On the Feasability of Vaping with External Battery Packs

Arnie H;11933921 said:

This thead is part review, part sharing my experiences using external Li-Ion/Li Polymer battery packs (also called powerbanks) for vaping applications. I seek to answer several questions people may have about them.

Items used:

1. Powerpack
2. 5.0 volt manual passthrough (not variable voltage) - Available from madvapes and Litecig.
3. Vision Mini/Slim Vivi Nova - 1.8 ohms

I bought and tested 4 external battery packs. My first purchase was the EZOPower dual USB port 6600 mAh pack. Because I was so pleased with the perfomance of this initial device, I purchased three more to test out, seeking greater capacity, more charging ports.

Powerpacks tested:

1. EZOPower 6600 mAh Ultra Compact - Available from Amazon and Ebay for around $22.99 in a variety of colors.
2. IncrediCharge I-10 10400 mAh - Available from Amazon and Ebay for around $23.99.
3. PowerGen 12000 mAh 3 Port External Battery - Available from Amazon for $39.99
4. LimeFuel L130X Blast 13000 mAh External Battery - Available from Amazon for $39.99

Planned future testing:

1. Anker Astro3 2nd Gen 12000 mAh 3 port External Battery
2. Anker Astro E5 - 15000 mAh Ultra High Density External Battery

EzoPower

Dual USB ports, rated input Micro USB (5V 1A), rated output USB (5V 1.3Amp combined. Of the 4 devices I tested, this is my favorite. Though rated at only 1.3 Amps max, the device is (very likely) capable of greater amperage/current output. Testing with my multimeter via passthrough, this device came in second putting out 4.92V. Very good vapor production. No auto shutoff, which I like, so this device will stay on till turned off manually, important for powering USB devices with no internal batteries (LED lights, speakers, etc.) that draw continous current. Built in LED flashlight, for vaping during a power outage. Smallest of the devices I tested, nearly the same size and weight of the iTaste MVP, but with 2-3 times the capacity, and less than half the price.

IncrediCharge

Dual USB ports plus embedded Micro USB cord, meaning it is capable of charging 3 devices at one time. Rated input Micro USB (5V 1A), rated output USB (5V 2A). Got the lowest power reading of all on this device - with either port putting out around 4.78 Volts. Vaper production (at 1.8 Ohms) still decent. Auto shutdown after 30 seconds (means you have to power the device back up to vape/vape in sessions). My least favorite, but a nice device nonetheless. Inexpensive. No flashlight (not a deal breaker).

PowerGen

Triple USB ports. Rated input Micro USB (5V 2A), rated output USB (5V 3 Amps max). This is my second favorite device. Greater capacity than the EZO, can be charged faster via a 2 Amp USB wall charger, pass-through charging (allowing you to charge devices or vape while the battery pack is charging). Compact form factor. Includes LED flashlight (which can stay lit for almost a month). Fingerprint magnet. Auto shutoff, but with a longer delay. Can run a power loop to keep the device on for longer periods. Voltage test gave me the highest reading of all, coming in at 5.04 Volts, from any of the three ports.

LimeFuel

Dual USB ports. Rated input micro USB (5V 2A), rated output USB (5V 4.2 Amps total). Nice rubberized texture. According to the reviews, this device has the highest power efficiency of the four devices (around 90 percent). Faster charging with pass-through charging (vape and charge at the same time). The heaviest of all four devices at 11.4 ounces, which is about the same weight as the VTR without and single 18650. About 4 times the capacity of the VTR, half the price. Voltage test came in around 4.86V, measured at the 510 connection of the passthrough.

Questions:

1. Can these devices be used to vape with? Can they provide a decent vape?

Yes, if you are satisfied with 7/8/9+ watts of power and you vape at 1.6 - 2.4 Ohms, and do not need/want VV/VW functions. The output appears to remain constant from start to finish of the charge cycle. Would not recommend sub-ohm though.

2. Is it safe to use these devices to vape with?

Like protected batteries, all four devices feature short circuit, overcharge, and overdischarge protection. While not vented, the distance of the device from your face/head when you hit that fire button can be 4 feet, which is a good thing. No problems, overheating, etc have been encountered. I'm not an expert, but they seem to be fairly safe.

PROs: Very high capacity (can vape for almost a week, depending upon frequency/etc), 500+ charge/discharge cycles, price $25 - $40 = very cheap compared with some other VV/VW devices (VTR, MVP, iTaste, etc), consistent vapor production.

CONs: Not for cloud chasing sub-ohmers, or those seeking a more intense vaping experience, cells used are not replaceable (for most users), auto-shutoff can be a pain (really, how much power do LEDs consume?).

I welcome all comments and questions.

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