Can't use it yet ....

[Ohyeathat]

I bought a used lovely from a forum member but I don't have a tank that will fit. Even though the seller added a fully charged battery I don't have a charger, either. My budget is a bit tight right now and I am quite trepidatious to buy anything from a local vape shop. I know the mark up is always crazy. (What can I say? I am spoiled by cheap online vendors!) At the very least I MUST have a charger, but which one!?!? Should I buy an adapter? Or just start buying those Pyrex tanks I have had my eye on?

My head is swimming with questions and all I really know is I WANNA VAPE IT NOW!!!!!

 

[The Ocelot]

Greetings and salutations!

While I believe the Pila gets the highest marks for a charger, it is out if my price range. I have an Xtar and a NiteCore, both of which have performed well for me and are not expensive.

The Xtar I got was the wrong size. It only charges 18350s (I didn't think it through, not knowing I would ever have any mod other than my mini). Other people have gotten the larger ones and been pleased with them.

I then got the NiteCore. It only has 2 bays, but there is another one that has 4 bays.

This is the one I have: http://www.rtdvapor.com/online-store/battery-chargers/nitecore-intellicharger-i2-detail

Most of us get our batteries from RTD Vapor: RTD Vapor AW Batteries

Fluid Vapor has better prices, but alas they are OOS.

EletronicStix currently has better prices on chargers than RTD. I bought my Xtar from them: ElectronicStix.Com · Mod Battery Chargers

If you are on a very tight budget at the moment and are good at planning ahead, there are inexpensive 1 bay chargers:

XTAR XP1 Battery Charger
XTAR MP1S Battery Charger

No matter what you choose, it is highly suggested not to use any chargers or batteries with the word "Fire" in the product name. AW IMR batteries are what ProVape recommends.

As far as what to use on top. You can never go wrong with glass/pyrex. There are many new products on the market, but for price, and if you don't mind the old style with the unremovable mouth piece (which I have no problems with myself), you can pick up a Protank 1 rather inexpensively to use while you research other devices that interest you:

Kanger Pro Tank [Pro Tank] - $10.00 : Vapors Choice, Ecigarettes & Parts

 

[stevegmu]

The inexpensive Tenergy from ProVape works just fine. I also have the more expensive Pila, but don't really see any advantages to it, other than build quality, but at the price of 3 Tenergys, I'm not sure it is worth it.

 

[Baditude]

Buy the highest quality charger you can reasonably afford. They are safer and will charge batteries faster. As mentioned by The Ocelot, Xtar and Nitecore are popular reasonably priced quality chargers that most ECF members use.

I use a Nitecore Intelicharger i4 and my daughter uses the i2. Battery chargers at RTD Vapor

The Provari uses ONLY BUTTON TOP IMR batteries, flat top batteries will not work. AW IMR's are what Provape recommends. Genuine AW Batteries at RTD Vapor

 

[EvilZoe]

I bought a used lovely from a forum member but I don't have a tank that will fit. Even though the seller added a fully charged battery I don't have a charger, either. My budget is a bit tight right now and I am quite trepidatious to buy anything from a local vape shop. I know the mark up is always crazy. (What can I say? I am spoiled by cheap online vendors!) At the very least I MUST have a charger, but which one!?!? Should I buy an adapter? Or just start buying those Pyrex tanks I have had my eye on?

My head is swimming with questions and all I really know is I WANNA VAPE IT NOW!!!!!

Here's an extremely decent tank that vapes like a dream. It's not a cartotank or anything but if you just want something pyrex that's easy to just fill, screw on, and go this is it. It also uses the Kanger Protank 2 heads so it's easy to find coils if you're not ready to rebuild them yourself. Heck, you can rebuild these...lol

Don't bother with Kanger Protanks. This is half the price and works twice as well. There are other design and color options, too. Hypertank 5 ml

 

[EddardinWinter]

I recently purchased an Xtar VP-1. It was $50, but it is completely worth it. I love the digital output and variable charge mode. You can set it to 0.25, 0.5, or 1 amp charge rate. The lower rates are nice for your smaller batteries. It accepts 18650 through 18350 nicely.



Tapped out

 

[Racehorse]

The inexpensive Tenergy from ProVape works just fine. I also have the more expensive Pila, but don't really see any advantages to it, other than build quality, but at the price of 3 Tenergys, I'm not sure it is worth it.

I think there is a large difference in the way a pila and a tenergy would condition and charge a battery over time, but that's just me.

The algorithms used for charging are better, etc. in the higher priced chargers, and I would find a comparison of that somewhere if I looked.

I think the PILA is worth the money, it charges fast and all my good AW batteries are still in lovely condition even after a year.

 

[stevegmu]

I think there is a large difference in the way a pila and a tenergy would condition and charge a battery over time, but that's just me.

The algorithms used for charging are better, etc. in the higher priced chargers, and I would find a comparison of that somewhere if I looked.

I think the PILA is worth the money, it charges fast and all my good AW batteries are still in lovely condition even after a year.

No difference I can tell. I rotate between the two. As cheap as batteries are, I'm not too concerned about stretching the life out of my batteries- They are getting recycled after 6 months, whether they still hold a charge or not- read somewhere batteries get more dangerous the more charge-discharge cycles they go through. The Pila is clearly better made, but the Tenergy works as well- for me. Both being made in China, I don't expect either to last more than 1 year.

 

[Ohyeathat]

Thank you all so much for the charger recommendations! This is just part of why I love this forum so much.

 

[BernieVideo]

I bought the Nitecore i2. Sturdy. Fast. Only 20 bucks, and the ones from RTD come with a car charger cord, which I think is great, but I havent tried it that way yet. From what I can tell, other vendors and B&Ms don't include that cord.

 

[Codz]

I recently purchased an Xtar VP-1. It was $50, but it is completely worth it. I love the digital output and variable charge mode. You can set it to 0.25, 0.5, or 1 amp charge rate. The lower rates are nice for your smaller batteries. It accepts 18650 through 18350 nicely.



Tapped out

I'll second this. the led displays showing the voltage in the battery as it charges is an excellent feature and it has a lot of built-in safety functions, which was the main reason for me purchasing one.

I also picked up a Safe charging bag for £4 (not sure how much they would be in the US). I dont actually charge my batteries in it, but i do store them inside it, and also inside a little plastic case just to be sure!

I know it sounds OTT, but the cost was relatively small and it makes the possibility of a battery accident as minimal as possible. Batteries are either in my device, in the charger or in the safe bag, never anywhere else.

 

[BernieVideo]

Don't bother with Kanger Protanks. This is half the price and works twice as well. There are other design and color options, too. Hypertank 5 ml

This does look nice.
They don't show the bottom of the bottom plate. Is it different than the Protank 2? Less air venting hopefully??

 

[ItTechy]

As far as tanks, I like the Kanger Protank II, to me easy to use, and they feature a Pyrex tank and BCC coils.

I also have quite a few EVODS (you will need an adapter for these).

Chargers, well that has pretty much been covered. Get the best one you can afford.

I have and UltraFire which is AKA as a cheapie..about $15.00 most places!

I am buying XTAR when I get paid...

I bought a used lovely from a forum member but I don't have a tank that will fit. Even though the seller added a fully charged battery I don't have a charger, either. My budget is a bit tight right now and I am quite trepidatious to buy anything from a local vape shop. I know the mark up is always crazy. (What can I say? I am spoiled by cheap online vendors!) At the very least I MUST have a charger, but which one!?!? Should I buy an adapter? Or just start buying those Pyrex tanks I have had my eye on?

My head is swimming with questions and all I really know is I WANNA VAPE IT NOW!!!!!

 

[ItTechy]

I haven't used these but I am going to get a couple...GREAT PRICE!

Thx Zoe!

Here's an extremely decent tank that vapes like a dream. It's not a cartotank or anything but if you just want something pyrex that's easy to just fill, screw on, and go this is it. It also uses the Kanger Protank 2 heads so it's easy to find coils if you're not ready to rebuild them yourself. Heck, you can rebuild these...lol

Don't bother with Kanger Protanks. This is half the price and works twice as well. There are other design and color options, too. Hypertank 5 ml

 

[EvilZoe]

This does look nice.
They don't show the bottom of the bottom plate. Is it different than the Protank 2? Less air venting hopefully??

It works like a Protank only the draw is nowhere near as airy. Uses Protank heads, too.

As soon as I tried this tank I was PO'ed I paid double the money for the Protanks that aren't nearly as satisfying. I'll never buy another Protank again.

Ah, well...live and learn.

 

[Ohyeathat]

I have been hunting around for well priced Pyrex tank. The negative things I heard about the protank have made me wary of purchasing it. Now I can say I won't bother at all. What about ViVi Nova Pyrex tanks?

 

[EvilZoe]

I have been hunting around for well priced Pyrex tank. The negative things I heard about the protank have made me wary of purchasing it. Now I can say I won't bother at all. What about ViVi Nova Pyrex tanks?

You want this tank. Seriously. You do.

HyperTank

 

[Ohyeathat]

You want this tank. Seriously. You do.

HyperTank

Noted. It's now on my order list. Thank you;-)

 

[EvilZoe]

I'm blowing insane amounts of vapor using that tank. INSANE, I tell ya! lol


I can't believe I thought Protanks were good. I'm just completely floored at the difference.

 

[Zbeast08]

I recently purchased an Xtar VP-1. It was $50, but it is completely worth it. I love the digital output and variable charge mode. You can set it to 0.25, 0.5, or 1 amp charge rate. The lower rates are nice for your smaller batteries. It accepts 18650 through 18350 nicely.



Tapped out

Ordered mine yesterday Ed, based on a few post I read including yours!!