DCT Cartomizer Troubleshooting

Although DCT tanks are my personal favorite tank system, there is sometimes a small learning curve for new vapers associated with its use. Below I discuss a few troubleshooting tips to help you become more familiar with your DCT tank system. Upon purchasing your new DCT Starter Kit, you should have received instructions labeled DCT Tank Filling Instructions. You should follow these instructions precisely when filling your new DCT cartomizer tank.

Issue: Burnt taste.

Cause(s): The cartomizer was not filled/primed correctly or the DCT tank was vaped on empty resulting in the filler material in the cartomizer around the heating element  to become burnt.

Fix: Sometimes, depending on how burnt the cartomizer has become, you can prime more Eliquid into the cartomizer to resolve this issue.  Other times, the cartomizer is too burnt and should simply be replaced. Note: Remove white rubber cartomizer cap before using the new cartomizer. This cap is only used when storing the cartomizer.
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Issue: Gurgling sound when I draw on my DCT tank in which sometimes Eliquid comes though the mouth piece or Eliquid leaks onto my battery. The cartomizer is flooded which simply means the cartomizer has too much Eliquid in the filler material.

Cause(s): A flooded cartomizer can be the result of over priming your cartomizer, drawing too hard on the DCT tank, dripping Eliquid down the center hole around the heating element of the cartomizer, or the Eliquid has become too thin due to prolonged exposure to sunlight or overheating of the Eliquid (usually occurs in variable voltage MODS when used at higher voltages).

Fix: To fix a flooded cartomizer, you should remove the DCT tank from the battery. Place the threaded end of the DCT tank (bottom of the cartomizer) into a paper towel. Blow through the drip tip a few times to remove the excess Eliquid from the cartomizer. Then wipe the threads clean and dry. Now screw the DCT tank to the battery. Press the LED activation button a couple times for about two seconds. This will burn off excess Eliquid in the cartomizer. At this point, you should be able to refill your DCT tank with Eliquid and begin vaping. Note: You should not repeat the priming step in your original DCT Tank Filling Instructions. Cartomizers typically only need primed upon initial use.

If your Eliquid has become too thin due to overheating, you should set the e-cig in a cool place for a few minutes. If using a MOD, you should decrease the voltage to prevent overheating of the Eliquid.
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Issue: I hear a popping sound when I press the LED activation button on my battery.

Cause(s): After your e-cig has been sitting awhile, the Eliquid is cool and has totally saturated the filler material around the heating element . When the LED activation button is pressed, the heating element heats up very quickly and vaporizes the cool Eliquid causing popping sounds. As you continue to vape, the Eliquid around the coils is warm and does not pop as often.

Fix: This is normal. No fix is necessary.
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Issue: When using a MOD, like the ZMax, SID, or Lavatube, my Eliquid tastes burnt.

Cause(s): Incorrect cartomizer used or the voltage/wattage setting on your MOD may be set too high.

Fix: First, be sure you are using the correct cartomizer. Black Mesa Vapors offers a few different resistances in cartomizers: 1.5 ohm (standard), 2.0 ohm, 2.5 ohm, and 3.0 ohm.

*Recommended Resistance (DCT):
Standard eGo battery (3.7v)----1.5 ohms
Variable Voltage Mods (5.0v)----2.0 ohms
Variable Voltage Mods (6.0v)----2.5 ohms
Variable Voltage Mods (7.0v)----3.0 ohms

Second, make sure the current voltage/wattage setting is set up properly. You may need to decrease the voltage (v) or wattage (w) on your MOD.
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Black Mesa Vapors electronic cigarettes and accessories are not intended for purchase or use by minors under the age of 18, nor are they intended to treat, cure, or prevent any disease or condition. E-Cigs have not been evaluated or approved as a smoking cessation device by the Food and Drug Administration. Black Mesa Vapors products are considered a smoking alternative and should be used as such.

How Electronic Cigarettes Work

Although there are many different brands and types of electronic cigarette models in the market today, most are basically built on the same concept as shown below. The main process of inhalation is slightly different from a regular tobacco cigarette. Instead of a quick draw like you would take from a regular tobacco cigarette, you should take a long, slow draw from an electronic cigarette.  A long, slow draw gives time for the vapor to be produced once the activation button is pressed. Below we list the various components of an electronic cigarette in hopes to educate consumers.

EGO DCT (pictured)

BATTERY:
The battery is what powers the electronic cigarette. Most eGo batteries are rechargeable lithium-ions that make use a small circuit board inside, which have fail safes for overheating and overcharging. A majority of eGo batteries possess an LED activation button that lights up when the electronic cigarette is activated. The threading at the top of the battery is usually eGo (big outer thread) and 510 (small inner thread) to allow numerous atomizers/cartomizers and tank systems to be compatible. You can turn the eGo battery off/on by pressing the LED activation button 5 times within 1-1/2 seconds. As with most lithium-ion batteries, you should never let the charge get below 10% power capacity.


ATOMIZER/CARTOMIZER:
The atomizer / cartomizer is where most of the action happens.  The Black Mesa Juice e-liquid is simply heated up by the atomizer / cartomizer, thus producing vapor. Some tanks require atomizers, while others use cartomizers. Both are basically the heating element of the electronic cigarette. Atomizers usually contain wick material along with a metal coil. Cartomizers are typically small metal cylindrical tubes filled with wick material. Inside the cartomizer is a wire with heating coils that run through the wick material. Most atomizers / cartomizers need to be replaced between 1 to 4 weeks depending upon usage.

TANK:
The tank serves as a reservoir for E-liquid. Tanks come in many different colors, shapes, and sizes. You fill your tank with E-liquid and are able to vape for hours. Earlier versions of electronic cigarettes only possessed small cartridges that would not last very long. Examples of tanks: DCT (Dual Coil Tank), Vivi Nova, and Clearomizer.

DRIP TIP:
The drip tip acts as a mouthpiece and sits atop the tank. They come in many different colors, shapes, and sizes.

THREAD COVER:
The functions of the thread cover are to make the electronic cigarette look uniform and to protect the threads. Some vapers do not use the thread cover, since it tends to get in the way when removing the tank.

Eliquid:
Most e-cigarette users prefer the taste of eliquid compared to traditional tobacco cigarettes. Eliquid comes in many different flavors and nicotine strengths. E-liquid, usually comes in a 10ml bottle. Some users start with a high nicotine strength, such as 24mg/ml (usually abbreviated 24mg), then decrease their nicotine intake over time. Eliquid is comprised of water, propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, flavoring, and liquid nicotine. Some eliquid (0mg) do not contain any nicotine. Propylene glycol (PG) and vegetable glycerin (PG) are added to eliquid for sweetness and vapor production. Both are common food additives that have been approved by the FDA.

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DCT Tank Filling Instructions

DCT Tank Assembly includes:
1 - Tube Assembly
1 - Dual Coil Cartomizer
1 - Plastic Drip Tip
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1. Obtain DCT tank assembly and a bottle of eliquid.
2. Remove the drip tip from the cartomizer.
3. Fill the cartomizer by dripping 15-20 drops of eliquid around the edges into the fabric filler. Be careful not to get eliquid into the center hole.
4. Slide the cartomizer partially out of the DCT tank.
5. Drip eliquid into the DCT tank around the cartomizer. As it fills, slide the cartomizer up to prevent liquid from going into the cartomizer. You can fill as close to the top as you would like without allowing the liquid to leak into the cartomizer.
6. Slide the cartomizer back into the top hole of the tank and align the bottom (threaded end) with the slot on the end of the DCT tank so it is fully inserted into bottom of the DCT tank.
7. Replace the drip tip. You will need to apply pressure to the bottom of the cartomizer while pushing the drip tip on to prevent the internal cartomizer from sliding out of the tube tank.
8. Screw onto your battery device and you are ready to use the DCT tank assembly.

Note: Although the pictures do not show it, I recommend leaving the battery attached to the cartomizer when filling the DCT cartomizer and tank.

Next, you should “prime” the tank. This is only used on the initial use of a new cartomizer.
1. Unscrew your battery from the DCT tank assembly.
2. Apply pressure to bottom of the cartomizer with your thumb to cut off all air flow.
3. Take two to three quick drags on the drip tip while still applying pressure with your thumb.
4. You should notice the eliquid in the DCT tank drop by about 1/4” to 3/8” which means it is now inside the cartomizer via the small laser hole in the cartomizer.
5. Now you should screw your battery onto the DCT tank assembly.
6. Hold down battery button for about 2 to 3 seconds while inhaling the vapor. Remember most eGo batteries have a 5-click on/off function. The button should light up when activated.
7. If you get a burnt taste, then repeat priming steps. If you get a smooth taste, then you can now enjoy your electronic cigarette!

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Frequently Asked Questions about Electronic Cigarettes

Black Mesa Vapors is committed to helping new and existing vapers answer questions they may have regarding electronic cigarettes. Below I try my best to answer many of them.


What is an electronic cigarette?
An electronic cigarette, or e-cigarette, is an electrical device that simulates the act of tobacco smoking by producing an inhaled vapor bearing the physical sensation, appearance, and often the flavor (with or without nicotine content) of inhaled tobacco smoke, without its odor. The device uses heat to vaporize a propylene glycol or glycerin-based liquid solution into an aerosol mist, similar to the way a nebulizer or humidifier vaporizes solutions for inhalation.


Are electronic cigarettes safe?
There has been media coverage about the safety of electronic cigarettes, which may be confusing and a bit scary. Electronic cigarettes are intended to be a less‐toxic alternative to smoking tobacco cigarettes, but not as a treatment for nicotine addiction.


Can electronic cigarettes help me quit smoking?
There is a lot of anecdotal evidence and even some scientific research surveys that strongly indicate that e-cigarettes are an effective alternative to smoking. Surveys show that up to 80% of e-cigarette users quit smoking traditional cigarettes while using e-cigarettes.

However, while some users have gradually reduced the nicotine levels down to zero, the majority of e-cigarette users treat the devices as an alternate source of nicotine and not as a nicotine cessation program. So there is not as much scientific evidence yet that show how effective e-cigarettes are when used to treat or cure nicotine addiction. Yet, anecdotal reports by users who have used e-cigarettes as a way to wean from nicotine also indicates they seem to be very effective way to break smoking triggers and dramatically reduce nicotine levels. As with pharmaceutical NRTs, it depends upon the smoker and the strength of his or her addiction and resolve to quit. E-cigarettes also appear to be a much safer option for short-term use in the event of relapse.

The good news is nicotine by itself has very low health risks, so switching to e-cigarettes can be nearly as good as quitting altogether. The most important thing for those who cannot or will not quit nicotine to do is to stop the exposure to the harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke and e-cigarettes can help them do it.


What is the “smoke” that is released?
The simulated "smoke” is simply the vaporized contents of the nicotine cartridge. This smoke is water vapor that evaporates into the air within seconds and leaves virtually no odor. There are no additional / unwanted chemicals produced in the vaporization process because there is no chemical reaction or combustion taking place as with regular cigarettes.


What ingredients are in Black Mesa Juice?
Black Mesa Juice ingredients:

Water
Liquid nicotine
Flavoring
Propylene glycol
Vegetable glycerin

Liquid Nicotine
Black Mesa Juice is available in different nicotine strengths as well as nicotine-free.

Flavoring
The Black Mesa Juice solution is available in a wide variety of flavors. The taste is very subjective, so it is a good idea to try many flavor in order to find  the ones you most enjoy. Sample packs are a great way to get started on your taste-testing adventure.

Many e-cig users begin with tobacco flavored juice, but quickly find that others flavors are better. Vaping is a method of smoking enjoyment, but it is different from smoking cigarettes. Some of the most surprising flavors turn out to be more enjoyable that tobacco flavored juices.

Non tobacco flavors include just about every flavor you can think of, including: fruit (blueberry, watermelon), beverages (blue cola, doc peppah, beer, rootbeer), and desserts (chocolate, cream, caramel, double mint).

Propylene Glycol and Vegetable Glycerin
Propylene Glycol (PG) and Vegetable Glycerin (VG) are added to the Black Mesa Juice to produce smoke-like vapor. The Black Mesa Juice contains a mix of the two. Both are common food additives approved by the FDA.


What is propylene glycol?
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has determined propylene glycol to be "generally recognized as safe” for use in food, cosmetics, and medicines. It is used in food coloring, and flavoring, as an additive to keep food, medicines and cosmetics moist, and in machines that simulate smoke, although usage in simulating smoking devices is not currently included in the list of uses generally recognized as safe by the FDA. Propylene glycol is used in electronic smoking devices to make the water vapor appear more like smoke and to keep the cartridges from drying out and losing flavor.


Does nicotine cause cancer?
No. It is widely believed that nicotine does not cause cancer by the medical community. Nicotine research is on-going and the medical research has found some advantages and disadvantages of nicotine consumption. Determine through your own research if nicotine alone is a net gain or loss for your health.


Do electronic cigarettes taste the same as regular cigarettes?
Electronic cigarettes cartridges and Black Mesa Juice are offered in tobacco and menthol flavors that taste similar to light cigarettes and cigars but are smoother and less harsh.  Electronic cigarette cartridges and Black Mesa Juice are also offered in a wide variety of other flavors that you may like better than tobacco and menthol flavors.


How many puffs on an electronic cigarette equals a tobacco cigarette?
Currently there have not been any tests to determine the number of puffs on an electronic cigarette compared to that of a tobacco cigarette. The quantity of nicotine in vapor has yet to be determined. We do know that vaper's blood test results have shown about the same levels as smoker's blood test results. The end result is that nicotine consumption will vary by individual.


How long does a 10ml bottle of Black Mesa Juice last?A 10ml bottle of Black Mesa Juice typically lasts a 1-2 pack/day smoker about 1 week.

How long do the batteries typically last before needing a recharge?

Electronic cigarette batteries will last 1 – 3 days before re-charging, depending upon the style of battery (pen-style, mini, cigar etc.) and intensity of usage. Longevity will vary by individual as well.

How many times can a battery be recharged?

This varies by style (pen-style, mini, cigar etc.). On average a battery can be recharged over 300 times.

How do you fill the DCT Tank?

DCT Tank Assembly includes:

1 - Tube Assembly

1 - Dual Coil Cartomizer

1 - Plastic Drip Tip

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Note: Although the pictures do not show it, filling a DCT tank is easier if you keep the cartomizer attached to the battery. Tilting the DCT tube also helps the filling process.

1. Obtain DCT tank assembly and a bottle of Black Mesa Juice.

2. Remove the drip tip from the cartomizer.

3. Fill the by dripping 15-20 drops of Black Mesa Juice around the edges into the fabric filler. Be careful not to get Black Mesa Juice into the center hole.

4. Slide the cartomizer partially out of the DCT tank.

5. Drip Black Mesa Juice into the DCT tank around the cartomizer. As it fills, slide the cartomizer up to prevent

liquid from going into the cartomizer. You can fill as close to the top as you would like without allowing the

liquid to leak into the cartomizer.

6. Slide the cartomizer back into the top hole of the tank and align the bottom (threaded end) with the slot on the end of the DCT tank so it is fully inserted into bottom of the DCT tank.

7. Replace the drip tip. You will need to apply pressure to the bottom of the cartomizer while pushing the drip tip on to prevent the internal cartomizer from sliding out of the tube tank.

8. Screw onto your battery device and you are ready to use the DCT tank assembly.

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Build-Your-Own-E-Cig KITS are now available at BlackMesaVapors.com!!!

Many of our customers wanted the option to build their own electronic cigarette kit and we listened. As of today, you can now go to BlackMesaVapors.com and build your very own e-cig kit. You have the option to choose between several EGO batteries including our new decorative embossed and engraved EGO 1100mAh batteries. Choose between DCT tanks (3.5ml and 5ml) or Clearomizers in a variety of colors. If you choose the DCT tank version, you may then select a drip tip of your choice. And that's not all! Pick a Eliquid (flavor and strength) of your choosing. We will put all this in a nice black EGO carrying case complete with a Wall Charger and USB Charger. Go to our facebook page and "like" us to receive 10% off your purchase. Discount Code: FBLIKE.

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Save 10% by using Discount Code FBLIKE