A semi-newbie ready to move up a bit...

[TheAlchemist]

I've been vaping with 510 batteries and various cartomizers/clearomizers for around 8 months now (currently using Phoenix Bottom Coils from GV), and a few things are bothering me. I was still smoking analogs when I started vaping, so battery life wasn't a big issue for me, but I go through 3-4 510 batteries a day, which is fairly annoying. Also, my clearomizers are getting junked up really easily no matter what I do with a few Vaporescence juices I've been using lately, and they are really a pain to clean.

I'm thinking of getting one or two Ego-C Twist batteries and a Vision Stardust rebuildable tank from GV. Does that sound like a reasonable next purchase? Can I just use my 510 chargers (USB/wall type) with Ego-C Twist batteries? Are the Stardusts easy to clean and disassemble? Also, what ohm Stardust should I be looking at?

Also, if anyone has any other suggestions as far as batteries/tanks go, I'd love to hear. Thanks!

 

[Goz]

A couple of Ego twists would probably make a good 2nd step, you will need an Ego charger though but they are cheap enough.

Grab a couple of LR 510 atomisers, some drip tips and give direct dripping a try as well. The Ego's will allow you to try quite a few devices why not try a couple and see what you like.

 

[jnnfrlsw]

Your regular 510 adapter wont charge an Ego Twist battery. I am using the Vision carto and or Phoenix bottomcoil cartos on my Twists. Haven't tried cleaning either one though. I have been using one for 7-10 days and then just replacing with a new one. I have never had much luck cleaning any type of cartos. They have never vaped as good as new imo.

 

[moepmoep]

on the Twist the Atty resistance doesn't really matter, as you can boost the Voltage until you find your sweet spot.

 

[TheAlchemist]

Thanks so much for the replies so far. I'm not really into the idea of dripping, as I'm out a lot and also vaping in the car a lot, and don't like the idea of having to carry juice around with me or drip in the car.

moepmoep, can you tell me a bit more about how VV works with different atomizer resistances, or point me to a link about it? I've never had a VV device and don't really understand how it impacts vaping, though I do gather that it's desirable.

 

[tycoonflynn]

Here is my 2 cents worth. Get rid of all those 510 batteries and jump up to something you dont have to worry about battery life. Get yourself a 26650 battery modand you can go 3 to 4 days on one battery!!! It is so awesome to not worry about your battery. There a little on the bigger side but it really is awesome and there are a few 26650 battery mods on the market.

 

[moepmoep]

Well, with VV devices you can increase or decrease the power on the Atty, which results in more or less vapor production. Or you can get about the same amount of vapor from a higher resistance atty, just by setting the voltage higher.

Its simple Physics actually:

P=U²/R

P is the Power in Watt
U is is the Voltage in Volt
R is the Resistance in Ohm

Lets say you have a 1.5 Ohm Low Resistance Atty vaping on a standard Ego Battery (3.3V) you get around 7 Watt of Power on the heating coil.
Now if you have a 2.2 Ohm Atty you have to set the VV device to around 4V to get the same power on the coil, or you set it to 4.5V to get around 10W on the coil which then produces more Vapor.

That's the theory so far.

 

[elothen]

Hey man, I use the vaporessence juices too and have the same gunking problem on my clearo's. I think it's probably because I tend to hotbox though as many people seem to do fine with them.

A twist is definitely a good option, I have 2 and rotate. I run em 3.8-4.8 depending on carto and they're pretty nice. With the twist you'll also be able to clean your clearo's and get them back to pretty much stock. There are video's/links everywhere that explain how. I cleaned a couple with good results but they didn't seem to last as long the next go around. So, I switched to a DCT Tank with pre-punched carto's. VE will sell em that way, $2.50/ea at my store or you can get them online for ~$1.6-$1.8/ea. Valley Vapes will pre-punch and test for a dollar more per 5 so that's probably what I'm going to order next since it seems like out of a pack of 5 from VE I always get one DOA. Don't get me wrong, I love the VE guys and think they sell good products at a fair price.

Back to the Twist. I'm pretty much a chain vaper, usually run on the higher end of the voltage spectrum, and I get around 8hrs out of one. If you go the DCT route they sell a nice rubber O ring to make priming on an EGO easy but it's ugly. I got the pretty chrome one and it's a little harder to prime on. I wouldn't buy their tanks/drip tips again though. They're really too spendy. My shop wants $24 for a 3.5mil tank then another $9 for an aluminum drip tip. You can get the same online for ~$9 for a 3.5mil tank and another $2.50 for the drip tip. Now it seems like the VE tanks are really good (no cracking/leaks), at least on non-cinnamon flavors, but what a price...

[edit]Oh, and I don't think there's anything wrong with the VE juices per se. My local guy said they're just a 70/30 mix, so if anything I think they'd be BETTER than juices with a higher VG content. I could be wrong though.[/edit]

 

[wv2win]

The problems I have read about the Twist is the low amp limit (2.5 amps) and not being able to go above 4.2 volts with certain configurations. It will limit what you can use on it, such as dual coil cartomizers/attys.

There are variable volt/watt models that do not have these limitations. The new variable volt Gripper ($59) has a 4 amp limit and thus can use any carto/atty, including 1.5 ohm dual coil cartos.

There is no reason for these models to have these limits.

 

[elothen]

The problems I have read about the Twist is the low amp limit (2.5 amps) and not being able to go above 4.2 volts with certain configurations. It will limit what you can use on it, such as dual coil cartomizers/attys.

There are variable volt/watt models that do not have these limitations. The new variable volt Gripper ($59) has a 4 amp limit and thus can use any carto/atty, including 1.5 ohm dual coil cartos.

There is no reason for these models to have these limits.

That's good info to know on the Twist. I think even with its limits though it has its place. Not every carto/atty can be used but there are plenty that can and product a good vape/flavor regardless, at least it does to my newbie palette. At ~$28/ea and with a nice form factor I still think they're a good way to go.

All of that being said, I really like what I see in that VV Gripper. Now toking off an FRS Walkie-Talkie may take a little getting used to as I really like the pen style. But... for a good cheap vape with nice features it may very well be worth it to me.

 

[wv2win]

That's good info to know on the Twist. I think even with its limits though it has its place. Not every carto/atty can be used but there are plenty that can and product a good vape/flavor regardless, at least it does to my newbie palette. At ~$28/ea and with a nice form factor I still think they're a good way to go.

All of that being said, I really like what I see in that VV Gripper. Now toking off an FRS Walkie-Talkie may take a little getting used to as I really like the pen style. But... for a good cheap vape with nice features it may very well be worth it to me.

The problem I have with models like the Twist, Lavatube, regular ego is there is NO good reason to have these limits. Providing a 4 or 5 amp limit costs a few pennys. When you can get $35 box mod or $60 variable mod with a 4+ amp limit, the only reason the makers of the Twist, Lavatube, etc manufacture these limits is "planned obselecence". It's just a way to rip-off the customer base and get them to buy the next, best thing at an inflated price.

 

[DancingHeretik]

Hey man, I use the vaporessence juices too and have the same gunking problem on my clearo's. I think it's probably because I tend to hotbox though as many people seem to do fine with them.

Oh, and I don't think there's anything wrong with the VE juices per se. My local guy said they're just a 70/30 mix, so if anything I think they'd be BETTER than juices with a higher VG content. I could be wrong though.

The Vaporescence in San Antonio says that they mix their juices 70% VG / 30% PG. I even repeated it back to them to make sure (on two different occasions) because the main PV they push is the Ego-T which comes with a recommendation to use no more than 30% VG because it just won't wick right in the Ego-t atomizer if it's any higher than 30% VG.

 

[bigrick]

I would go with a Bolt or Silver Bullet. That way you wont have to worry about your Ego batts shorting out to death while running low res, and the batt life is higher.

 

[TheAlchemist]

As I understand, the Bolt/Silver Bullet units don't have VV features - is this actually that important in everyday vaping? Is it something I would miss?

 

[Takshaka]

I would highly recommend a Twist, it's a great and inexpensive way to find what works for you in terms of voltage. You should also consider a Vivi Nova tank instead of clearos.

 

[TheAlchemist]

I would highly recommend a Twist, it's a great and inexpensive way to find what works for you in terms of voltage. You should also consider a Vivi Nova tank instead of clearos.

I was actually going to buy the Vivi Nova instead, but they're sold out at the moment. Damn.

What would be the advantages to using the Vivi Nova over the rebuildable Stardust?

 

[Takshaka]

I was actually going to buy the Vivi Nova instead, but they're sold out at the moment. Damn.

What would be the advantages to using the Vivi Nova over the rebuildable Stardust?

Build quality and size mainly. I personally don't like stardusts, but that is a matter of taste.... but a Vivi Nova is far more robust and likely to have a much longer lifespan than a rebuildable stardust in my opinion.

 

[wv2win]

As I understand, the Bolt/Silver Bullet units don't have VV features - is this actually that important in everyday vaping? Is it something I would miss?

I know with the Silver Bullet, but not sure about the Bolt, for $40 you can add the "Kick" to it which turns it into a variable wattage model PV, very similar to one of the best variables on the market, the Darwin. The Kick is made by Evolv, the same makers of the Darwin.

Any time you can adjust the power of your PV, especially to make the vapor warmer and more like the real thing, most find that a better vape. But an even bigger advantage, IMO, is having features like "power regulation" and "boost circuit technology" which keeps the power output at the power level you set it at throughout the time you are vaping. There is no "battery drain" problems like you have with so many models. You have a completely consistent vaping experience.

 

[towrofstgh]

I know with the Silver Bullet, but not sure about the Bolt, for $40 you can add the "Kick" to it which turns it into a variable wattage model PV, very similar to one of the best variables on the market, the Darwin. The Kick is made by Evolv, the same makers of the Darwin.

Agreed. I already placed an order for a Silver Bullet w/ The Kick for that specific purpose. I turned one of my good friends onto vaping a few weeks ago and he went straight past "go" and bought a Mod. Even w/o The Kick (which I tried first to see the difference), it was hitting like a beast at 3.7V using a straight tobacco eliquid @ 18mg. I tried it the 2nd time (same eliquid) with the Kick at 4.2V and WHOA! That small change in voltage brought out even more flavor and the vapor production reminded me of an A. Fuente Robusto (trust me, it was thick and abundant)!