Building my first mod

[upstatEpuff]

Looking for any suggestions or ideas not already on here. Am gearing up to build my first mod and have my heart set on a wooden box mod. However copper pipe might be easier for my first time around. Any hints or tips would be appreciated. I know what i need but I am looking to construct something that i could swap out different voltages by just changing batteries. Is there an easy way to make something vari volt without doing this? Is there any 3.7v bats that can match the size of two 3v stacked? I can come within about 3mm and figure i can solve this with a spring or even a different endcap if i go with the copper pipe mod. I open to suggestions people let me have em!!
Thanks

 

[asdaq]

An 18650 for 3.7 and 2 CR123's for the 6v are common matches. If not spring variation, a magnet for a spacer does the trick too.

I'll let someone else suggest a copper pipe size as I'm in metric land

 

[o4_srt]

Are you set on using different batteries for different voltages?

This is going to require different chargers as well, and could run the price up a little bit.

Why not make a vari-volt following the evercool mod design, or something similar?

 

[breaktru]

3/4" copper pipe for your 18650 3.7v mod. Search this site for copper mod tips. I made one recently and love it.
See: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/modders-forum/145870-copper-mod-new-twist.html
For photos look at post #6 in the above link.

You can use 2 18350's for 7.2v and add a varible regulator

 

[asdaq]

For a 1st mod, I wouldn't recommend getting into an evercool VV, especially with a copper tube body, save that one for later successes.

 

[breaktru]

Right asdaq, box mods are easier to put together, especially from Madvapes.

 

[o4_srt]

For a 1st mod, I wouldn't recommend getting into an evercool VV, especially with a copper tube body, save that one for later successes.

recommended because he said he wanted to build a box mod.

If you're looking for an easy 5v mod, madvapes has a decent kit on the cheap, and not a whole lot of soldering necessary.

the evercool is not very difficult, and the benefits are worth it. 90% (ish) efficiency at 5 volts. There is plenty of help available in the evercool thread, including pictures and diagrams that even a novice can follow.

 

[asdaq]

The copper mod can be simple enough too, and sure the evercool isn't that tough, but for a first attempt either a nicostick box mod or a copper tube just to get the fundamentals down, and then the evercool circuitry can go into a future wooden box mod, as Upstate described. Little steps 1st, then the bigger stuff.

 

[upstatEpuff]

Thanks for the responses everyone. Here is an update, I am thinking that I would like to go with a copper pipe mod for my first. I looked into others but I'm coming to one of those situations I know I run into a lot with the PV world I start going off into all different directions.

I found an old mini-mag lite in my junk drawer which could probably be a good start for me it's just it wont hold anything bigger than 14mm in diameter. So I got to thinking.......Laptop batteries are powered by Li ion bats. I got a laptop that I broke a couple months ago and instead of fixing it I Replaced it. I busted open the battery compartment and found 6 Samsung 18650's 2200mAh flat tops.

Here's my issue. They are not protected they are bare cell. I mean i would hate to not be able to use them for something I thought I had a good score at first but if its a bad idea please tell me. I would have to protect it myself and dont now how to do that. I have basic electronic knowledge, know my way around the worbench enough where I could make a "fog log" pretty easily and my soddering skills are up to par, it gets the job done. But the battery situation.

Should I junk the batteries I took out of the laptop? Should I buy some 14mm for a mini-mag mod or go with a "fog log" type setup with the bats I have? Would love some feedback guys. I'm grateful for your patience.

One last thing....Anyone come across any 14mm that have a better than 900mAh rating???

 

[asdaq]

The numbers for the batts tell the dimensions, 18650 is 18 x 65 and the '0' denotes that it is round. To the length you need to add ~2mm for the protection circuitry, and the diameter is a bit bigger depending on the plastic/labeling. So the 14500's you found are normal and 900 mAh is about as good as it gets in that size.

As for the unprotected cells you found, better to pass on them as the circuitry is important.

About the foglog or maglite choice, if the maglite is a single AA, then maybe this, but it would be harder to do than the copper. If it is 2AA then definitely the copper.

 

[Java_Az]

Anyone come across any 14mm that have a better than 900mAh rating???

Dont fall into the over rated battery trap. There are only a few companies that rate the Mah correctly. With the execption of trust fire flames the Chinese batteries seem to always fall short. There is alot of discussion about if AW batteries are worth it because they cost twice as much. For the difference in the MAh rating maybe not , but for a company thats not going to lie to me about what they are selling me , I say " Oh Hell yeah they are worth it".

If you hit up some flashlight forums you should be able to find some Mah tests in there that are quite enlightening. Those flashlight guys take their batteries very seriously. Anyways thought i would throw this out there because you can more then likely find some 14500 out there with high mah rating but more then likely they are lying like hell to you.

 

[upstatEpuff]

thanks guys, I did look at a flashlight forum and they had good reviews on the batteries i found. However being unprotected, im going to shelf them until my experience gets high enough where i can make a mod and protect the unprotected batteries I might put it them. For my first mod i dont want to be puffing on a pipebomb!! I keep going back to the copper mod it looks lie it may be the easiest one for me to start with. I would love to utilzie some woodworking skills and make a box but i think the simplest way to start is a 3.7v copper pipe mod. Thanks again everyone for there input

 

[breaktru]

Good luck upstatEpuff with the mod, keep us posted.