ePower, other 18650 mods and mechanical switches

[SubSplat]

I ordered an ePower (still in the mail), but I've been reading that some models have issues with the switch/button being flimsy and dying very quickly. I'm hoping the model I got will work out alright. But just in case it has issues like that, I've started looking around for other 18650 tube mods that might be more reliable. So far, I've found these:

- Indulgence
- The Bolt
- Gold Rush
- Torpedo

Any opinions on how those compare to each other? Or suggestions for other ones?

I'm looking for something that's robust/reliable, uses 18650 batteries, has the switch on the side (rather than top), and is in the $50 or lower price range (for just a bare bones model, not a full kit). Would prefer if it supported eGo and not just 510, but as long as it'll work with an adapter that's fine too.

Also, what practical differences are there between electrical and mechanical switches? I'm guessing the mechanical ones will last longer? What's their drawback then? Safety? If a carto leaks while the switch is activated, wouldn't the immediately kill the battery, or worse?

 

[madjack]

...if the E-Power you ordered has a hard plastic, blue button(w/wo 5click off feature) you should be good to go...the white switches have reported problems with attys/cartos under 2ohms...most electronic switches feature regulation(3.7v for the E-P) while mechanical switches are not...mechanical switched mods can often take various combinations of batts to do higher voltage vaping(5, 6, 7.4)...virtually all of these units feature sealed atty/carto connectors and leaking should not be an issue unless there is a sudden torrent of juice flowing all over the place...having not used any of the others, I won't comment BUT, if I were looking for a mechanical mod, I would highly consider the Bolt for its side button and the RoughStack for it's versatility.........
madjack

 

[dormouse]

If you go to browse by feature you can search just mods with 18650 batteries
Best e-Cig Mod List | e-Cig Mods Database

Then you could come back here or ask the vendor if their are mechanical switch.

 

[mynameisrob]

Did you get a 14650 E-Power or 18650? And where did you get it from?

The older 18650 switches had all kinds of problems and vendors stopped carrying them bc of it, but there is a newer 18650 that was completely redone. I havent used one but have heard the switch is alot better. Not many vendors carry the new one though and I can only think of one that does off the top of my head.

I have a 14650 E-power and have been using in for months on end and all my original parts including the switch still works flawlessly. A new switch is available that has a 5-click on/off feature like the white LED switch had, but fixes all the issue the white LED switch has and will work with 1.5ohms and up.

A mechanical switch is nice obviously bc theres no electrical parts that could fail.
I would check out the Bolt. Its like the Roughstack, but with better button placement. It does take an 18500 battery, but there is an extender that you can buy which will then allow you to use an 18650 battery and also different combinations of batteries for higher voltages.
Crystal Clear Vaping has the Bolt for only $37.50 which is the cheapest I know of. They dont have the extender piece yet but will have it soon for sale.

 

[TommyG]

I believe the switches with the white button have a safety circuit that wont allow the unit to power on with a load that is under 2ohms, while not a terrible problem for some, others find this undesirable. The hard plastic button works fine with loads under 2ohms, but sometimes have problems with sticking. All in all I think the Epower is a great PV, I have heard some people felt some 18650 E-Power models felt a little flimsier than the 14650, other people said the cone was too big...the main problems seem to be personal preference.

I have the 14650 and love it, great battery life, works well with LR dual coils cartos, and the E-Power LR dual coil carto is nothing short of amazing in my book. I wouldn't be so quick to find a replacement for a PV you have yet to check out, give it a shot, you probably wont be let down.

 

[SubSplat]

The one I ordered is a 18650 ePower from Liberty Flights. I think is has a blue LED switch that's not detachable from the battery tube, no cone around the switch. It comes with 1.5 Ohm dual coils, so I assume they're safe to use with it.

The mechanical switch thing is still confusing to me. It does seem like they would be better, to me. But it also seems like it would be the easier / cheaper solution too, so why do people even use electrical switches at all? There must be some advantage / trade-off to electrical switches...

And I'm not looking to replace the ePower right away. Haven't even tried it yet, after all. But in case it does fail, I wanna know what some good options are. And even if it does work fine, I might still want something else in addition to it... preferably something that can use the same batteries and cartos.

So that's why I'm asking for opinions on comparable mods.

 

[hairball]

Here's a good story for you that happened to me. Went to the lake and took my Prodigy V3.1..all mechanical. Opppsss, dropped into the water. I retrieved it, took the battery out, took the cartomizer off, dried it all out, put a fresh battery in it, put a fresh filled carto on it, and vaped away. Would I do that with a mod that had an electrical switch? Hell no! It would sit on my desk for a month to make sure it was dry. Anything electrical is going to wear out faster or blow...no matter how you slice it. Mechanical mods won't. I prefer mechanical over electrical any day of the week..less to have to worry about in terms of failures.

 

[Hdivr]

Exactly...... the most frustrating thing that has happened to me (so far) was to drop my first PV (an Ego) and see it blinking like crazy. Dead, useless, throwaway....... I've had my Roughstack roll off the top of a truck many times and it fires up without a hitch.

 

[SubSplat]

Hm, gonna keep my eye out for mechanicals then.

The Prodigy is rather spendy though. Is the Indulgence any good? Any other decent 18650 tube mods out there in that price range, aside from the ones already mentioned?

 

[wv2win]

There is actually a 5 volt version of the E-Power now. I haven't read any reviews but hope someone trys one out and provides feedback. Second one on the page:

Electronic Cigarette - Starter Kits - EGO E-Power

 

[swedishfish]

Here's a good story for you that happened to me. Went to the lake and took my Prodigy V3.1..all mechanical. Opppsss, dropped into the water. I retrieved it, took the battery out, took the cartomizer off, dried it all out, put a fresh battery in it, put a fresh filled carto on it, and vaped away. Would I do that with a mod that had an electrical switch? Hell no! It would sit on my desk for a month to make sure it was dry. Anything electrical is going to wear out faster or blow...no matter how you slice it. Mechanical mods won't. I prefer mechanical over electrical any day of the week..less to have to worry about in terms of failures.

I always meant to ask you- what didn't you like about the e-power?

 

[mynameisrob]

If you cant remove the switch, then you have the eGo-E-Power. Its a spin-off from the regular E-Power but seems to be a pretty good PV. Ive heard a few people that have it say they really like it and it works great so I think youll be happy with it.
Its the same PV that wv2win is talking about. Its 3.7V with a 18650 battery, but if you put in 2 16340 batteries it will be 5V.
It seems to be a solid PV and I think youll really like it. The only thing I dont like about it is that the switch is not removable on the eGo-EPower, which is one of the things that made me get an E-Power in the first place, but its not a huge deal. I think your going to be pleasantly surprised with it. Let us know how you like it when you get it

 

[wv2win]

If you cant remove the switch, then you have the eGo-E-Power. Its a spin-off from the regular E-Power but seems to be a pretty good PV. Ive heard a few people that have it say they really like it and it works great so I think youll be happy with it.
Its the same PV that wv2win is talking about. Its 3.7V with a 18650 battery, but if you put in 2 16340 batteries it will be 5V.
It seems to be a solid PV and I think youll really like it. The only thing I dont like about it is that the switch is not removable on the eGo-EPower, which is one of the things that made me get an E-Power in the first place, but its not a huge deal. I think your going to be pleasantly surprised with it. Let us know how you like it when you get it

Interesting about the switch difference in the 5 volt model and that it appears to made by a different company. I'll be keeping my eye out for some reviews.

 

[SubSplat]

If you cant remove the switch, then you have the eGo-E-Power. Its a spin-off from the regular E-Power but seems to be a pretty good PV. Ive heard a few people that have it say they really like it and it works great so I think youll be happy with it.
Its the same PV that wv2win is talking about. Its 3.7V with a 18650 battery, but if you put in 2 16340 batteries it will be 5V.
It seems to be a solid PV and I think youll really like it. The only thing I dont like about it is that the switch is not removable on the eGo-EPower, which is one of the things that made me get an E-Power in the first place, but its not a huge deal. I think your going to be pleasantly surprised with it. Let us know how you like it when you get it

Nice! Good to hear, thanks.

It does look like the best bang-for-your-buck kit like that out there, that's why I went for it. Hoping it will arrive tomorrow, really looking forward to it.

 

[Trucapri]

I use an eGo E-power as my daily PV and love it. Since I made my purchase I've discovered several makes and models of "E-powers" and would imagine there are more I haven't run across. I'm not sure of the maker from the one most speak of that have the switch issue, but mine is made by SmokTech and the switch is built into the tube. Joye makes and eGo E-power with a replaceable switch, and the one linked by wv2win at Liberty Flights shows the switch built into the tube, both the 3.7 and the 5, although it doesn't state who makes their particular model (they sell both Joye and SmokTech products, however).

I hope you enjoy your's, whichever model, by whatever maker you've chosen, as much as I've enjoyed mine. The ease of use is wonderful! Best wishes!!!!!!

 

[swedishfish]

How often do you have to replace the switch?

 

[noval]

I have the ego E-power. I have been using it for about 7 weeks. No problems yet. I needed something with the power to last all day that wasn't to big and was somewhat rugged. I have dropped it about 2 dozen times and no problems yet.

 

[sachavaca]

glad i read this posting, another 18500 mod never herd of

 

[sachavaca]

I think all these mods are good . I had the old style epower, was an noego and it was great but the switches did fail. I dont see why the rough stack and bolt are being considered as a mechanical switch mod. they both have switchs that fail and if dropped in water would need the same drying process as the epower. yes you can remove them from the tube but does that make it mechanical?.