OK here is a test I did for my own curiosity while trying to figure out if the 510 will work for me or not. I have been frustrated with the battery capacity, but enjoying some other aspects like the manual control and the cart so I wanted to see if it was worth investing in something like the PCC or just shelf the 510 and stick with what has been working for me.
I compared a new 510 (3 days old and less than 10 charges) with a couple of other batteries I have already been using. I used the newest I had on hand which was about 2 weeks old for the 401 and 2 months old for the 4081 and just did a head to head puff count for each. I actually did the 510 twice (once with a 3-4 hour charge and once with an overnight charge). I followed the first charge instructions for each battery (12 hours for the 4081, 8 hours for the 401, and 8 on 20 used and 1 hour for the 510). Each battery was fresh off the charger and I used the liquid method I like best for each, topping off for the 510, dripping for the 4081 and dipping for the 401. I limited my puffs to 3-5 sec. and if I did a double (hit inhale hit again) I counted that as 2 puffs even though this is pretty typical for my vaping style.. This felt kind of 'wimpy' and not what the 510 was designed for but I wanted to make everything equal, although, I did hit the 401 a little harder. THis probably isn't fair to the 401 but I also think it made the 401 catch up on the throat hit. To this end I also counted how many times I hit the cut off although this only happened on the 4081. Obviously there is no cut on the 510 and the newest 401 batteries I have just never cut off ever (its nice and if you want to know where I got them let me know). I also tried to make note of any drops in vapor (this is kind of subjective but I will report it.) Anyway enough rambling here are the results with at least one interesting surprise IMO.
510:
Like I mentioned I did this one twice and I got 70 (+3 little whisps at the end) on the shorter charge and 80 (+1 whisp) on the longer. In both cases there was a drop from big billowing clouds often seen on videos to something a little closer to normal at about 25 puffs (22 and 27) and another drop at around 50 until the end. Even after the 2nd drop vapor was pretty good.
4081:
This one surprised me because these are my oldest batteries and they are kind of sticky from the dripping. In fact, I hit the cut off on my own 18 times but there was probably another dozen or so where the battery stuck and cut itself off or got a table banging. Anyway, I got 167 puffs (+ 7 little whisps). It seems to me I could have gotten a few more little whisps but I let it go. I think both the 510 and the 401 have a chip aided cut off to save the battery and honestly who cares about whisps of vapor. There was a drop off of vapor at 110 hits and another at 130. All and all pretty surprising results from this thing considering I use it as my back up due to battery life (I am thinking about changing that assessment and restocking my supplies).
401:
Like I mentioned I hit this one a little harder. The baby puffs didn't get me the throat hit and since this is my regular vaper I fell into my regular style alot. With the 401,I got 192 (+ 2 little whisps after the blinks). There was an initial drop off at about 35 and again at 130 although I found this battery to be pretty consistent until right at the end although it never had the highs of either the 510 or the 4081.
In summary, I am really disappointed in the 510 even when I treated it nice and dainty. I am really surprised at the 4081 which actually capacity wise was a work horse even though I had to bang it against the table a few times and 'jump' start it once or twice. I am getting another 510 ( and a new 401) battery sometime in the next week with a juice order so I will put that one through the test and if people are interested I will report it. I have also thought about testing my other 401 batteries (including the DSE401) and if I feel motivated the 801 although counting through 192 tested my ability to focus and remember so the 801 scares me. I would also be interested in seeing other peoples results since too often what we get are estimates of time which vary too much or the overestimates on some web sites. Finally for techies I believe what I have seen reported for the 510 is 180 mah and 200 mah for the 401. I am not sure about the 4081. Anyway that was my experience. IF people are interested I might get into the other batteries I have and I will update with the fresh 401 vs. the new 510 when possible (be quick customs be quick).
I compared a new 510 (3 days old and less than 10 charges) with a couple of other batteries I have already been using. I used the newest I had on hand which was about 2 weeks old for the 401 and 2 months old for the 4081 and just did a head to head puff count for each. I actually did the 510 twice (once with a 3-4 hour charge and once with an overnight charge). I followed the first charge instructions for each battery (12 hours for the 4081, 8 hours for the 401, and 8 on 20 used and 1 hour for the 510). Each battery was fresh off the charger and I used the liquid method I like best for each, topping off for the 510, dripping for the 4081 and dipping for the 401. I limited my puffs to 3-5 sec. and if I did a double (hit inhale hit again) I counted that as 2 puffs even though this is pretty typical for my vaping style.. This felt kind of 'wimpy' and not what the 510 was designed for but I wanted to make everything equal, although, I did hit the 401 a little harder. THis probably isn't fair to the 401 but I also think it made the 401 catch up on the throat hit. To this end I also counted how many times I hit the cut off although this only happened on the 4081. Obviously there is no cut on the 510 and the newest 401 batteries I have just never cut off ever (its nice and if you want to know where I got them let me know). I also tried to make note of any drops in vapor (this is kind of subjective but I will report it.) Anyway enough rambling here are the results with at least one interesting surprise IMO.
510:
Like I mentioned I did this one twice and I got 70 (+3 little whisps at the end) on the shorter charge and 80 (+1 whisp) on the longer. In both cases there was a drop from big billowing clouds often seen on videos to something a little closer to normal at about 25 puffs (22 and 27) and another drop at around 50 until the end. Even after the 2nd drop vapor was pretty good.
4081:
This one surprised me because these are my oldest batteries and they are kind of sticky from the dripping. In fact, I hit the cut off on my own 18 times but there was probably another dozen or so where the battery stuck and cut itself off or got a table banging. Anyway, I got 167 puffs (+ 7 little whisps). It seems to me I could have gotten a few more little whisps but I let it go. I think both the 510 and the 401 have a chip aided cut off to save the battery and honestly who cares about whisps of vapor. There was a drop off of vapor at 110 hits and another at 130. All and all pretty surprising results from this thing considering I use it as my back up due to battery life (I am thinking about changing that assessment and restocking my supplies).
401:
Like I mentioned I hit this one a little harder. The baby puffs didn't get me the throat hit and since this is my regular vaper I fell into my regular style alot. With the 401,I got 192 (+ 2 little whisps after the blinks). There was an initial drop off at about 35 and again at 130 although I found this battery to be pretty consistent until right at the end although it never had the highs of either the 510 or the 4081.
In summary, I am really disappointed in the 510 even when I treated it nice and dainty. I am really surprised at the 4081 which actually capacity wise was a work horse even though I had to bang it against the table a few times and 'jump' start it once or twice. I am getting another 510 ( and a new 401) battery sometime in the next week with a juice order so I will put that one through the test and if people are interested I will report it. I have also thought about testing my other 401 batteries (including the DSE401) and if I feel motivated the 801 although counting through 192 tested my ability to focus and remember so the 801 scares me. I would also be interested in seeing other peoples results since too often what we get are estimates of time which vary too much or the overestimates on some web sites. Finally for techies I believe what I have seen reported for the 510 is 180 mah and 200 mah for the 401. I am not sure about the 4081. Anyway that was my experience. IF people are interested I might get into the other batteries I have and I will update with the fresh 401 vs. the new 510 when possible (be quick customs be quick).