Eleaf iStick "pico"
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My wife has 2 in rotation, and with the upcoming regs, thought it would be a good idea to get 2 more for her as backups, they won't be getting used, just put up in case one of the ones she is using now goes belly up.
She is not into vaping as hobby, so only uses 1 type of mod/tank, unlike me who has lots of different mods and tanks
Depending on your budget, stocking up on new, or your favorites mods is just smart thinking and planning ahead. Seems NO one knows what the FDA future will be. But looking around the world we see a war on vaping. Already banned in some countries.
I just got into DIY juice making, as having lots of great mods, will mean nothing if you can't get juice, without paying potential high black market prices someday. I HOPE it does not come down to it, but if you play "follow the money", it's not looking good.
WARNING "OLD SAYING":
"HOPE for the best, PREPARE for the WORSE"
I just got into DIY juice making, as having lots of great mods, will mean nothing if you can't get juice, without paying potential high black market prices someday. I HOPE it does not come down to it, but if you play "follow the money", it's not looking good.
WARNING "OLD SAYING":
"HOPE for the best, PREPARE for the WORSE"
I press the fire button thousands of times a week, how many clicks will it last, not millions. I try to minimize how often I work the 510 threads. I'm hoping a Pico or vtc mini will work for 2 years of continuous use. For a 10 year run that's 5 mods. But what if I'm wrong? What if there is a shelf life issue that can't be anticipated? So I'm going redundant. 5 Picos, 5 vtc minis. That's about $300, not a King's ransom. As long as we can buy stuff I'm sure I'll buy the occaisional mod that strikes my fancy and make sure there is enough of everything for 10 years starting when the axe falls. My best estimate is 10 years for me with redundant everything is well under $1000.
The Alleria doesn't fit on a Pico because of the knurling on the airflow control ring. A 23 mm Merlin fits on the Pico though.
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Great points. The BUTTON pressing, not going to last a lifetime, obviously. So alternating, mods, like shoes will increase their longevity. Folks just seem more concerned about the finish of these cheap mods, and granted I prefer a nice looking mod over a paint chipped one, but in the end, I'm sure we just want them to work when we press the button. While I've stocked up on these "cheap" mods, I do recommend getting one or two with DNA boards, 200w, 75w.
On most mods the buttons are connected directly to the board/chipset. So, since a Pico costs less then $30, and a DNA200 board/chipset ONLY (no mod) costs $80, one can hopefully assume those buttons lasting longer. Evolv boards made in the USA, better made? Only time will tell, but we may be running out of time!
You can assume the button mechanisms on the more expensive mods should last longer but that's just an assumption. In 2 years of continuous use the fire button will get hundreds of thousands of clicks. I can't think of another consumer device where that happens. There may be other compants related to the board that fatigue over time. Do we have an electronics person on the forum who might know about this? If I needed a new pico every year it would be no bother--unless they aren't on the market in 2 years.
Most if not all regulated mods use the same "type" of switch. They are called tactile switches. They may be of varying quality though.
Tactile switches are mounted (soldered) on the circuit board. They activate a mosfet device using a small amount of power.
This is a pic of a tactile switch.
Here is a circuit board with tactile switches on it.
Tactile switches are mounted (soldered) on the circuit board. They activate a mosfet device using a small amount of power.
This is a pic of a tactile switch.
Here is a circuit board with tactile switches on it.
Indeed, that's why I used the word "assume". You can also assume to keep the costs down, a $30 and below Chinese mod MAY be using CHEAPER button mechanisms. NO electronics expert is going to be able to say, one way or the other. For all we know, Evolv could be sourcing their button mechanisms from the same Chinese factory as all the others. I think, again, it's best to say: ONLY TIME WILL TELL!
But TIME may be running OUT?
So stock up with. Whatever devices you want to put your faith in. I've got plenty of cheaper, disposable Chinese mods now, and a few Evolv DNA's, which I believe will last longer then the ones I have that cost 75% less. Of course if you don't have the funds, then it's a mute point.
The military faces this trade off all the time. For stockpiling, will a $100 evolv mod last as long as 4 picos? I'm putting my bet on the 4 picos. I could be wrong. I'm going to stockpile the picos and vtwo minis but I want an evolv product if they are still available when I'm done stockpiling. I won't be buyng 10 of them.
Lucky for me I use only one atomizer, the SV rda clone from FT. 10 of those are $90 and I bet one will last 10 years. I'm really ...... off at the government for doing this to us.
Thank you kindly for the reply. That sucks, but better to find out now!
Per the DNA boards, I know the old ones had a tactile switch AND a place to wire in an additional switch outboard. Meaning you could replace the switch with a $2-3 Radio Shack special. I'm not sure the 200w board has that, but I don't see them really changing from that either.
Me? I'll stockpile both. I'm on a DNA 200 kick right now, but those little Picos are a good deal for the money. I ordered some wraps to dress them up, but will probably add a brushed silver one as well. My favorite $40 mod right now is the CF IV 18650 that takes a replaceable battery. Nice size, good performance, and a bit of future proofing with the 18650s. Even comes with a little travel carrying case I thought was a waste, but worked out well for a recent trip.
Disclaimer to the following statement I am not an electronics expert and the following response to how long a board can last came from my techy SO who builds computers at work and robotics in his spare time.
In general computer chips including mother boards typically last longer than than it takes for the technology becomes obsolete. A properly maintained board could last over 20 years and with typical use one should last well over 5 years unless the board is overheated or damaged by drops or other rough treatment.
All his words not mine. So given that I'd expect the buttons to give out before the board. Though I don't know if a board in a mod would consitute typical use nor what one would need to do to properly maintain a board. So take all of this with a grain of salt
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Thankfully for me I am able to afford all the options you mentioned. This looming FDA BS has cost me more then double what I may have spent. I find myself buying the newest mods that appeal to me like the new SMY DNA75. Once I determine I like it, I then feel compelled to get one or two more. I would have no reason to hoard like this if these deeming regs were not an issue. It's also forced me into DIY, making my own juice, otherwise all these mods may become useless.
I know you like your Pico's, I have 4 now. But consider the SMY DNA75, I bought and tested one, then just ordered two more. You already have the 18650 batteries. It's $65 on FastTech, a great deal for a real DNA mod, and only a bit taller then a Pico. Enjoy!
I just checked the DNA 200 spec sheet and on the pin out it shows pin one + fire and pin 2 - fire, so you can replace the switch/put in a new one if you choose to.
Replaceable parts on better made and more expensive mods is another good argument for the points I was trying to make. You are not going to find replaceable boards for Pico's!
This of course assumes folks are handy enough to do the repairs, or know someone that can. But unfortunately it also means are companies like Evolv still going to be in business?
I know many have bought spare DNA boards, I have not, just spare LIPO packs. So if it gets as bad as I suspect, and my DNA board fails, I'll be screwed. Guess I'm going to have to give that some thought. DNA boards cost 2-3x what my cheap mods cost in total. Insurance is a GOOD thing though.
That may be true of other mods including the Pico. The button switch must be soldered to the board. It's replacable in theory. May be the challenge would be sourcing the replacement switch.
Me too but when I try to think longer than 10 years or going from double to triple redundancy it starts to feel eccentric if not neurotic. For me the hobby part is learning how to have a quality vape for an amount that any smoker in any third world country could duplicate for less than his cost of smoking. I'm trying to look at stockpiling the same way. I want to be a good example and not just throw money at the problem.
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