Build your own Darwin?

[Killjoy1]

The difference is that watts have a much more direct correlation to your vape. No matter what resistance atty/carto you use, with different resistances they'll all perform pretty much the same at a certain wattage, but they'd all perform differently at the same voltage (and as a result different wattages).

 

[Rocketman]

Now we all have to readjust. Get used to 1.5 ohm LR on 3.7 VOLTS, 1.5 ohm DCC on 5 VOLTS, 3.0 ohm on 6 VOLTS.

Now everyone seems to want to run the 1.5 ohm DCC on 6 volts for 24 WATTS, or the 2.4 ohm on 7.4 volts, for 23 WATTS.

Get used to volts, and everyone wants to talk watts. Go figure.

BTW, I don't think the Darwin VW board will make these folks happy.

Rocketman,
still a 3.7 volt kind of guy

 

[CapeCAD]

Not sure I get it. What's the difference Volts/Watts

There is no difference. Once adjusted for a given load both will remain constant.

The only advantage to power control would be if you change atty resistances there would be less of a need to adjust the output. There is such a wide tolerance that I suspect most never adjust voltage much either (I know I don't).

 

[nanovapr]

Wattage (for vaping) is an approximation of heat, and a product of voltage and resistance. By itself, it doesn't mean anything, but *regulated* is a big deal. Atty/cartos age and change resistance over their lifetime, power regulation will juggle the variables to keep as constant a temperature as it can. It checks every few seconds, and adjusts things as needed.

Simple straight battery devices are at their hottest fresh off the charger, and slowly decrease voltage as they discharge. Combine this with differing resistance of atty/cartos as they age, it's hard to really keep it constant. Resistance also changes based on heat, and these things are little heaters.

I have some fruity juices that taste better for me at cooler temps, so I turn it down to 6.5 watts or so. Some mint and menthol I like hotter, so I turn it up to 8 or 9 watts. I don't care what resistance atty/cartos I am using, except that LR will require more amperage to deliver the wattage it is set for, and runs the battery down faster.

 

[Lance_Wallen]

the resistance of your coil is not constant. The primary benefit to PR vs VV is that with PR you have a device that constantly reads the coil resistance and keeps it at the 'wattage' you want. Wattage is what we want not voltage. Voltage is just part of the equation to get the wattage. Coils change resistance by small amounts due to various things. It might be so minor that the device you're using doesn't make an adjustment in the case of the darwin but that's just an assumption. I've had atomizers and cartomizers change resistance on my by up to 4tenths of an ohm which does have an effect on the vape. With a VV I can just adjust the voltage to get back to that sweet spot wattage I like, with a PR mod it detects the change and adjusts the voltage for you to keep the wattage consistant.

Ultimately wattage is what we're after, it is the factor that defines the vape, variable voltage is one way to get it if you're willing to check your resistance so you can adjust the voltage, PR mods just take that step out of the equation. It's more.. sophisticated, not necessarily better.

Also the changes in wattage from a .4ohm change on the coil at a constant voltage wont even register with some people, me personally.. I can taste the difference with the juices I make and on the provari I just tweek the voltage as the carto ages to keep it consistant. On a darwin I wouldn't have to, unfortunately I love carto tanks and those don't work well on the darwin so I have a provari until I can build my own PR mod

 

[o4_srt]

Hmm, since resistance increases with temperature, is the sampling rate of the Darwin board fast enough to compensate?

 

[nanovapr]

o4_srt: good question, and bonus points for mentioning sample rate! I only know of it in reference to muzak recording and the Nyquist thing , but that would be OT.

I would think that if we were vaping on the equator, or on North/South pole, Darwin would surely do it's best to keep it constant. I don't know if Darwin can change in mid-hit. I know that I sometimes like to ramp it up/down during a hit just to change it up a bit.

 

[Rocketman]

There are several power monitoring chips that are used in RF leveling applications that output power nearly realtime as a variable frequency or an analog voltage. If the Darwin is using a processor (would think it is) then program loop frequency would define adjustment rate. Could easily be hundreds of times a second with a 1 mhz processor. At least 30 times a second, since that is probably the LCD update rate.

 

[CraigHB]

I'm sure the sampling rate is much higher than what is required to compensate for any external variations. The product would have to utilize a µcontroller and they generally have sampling rates much higher that what is minimal to notice any difference empirically.

Generally speaking, wattage control versus voltage control is not a huge feature for me. I've been perfectly happy with voltage control. It's kind of like automatic transmission versus manual transmission in a car. Automatic is better for convenience, but manual is better for control. In the case of a power regulated e-cig, you rely on the electronics to adjust voltage. With voltage control, you do that yourself which could be considered preferable for some people.

In any, case it sounds like great product to offer and I'm sure it will be popular. Look forward to seeing it.

 

[o4_srt]

There are several power monitoring chips that are used in RF leveling applications that output power nearly realtime as a variable frequency or an analog voltage. If the Darwin is using a processor (would think it is) then program loop frequency would define adjustment rate. Could easily be hundreds of times a second with a 1 mhz processor. At least 30 times a second, since that is probably the LCD update rate.

Yep, looking at one right now, the units I test/tune/repair utilize them. Slew rate is 3v/uS, doesn't mention sampling rate.

I'm sure it is fast enough to handle the job, twas just a thought, and I'm sure the engineer(s) involved had that same thought, if a lowly technician like myself thought of it.

 

[Lance_Wallen]

I dunno that I'd compare it to auto and manual tranmissions from a 'control' point of view.

You ahve the same control in VV and PR if anything you have more control over PR because you are the only variable that adjusts. With VV the resistance changes on the coil you have to read it and change it, with PR you just change the wattage and the resistance, output voltage of the battery, etc is no longer a variable for YOU. I'd say PR gives you more control and convenience. Is it "overkill" probably for most people but so are 90% of the items in your house if you really wanna get down to it.

Think of it more like automatic headlights on your car vs manual headlights on your car instead of the transmission. regular headlights you have to turn em on when it gets dark, auto headlights pop up when it gets dark adn down when it gets light again. Neither offers more light, one just takes you out of the equation. At the end of the day how hard is it to turn on your headlights?

Same thing with the VV vs PR type systems, with PR you just set the wattage and it does everything else. With VV if you're that picky about your wattage you gotta read your resistance every now and then and make adjustments. same output, one is just 'easier' as for whether or not it's needed... I personally use a provari and mostly vape three of my own juices that I make, each one likes a different wattage, I use Boge 2.0 cartos which vary from 1.8 to 2.3ohms in my experience. With one of my juices just a lil above its "happy spot" and it tastes like crap, so I monitor my resistance and do the math and set the voltage accordingly. With a PR mod I'd just set the wattage and go.

That said... there are a number of people who give feck all about half a watt so they just vape at 3.7, 5v, 6, 7.4, etc, they don't have regulators and don't care. A lil hotter in the morning a little cooler in the evening, this carto is warmer, this carto is cooler, it's minor to them and doesn't matter. For a more picky vaper setting exact wattage matters and the PR mods will give you that option 'easier' than a VV mod. I know some folks who are perfectly happy with an ego and a carto, no accessories, nothin special and been vaping for a long time. I'm not gonna try to sell em on something expensive or overkill for them when they're happy with something that easy to deal with. For me.. I was never quite happy, got a reo, got a provari to go with my various tanks, and will be building stuff with a PR board as soon as I can get one in my grubby little hands

 

[Rocketman]

Want a surprise vaping with fixed watts?

Vape a Dual coil until one coil fries (it happens).

5 watts per coil for a total of 10 watts, changes automatically to 10 watts on the one coil.

SURPRISE

 

[Lance_Wallen]

I personally think dual coils and the new triple coils are a poor idea. I get the 'idea' behind it but it's just overkill, the originals were designed around giving a better experience on low voltage mods like egos and rivas, if you're using a darwin you should be using a Boge or other higher quality carto in my OPINION. you'll get a more consistant and better vape. So.. not a surprise I'll experience lol.

but again, to each their own, people are going to pick sides cause that's what people do. I personally pick what works for me and don't tell some one else they're 'wrong' as long as they're happy and not smoking

 

[CraigHB]

I agree to some extent. I found the Triple coils just too hot for any practical usage. The dual coils are probably going to be the best as far as multi-coil goes. I can get by fine with the single coil Boges I've been using forever. Though, if anything, I'd like to have a nice 1->2->1 rig to run a dual barrel setup. I can make the 1->2 part easily enough, but have no way to make a factory looking 2->1 mouthpiece.

 

[o4_srt]

I agree to some extent. I found the Triple coils just too hot for any practical usage. The dual coils are probably going to be the best as far as multi-coil goes. I can get by fine with the single coil Boges I've been using forever. Though, if anything, I'd like to have a nice 1->2->1 rig to run a dual barrel setup. I can make the 1->2 part easily enough, but have no way to make a factory looking 2->1 mouthpiece.

I've been tossing this idea around for quite a while now myself.

I'll eventually get around to it, but I'm sure it won't be pretty. I prefer functionality to form any day of the week.

I was actually thinking about keeping the cartos internal, with one mouthpiece coming out of the mod. Would result in a cleaner, less bulky mod

 

[Quigsworth]

...but again, to each their own, people are going to pick sides cause that's what people do. I personally pick what works for me and don't tell some one else they're 'wrong' as long as they're happy and not smoking

Well said...

 

[Quigsworth]

I've been tossing this idea around for quite a while now myself.

I'll eventually get around to it, but I'm sure it won't be pretty. I prefer functionality to form any day of the week.

I was actually thinking about keeping the cartos internal, with one mouthpiece coming out of the mod. Would result in a cleaner, less bulky mod

I've been kicking this around as well...I thought maybe a dual cart "manifold" if you will using clear vinyl tubing and a nylon "Y"

And btw, I personally think the more Frankenstein your mods look only up's the "cool" factor, at least to me

 

[o4_srt]

I've been kicking this around as well...I thought maybe a dual cart "manifold" if you will using clear vinyl tubing and a nylon "Y"

thats kinda what i was thinking.

i can get lm317's for free from work, maybe use one for each carto, powered by 2 IMR 14500's in series

 

[BuzzKilla]

It's kind of like automatic transmission versus manual transmission in a car. Automatic is better for convenience, but manual is better for control.

this is how i see it, in this form of analogy;
Manual Transmission - Precise (P18)
Auto Transmission - ProVari
CVT - Darwin

 

[Para]

Want a surprise vaping with fixed watts?

Vape a Dual coil until one coil fries (it happens).

5 watts per coil for a total of 10 watts, changes automatically to 10 watts on the one coil.

SURPRISE

*Shudder*