Safe Vaping w mechmods

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Hitmetwice

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You are correct, they are for advanced users only. One must be educated on battery safety, ohms law, be respectful and use caution
at all times. Really though they are very safe, it's the users that have no clue what they are doing that are the problem.
Do not be one of them. Please educate yourself first, do not think battery safety is unimportant or you will become a statistic.
Accidents and mistakes do happen, but most can be prevented through education, care and respect.

Read Mooches blog on batteries,
advice, tests, do's and don'ts.
Just to start. If you are good at mathematics ohm's law won't be too difficult for you.
Regulated devices require knowledge and care too but have built in safeguards that make them better choices for newbs (or anyone for that matter).

Play safe, Vape safe, Cheers.
 

edyle

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I just bought a dotmod mech mod and a velocity v2 rda and im told tat it wont be safe if i dont handle these properly now i dare not fiddle ard w them.

Sent from my GT-I9060I using Tapatalk

Good choice.

You would be better off getting a regulated mod, and you can use the velocity on that.

Either way, lithium batteries should be handled with care.



You might also be able to use a kick module in your mech and get basic protections that way.
 

Baditude

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I agree with every comment above. And the original poster was wise to ask for help here. I use both a mech and a regulated mod; I like both for different reasons.

The important thing to remember about a mech is, unlike a regulated mod, it has no protection circuitry to keep you safe. YOU must use your senses and brain to keep yourself out of trouble. Educate yourself about:
  • mech mod safety
  • safe battery practices
  • know the amp limit of your battery and never exceed it
  • know how to use an ohm reader and interpret its measurements and understand how to use an Ohm's Law Calculator
Lucky for you, I've written some blog articles which cover all of the above.

A Beginner's Guide to Your First Mechanical Mod
  • Covers the differences between a mechanical vs. regulated mod, essential safety accessories, optional safety accessories to add layers of safety to your mech, routine maintanance, use of proper batteries, proper ventilation, low resistance vaping, and faux hybrid mods.

Ohm's Law Explained for Vapers
  • My attempt at explaining Ohm's Law in simple 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.
Deeper Understanding of Mod Batteries Part 1
  • For those who want to learn the differences between IMR, IMR/hybrid, ICR, and LiPo batteries. What do those numbers and letters on batteries mean? What's an amp rating and why is it more important than the mAh rating when choosing a battery for vaping?
Battery Basics for Mods: The Definative Battery Guide for Vaping
  • A popular and 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.
Information Resources for Your First RBA
  • An essential read and referrance guide for someone new to rebuilding coils. Includes a multitude of useful links on battery safety, mod safety, coil meters, coil building, and the differences in the three types of RBA's.
Using a mech mod can be as safe as you make it if you educate yourself, understand and follow several safe routines, don't use incompatible equipment, use the best batteries available, and be certain that your mech has adequate vent holes in case a battery shorts out. Good luck and vape safe.
 
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sonicbomb

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Mechs are perfectly safe to use, assuming you arm yourself with the the prerequisite information required to do so. They are not plug and play. so spend the time reading everything that Baditude was so kind as to provide. And of course, ask as many questions as you need to, we like answering them.
 
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Imfallen_Angel

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My two cents,

While a mech mod should be safe with an experience person that does the reading, as a newbie to vaping, I'd recommend going with a regulated one instead. New ones are able to do more then a mech mod can and have safety features that mechs simply don't.

Aside hobbyist, if you're vaping to switch from cigarettes, a reg. mod is the way to go.

Even if I've been in the vaping world for more than several years (since it's infancy), I was never drawn to mod mods... they are way too much of a commitment, and one mistake and it's going to be bad.
 
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sawlight

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Most of my mods are mechs, I like the looks and function of them, I've got several regulated mods as well, but most times I like my mechs best.
I have been around for a lot of the infancy, not the very beginning, but closer than many.
Mechs can be used very safely, and I respect that you are asking the right questions, and listening! Badittude is leading you down the right path! Learn everything you can about batteries, then learn some more! Download an Ohm's law app for your phone, or bookmark one on your web browser and play with it to see how fast things can change. Pay particular attention to how fast the amp draw changes. Allow a 20% coverage for the battery you plan to use, battery is good for 20 amps, stick around 15-17 amps as you learn.
Either buy a good quality volt ohm meter or a 510 screw on ohm meter, or better yet, both. Then learn to use it and check each build.
There are apps you can download that will give you a rough idea of how your build will come out, but I've found a lot of variance in these apps so I use them for reference only now.
Get a small spool of 28 gauge Kanthal, it's pretty forgiving and easier to work with than the smaller wire, and do a 5-6 wrap on something around 3/16", small philips screw driver, etc. This should be around 1.2-1.7 ohms (TEST IT) and should be plenty safe for any battery, and try it on your dripper. Might be just what you like?
Once you get your feet wet and start feeling comfortable, THEN you can start looking into going crazy with it. But take it slow, keep asking questions, like you are, and build on the safe experiences you have.
It's people that watch youtube and want to be like "the guy I saw in the video blowing huge clouds!" Or want to be doing things they saw at a vape shop, but don't care to educate themselves, that are going to have problems. Get the knowledge, have the right tools, and know how to use them, buy the right batteries, and all CAN be fine.
How far down the rabbit hole do you want to go?
 

Imfallen_Angel

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Simply not true

Tell that to the people with the incidents that made the news...

I'd rather recommend that it's better to be safe than sorry, and until one takes the time to understand the requirements for safety, it's better to not push your luck.

I understand that vaping is splitting people over the mech and the regulated, and I don't have issues with those that want to go with mechs for the various reasons, but at this point, the regulated have come a LONG way in the last few years and from a safety point of view, I really no longer see a true reason to choose mech over a regulated anymore... durability of regulated has been fairly proven as reliable... in the several I've had around, it's been the battery that died that was the only issue, and switching to a 18650 model, that's no longer a concern.

I know the mech crowd will probably not agree, but meh, it's just my view on it. Mechs don't offer the advantage that a Reg. does, not the backup up safety, etc. All a mech needs is something off to create the short (just long enough) that can blow the battery, and it'll be in the news by the next hour. I've yet to hear/read about a single reg. mod blowing at this point. Again, I know that a lot of mech users do know what they are doing, but at some point, how does the "experience" of vaping with a mech over a reg. can truly be different, when you can set your reg. mod to do just about anything, with any tank, coil, etc. as long as you pick the right type for your wants.

For me, there's absolutely nothing more head slapping than being in a store and seeing kids (legal age) and the first and only thing they say or concerned about is: "BIG CLOUDS! COOL!" and it always goes with "Friend told me MECH MODS!"... and it's like a really bad storm is brewing in the background, wondering... "will these kids end up on the news...and make it bad for the vaping world again..."

Not to say that the guys in the store will not explain everything correctly, it's that these kids won't listen because they "know everything" and "CLOUDS, COOL, MECHS!".

Sorry for the rant, but that (the big "COOL" to have a ricer mech mod, instead of vaping being for better reasons) is a big (even huge) part of the problem that vaping has to deal with and why so many are trying to shut it down. The reality is: a defective/bad mech mod is basically a pipe bomb waiting to happen. So yes, it is true, even if you don't want to believe it. Luckily, the numbers of these incidents are small, but every kid or person that doesn't understand the safety measured needed, is an incident waiting to happen. Regulated mod: the later models all have instant shutdown/no activating and such safety feature the moment it detects something off. Odds of a reg. mod blowing... near impossible at this point. Between a user error or a reg. circuit somehow being defective, I'd give the odds to user error a few thousand times over.
 
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frjaldomr

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Tell that to the people with the incidents that made the news...

I'd rather recommend that it's better to be safe than sorry, and until one takes the time to understand the requirements for safety, it's better to not push your luck.

I understand that vaping is splitting people over the mech and the regulated, and I don't have issues with those that want to go with mechs for the various reasons, but at this point, the regulated have come a LONG way in the last few years and from a safety point of view, I really no longer see a true reason to choose mech over a regulated anymore... durability of regulated has been fairly proven as reliable... in the several I've had around, it's been the battery that died that was the only issue, and switching to a 18650 model, that's no longer a concern.

I know the mech crowd will probably not agree, but meh, it's just my view on it. Mechs don't offer the advantage that a Reg. does, not the backup up safety, etc. All a mech needs is something off to create the short (just long enough) that can blow the battery, and it'll be in the news by the next hour. I've yet to hear/read about a single reg. mod blowing at this point. Again, I know that a lot of mech users do know what they are doing, but at some point, how does the "experience" of vaping with a mech over a reg. can truly be different, when you can set your reg. mod to do just about anything, with any tank, coil, etc. as long as you pick the right type for your wants.

For me, there's absolutely nothing more head slapping than being in a store and seeing kids (legal age) and the first and only thing they say or concerned about is: "BIG CLOUDS! COOL!" and it always goes with "Friend told me MECH MODS!"... and it's like a really bad storm is brewing in the background, wondering... "will these kids end up on the news...and make it bad for the vaping world again..."

Not to say that the guys in the store will not explain everything correctly, it's that these kids won't listen because they "know everything" and "CLOUDS, COOL, MECHS!".

Sorry for the rant, but that (the big "COOL" to have a ricer mech mod, instead of vaping being for better reasons) is a big (even huge) part of the problem that vaping has to deal with and why so many are trying to shut it down. The reality is: a defective/bad mech mod is basically a pipe bomb waiting to happen. So yes, it is true, even if you don't want to believe it. Luckily, the numbers of these incidents are small, but every kid or person that doesn't understand the safety measured needed, is an incident waiting to happen. Regulated mod: the later models all have instant shutdown/no activating and such safety feature the moment it detects something off. Odds of a reg. mod blowing... near impossible at this point. Between a user error or a reg. circuit somehow being defective, I'd give the odds to user error a few thousand times over.

Whoa!
I wasn't trying to defend mechs against regulated, nor was I trying to imply that there aren't inherent dangers. I don't like seeing the kids practice unsafe vaping habits, either.
I use both, myself, and both have their place in my setup.
I agree with almost everything you say.
My comment was directed at the statement 'and one mistake and it's going to be bad.'
I made plenty of mistakes learning to use mechs, even though I did my homework. Some were quite scary, some could have been bad.
But, none of them were.
So that statement is, in fact, untrue.
Even if you don't want to believe it.
 

Imfallen_Angel

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Whoa!
Some were quite scary, some could have been bad.
But, none of them were.
So that statement is, in fact, untrue.
Even if you don't want to believe it.

Sorry, but I stick with what I'm saying... one mistake and it's going to be bad.

How badly.. that's open, but it still has the possibility of a little bad from burnt fingers, bad bunt smell in the house, burnt marks on your table, battery that needs to be disposed of, to the house burning down, exploding in your face, etc.

My definition of the opposite of bad is good.. so...

So we have "scary" and "could have". Let me know what mistakes you did were so great and fun that you redo them on purpose on a regular basis because they were good to do, because they weren't bad. They must have been so risk free that you'd let 5 year old children do them... right?

Not being a jackass, but you want to debunk my point of view, then go for it.. just a fun debate. If you don't think that there's a potential risk with all the potential mistakes one could do, only because of your individual experience, then educate me.
 
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Baditude

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My comment was directed at the statement 'and one mistake and it's going to be bad.'
I made plenty of mistakes learning to use mechs, even though I did my homework. Some were quite scary, some could have been bad.
But, none of them were.
So that statement is, in fact, untrue.
Even if you don't want to believe it.
I would say you have been "lucky".

It's my interpretation that ImFallen_Angel was speaking in general terms. We've all had close calls, including myself. Batteries are extremely unpredictable once they are shorted. You can consider yourself lucky if you merely have a "soft venting" of gas. If you have a full blown thermal runaway, you'll get flames and explosions.

Most of the recent mod explosions seen in the media, as far as we can determine, have been with direct battery mech mods (faux hybrid) using incompatible juice attachments which shorted out the battery. That's "one bad mistake" if you wish to be picky.
 

frjaldomr

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Sorry, but I stick with what I'm saying... one mistake and it's going to be bad.

How badly.. that's open, but it still has the possibility of a little bad from burnt fingers, bad bunt smell in the house, burnt marks on your table, battery that needs to be disposed of, to the house burning down, exploding in your face, etc.

My definition of the opposite of bad is good.. so...

So we have "scary" and "could have". Let me know what mistakes you did were so great and fun that you redo them on purpose on a regular basis because they were good to do, because they weren't bad. They must have been so risk free that you'd let 5 year old children do them... right?

Not being a jackass, but you want to debunk my point of view, then go for it.. just a fun debate. If you don't think that there's a potential risk with all the potential mistakes one could do, only because of your individual experience, then educate me.

I'm really not sure why you have such an unpleasant attitude with me, as I was quite cordial and clear with you.
I don't deserve it and I really don't appreciate it.
Obviously I would not redo them on purpose on a regular basis because they were good to do.
Also obvious is the fact that a 5 year old child doesn't have anything to do with what I'm saying, or to this discussion in general.
I stated that I agree with most of what you said.
The simple fact remains that one can have a situation with a mechanical mod that is not desirable, but that doesn't end in tragedy.
If you just want to argue and throw things out that have no bearing or relevance, please take it over to YT.
 

frjaldomr

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I would say you have been "lucky".

It's my interpretation that ImFallen_Angel was speaking in general terms. We've all had close calls, including myself. Batteries are extremely unpredictable once they are shorted. You can consider yourself lucky if you merely have a "soft venting" of gas. If you have a full blown thermal runaway, you'll get flames and explosions.

Most of the recent mod explosions seen in the media, as far as we can determine, have been with direct battery mech mods (faux hybrid) using incompatible juice attachments which shorted out the battery. That's "one bad mistake" if you wish to be picky.

Fair enough. Actually my first close call was that situation exactly. My first mech setup from the local B&M.
My second was a Mutant clone. The button stuck and I was unaware of it for a long enough period of time that it was almost too hot to touch, but I got the battery out and it didn't vent.
I do feel fortunate.
All I'm saying is that those were both situations where something went wrong and it didn't end badly.
 
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sawlight

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Sorry, but I stick with what I'm saying... one mistake and it's going to be bad.

How badly.. that's open, but it still has the possibility of a little bad from burnt fingers, bad bunt smell in the house, burnt marks on your table, battery that needs to be disposed of, to the house burning down, exploding in your face, etc.

My definition of the opposite of bad is good.. so...

So we have "scary" and "could have". Let me know what mistakes you did were so great and fun that you redo them on purpose on a regular basis because they were good to do, because they weren't bad. They must have been so risk free that you'd let 5 year old children do them... right?

Not being a jackass, but you want to debunk my point of view, then go for it.. just a fun debate. If you don't think that there's a potential risk with all the potential mistakes one could do, only because of your individual experience, then educate me.

But what about Ego's? Are they not considered regulated as well? What most encourage people to start out with because the are easy to use and safe? I've heard several more reports about them blowing up because of people using the wrong chargers than I've heard of any mech's blowing up.
I get mech's aren't for YOU. I get YOU don't like them and have no need for them in YOUR life. That's fine. But you are coming off that they are ALL unsafe and dangerous in anyone's hands and that is incorrect. If you don't want one, don't buy one, that is your choice, but to deem them all unsafe and dangerous would be like me saying all regulated mods are dangerous because I once watched a VMax go into thermal melt down because the board fried in it and blew the battery up! I don't make that claim.
I'll respect your opinion, I hope you can do the same with mine, but lets try not to make exaggerated claims, please.
 
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Imfallen_Angel

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I'm really not sure why you have such an unpleasant attitude with me, as I was quite cordial and clear with you.
I don't deserve it and I really don't appreciate it.
Obviously I would not redo them on purpose on a regular basis because they were good to do.
Also obvious is the fact that a 5 year old child doesn't have anything to do with what I'm saying, or to this discussion in general.
I stated that I agree with most of what you said.
The simple fact remains that one can have a situation with a mechanical mod that is not desirable, but that doesn't end in tragedy.
If you just want to argue and throw things out that have no bearing or relevance, please take it over to YT.

Please, no disrespect, as I stated, I'm interested in your view, but the thing is, since even another member explains it, I see that your mind is closed about it... you admit to having incidents but you refuse to believe that they were "bad". I guess the word itself is something that bothers you. I never said tragedy, I said "bad".

No problem... I just believe that in capable hands mech mods can work for them, I just also believe that a beginner or someone that doesn't "get" the risks, it can be a risky decision to get into mech mods, nothing more.
 
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YoursTruli

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But what about Ego's? Are they not considered regulated as well? What most encourage people to start out with because the are easy to use and safe? I've heard several more reports about them blowing up because of people using the wrong chargers than I've heard of any mech's blowing up.
I get mech's aren't for YOU. I get YOU don't like them and have no need for them in YOUR life. That's fine. But you are coming off that they are ALL unsafe and dangerous in anyone's hands and that is incorrect. If you don't want one, don't buy one, that is your choice, but to deem them all unsafe and dangerous would be like me saying all regulated mods are dangerous because I once watched a VMax go into thermal melt down because the board fried in it and blew the battery up! I don't make that claim.
I'll respect your opinion, I hope you can do the same with mine, but lets try not to make exaggerated claims, please.

According to this list
E-Cigarette Explosions: Comprehensive List
There have been 50 major incidents this year alone and that's just the ones which make the news.
They also go on to say
"It is interesting to note that the nature of e-cigarette explosions has changed over the years. The FEMA document cited above suggests that approximately 80 percent of e-cigarette explosions happen during charging. In addition, most e-cigarette explosions that occurred before early 2015 involved no reported injuries. However, people began to experience different types of e-cigarette explosions when sub-ohm vaping and mods with removable batteries became more popular. More than ever, e-cigarettes explode during use. Explosions resulting from people carrying spare batteries in their pockets are also far more common. Regardless of the circumstances, e-cigarette explosions are far more likely to cause injuries today than they were in the past."

So I disagree with your ego theory, it is not comparable with the type/severity of injury we are seeing with incorrect mech mod use today. I feel experienced/knowledgeable vapers on this forum should act responsibility when advising new to mech mod vapers, much more so if they are new vapers period, and do our part to help minimize this from continuing to happen. A mech mod in the hands of an new/inexperienced/un-knowledgeable vaper has a much higher potential for these severe incidents to occur.
 
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