Does vaping at a low wattage offer the same benefit as temp control?

[zoiDman]

No I didn't and your point is taken. My point was I get confused trying to figure out the internals of all these fancy new regulated mods. I've not done any real electronics work. Might have played around a little here and there with some transistor radios, nothing I would deem apt to qualify myself to feel confident enough to operate on and repair effectively new regulated mods.

Most people just use a Regulated mod in RITID (run it till it drops) mode. And when it does, they say a Few Words, and then chuck it in the Recycling Bin.

I used a Mech Squonker for Long time. Loved it for the Simplicity of a Mech. But when I found a Regulated Squonker that was the same size, my Old Favorite got relegated to the Not Used much more drawer.

If the Whole US e-Cigarette market went sideways and I could Never buy another Squonker, and ALL my Regulated Squonkers died, I still have my Mechs. But it would be Hard to go back to a Mech after having used a Regulated Mod.

VW is (to me) like a 46" LED Flat Screen. Whereas a Mech is kinda like a 21" Tube TV.

But that's just Me.

 

[Punk In Drublic]

No I didn't and your point is taken. My point was I get confused trying to figure out the internals of all these fancy new regulated mods. I've not done any real electronics work. Might have played around a little here and there with some transistor radios, nothing I would deem apt to qualify myself to feel confident enough to operate on and repair effectively new regulated mods.

Just having a little fun . I understand the attraction to something more simple such as a mech. And correct that its simplicity means less likelihood of a device failure, which if that did occur, could also mean a easier repair. I just thought it was comical making such a statement of a regulated device due to its complexity was made on a computer that is soooo much more complex.

I do hold an engineering degree in communications – what ever that is worth (thanks Nortel!!). However, I am not a mechanic and any attempts at trying to fix my car would be limited to jiggling a wire or 2. But my knowledge, or lack of, automobiles does not prevent me from appreciating the value they bring, despite their complexity.

Also enjoy using a mech – nice, simple and easy to use assuming one has the knowledge to use them properly. But I also enjoy a regulated device that allows a level of detail and control that is not offered with a mech. I want to vape my preferred mesh coil that is 0.13 ohms at 50 watts. I can do so. There is a compromise – trade simplicity for a level of detail. Guess such compromises need to be of value to an individual.

 

[Electrodave]

Mechs can be a joy if you just match your load to the experience that you want. Which is the rub. Most people don't have Ohm's Law tatooed to the inside of their eyelids. But for me, I'm cool with whatever happens between 1.2 and 2.0ohms at 3.5-4.2V. This is the voltage range where most coil heads will be at their most efficient. Rare to get gurgles or dry hits. Want it hotter, denser, stickier? Just go down to .5 or .2--I know folks go a lot lower than that, but I cringe sometimes when I do the math...

Pass-through devices/protected mechs were the first mods. It was a big deal when the Spinner came out. But with the old pass-through devices, the manufacturer was doing the load matching for you.

 

[Rossum]

If the Whole US e-Cigarette market went sideways and I could Never buy another Squonker, and ALL my Regulated Squonkers died, I still have my Mechs. But it would be Hard to go back to a Mech after having used a Regulated Mod.

I found that not to be the case. I used regulated squonkers for about a year and half. I built them, because at the time, nobody was selling such a thing:

Since I built them myself, I could certainly fix them if they failed. In fact to this day, I still have a drawer full of spare DNA30 and DNA40 boards. But when the board in my ADV mod failed, I didn't have time to futz with it right then, so I grabbed a mech as my temporary ADV instead, figuring I'd fix the regulated mod sooner or later. Well here we are 3-1/2 years later and I still haven't gotten around to fixing that mod, because for me, a mech provides just as good a vape.

Oh, and a mech doesn't do stupid stuff like believing it has a stuck UP button, when there's nothing wrong with that button!

 

[zoiDman]

I found that not to be the case. I used regulated squonkers for about a year and half. I built them, because at the time, nobody was selling such a thing:

Since I built them myself, I could certainly fix them if they failed. In fact to this day, I still have a drawer full of spare DNA30 and DNA40 boards. But when the board in my ADV mod failed, I didn't have time to futz with it right then, so I grabbed a mech as my temporary ADV instead, figuring I'd fix the regulated mod sooner or later. Well here we are 3-1/2 years later and I still haven't gotten around to fixing that mod, because for me, a mech provides just as good a vape.

Oh, and a mech doesn't do stupid stuff like believing it has a stuck UP button, when there's nothing wrong with that button!

If I Really had to, I could Make/Remake a Regulated Mod. Because I can make 3D Printer STL files. And can Code for CNC Mills/Lathes.

I also have a Drawer full of Boards and 510 Connectors and Misc Odds n' Ends.

But the Gist of what I was trying to say is one Doesn't need to know how a Regulated Mod works (or How to Fix a Regulated Mod if one goes Belly Up) to enjoy a Regulated Mod. Just RITID.

Nothing Wrong with a Mech Mod. As long as one is Vigilant about Build Amps, Battery CDR's, etc. I would just Hate to see anyone Not try a Regulated Mod for fear that is it Broke, the wouldn't be able to Fix It.

 

[ShamrockPat]

engineering degree in communications – what ever that is worth (thanks Nortel!!)

Loved me those DMS 100's, but Nortel cost me a new Motorbike. Did you work out of the City in Brampton?

 

[Punk In Drublic]

Loved me those DMS 100's, but Nortel cost me a new Motorbike. Did you work out of the City in Brampton?

No, but been to the main Nortel site in Brampton a number of times – quite impressive for back in the day. I was in implementation and repair through various interconnects before securing an onsite position with a large corporation - 60k+ lines with multiple Meridian switches

Ya, Nortel really screwed the pooch. Vividly remember their stock dive crashing the TSE in early 2000’s. Their fate was paved after that. We eventually migrated over to Cisco to which I also hold a few certifications but not at an engineering level. You worked in the industry?

 

[Rossum]

Nothing Wrong with a Mech Mod. As long as one is Vigilant about Build Amps, Battery CDR's, etc.

That's not hard if you're barely above tootle-puffer territory like me. I run single coil builds around 0.75 and duals at 0.5. In theory, I could use 10A battery, but I don't.

NI would just Hate to see anyone Not try a Regulated Mod for fear that is it Broke, the wouldn't be able to Fix It.

Sure, fixing them is entirely practical if a person has spare boards. But trouble-shooting a modern regulator board to the component level, without schematics and a thorough understanding of switch-mode regulator operation, has a low chance of success.

 

[zoiDman]

...

Sure, fixing them is entirely practical if a person has spare boards. But trouble-shooting a modern regulator board to the component level, without schematics and a thorough understanding of switch-mode regulator operation, has a low chance of success.

Yeah... It is kinda just a Yank and Replace the whole board type thing.

Of the Few Regulated Mods that I have owned (and that is A Lot) that have Died, just about Every One of them's failure had to do with a Button Actuator.

 

[ShamrockPat]

Nortel site in Brampton a number of times – quite impressive for back in the day. .............. Vividly remember their stock dive crashing the TSE in early 2000’s

The Brampton site was known as the City. I still have a computer shoulder bag with it. Wifey was in IT there, while I was at clearnet in Engineering. We had 2 DMS 100's.

 

[Punk In Drublic]

The Brampton site was known as the City. I still have a computer shoulder bag with it. Wifey was in IT there, while I was at clearnet in Engineering. We had 2 DMS 100's.

Yes, the City. Hopefully your wife was able to get out unscathed. I didn’t follow the demise in much detail but heard many got screwed.

 

[HigherStateD]

I love my mech. It's my go to vape-a-geddeon piece. I used it a few times at 0.(none of your business) Ohm with a molicel 20700a version 1.3. Things like what happened to the kid in Utah do worry me though. _I_ have the same reverence for my mech as I do a firearm. I just wish more people understood what happens to things when forcing them through a restriction smaller than a percentage of a unit of measurement used in calculation of the restriction. You know, Ohm's law?

 

[DPLongo22]

If I somehow manage to run through all the rather fine regulated mods I have very purposefully acquired and stored, it would be a very clear sign that the powers of the universe have decided that I am to return to smoking.

Based on the experiences of years 1-8, such a scenario would require significantly altering numerous laws of physics that we humans have come to hold as gospel. If it turns out that I'm wrong, pass me the Marlboros and (please) get out of the way.

 

[DarrenMG]

I don't bother with TC when using tanks because I can see the juice level is running low well in advance of running dry, but for my opaque RDA drip tanks, TC mode is my preference. On the negative side, TC mode has been iffy for me on all but my DNA 250 mod. Slow ramp up times, overshoots resulting a partial dry hit, a sense of inconsistent performance. Even my rather expensive YiHi Q Class with SX450J chipset has flaky temp control for me (plus it has developed a commonly reported annoying buzz in TC mode). So I just ended up buying another DNA mod (hey, it's a good excuse to get a 250c mod ).

Temp control is not the same as running low wattage, but bad temp control is worse than no temp control.

 

[airidosas252]

Mechs can be a joy if you just match your load to the experience that you want. Which is the rub. Most people don't have Ohm's Law tatooed to the inside of their eyelids. But for me, I'm cool with whatever happens between 1.2 and 2.0ohms at 3.5-4.2V. This is the voltage range where most coil heads will be at their most efficient. Rare to get gurgles or dry hits. Want it hotter, denser, stickier? Just go down to .5 or .2--I know folks go a lot lower than that, but I cringe sometimes when I do the math...

Pass-through devices/protected mechs were the first mods. It was a big deal when the Spinner came out. But with the old pass-through devices, the manufacturer was doing the load matching for you.

This is why I hate mechs in general - I don't ever get the experience out of it I want, whether it's heat, rampup or flavor. Too many variables.
I'm not worried about safety, though - I've rebuilt dozens of mechs over my life (working in e-cig store definitely helps here) and well... I believe one build for a customer (stacked mech with Drop RDA on top of it) was satisfying for me, as well as for him, all other times it was only for customer that the build was good.
This is why I stay away from mechs. It's just pain to find right build.

 

[Rossum]

bad temp control is worse than no temp control.

This. And it isn't entirely a function of the board or the algorithms. An even slightly dodgy connection anywhere between the board and your coil will screw the pooch.

 

[mikepetro]

This. And it isn't entirely a function of the board or the algorithms. An even slightly dodgy connection anywhere between the board and your coil will screw the pooch.

Agreed, but nonetheless, I still prefer DNAs in TC mode with TI coils. I get a repeatable and satisfying experience as long as I do my part right on the build. With a Mech, the whole voltage drop thing seems to get me. I get a good experience for the first part of a battery then it gradually goes downhill on me. That being said, I do have a mech or two in my vapocolypse stash.

Its all on what you are used to I guess, to each their own vape.

 

[HigherStateD]

Agreed, but nonetheless, I still prefer DNAs in TC mode with TI coils. I get a repeatable and satisfying experience as long as I do my part right on the build. With a Mech, the whole voltage drop thing seems to get me. I get a good experience for the first part of a battery then it gradually goes downhill on me. That being said, I do have a mech or two in my vapocolypse stash.

Its all on what you are used to I guess, to each their own vape.

That really depends on how the mech is set up. If you ask a single cell to deliver, say, 90w, it's going to fall off substantially as the voltage declines.
Ask a single cell to deliver 60w, and as I vape, I get more useable time off a charge. The difference between 4.11v and 3.89v feels less dramatic to me, and I can design the coil a little hot at first, and close the air slightly right before switching. Using SS316, I also get less increase in resistance as voltage drops too

My question is, if a mod is monitoring resistance constantly, to prevent a short, do some mods increase voltage when in Wattage mode IF using a high TCR wire, like Ni or Ti? I only have SS, so have a hard time testing this myself.

 

[Rossum]

With a Mech, the whole voltage drop thing seems to get me. I get a good experience for the first part of a battery then it gradually goes downhill on me.

There's certainly some truth to that. I recently got a proper battery analyzer in order to explore some battery-related questions that I've not been able to find good answers to. Based on the discharge curves I'm seeing, I'm generally only using the top 1/3 of the capacity of my cells. That's OK though because I only swap batteries in my ADV mod once a day, and less frequently than that in all my other mods.

 

[mikepetro]

That really depends on how the mech is set up. If you ask a single cell to deliver, say, 90w, it's going to fall off substantially as the voltage declines.
Ask a single cell to deliver 60w, and as I vape, I get more useable time off a charge. The difference between 4.11v and 3.89v feels less dramatic to me, and I can design the coil a little hot at first, and close the air slightly right before switching. Using SS316, I also get less increase in resistance as voltage drops too

My question is, if a mod is monitoring resistance constantly, to prevent a short, do some mods increase voltage when in Wattage mode IF using a high TCR wire, like Ni or Ti? I only have SS, so have a hard time testing this myself.

Yes, some boards will increase voltage as the coil increases in resistance to maintain a fixed wattage. Really, that would just be doing its job in VW mode.

For example, on this DNA, notice as the live ohms increased - so did the voltage, but the watts remained stable. Cold ohms started at 0.16 and ended at 0.291, voltage started at 3.21 and ended at 3.61