ERA vs Hornet on REO Grand (or Grand VV) - And VV Chip Questions

[bladebarrier]

Hi all!

A few quick questions, if someone has a moment.

I have a Reo Grand, and am considering a VV version. I'm mostly interested in getting a VV version for the built in protection circuitry, but $200 plus a new type of batteriy/charger starts adding up quickly. Do you notice any major performance difference performance vs the 18650 with a coil set for your desired wattage? If so, does the VV chip compensate for voltage sag in the same manner the provari does, or does it sag as the batteries deplete? Also, does the chip allow for a cutoff when the batteries have depleted to a point where they need to be charged (ie. a safety cutoff point so that they are not depleted beyond a safe usage threshold)?

I see the hornet seems to be more designed for Reos, in the sense that it can fit in more of them, but looks very similar internally.

Should I just go with the Hornet, or is there any real world advantage with the ERA aside from a slight height difference?

Also, regarding wicking materials. I don't really want to bother with SS in it, unless perhaps people have good experiences with SS+organic. I certainly will pass on silica. Any quick suggestions on what type to use? Hemp, bamboo, organic cotton? Trying to go with something as safe as possible, that still produces good results.

Regards,

--bb

 

[Rhapsodies Fire]

Nice to see you again
The chip cuts off when the batteries no longer provide the minimum voltage needed to power your atomizer at whatever setting it is at. The variables are the atomizer resistance and the voltage setting. There really ins't a guarantee that one battery won't discharge lower than the other though, so I don't recommend running it until it's dead. However, despite claims that it runs at a constant voltage...there is a slight drop off right at the end before it cuts off. It is noticeable...and it's at that point where you are wondering if your batteries need to be swapped ...they do need to be swapped out. Personally, I like that feature. It keeps me from running my mod until it dies.

I can't answer your question in regards to the 18650 because I don't have a Grand to compare it with. But I do know for sure that you get a more consistent vape over the charge of the batteries than you do on an unregulated 3.7v setup on a single battery. I use my Mini 2.0 with an 18490 as reference. Now I didn't buy a new charger to charge my 18350s...some chargers have extensions available to compensate for the size. I simply use a single magnet on each battery to fill up the space and it appears to work just fine. Others use a bolt + nut.

MXBNW uses his Grand almost as much as his VVG using a lower Ω coil on his ERA to compensate for the lower voltage and loves it just as much.

Since I'm pretty much just using my Chalice, I'll leave the ERA questions for others to answer.

 

[bladebarrier]

Hiya Rhapsodies Fire! Long time no see.

You're right. After your response I checked around, and it does look like I can use some spacers in my Pila to get it down to size.

I like the fact that chip will hold the voltage stable until right before the end, and stops firing once it's beyond the voltage limit. That's excellent news, and convinced me to go for one!

I'll quietly wake in the shadows for an answer on the ERA vs. Hornet part. I'd be more likely to win the lottery, than find a Chalice in my hands any time soon

 

[super_X_drifter]

Hiya Rhapsodies Fire! Long time no see.

You're right. After your response I checked around, and it does look like I can use some spacers in my Pila to get it down to size.

I like the fact that chip will hold the voltage stable until right before the end, and stops firing once it's beyond the voltage limit. That's excellent news, and convinced me to go for one!

I'll quietly wake in the shadows for an answer on the ERA vs. Hornet part. I'd be more likely to win the lottery, than find a Chalice in my hands any time soon

The hornet/era is an excellent RBA. You would do yourself right to acquire either one. As for the chalice, there is no rational monetary amount that I would part with mine for - not a chance.

I can't help with the vv stuff, but will tell ya that a plain ol grand straight kicks ... period.


Shot thru cyberspace with my iGun

 

[JC Okie]

The ERA and the Hornet are almost exactly the same on the inside....and they both work the same. I have both, and I like the fact that the Hornet will fit on ALL my REOs, whereas the ERA only fits on the ones with bigger catch cups. So....if I had to start over, I'd buy only the Hornet. I like the versatility and I actually like the looks of it a little better than the ERA....it's more streamlined. It looks more like my Chalice.

 

[bladebarrier]

Thank you super_X_drifter and JC Okie!

I went ahead and ordered a Hornet, and a VV Grand. I will keep my original Reo Grand loaded with a second juice

Anyone have a suggestion on the wicking material? That's the last part I'm trying to sort out. I ordered some organic cotton, and I have tons of kanthal in various gauges, but I wasn't sure how bamboo or hemp might stack up against the cotton.

 

[super_X_drifter]

Thank you super_X_drifter and JC Okie!

I went ahead and ordered a Hornet, and a VV Grand. I will keep my original Reo Grand loaded with a second juice

Anyone have a suggestion on the wicking material? That's the last part I'm trying to sort out. I ordered some organic cotton, and I have tons of kanthal in various gauges, but I wasn't sure how bamboo or hemp might stack up against the cotton.

The only thing I have ever used is rolled cotton. Works so good and is so easy to wick, that I never even tried anything else.

I got it at cvs. It's called sterile rolled cotton. It's in a box for around 6 bucks. Looks like it will last a lifetime. Hildicat turned me on to it.


Shot thru cyberspace with my iGun

 

[sonofthesun]

Hornet Verus Era....

The primary difference is the size - the Hornet is slightly smaller. This impacts a few things.

wick size - normally in the ERA i use 2 strands of Nextel XC-116, and can use 28ga to get a .8 ohm coil with each leg of the coil butting up against the posts (so far this seems to be the most stable design. I prefer the increased wick thickness (each strand is > 3mm) and the added surface area gives, in my opinion, a better vape

coil size - the Hornet uses offset post holes to give you a diagonalish wick, but theres still only so much room. I'm running a 3/2 wrap of 30 ga currently in my hornet, and while its nearly as good a vape as my ERA, the lack of surface area seems to impact the vape.

Both are great, I'm currently running a Hornet becaue my ERA is top feed, but I'm eyeing a ERA v1.5 bottom feed to replace my Hornet in general use.

 

[garyinco]

Diagonalish.

I like that. Word for the day!

 

[colt45]

i have use silica, cotton and bamboo. all work well but i like the bamboo the best. it seems to wick better than the cotton when i'm vaping heavy and less worry of the silica fibers being inhaled just my opinion

Aunt Lydias Bamboo Crochet Thread Size 10 Natural 073650797965 | eBay

 

[unsure]

The ERA and the Hornet are almost exactly the same on the inside....and they both work the same. I have both, and I like the fact that the Hornet will fit on ALL my REOs, whereas the ERA only fits on the ones with bigger catch cups. So....if I had to start over, I'd buy only the Hornet. I like the versatility and I actually like the looks of it a little better than the ERA....it's more streamlined. It looks more like my Chalice.

So the Hornet fits on the the Woodvils with the smaller catcup? These sure look like the same size...

http://myvape.in/international/index.php/atomizers/rebuildable-atomizer.html

 

[JC Okie]

The Hornet fits on the Metal Minis and it fits on my Woodvil Mini with the smaller catch cup....and my Woodvil 18490. It fits everything I have. Nice.

http://site.indyvaporshop.com/size.jpg This picture shows the size difference better. Hornet on the left; ERA on the right. Doesn't look like much difference, but it's significant.