Please help! My first mechanical mod.

[Trogdor614]

Hey All,

This is really quite embarrassing, but I've always owned electronic box mods. I finally decided to get a mechanical mod so I could learn more about them and find out what their benefits are. The trouble is I haven't even vaped on it yet because I don't want to damage a battery or the unit.

The mech mod is the Mafia by Lotus. It takes a single battery. When I went to a local brick and mortar I asked them which battery I should get for it. They sold me a light blue battery (no brand name that I am aware of) that's an 18650, just like the other ones I use for my other mods. This one says on the label exactly the following: 18650 2500mAh 3.7V .. I have a couple of questions. I have a Kanger Sub-tank that I'm running nickel on. Can someone tell me if I can use that tank on the Mafia with that battery? Or could I use a Herkales, an Atlantis, or a Goliath? Those are the types of tanks I have. I also have several RDA's and can build either standard or nickel coil to use on the mod. What I DON'T want to do is anything stupid, which is why I'm asking here. Can anyone help?

 

[Susan~S]

Nickel coils/wire can only be used on a temperature control mod.

As far as batteries go, you are going to want a safe-chemistry, high-drain battery with a high CDR. How high? I'll quote @tj99959 as this is the practice I follow with regards to headroom.

Everyone is free to set their own parameters, and I can only say what mine are.

I try to never exceed 50% of the CDR (continuous discharge rating) of a fully charged battery (4.2v). So with a 30A battery, that would be 15A.
This Ohm's Law Calculator tells me that a .28 ohm build/coil is as low as I would want to use.

The reason that I place a 50% limit is because as a battery ages the mAh of the battery degrades, as the mAh degrades so does the batteries c rating (amp limit). So down the road, a 30A battery may only be a 15A battery.

I highly recommend you spend some time with @Baditude (one of our resident battery/safety experts) and visit his blogs. You are now 100% in control of your own safety (and others around you). Make sure you purchase an ohm reader and a voltmeter or DMM so you can measure your builds, check for shorts and measure the remaining charge on your batteries.

Baditude's Blog - Table of Contents: The blogs that address battery safety, Ohm's Law, CDR (continuous discharge rating/Amps) and how they all work together are detailed below:

BATTERIES

Battery Basics for Mods: IMR or Protected ICR?
* Another essential read to understand which batteries are safe to use in mechanical and regulated mods. Includes a frequently updated list of recommended safe-chemistry, high-drain batteries with their specifications.

Purple Efest Batteries not as Advertised
* A cautionary blog that reveals that the purple Efest batteries may not have the specifications advertised. Also includes a commentary on "continuous discharge ratings" vs "pulse discharge ratings" of battery specs.

OHM'S LAW

Ohm's Law for Dummies (Vapers)
* My attempt at explaining Ohm's Law in layman terms and how it relates to vaping.

Explain it to the Dumb Noob: Ohm's Law Calculations
* As simple as it is to use, some people have a tough time grasping the concept. Warning: Includes graphic photos of mod explosions.

BATTERIES - WHERE TO BUY

Only buy batteries from a reputable supplier (not ebay or Amazon) as there are many counterfeit batteries being sold. Here are several reputable battery suppliers in the US.

* RTD Vapor
* Illumination Supply
* Lighthound
* Orbtronics

 

[Thrasher]

No you cant use the nickel it has to be kanthol
Every tank you mentioned will work but you cant use nickel nickel is too low of a resistance for a mech.

I would personally set up the goliath with .4 -.5 ohms in dual coil do you know how to set up dual coils? Do you still have a box mod you can use to read resistance?

There is nothing else written on the battery? Some numbers, anything. Im guessing this is a white label?
Peel the sticker back itshould say inr 18650 25r.
If it does thebattery is good down to about .3ohms

 

[Trogdor614]

@Susan-S, This is perfect!! Thank you very much! This will be a big help.

 

[Trogdor614]

No you cant use the nickel it has to be kanthol
Every tank you mentioned will work but you cant use nickel nickel is too low of a resistance for a mech.

I would personally set up the goliath with .4 -.5 ohms in dual coil do you know how to set up dual coils? Do you still have a box mod you can use to read resistance?

There is nothing else written on the battery? Some numbers, anything. Im guessing this is a white label?
Peel the sticker back itshould say inr 18650 25r.
If it does thebattery is good down to about .3ohms

@Thrasher - I peeled back the label - great call! It states INR18650-25R, SAMSUNG SDI, 2 2EC1
Yes, I know how to set up dual coils, but I'm still working on mastering coil building. I've been vaping 2 years and have always used tanks and pre-built coils, it wasn't until I dripped for the first time and realized what a huge difference that made with the flavor. So with the battery info I provided, I can still use all the tanks I mentioned with the exception of anything nickel?

Thank you!

 

[Ohm Gnome]

No you cant use the nickel it has to be kanthol
Every tank you mentioned will work but you cant use nickel nickel is too low of a resistance for a mech.

I would personally set up the goliath with .4 -.5 ohms in dual coil do you know how to set up dual coils? Do you still have a box mod you can use to read resistance?

There is nothing else written on the battery? Some numbers, anything. Im guessing this is a white label?
Peel the sticker back itshould say inr 18650 25r.
If it does thebattery is good down to about .3ohms

Some regulated mods aren't very accurate reading resistance though.

 

[Thrasher]

Yup all the tanks will work excrpt for nickel.
Keep us updated, and let us know how your doing or if we can help with something.

 

[Thrasher]

Some regulated mods aren't very accurate reading resistance though.

 

[Trogdor614]

Will do and thank you!

 

[tehdarkaura]

@Thrasher - I peeled back the label - great call! It states INR18650-25R, SAMSUNG SDI, 2 2EC1
Yes, I know how to set up dual coils, but I'm still working on mastering coil building. I've been vaping 2 years and have always used tanks and pre-built coils, it wasn't until I dripped for the first time and realized what a huge difference that made with the flavor. So with the battery info I provided, I can still use all the tanks I mentioned with the exception of anything nickel?

Thank you!

You need to wrap those batteries back up before you use them in a mod ESPECIALLY A MECH!!!
seriously -- thats the insulator and it will short out and vent a fireball or auto-fire if you put it back into mod where metal touches the side of the battery...
rtdvapor sells shrink wrap replacements, but don't use it again until you re-wrap that puppy.

@Thrasher Can you tell people to re-wrap thier cells before use if you are going to tell them to peel it off please -- thats seriously a bad idea dude.

 

[Thrasher]

Its not the wrapper

Chill

Its a dynamo label lol

Please understand what someone is talking about before going ballistic.

( heres your pill- good kitty)

 

[tehdarkaura]

Its not the wrapper

Chill

Its a dynamo label lol

ahh if thats the case -- my bad -- I just saw "I peeled the label off and saw the writting" to mean he was holding this now:

do not do this!
lol...

 

[tehdarkaura]

View attachment 457709 Its not the wrapper

Chill

Its a dynamo label lol

Please understand what someone is talking about before going ballistic.

( heres your pill- good kitty)

That photo probably should of gone up with your suggestion...

 

[Thrasher]

I added the pic late but there is a reason I knew exactly what it said underneath

 

[Phassat]

I have one battery with the top side of the wrapper torn out... I put some sticky tape to it.. Maybe I need to rethink about that cause I don't want any short... Most of the time I use vw but those batteries were normally used in my mech... Need a heat gun though if I want to re-wrap it

 

[NealBJr]

@Thrasher - I peeled back the label - great call! It states INR18650-25R, SAMSUNG SDI, 2 2EC1
Yes, I know how to set up dual coils, but I'm still working on mastering coil building. I've been vaping 2 years and have always used tanks and pre-built coils, it wasn't until I dripped for the first time and realized what a huge difference that made with the flavor. So with the battery info I provided, I can still use all the tanks I mentioned with the exception of anything nickel?

Thank you!

My strong note of advice... get an ohm reader or put it on your battery operated device to check the ohms before even putting it on your mech mod. Those Samsungs are rated 20a power draw for continuous. That's about a .21 ohm resistance. I personally wouldn't take it down to .3 ohms just for safety reasons.

Probably some 22 or 24 gauge kanthal would do well in that.

 

[Baditude]

Wouldn't hurt to also purchase a voltage indicator. With this device you can monitor battery drainage (voltage) and measure the voltage drop of you setup. You do not want to over-discharge your batteries lower than 3.2 volts in a mechanical mod, which could either drastically shorten their life expectancy or kill them beyond repair.

Mechanical Mod Safe Useage Guide

Battery Basics for Mods: IMR or Protected?

Deeper Understanding of Mod Batteries Part 1

 

[Joshuafeet]

I just want to thank you guys, there's a lot of excellent info in this thread. Especially about that voltage indicator ^ I'm definitely investing in one

 

[USMCotaku]

You need to wrap those batteries back up before you use them in a mod ESPECIALLY A MECH!!!
seriously -- thats the insulator and it will short out and vent a fireball or auto-fire if you put it back into mod where metal touches the side of the battery...
rtdvapor sells shrink wrap replacements, but don't use it again until you re-wrap that puppy.

@Thrasher Can you tell people to re-wrap thier cells before use if you are going to tell them to peel it off please -- thats seriously a bad idea dude.

The white sticker isn't the insulator

 

[USMCotaku]

I see this was clarified just a couple posts later
Sent with one hand, the other is busy vaping.