This, so true. And likewise, if the new de facto standard does become 40+ watts, that will leave many of us out in the cold, as you noted. I am holding on to my kartos, yes I am. Even with bricks of them stashed away, I ordered more today.
Our purchases DO create the future markets. I only ask (plead) for a fair shake at some of the older tech, and low wattage vape.
As you so wisely pointed out, there is a cost to this new tech. And that's pretty high in some respects. I don't look forward to carrying around 2 or 3 18650 batts. That's looking quite backwards to me.
What is the YiHi board? How does that work? Talk to me like I'm 5.
For many years now, certain APVs have been designed to use 7.4V, which are comprised of two 3.7V cells in series. These mods include:
VAMOs & ZAMXs with two 18350s, "stacked" in series. These devices are only capable of 15W on a single cell. With two cells in series, they're capable of 30W.
Box mods designed with GE's Naos Raptor chipsets, Murata's OKR chipsets and some with Texas Instruments' POLA chipsets. These box mods have traditionally been run with two 18650s in series. The lowest of these push 50-60W.
In all the above cases, the batteries need to be removed from the mod to charge. There was no elegant/easy/safe way to charge the batteries inside the mod. These battery pairs also needed extra attention from the user in the way they're charged, discharged, rotated, etc.
Li-Po batteries have been available in 2-cell, 7.4V packs for many years now. They have two wired connectors. One that provides 7.4V to the device it's running. The other that allows a special "balancing" charger to monitor and charge each individual cell separately. No internal charging option has been available until now.
YiHi has released two chipsets that need to run on 7.4V sources to reach maximum output; the 100W SX350 & 60/120W SX350 Mini. YiHi has also released a balancing charger to provide an elegant, internal solution to charge internal Li-Po batteries.
I was wrong in stating the board utilizes 5V USB power. It requires a 9V, 1A power supply.
YiHi 9V Balancing Charger Board
Why is this important?
In the new age of sub-ohm clearomizers requiring 20-40W to run them, we will need better battery life/efficiency. We know that Li-Po batteries outperform our usual cylindrical Li-Ion batteries in almost every way. Simply look to our iSticks for a good example. Li-Pos are cheaper, lighter and have almost twice the number of charging cycles too!
For example: Using my VAMOv3 and my Erlkonigin @ 12-15W, I go through almost two 2900mAh 18650s in a day. My VAMO box mod has a 7.4V, 1600mAh internal Li-Po. Using the same Erlkonigin @ 12-15W, it lasts me more than a day before needing to be recharged. Both utilize the same chipset. The only difference is the power supply.
I can go into the physics and math for why this is. But to put it simply, running 7.4V dramatically increases efficiency. Add to this the advantages of Li-Po batteries. Whether we're vaping at 12W or 50W, our batteries last much longer between charging.
Sorry. That was closer to an 8th grade level...
