Protank 2 & Mini Disappointment

[drew]

I've been using iClear16's pretty much since I started vaping apart from the couple CE4's that came with the starter kit and was satisfied with the vape but always has this idea in the back of my mind that it's just a clearo and the protanks would blow it out of the water.

Oh how wrong I was, I got my hands on a protank 2 and mini protank 2 and I found the flavours heavily muted and they kept dry hitting. I tried replacing coils, removing flavour wicks, flipping the silicone gasket and that has seemed to solve the dry hitting but flavour and vapour wise it still doesn't come anywhere close to the iClear16.

With all the positive protank reviews it makes me wonder. Have I been spoilt with the iClear16 or is there something else going on with the protanks I haven't figured out yet?

 

[Gazzacpt]

I've been using iClear16's pretty much since I started vaping apart from the couple CE4's that came with the starter kit and was satisfied with the vape but always has this idea in the back of my mind that it's just a clearo and the protanks would blow it out of the water.

Oh how wrong I was, I got my hands on a protank 2 and mini protank 2 and I found the flavours heavily muted and they kept dry hitting. I tried replacing coils, removing flavour wicks, flipping the silicone gasket and that has seemed to solve the dry hitting but flavour and vapour wise it still doesn't come anywhere close to the iClear16.

With all the positive protank reviews it makes me wonder. Have I been spoilt with the iClear16 or is there something else going on with the protanks I haven't figured out yet?

Hi @drew it shouldn't be that much of a difference the flavour is a bit muted but not to much, I moved from 16's to bottom coils. I do rebuild my coils to get what I want out of it though, tried a standard coil yesterday and just didn't do it for me. Tuning the silicone cup around in a PT2 mini or maxi won't help it might make it worse. Taking out to much flavour wick will also cause gurgling and leaking. If the 16's work for you stick with them I still have a CE5 doing service for testing my DIY liquid.

 

[Silver]

Hi @drew, i dont have any experience with the iClear16, but @Gizmo rates it highly. I have also heard a few other people saying it has good flavour and seen a few good reviews on it. I would like to try it and see how it compares to the PT2 mini

I havent had any problems with my PT2Mini and like the flavour it produces. But am keen to try something else to see if I can get an improved vape from a portable type of device.

 

[Silver]

Something I need to add here is that I have found quite a big discrepancy in the coils I use on my PT2Mini. Some are fantastic and some not so good. One or two have produced gurgling. I have only used standard 1.8 or 2.2 ohm coils, but have found their performance varies quite a bit. This is a worrying sign though, since it would suggest either something may be wrong with my tank or that the coils are not produced consistently enough. I think the latter.

So, not saying this is a solution, but if you try the PT2Mini with another coil, you may find it's better.

Either way, I don't like the coil inconsistency anyway -

 

[Gazzacpt]

Something I need to add here is that I have found quite a big discrepancy in the coils I use on my PT2Mini. Some are fantastic and some not so good. One or two have produced gurgling. I have only used standard 1.8 or 2.2 ohm coils, but have found their performance varies quite a bit. This is a worrying sign though, since it would suggest either something may be wrong with my tank or that the coils are not produced consistently enough. I think the latter.

So, not saying this is a solution, but if you try the PT2Mini with another coil, you may find it's better.

Either way, I don't like the coil inconsistency anyway -

Thats why I rebuild them to my liking.
The 16 is a fantastic clearo, for me it was a bit warm and it does drink liquid.

 

[drew]

Something I need to add here is that I have found quite a big discrepancy in the coils I use on my PT2Mini. Some are fantastic and some not so good. One or two have produced gurgling. I have only used standard 1.8 or 2.2 ohm coils, but have found their performance varies quite a bit. This is a worrying sign though, since it would suggest either something may be wrong with my tank or that the coils are not produced consistently enough. I think the latter.

So, not saying this is a solution, but if you try the PT2Mini with another coil, you may find it's better.

Either way, I don't like the coil inconsistency anyway -

I think you are spot on with the inconsistency issue, out of the 2 coils that came with the PT2 they were both marked 2.2 but one read at 2.1 and the other at 2.6! One of them would dry hit constantly and the other wasn't as bad. The replacement pack of coils were better and all read around 2.5.

 

[drew]

Thats why I rebuild them to my liking.
The 16 is a fantastic clearo, for me it was a bit warm and it does drink liquid.

Definitely going to try a rebuild. Are you using cotton or silica?

 

[Gazzacpt]

Definitely going to try a rebuild. Are you using cotton or silica?

Silica, cotton needs a change almost daily silica goes for about 2 weeks with a dry burn or 2. The other thing I do is cut the skirt off the silicone cup turning it into a washer, seems to help I haven't gotten a dry hit unless I chain vape the crap out of it.

Something like this

 

[Silver]

Yes, forgot to mention the ohm reading inconsistencies.
I have measured most of my replacement coils and they range from about 1.8 to 2.5.
I find that the ones marked "1.8 ohm" are usually around 2.0 ohm and the ones marked "2.2 ohms" are 2.4 to 2.5 ohms. Quite strange that I think I have only found one coil that measures what it says it is.

I am measuring typically on both my dedicated Sigelei ohm meter and one of the regulated mods. Almost always they give the same reading, so I dont think my measurement devices are both wrong

If the resistances vary so much then I suppose the other aspects of the coil could also vary, giving a different vaping experience.

One other thing I found is that some replacement coils have a more "see through" bottom seal. (That rubbery part near the bottom of the coil head). While others have a white opaque one. I noticed that the ones that are a bit more see-through gave me more gurgling problems. Just ordered another 5 coils from VapourMountain and I see its the "see-through one". Am hoping they dont gurgle.

PS: when I say "seethrough" I dont mean totally transparent - just that its not totally white. Let me see if I can take a picture and maybe other forumites can offer their advice. Or maybe the retailers can offer some assistance as well.

 

[Gazzacpt]

Yes, forgot to mention the ohm reading inconsistencies.
I have measured most of my replacement coils and they range from about 1.8 to 2.5.
I find that the ones marked "1.8 ohm" are usually around 2.0 ohm and the ones marked "2.2 ohms" are 2.4 to 2.5 ohms. Quite strange that I think I have only found one coil that measures what it says it is.

I am measuring typically on both my dedicated Sigelei ohm meter and one of the regulated mods. Almost always they give the same reading, so I dont think my measurement devices are both wrong

If the resistances vary so much then I suppose the other aspects of the coil could also vary, giving a different vaping experience.

One other thing I found is that some replacement coils have a more "see through" bottom seal. (That rubbery part near the bottom of the coil head). While others have a white opaque one. I noticed that the ones that are a bit more see-through gave me more gurgling problems. Just ordered another 5 coils from VapourMountain and I see its the "see-through one". Am hoping they dont gurgle.

PS: when I say "seethrough" I dont mean totally transparent - just that its not totally white. Let me see if I can take a picture and maybe other forumites can offer their advice. Or maybe the retailers can offer some assistance as well.

I read somewhere that Kanger were changing that bit from rubber to silicone. which is probably what you are seeing. It will solve burnt rubber taste and smell some people including me get sometimes. Generally happens when chain vaping.

 

[drew]

Thanks @Gazzacpt

@Silver1 Got a bunch of coils all muddled up now so I'm not sure which ones came with the PT2, Mini or replacement pack but I just noticed that a couple of them don't have that little semi transparent washer just under the wick!

 

[Silver]

Ok here is a photo of the two types of coils with the different seal at the bottom. Thanks Gazza, makes sense if the white one is rubber (shown on left) and the more see through one is silicon (shown on the right).



The one on the left I got as part of a 5-pack from SkyBlue quite a while back - I would say around Nov last year. The one on the right was from e-Ciggies not long ago - maybe say a few weeks back.

Anyway, I have tried 2 of the ones on the right hand side and they gave me gurgling - more in the PT2 Mega than the Mini - but also a bit in the Mini as well. The ones on the left (white rubber at the bottom thanks to Gazza) work perfectly.

But dont take my word for it - I have only tested a few - it may have nothing to do with the change from rubber to silicon - it may be related to something else.

 

[drew]

Ok here is a photo of the two types of coils with the different seal at the bottom. Thanks Gazza, makes sense if the white one is rubber (shown on left) and the more see through one is silicon (shown on the right).

View attachment 1525

The one on the left I got as part of a 5-pack from SkyBlue quite a while back - I would say around Nov last year. The one on the right was from e-Ciggies not long ago - maybe say a few weeks back.

Anyway, I have tried 2 of the ones on the right hand side and they gave me gurgling - more in the PT2 Mega than the Mini - but also a bit in the Mini as well. The ones on the left (white rubber at the bottom thanks to Gazza) work perfectly.

But dont take my word for it - I have only tested a few - it may have nothing to do with the change from rubber to silicon - it may be related to something else.

Ok, thanks. All of mine have the white rubber insulator, do yours have the silicone washer below the wick as shown in the pic above?

 

[Silver]

Not sure if you asking me that question @drew, but yes, mine all look like the photo I posted with that silicon washer below the wick area.

 

[drew]

Not sure if you asking me that question @drew, but yes, mine all look like the photo I posted with that silicon washer below the wick area.

Look a little higher @Silver1 I posted pic, the coil on the left has no silicone washer

 

[Silver]

Aah, I see now. When I read your post, I think the pic was still loading.

Look, your pic is from the other angle, so I can't see if the silocon washer is behind that metal rim part. But if you're saying it isn't then I am saying that's not what I have. All mine have those washers under the rim under the wick. If that makes sense.

 

[drew]

Aah, I see now. When I read your post, I think the pic was still loading.

Look, your pic is from the other angle, so I can't see if the silocon washer is behind that metal rim part. But if you're saying it isn't then I am saying that's not what I have. All mine have those washers under the rim under the wick. If that makes sense.

Lol, it's like one of those spot the difference games. I'm not talking about the washer under the metal deck that are clearly visible on yours. It's a washer on top of the metal deck.

 

[drew]

 

[Gizmo]

I completely agree. Iclear 16 is better imo

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

 

[Silver]

LOL, indeed, spot the difference

No, none of mine have a silicon washer above the deck and below the wick. There is nothing there. Just the wick ends resting on the metal deck. Have never seen a coil with a washer in that position.

 

[Silver]

LOL, @drew, the other folk are probably looking at this lot (you and I) and thinking what the heck are these guys talking about?

I am actually laughing out loud while I type this.

PS: and then @Gizmo casually comes on the scene and posts that he prefers the iClear16 - Love it. I tell you these gadgets can drive one mad. LOL

 

[Gazzacpt]

LOL, indeed, spot the difference

No, none of mine have a silicon washer above the deck and below the wick. There is nothing there. Just the wick ends resting on the metal deck. Have never seen a coil with a washer in that position.

None of mine have that either I wonder what thats all about now. Off to google I go.

Oh and would love to hear your thoughts on the iClear 16 when you try one. I think they need to have a best reviewer medal.

 

[Silver]

LOL - thanks Gazza

I do intend trying one soon...

 

[drew]

Thanks for all the input guys. I'm gonna keep fiddling with the protanks coz they just look so damn cool, but as it stands innokin wins

 

[BhavZ]

None of mine have that washer either. But I have tried the trimming of the silicon gasket and it does make a difference especially for flavour.