Darwin...Is it really different?

[AngusATAT]

Small update:

I've seen a rendering of the final case design, and it looks pretty nice. Definitely a huge improvement over the big ugly brick that Brandon sent me. They have some machined, and they'll be getting them anodized this week, so pics will come shortly after.

Also, instead of returning my Darwin at the end of the beta, I talked Brandon into letting me use it as a prize in some sort of contest or giveaway... complete with camo duct tape. Hopefully it will end up in the hands of someone who can appreciate it's "redneckiness".

 

[clyde2801]

It will be interesting to see the development of this type/style PV. As Clyde would say this is 4th generation.

You know, this just might be a four......HEY!

 

[jcamacho]

Sounds like a great mod to me, I'm convinced. Just when you think you've reached the top, you find out there's still a higher vantage point.

 

[RippleInStillWater]

I'll take it Angus! -- all my cars are used with scratches, am underemployed these days, I try never to pay full price on anything (especially for ecig stuff if at all possible!), live in farm country, hunt and fish, and am willing to cut my hair into a mullet if that will help!!!!

Seriously, the Darwin sound intriguing and I'm glad the discussion is over (I thought it'd be just a review, right, Mutt?!?!?!?). Bring on a contest, I'm ready to compete and fall short!!!!

 

[muttSRT]

I'll take it Angus! -- all my cars are used with scratches, am underemployed these days, I try never to pay full price on anything (especially for ecig stuff if at all possible!), live in farm country, hunt and fish, and am willing to cut my hair into a mullet if that will help!!!!

Seriously, the Darwin sound intriguing and I'm glad the discussion is over (I thought it'd be just a review, right, Mutt?!?!?!?). Bring on a contest, I'm ready to compete and fall short!!!!

It started out as just a review, but so many added to it...I think I may have accidentally learned something...and we can't have that...gonna go drink some Jack Daniels until I forget what it is I may have learned.

and BTW...I am Darwinless...so if there is a chance to win a redneck Darwin, I am down for it as well...lol

 

[candre23]

Now we're reminded that neither IcaBod nor anyone else who has a beta unit ever said that PWM was involved here... but we're going to be surprised when we see the specs and hear all the new features.....

There are only two basic types of voltage regulation - switching and linear. This forum, being generally non-technical, has gotten into the habit of calling all the various types of switching power supplies "PWM". While the Darwin may not use simple pulse width modulation to vary the supply voltage, it is certainly using some type of switching power supply circuit to convert the supply voltage to whatever is needed to maintain the power setpoint. At least I hope it's using an active power supply - the alternative (linear) is just plain dumb.

We have been told that the darwin uses two 900mAh lipo cells. Common sense would indicate that these are wired in series to produce ~7.4V supply. If this is the case, my previous statements about buck circuits being superior to boost circuits (again, over-generalized terms) hold true. If the two cells are wired in parallel and this is actually using a boost circuit, then I have to agree that the differences between this and the other "PWM" boost mods is not enormous from a practical standpoint. From a technical standpoint though, power regulation is still more interesting than simple voltage regulation.

 

[WillyB]

... I still like my idea about the atty that automatically adjusts it resistance so you can use it with any mod, any voltage.
oh, and the mood button.

Kind of an odd statement from someone who 99.99999% of the time is vaping off an 18650 battery in a flashlight mod.

Or is it 100%?

 

[AngusATAT]

Too bad I'm not ready to give mine up yet, or I would have a "FDA Got Its .... Kicked" contest...

 

[jimho]

There are only two basic types of voltage regulation - switching and linear. This forum, being generally non-technical, has gotten into the habit of calling all the various types of switching power supplies "PWM". While the Darwin may not use simple pulse width modulation to vary the supply voltage, it is certainly using some type of switching power supply circuit to convert the supply voltage to whatever is needed to maintain the power setpoint. At least I hope it's using an active power supply - the alternative (linear) is just plain dumb.

I agree that people are talking about swiching regulators and PWM in the same breadth as if they were the same - there is more to PWM than switcthing regulator- Right now, So far as we know, nobody is actually modulating pulse witdh to control power output. However, unless you know what's inside the box, and you aren't telling us or you saw the output on a scope, then I wouldn't assume its anything- Wasn't that long ago (like months) that 5V devices were really just 6V with a 1 ohm resistor inline (against 4.2 attys) ....then somewhere along the line someone tossed in a diode. While I'm not disagreeing with your generalization, this is specifically the kind of specultation I'd like to avoid.... there are tradeoffs, and benefits to each approach and what's generally true migh have implimentation specific considerations that give it merit. There are some very interesting microcontrollers that shipped in the past year that might lend themselves quite nicely- there are also some classic designs using comparators and compensating circuitry that could work interstingly.... let's see it before we shoot it ;-)

We have been told that the darwin uses two 900mAh lipo cells. Common sense would indicate that these are wired in series to produce ~7.4V supply. If this is the case, my previous statements about buck circuits being superior to boost circuits (again, over-generalized terms) hold true. If the two cells are wired in parallel and this is actually using a boost circuit, then I have to agree that the differences between this and the other "PWM" boost mods is not enormous from a practical standpoint. From a technical standpoint though, power regulation is still more interesting than simple voltage regulation.

Common- you jumped the gun again- you are speculating - I saw your comment yesterday - short answer, think about it- you're a smart guy... stacking gives you boost but liimits you to 900mAh- parallel gives you 1800mAh but needs to be boosted- Now which is better? If buck/boost is 70-80% efficient under heavy load and heavy boost and 95% under lighter loads, maybe it's got an advantage? Every regulator has an efficiency curve- depends on where it spends most of its time....
It's just not so cut and dry as you make it sound...show us he chip then let's talk....its not fair to make such general comments without information about how it was implimented....

 

[candre23]

Two cells wired in parallel would simplify the charging circuit (no need to balance), but at the cost of overall capacity. Whatever the volume of space the two 900mAh cells are taking up, a single cell in that space would have a higher capacity than 1800mAh. You might use two cells in parallel to overcome the high discharge current requirements of a boost circuit, but with cheap LiPo cells rated at 10C being readily available (and expensive cells at 40C and higher), it's not nearly as much of an issue as it is with traditional 2C Li-Ion cells.

In other words, it is conceivable that they chose to use a boosting circuit with two cells, but it would have been an odd choice to make.

 

[clyde2801]

In all seriousness, I'm very intrigued, but have a few questions:

1. I've been in the 'all mechanical' camp for a while now. How durable are the electronics on the Darwin, and what warranty comes with it?

2. I also have to use bifocals (sigh). How easy is it to see and adjust the voltage? That dial looks pretty small.

3. Besides a more consistant vaping experience and the ability to use an atty with any resistance without swapping batteries, are there any more benefits to the design? Are the testers finding longer atty life for instance?

4. Are the batteries user replaceable?

5. What other mods can the testers compare them to, and how does it rate against them?

Thanks.

 

[AngusATAT]

In all seriousness, I'm very intrigued, but have a few questions:

1. I've been in the 'all mechanical' camp for a while now. How durable are the electronics on the Darwin, and what warranty comes with it?

I've opened the case, and taken everything out of it. The electronics in the Darwin are very durable. Nothing about this device is fragile. The warranty hasn't been announced, so I can't really say much about it... but I will say that the minimum warranty they have discussed is very nice, and longer than most mods with electronics that I have seen.

2. I also have to use bifocals (sigh). How easy is it to see and adjust the voltage? That dial looks pretty small.

It's very easy. The wattage on the display is fairly large. Also, the dial you see in the pics isn't the one shipping with the unit when it is released. And if they are using the new dials that the supplier told me about last week... there is something very interesting about them that will really appeal to those of us in our 40's... hehe. I'm keeping my fingers crossed, and my lips zipped.

3. Besides a more consistant vaping experience and the ability to use an atty with any resistance without swapping batteries, are there any more benefits to the design? Are the testers finding longer atty life for instance?

I really haven't had it long enough to tell, really. I doubt that it will extend atty life, though. If anything, for me, it will probably shorten it, as I am finding myself vaping with a bit more power more often than I used to. It's just too easy to crank it up when I want a really massive hit. Also, I cannot stress enough how I do not recommend using LR atties and cartos with it. The batteries in the Darwin are quite a bit more powerful than the ones we are used to using, and I don't believe LR atties will last long at all. I'll be doing some testing on this very soon, and will report back with what I find.

Unlike Mutt, I don't stick to a "sweet spot" where wattage is concerned. Sometimes I like to take it easy, and sometimes I want it to punch me in the throat. I have vaping ADD. The fold-down atty arm is a nice feature. In the production unit, it will also act as a kill switch when it's in the down position, I believe.

4. Are the batteries user replaceable?

No, they aren't. I'm not finding this as much of a negative however, considering that the batteries will probably last three years, and there is the added bonus that (Sorry Brandon, but I am going to tell on this one since you pretty much told me it's a done deal) the batteries by themselves are going to have their own warranty... and it's not a wimpy one by any means. Also, considering the fact that they will last me a full day with ungodly heavy vaping, and two days of normal vaping, plus it's USB rechargeable, I can't see ever running out of battery charge on the Darwin.

5. What other mods can the testers compare them to, and how does it rate against them?

Really, I think the only other mods you can compare it to are the VV mods. They are the only devices that come close. For instance, I have a couple of VV mods, and I really enjoy them. But it's my honest opinion that the Darwin outperforms them all. (Obviously some folks are going to want to disagree with me here, but I can only tell you what I have experienced). It isn't as pretty as some of the VV's out there, though. This isn't a knock on the VV mods, it's just my opinion. There are a couple of new VV mods that I still intend to buy, even after I buy the Darwin, but I am one of those guys that enjoys my vaping toys. And honestly, you're not going to be stealth vaping anywhere with the Darwin. It won't be coming to work with me, where I have to stealth vape.

I think that if you added a VapeMate juice feeder with the Darwin, it would be extremely unattractive but probably a very awesome vaping experience. And since the wife said she will get me a VapeMate for Christmas, I am going to be a happy camper.

 

[clyde2801]

Can you provide me a link to the vapemate? So, this can do 3rd gen as well as 4th? Not bad...When are they expected to go on sale?

 

[AngusATAT]

The VapeMate: Super T Manufacturing, Innovative manufacturer of electronic cigarette products.

They're shooting for starting sales sometime before the end of the month.

 

[WillyB]

The VapeMate: Super T Manufacturing, Innovative manufacturer of electronic cigarette products.

They're shooting for starting sales sometime before the end of the month.

It's been available, just sold out now. Many have taken to adding a down tube in the bottle, which it doesn't have.

 

[AngusATAT]

It's been available, just sold out now. Many have taken to adding a down tube in the bottle, which it doesn't have.

Sorry, WB, I should have been more clear. I meant the Darwin should be available before the end of this month. At least, that is what they are shooting for. Hopefully nothing will pop up to delay it, but of course it's possible.

 

[clyde2801]

Wow, that's the vaping equivalent of sticking a smaller working tv on top of an older, non functioning one. How inelegant.

How does it work?

 

[muttSRT]

Wow, that's the vaping equivalent of sticking a smaller working tv on top of an older, non functioning one. How inelegant.

How does it work?

heres tinas review of it, I kind of like it: YouTube - HzG8rGrl's Channel

 

[AngusATAT]

Wow, that's the vaping equivalent of sticking a smaller working tv on top of an older, non functioning one. How inelegant.

I told you it would be unattractive, hehe. But it would work really, really well.

 

[jimho]

I've been using the vapemate for two weeks....It works fairly well with the tube mod... you'll definitely want the tube mod otherwise youll have to invert the feeder to get the juice to flow.... also, with the tube mod, it auto feeds unless you put a pin hole in the top of the tube.