Amperage Limitation Question

[Kemosabe]

ive got a passthrough. this one:
Variable Voltage EgO/510 USB Passthrough

it has 4 voltage settings, 3.0, 3.6, 4.2, 4.8. my wall outlet adapter is rated at 2.1A.

if i use a 1.9Ω atomizer at the 4.8v setting, Ω's law displays approx 2.5A which is clearly over the 2.1A limit of my adapter.

my question is whats really going on in the passthru/adapter when i "go over" the amp limit? meaning, is the passthru giving me approx 3.99v because thats the max value when my current is at 2.1A, or does it over-extend the limit of my adapter perhaps?
or is it perhaps only giving me 3.6v because thats the next lowest setting, seeign how 3.99v is not a "real" setting. i dont understand.

 

[slimest]

Seller does not say clearly about current limitation on this device. What voltage you have on your atomizer - you have to measure, nobody tells you.
Anyway, enjoy your device, vape. If you get trouble, ask seller. In any case if you over-extend limit, your device either will burn out or just cut-out current. Just vape.

 

[jasl90]

It's not delivering the full 4.8 volts. The regulator is throttling back the voltage to something that it can deliver based on the available amps.
What you set isn't always what you get...

 

[Kemosabe]

It's not delivering the full 4.8 volts. The regulator is throttling back the voltage to something that it can deliver based on the available amps.
What you set isn't always what you get...

i agree. its really more curiousity than anything. im just wondering if its dialing back the volts to the next lowest volt setting or if its using a voltage somewhere in between the one i selected and the next lowest setting. i wonder if this thing can even operate at any voltages that arent one of the four selectable ones.

i guess i woudl need the volt indicator meter to truly know the answer. i just thought one of you guys would know. you guys know everything! (it seems)

 

[MorpheusPA]

That depends a lot on the internals of both the passthrough and the adapter. Neither of which are really known, here.

Usually, if the adapter is overdrawn a well-designed one lets the voltage sag or limits the amperage rather than allowing the device to fail spectacularly. This is why I always recommend a regulated, high-quality power source for any application. They're unlikely to cause problems even if slightly abused.

The passthrough might be smart enough to down-volt regardless of your setting, just like many of our PVs have a limit on output and drop voltage if they can't achieve the setting. Or it might limit the amperage while holding the output voltage at the setting.

No matter how it shakes out, at 2.1 amps and 5 volts at the wall wart, you won't get more than 10.5 watts going into the passthrough. Given inefficiencies there, I'd expect a cap of about 9.5 watts at the atomizer connector. At best.

At 4.8 volts, that's just below 2 amps.

Whether the amps go down to maintain voltage or the voltage drops to maintain amps, in either case that wattage is your limit in the atomizer (and like I said, given inefficiencies that's at best).

 

[jasl90]

Assuming a 2 amp limit with at 1.9 ohm carto... You should be getting in the neighborhood of 3.8 volts.