RDA Differences in rdas

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lintz69

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Sorry if this is answered somewhere else, but I am new to RDAs and just got my first one Friday. I'm wondering why there are so many and such huge price differences. It seems to me you have 3 posts a 510 connector and a cap. What really makes them different? If this has already been asked/answered just point me to right thread. I searched but didn't find anything but reviews.


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DaveSignal

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Some of them are made in different locations, making production cheaper or more expensive. Also, often the high-end atomizers are not only made in a place where manufacturing is expensive, but they are double checked to make sure all machining tolerances are tight... sometimes they power wash any left over machining oils too. And they come in a nicer box. And they have a real serial number.

But a $30 1:1 clone will often look and perform exactly the same as a $150 authentic RDA. A $5 clone probably has much cheaper screws and no QC, making for a good chance of breaking... you will probably get $5-worth of use out of it though.

As for the differences between different RDAs, they are the size and placement of airflow and the way the coils are mounted. Also the size of the chamber plays a factor. Sometimes there are innovative top caps too, but the main distinguishing factors are airflow, coil placement, and chamber size.

IMO, a prefect RDA is anything that allows a lot of airflow, has post holes that accept all kinds of builds using lower gauges of wire, and has a wide-bore top cap or the ability to switch out top caps. But not everyone builds as often as I do... I do this as a hobby. So some people might prefer something that is more similar to a cigarette.
 

lintz69

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Ok. So basically they are relatively the same. Differences in build quality and style. But performance is about the same. I just got one from volcano and you can adjust air flow. Their tephra mech mod is first mech I've used since the chuck lol. It has a bottom button. Don't really like that as it feels weird pushing but I guess it's better for in your pocket. I'm used to tanks. And now that I have the RDA I started wondering what the difference was. Thank you for your reply. What RDA do you use?

For the record I just said where I got it and it turned into a link. I didn't put it as a link.
 

State O' Flux

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It seems to me you have 3 posts a 510 connector and a cap. What really makes them different?
Just a few of the things I consider, when RDA shopping...
  • PEEK positive post insulation (spare parts, replaceable parts availability)
  • alternate materials for the center post (SS, brass, copper - depending on your needs and views)
  • post thru holes for wire, or wire wraps around screw shank (the latter more common for negative legs)
  • SS screws
  • grub screws vs. phillips - including screw head type (I prefer the former, but latter is OK if the heads capture wire well)
  • negative coil leg channels (not a deal breaker, but nice if the screws are on the drip well rim)
  • type and location of AFC relative to the coils (low, bottom more for clouds, parallel & high more for flavor - tunable combinations of both)
  • internal vapor chamber volume
  • juice well depth (AKA juice capacity)
  • air port location relative to juice level (if it looks like it will leak like a sieve if not level... then it probably will)
  • alternate caps and drip tip bore ID size (510 cap and proprietary and/or chuff cap)
  • adjustable 510 pin
  • graphics / logo that would please me... rather than a 12 year old
  • ... and on and on.
 
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lintz69

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State, thank you very very much for the detailed differences. Some I'm not sure of, but at least I have things to google and understand more. I know ecigs, I know electricity fundamentals, but just needed a boost on RDA fundamentals. One other curiosity question. I had a vape shop show me making the dual coils. He used 2 wires. Since they both connect to center post couldn't you just use 1 wire and make the coils after fed through or is it just more difficult and that's why they use 2?


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State O' Flux

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One other curiosity question. I had a vape shop show me making the dual coils. He used 2 wires. Since they both connect to center post couldn't you just use 1 wire and make the coils after fed through or is it just more difficult and that's why they use 2?
No problem, lintz...

You could use one length of wire to make two coils in parallel after the fact... but it's easier to manipulate wire (at least for me) and make two nice coils with a fixture, like a Kuro Coiler, than trying to wrap them in the atty.

With some attys, where there's a stud and nut arrangement for the center post (Veritas, Origen V2 for example) I do make two coils from one length of wire, but on a homemade fixture, with a center "loop" of wire to slide over the center post.
 

DaveSignal

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Since they both connect to center post couldn't you just use 1 wire and make the coils after fed through or is it just more difficult and that's why they use 2?

Some people wrap coils like that. Its called a sleeper coil when a single wire is used. I usually wrap on a 2mm screwdriver before touching the atomizer though. I used to do sleepers, but you can get the same results with two separate wires as long as they are the same distance from the posts on either side and you screw them down correctly. It takes a bit longer to wrap perfect coils when trying to wrap around your screwdriver right there against the RDA deck.
 

lintz69

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Daves got the whole collection. [emoji13]
I definitely need to do a lot of research. I've found (tank not RDA) that the subohm has a wider mouthpiece than normal tanks and clearomizers. But what I notice and not sure if it's from the larger mouthpiece or because it's subohm I get a lot of fluid in the mouthpiece. So with rdas do you find different size tips or different ohm builds you get fluid in the tip?


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lintz69

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I have to be careful how I word this so I don't get another friendly warning. I'm not doing reviews now, but when I do, and when I get to RDAs I'll give a shout out of thanks to you guys and this forum. My expertise is everything Ecig except rdas. So I am fumbling my way through learning and experimenting. I feel you should be very experienced before doing reviews. Something I'm not yet on with RDAs. But I love learning and have 4 years in electronics engineering. So I'm picking it up quickly. Just learning lingo and differences and preferences.


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lintz69

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Cool. I wasn't sure of why to use RDA when tanks seem fine. But I do notice better flavor. Pain in the .... when traveling. Drove from poconos to Philadelphia 1.5 hours and wife's like I'm not filling that (blank) thing again. Lol so back to tanks I went.


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DaveSignal

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I actually drip and drive every day. I can do it without taking my hands off the steering wheel. Its really easy with a wide bore cap because you don't need to take the cap off.

RDAs are more customizable with the builds you can put in there and the airflow options. You can get a lot more flavor and a lot more vapor. You can switch flavors on a whim. You can change out the top caps. Many offer great build decks with enough airflow to try some really low resistance or unusual coil builds (as long as you are safe with your mod/batteries). And you can take it apart and try something new whenever you feel like it and don't have to think about what you are going to do with a tank of juice.
 

alicewonderland

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State, thank you very very much for the detailed differences. Some I'm not sure of, but at least I have things to google and understand more. I know ecigs, I know electricity fundamentals, but just needed a boost on RDA fundamentals. One other curiosity question. I had a vape shop show me making the dual coils. He used 2 wires. Since they both connect to center post couldn't you just use 1 wire and make the coils after fed through or is it just more difficult and that's why they use 2?

you could but that would be more time consuming and annoying, you cant get the leverage to wrap a nice tight uniform coil in that tiny space.
 

alicewonderland

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Getting a postless rda in tomorrow. Evil monk. Neat design, but hate the air flow chambers. $5 says either blocks the air flow from cotton or leaks like a well you get the idea.


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if that's gona be your first RDA, you're gonna have hell to deal with lol. Better start carrying a holster with tissues around with you.
 

Dale Freed

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LOL... I just started reading this thread and the way it is going, I am feeling better. I got the Mad Hatter RDA (still waiting on it to show up), flip top for traveling. I'll give you all a heads up when I get a chance to use it. I like a low temp vape. It seems that I have been getting a back of the throat splatter at higher wattages and it caused an infection. UGH. I've been sick for a week and can't shake it.

Anyone know if you can fit a drip tip on the Hatter... I suppose I will find out. I heard a lot of good reviews about it and the fact that I should be able to drip while driving without too much difficulty should be great.
 
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