Ego Vs. Mod

[fretplayer20]

I currently have an eGo setup that I am very happy with: eGo twist 1000 mAh with a Kanger EVOD clearomizer. I am very satisfied, but i'm wondering how much better it can be, so i'm looking into the mod realm.

Does anyone have experience with moving to mods from a similar setup?

-Better vapor production?
-Longer battery life?
-Less burnt hits?
-Build quality?

Any information would be beyond helpful!

 

[Deepfried]

The main advantge imo is the fact that a mech mod wont fail. No circuit boards etc.

 

[Dripaholic]

I did a move from an Ego-Twist to the Sigelei ZMax V3 to the K100
Honestly it comes down to what do you want
I honestly didn't mind the size differece
With my Sigelei which is a VV/VW (variable voltage/variable wattage) device with an LCD screen it gave me the control to set the device at whatever I wanted
The Sigelei wasn't my stopping point it was more of an introduction to mods for me
I wanted to produce a lot of vapor and to enjoy vaping
So after having my VV/VW for 4-5 months I bought my first mechanical mod Kamry K100
The K100 was highly reviewed and for only $35 was a great buy, known as the "beginners mech mod"

That's just mod wise for myself, tank wise
For my Ego I started with a Kangertech T3, then Vivi Nova(didn't like)
For my Sigelei I had a Protank 2 and was absolutely in love with it, good air flow, which is important for vapor production
For my K100 I got an Igo-W, "beginners RDA(rebuildable drippind atomizer), and this is the setup I've been dreaming of
But be warned Mechanical Mods and Rebuildables are not to be toyed with and you need to know you facts about them

 

[OlDogNewTricks]

Experience is the way to the best vape. Sports cars will get you there fast, but can kill you if you don't know how to drive them. Please make sure to do through research before you start grabbing stuff that other people say is awesome. You can injure yourself playing with more extreme things. You need to be conscious of battery safety and atomizer resistance if you are going to use mods. Regulated devices are 'safer'. Gotta shut up now, sounding like my Mother. Good luck and have fun!

 

[vapero]

as dripaholic I went from an ego twist to a zmax v3 and now venturing into the mechs as well, just built my first.

for me there was a huge difference between the ego and a zmax v3 much better vape, VW is a great feature to have being able to change the batteries check the resistance of the coils while building and know how much bat you have left
overall is much better. now mechs are a whole new animal but can't say much as I'm just soaking my feet now

 

[Dripaholic]

Piggy back on OlDog on this one, VV/VW is much safer because the electronic compents only allow so much of the batteries power through the device
There is a reason why on every post about Mechanical Mods people say BE CAREFUL, I did a good two weeks of reasearch into a mechanical mod, the RDA, the ohm reader, the wire, the wick, the charger, and the correct batteries to use. Take the time to become educated and not to jump the gun, happy vaping!

 

[gotch23]

Hi fretplayer,

i understand that you are satisfied with your setup. It's a real good one.
If you are looking for more juice and battery capacity, look into a setup-like the mvp2 (or a vv-tube mod like the vamo)
with a ProTank II. This will also give you better vapor production, since these allow higher wattages.

If you shell out for a provari, you will get supreme build quality, durability and accuracy in addition...
and service.

Less burnt hits... hmmm... i think the evod/protank is already really good in that respect...
Maybe drip into debridged 510/306 atomizer? Or... go down the route of RBAs? You can
do different setups to suit your taste, eg. using steel-mesh.

What brings me to mechanical mods. These are beautiful and fun and a whole world on its own.
I really like them, but I think they are mainly an enthusiast-thing. You really need to know what you are doing,
especially combined with a RBA, to make it work right and even more importantly... to stay safe.

 

[Stosh]

You said you were looking for:

-Better vapor production?
Vapor depends on a balance of heat and juice. You need a good electrical supply, and a "topper" atty, carto, etc that delivers juice at a consistent rate. An ego will do this reasonably well, there are bigger that are not always better.

-Longer battery life?
This is where a mod will shine! A mod with a good quality 18650 has to last longer. If you can't get at least most of a day out of one, you really need to put it down once in a while...

-Less burnt hits?
No, BUT with a VV, variable voltage mod you can turn the volts down, one of the main reasons for burnt hits. VV is like cooking on your stove, if you always turn the light up to max, you can burn water...

-Build quality?
Maybe, depends on what mods you're looking at, there are some very nice ones. That said I have a 650-mah ego battery that still holds a charge very well, vapes nicely, and it's only a bit over 3 years old. I had two other ego's of the same age that I destroyed by my own misuse, stupidity. I've owned mods, VV and straight mech, store bought and homemade. The vapor produced depended mostly on the "topper" I stick on them, and the juice I'm using.

If you're looking for a cheap way to try something different, anything different, 'cause everyone is buying ____ (fill in the blank) and it's just so OOHHHHH SHINEY!!!! Resist the impulse, and check some of the "Bargain Bins" on the vendors sites, look for some 306 or 510 atomizers / attys, and try dripping at home. They're cheap these days, vape very well, and are a fun change.

Shopping around the "Bargain Bins" will give you a chance to also see some of the simple mods available, read some reviews, check prices from different vendors, basically window shop a bit.

 

[FaustKnight]

-Better vapor production? Depending on your tank/atty, but steady voltage = better vaping
-Longer battery life? Yes!
-Less burnt hits? Depends on how you drip/maintain/etc
-Build quality? Depends on what you buy.

I went from eGos to a Provari, and I have to say that's when I went from "quitting smoking" to a full on vape hobby.

 

[n13t2]

I went from an ego to an itaste vv and for me, it's much better. As soon as things start tasting a little burnt, I turn the voltage down for a few puffs. I feel that my vape is noticeably better on my mod than on my standard evo batteries.

 

[dice57]

there are 2 ingredients to spectacular vapping. One is the battery device. Having a Variable power source gives one the benefit of fine tuning their "sweet spot" for the juice they are vapping. It also gives one more options on the atty that they can use. Having a pvd that has a built in ohm meter is a plus, especially if you start to do rba's. Which brings us to the 2nd ingredient for spectacular vapping, the atomizer. No matter how good or expensive of a battery devise you have, you are limited by the atomizer you are using to cook your juice. If all you are interested is using a protank or a clearo or preassembled atomizer it's not going to be all that much better on a variable wattage/votage device. Sure you can dial in the sweet spot, but one will go, "I don't get it, this isn't much better than my ego!!" It's not until you step into re-buildable atomizers, rba's, that you will experience the thick juicy clouds of vape. IMHO. Then one can look at micro, nano, genesis, dragon builds and truly appreciate what is possible.

But this doesn't happen overnight. You can't just buy a Provari and a Kayfun or genesis rba, and expect the Vape of god to shower your room. Though I find builds fairly easy now, it took some time, practice and dumb luck and lots and lots of research to find my build, to get to "Now I get it". And I'm still learning every day with the latest "you have to try my Excalibur build" thread.

Personally my pvd consists of a Provari with The Russian rba, sporting the Volcanic Dragon nano build. And am loving it. I started with a cigalike, went to and ego with a PT, and then joined Club Provari. That is when I started looking into rba's and then DIY juice. One has to find their own pvd, through thorough search, comparisons, research and trial and error. Find what makes sense to you and what looks lke something within your skill set and capabilities. And above all learn and enjoy!!

Vape long and Prosper!!

 

[Baditude]

The following blog discusses this very subject: Advancing Up the Vaping Ladder from Ego's to Mods

From my perspective, I recommend going from an Ego to a Regulated Mod. You will have the benefits of adjustable voltage, as well as the protective circuitry of the micro computer which can protect you from shorts which can be dangerous. Today's Regulated Mods are more durable than what the Mechanical fanboys say, especially if you get a Provari. A much wiser step up for newer vapors than a Mechanical Mod in my opinion.

Mechanical Mods are simply a metal tube battery holder, a switch, and a juice attachment connector. They provide no built-in protections like a Regulated Mod has. So, YOU the user become the "safety feature" if you use a Mech. You must add either a Vape Safe Mod Fuse or a Kick, which essentially turns a Mechanical Mod into a Regulated Mod, so why not save the money and get that in the first place?

Mechanical Mod Proper Usage Guide

Whichever you choose, you'll need to purchase the highest quality charger and batteries you can afford. These batteries are powerful and potentially dangerous. Learn the different battery chemistries and which battery is recommended for your application. Do not skimp on either batteries or the charger.

Battery Basics for Mods: IMR or Protected?

Rebuildable Atomizers are an advanced juice attachment. Please do your homework before using one of these.

RBA Resource Guide



Provari regulated mods, Silver Bullet mechanical mod, Silver Bullet with a Kick on top of the battery
(click to enlarge images)

 

[fretplayer20]

Sound advice. I just recently realized how much is really involved in getting into the mod world. I'll be doing a great deal of research before moving into that arena for sure. Thanks!

 

[fretplayer20]

there are 2 ingredients to spectacular vapping. One is the battery device. Having a Variable power source gives one the benefit of fine tuning their "sweet spot" for the juice they are vapping. It also gives one more options on the atty that they can use. Having a pvd that has a built in ohm meter is a plus, especially if you start to do rba's. Which brings us to the 2nd ingredient for spectacular vapping, the atomizer. No matter how good or expensive of a battery devise you have, you are limited by the atomizer you are using to cook your juice. If all you are interested is using a protank or a clearo or preassembled atomizer it's not going to be all that much better on a variable wattage/votage device. Sure you can dial in the sweet spot, but one will go, "I don't get it, this isn't much better than my ego!!" It's not until you step into re-buildable atomizers, rba's, that you will experience the thick juicy clouds of vape. IMHO. Then one can look at micro, nano, genesis, dragon builds and truly appreciate what is possible.

But this doesn't happen overnight. You can't just buy a Provari and a Kayfun or genesis rba, and expect the Vape of god to shower your room. Though I find builds fairly easy now, it took some time, practice and dumb luck and lots and lots of research to find my build, to get to "Now I get it". And I'm still learning every day with the latest "you have to try my Excalibur build" thread.

Personally my pvd consists of a Provari with The Russian rba, sporting the Volcanic Dragon nano build. And am loving it. I started with a cigalike, went to and ego with a PT, and then joined Club Provari. That is when I started looking into rba's and then DIY juice. One has to find their own pvd, through thorough search, comparisons, research and trial and error. Find what makes sense to you and what looks lke something within your skill set and capabilities. And above all learn and enjoy!!

Vape long and Prosper!!

Thank you for dropping that thread in my lap. Looks like a place to learn a ton about all of this!

 

[fretplayer20]

You said you were looking for:

-Better vapor production?
Vapor depends on a balance of heat and juice. You need a good electrical supply, and a "topper" atty, carto, etc that delivers juice at a consistent rate. An ego will do this reasonably well, there are bigger that are not always better.

-Longer battery life?
This is where a mod will shine! A mod with a good quality 18650 has to last longer. If you can't get at least most of a day out of one, you really need to put it down once in a while...

-Less burnt hits?
No, BUT with a VV, variable voltage mod you can turn the volts down, one of the main reasons for burnt hits. VV is like cooking on your stove, if you always turn the light up to max, you can burn water...

-Build quality?
Maybe, depends on what mods you're looking at, there are some very nice ones. That said I have a 650-mah ego battery that still holds a charge very well, vapes nicely, and it's only a bit over 3 years old. I had two other ego's of the same age that I destroyed by my own misuse, stupidity. I've owned mods, VV and straight mech, store bought and homemade. The vapor produced depended mostly on the "topper" I stick on them, and the juice I'm using.

If you're looking for a cheap way to try something different, anything different, 'cause everyone is buying ____ (fill in the blank) and it's just so OOHHHHH SHINEY!!!! Resist the impulse, and check some of the "Bargain Bins" on the vendors sites, look for some 306 or 510 atomizers / attys, and try dripping at home. They're cheap these days, vape very well, and are a fun change.

Shopping around the "Bargain Bins" will give you a chance to also see some of the simple mods available, read some reviews, check prices from different vendors, basically window shop a bit.

LOL @ put it down once in a while. This is exactly the reason I think I need something more. Regardless of the wicking strategy I have been using on these "mini" or ego style attys, I can't seem to be able to take big 3-5 second puffs back to back higher than 4 volts without a burnt taste, even with a 2.8 ohm coil installed. It seems like the amount of material available inside of that coil head just doesn't have enough of a reserve for it to not have to wait for the juice to crawl back in. So, the point you made there is exactly what I am trying to avoid with my current setup. Thanks for the info.

 

[bwilliams]

I went from an ego to a regulated mod then did my homework and went full mechanical and rba atty.

 

[dice57]

LOL @ put it down once in a while. This is exactly the reason I think I need something more. Regardless of the wicking strategy I have been using on these "mini" or ego style attys, I can't seem to be able to take big 3-5 second puffs back to back higher than 4 volts without a burnt taste, even with a 2.8 ohm coil installed. It seems like the amount of material available inside of that coil head just doesn't have enough of a reserve for it to not have to wait for the juice to crawl back in. So, the point you made there is exactly what I am trying to avoid with my current setup. Thanks for the info.

a 2.8 ohm coil at 4 volts is only 5.71 watts, that's like barely cooking should be a cool thin vape. I am vapping at ~15 watts and loving it. With any Kanger atty, you must let a new coil head soak for a bit before taking the first vape. When I used a kanger pt, I always let the wick saturate for about 15 minutes before vapping. When I did this I never had a problem at all. Also, don't over tighten a kanger, over tightening can bend the coil wires creating hot spots and shorts. A kanger should be able to almost hit 10 watts before experimenting wicking derogation.

Dry hits are caused by lack of juice in wicks, they taste burnt and hot and nasty. Also hot spots will create dry hits because one part of the coil is much hotter, drying out part of the wick and burning it, basically. I would check out the Aspire Vivi Nova BCD tank. It is supposed to rock. Probably the best you can get with out going rba.

 

[bussdriver]

I've been using an ego battery and reading about mods on here. Ordered me an Innokin 134 today. That thing looks like it ought to keep any of my unruly riders at bay!

 

[fretplayer20]

a 2.8 ohm coil at 4 volts is only 5.71 watts, that's like barely cooking should be a cool thin vape. I am vapping at ~15 watts and loving it. With any Kanger atty, you must let a new coil head soak for a bit before taking the first vape. When I used a kanger pt, I always let the wick saturate for about 15 minutes before vapping. When I did this I never had a problem at all. Also, don't over tighten a kanger, over tightening can bend the coil wires creating hot spots and shorts. A kanger should be able to almost hit 10 watts before experimenting wicking derogation.

Dry hits are caused by lack of juice in wicks, they taste burnt and hot and nasty. Also hot spots will create dry hits because one part of the coil is much hotter, drying out part of the wick and burning it, basically. I would check out the Aspire Vivi Nova BCD tank. It is supposed to rock. Probably the best you can get with out going rba.

I am about to go to the store and grab a Kanger ProTank II. I read somewhere that people are calling it the iPhone of the e-cig world. Nothing wrong with that. That means it works. (maybe). Anyway, I did some research and think that will be my next stepping stone. I've tried them out with my Twist and they seemed to hold up well with about 4.6 volts+. I will definitely let it soak in for a good while before burning it. After reading your post and a couple other similar, I realized that with my current EVOD heads, I was excited and went right from filling to vaping. Probably not the best idea. Current head is working fine for the time being, so i'll probably use it until next weekend when I can get around to the PT2.

Thanks!