 seconds.

Ah well, Time to contact TET.

 

[420time]

so skesseks how long had you had your cera before you had to need a replacement switch. i had mines for like a month or so and it seems to take a good 15-20 seconds to really glow.

 

[skesseks]

Almost 8 months. But I think that I started having problems about 1 month ago.

 

[420time]

honsetly ever since i used it for 2 weeks my cermic plate has been so black, and loaded so frequently i cant see it glow anymore. i boiled it and stuff like a week ago.

 

[OF]

honsetly ever since i used it for 2 weeks my cermic plate has been so black, and loaded so frequently i cant see it glow anymore. i boiled it and stuff like a week ago.

This is very typical (subject to the concentrate). Depending on how deep and thick it is, sometimes a 20/20/20 burn will help, but it's only cosmetic.

Switches can (and have) failed for a number of reasons. Hopefully we're not looking at a fresh set of problem switches (as has happened) but I doubt that based on reported timing. They can also fail because the switch itself isn't screwed solidly into the SS ring that makes the end cap. The switch body and ring are different materials and have been known to work loose. Anyway, always good to be sure it's really well threaded in. Also possibles are the connections to the switch for the spring and ground strap, both buried under epoxy and out of reach. Spring tension can also be an issue, some batteries are shorter than others and even with a good fit a solid bump on the tail can jam the spring and get it to collapse, so I'd also suggest checking for proper spring tension before blaming the switch itself.

At the kind of power levels we're running (about 4 Amps worst case), dicey contact issues often can be found by the heat they generate. Look for things getting hot sooner or more than before. A trick often used in such cases is to put the whole thing in the freezer, until it frosts up solidly, then fire it up and watch to see what thaws first. This is what led me to a ground strap connection problem a while ago.

The ball of foil test is the definitive test for switch problems as an assembly. If you get improved performance with it you can drop your search plans elsewhere.

OF

 

[420time]

so what if it usually takes 5 seconds to get clouds when paired up with the pinnacle hydrotube, but then now its like 15-20 seconds with the WT to get clouds. well the cera i dropped it on my rug a couple of times and kind of banged it on the side of the switch couple times too.

 

[OF]

so what if it usually takes 5 seconds to get clouds when paired up with the pinnacle hydrotube, but then now its like 15-20 seconds with the WT to get clouds.

I'd be careful of 'tests' like that, IMO they're not reliable. Even when you control for concentrate nature and fill level, battery type and condition and so on. Fouling in the core can slow things way down. Even the time since the last big hit can cause surprising differences.

Even LL cores (which don't have half those issues) show a fair bit of change in this sort of area (but up and down) for the remaining factors.

OF

 

[420time]

I'd be careful of 'tests' like that, IMO they're not reliable. Even when you control for concentrate nature and fill level, battery type and condition and so on. Fouling in the core can slow things way down. Even the time since the last big hit can cause surprising differences.

Even LL cores (which don't have half those issues) show a fair bit of change in this sort of area (but up and down) for the remaining factors.

OF

so what your saying is even 15-20 seconds is maybe normal?

 

[OF]

so what your saying is even 15-20 seconds is maybe normal?

Yup. Wouldn't alarm me. At least not normally. How's the overall battery life? Does it go flat quickly? How full is it?

OF

 

[420time]

well a battery usually last me atleast half the day, if used more frequently itll be like 1/4th of the day.

 

[OF]

well a battery usually last me atleast half the day, if used more frequently itll be like 1/4th of the day.

Sorry, I asked that the wrong way. I meant to ask in terms of total run time. But it sounds like you're getting half an hour total 'button down' time per charge? That says the battery is doing just fine.

FWIW, I find that running with loads on the light side (say .25 to .50 over clean?) cuts the heat up time and keeps the taste from being as 'muddy' as when I load more. Just be careful not to run it dry. I find with practice (and using the same oil) I can judge the load by the appearance of the top plate. When it looks wet and kind of smooth I'm golden, when it starts to look dry near the center and you can see the pores showing up it's time to think about a reload.

Regards,

OF

 

[420time]

wold you say dry as in top plate is kind of gray looking?

 

[OF]

wold you say dry as in top plate is kind of gray looking?

Sure, depending on what you're feeding it. It could also come up red or black. I'm more used to using the texture as a clue. But only a clue, best to be aware of how it's performing over time (hit to hit).

But yes, letting it get too dry is a common mistake I think.....I advise against it.

OF

 

[lemi3]

Hi everyone new to the site. Been desperately reading the 244 pages to try and find some answers. Hopefully someone can help. I just received my CLL last week, and im having some troubles getting vapour. Is this normal, from a coldstart the core turns red in about 7-8 seconds the goes off after about 13 seconds. No matter how long I hold it it doesnt come back on, I have to release the button then press it again, then it will only stay on for about 5 second. Ive read many tutorials which al say 30 warm up. I cant do that. Any help would be greatly appreciated,
Cheers

Lemi3 (noob)

 

[Quetzalcoatl]

Hi everyone new to the site. Been desperately reading the 244 pages to try and find some answers. Hopefully someone can help. I just received my CLL last week, and im having some troubles getting vapour. Is this normal, from a coldstart the core turns red in about 7-8 seconds the goes off after about 13 seconds. No matter how long I hold it it doesnt come back on, I have to release the button then press it again, then it will only stay on for about 5 second. Ive read many tutorials which al say 30 warm up. I cant do that. Any help would be greatly appreciated,
Cheers

Lemi3 (noob)

That sounds weird. Have you tried the foil wad in the switch? If that keeps it glowing after the "cutoff" you're experiencing, then it's likely the switch. Email them (it's on their website) and they'll sort you out. It should just power the core as long as you hold it on when running normally.

 

[lemi3]

That sounds weird. Have you tried the foil wad in the switch? If that keeps it glowing after the "cutoff" you're experiencing, then it's likely the switch. Email them (it's on their website) and they'll sort you out. It should just power the core as long as you hold it on when running normally.

Thanks for the quick reply, I thought that couldnt be normal. Ill try the foil now and let you's know the results. Loaded it up when I got it and was instantly disappointed haha still looking forward to that first proper vape

 

[BLAZING OG]

Thanks for the quick reply, I thought that couldnt be normal. Ill try the foil now and let you's know the results. Loaded it up when I got it and was instantly disappointed haha still looking forward to that first proper vape

@Quetzalcoatl beat me to it, definitely try the foil, and it sounds like you might need switch work or the copper strap inside, or copper strap welds. Once I had the same issues, TET took care of me, got laser welded, and have not had an issues since (6-7+ month's).

 

[lemi3]

Hi everyone new to the site. Been desperately reading the 244 pages to try and find some answers. Hopefully someone can help. I just received my CLL last week, and im having some troubles getting vapour. Is this normal, from a coldstart the core turns red in about 7-8 seconds the goes off after about 13 seconds. No matter how long I hold it it doesnt come back on, I have to release the button then press it again, then it will only stay on for about 5 second. Ive read many tutorials which al say 30 warm up. I cant do that. Any help would be greatly appreciated,
Cheers

Lemi3 (noob)

Right I've definitely got problems just tried with a lump of foil. This caused the core to heat without the button being pressed. Im assuming this is a short circuit. Doesnt sound good

Sorry is the foil meant to bypass the switch? Just didnt want to leave it in long as the switch and battery began to heat up pretty quickly

 

[OF]

Yes, it might get a little warm, but keep at it for 30 seconds or so (to confirm it's not the core cutting out on you).

Anything's possible, but it sure sounds heat related, which gets me back to the core, most likely the shell connection?

Anyway, run with the foil ball, see if it goes?

OF

 

[BLAZING OG]

Thanks for the quick reply, I thought that couldnt be normal. Ill try the foil now and let you's know the results. Loaded it up when I got it and was instantly disappointed haha still looking forward to that first proper vape

Sorry is the foil meant to bypass the switch? Just didnt want to leave it in long as the switch and battery began to heat up pretty quickly

Yes, I do believe the foil bypasses the switch(just for testing purposes).
Just FYI so you dont get any points, try to hit the edit button to add anything else you want to add in to your post rather than double or triple posting, the mods like to keep it as clean as possible.

 

[lemi3]

Yes, I do believe the foil bypasses the switch(just for testing purposes).
Just FYI so you dont get any points, try to hit the edit button to add anything else you want to add in to your post rather than double or triple posting, the mods like to keep it as clean as possible.

Sorry about that wont happen again, I tried to deleted one of them but could see how to on my phone

Yes, it might get a little warm, but keep at it for 30 seconds or so (to confirm it's not the core cutting out on you).

Anything's possible, but it sure sounds heat related, which gets me back to the core, most likely the shell connection?

Anyway, run with the foil ball, see if it goes?

OF

Just tried again with the foil ball and its still cutting out, do you think that could be the core then, ill get on to them tomorrow, are they generally helpful at TeT?

 

[BLAZING OG]

Sorry about that wont happen again, I tried to deleted one of them but could see how to on my phone

No worries, It happens to all of us at one point.
Welcome To FC!!!

Just tried again with the foil ball and its still cutting out, do you think that could be the core then, ill get on to them tomorrow, are they generally helpful at TeT?

TET is extremely helpful, you might deal with Zeki which in my experience has been smooth as butter!!!
No matter who you deal with, youll be pleased to know your covered.

 

[lemi3]

No worries, It happens to all of us at one point.
Welcome To FC!!!

TET is extremely helpful, you might deal with Zeki which in my experience has been smooth as butter!!!
No matter who you deal with, youll be pleased to know your covered.

Thanks man. Hopefully getting the hang of it now. Thats nice to know its a rare thing these days. Thanks for the help everyone really appreciate it, ill let yous know what TET say.

Lemi3