Gripper Discussion

[DPLongo22]

Mine has been fine - so far. I'll break something - count on it*. I just don't yet know the What & When.

I SHATTERED a Phiniac tank putting the caps on. So you think this little piece of plastic stands any chance whatsoever? I can only hope that it has it's affairs all in order.

 

[68injunhed]

Mine should be here tomorrow, can't wait!

 

[Longhorn]

I've had my silver VV Gripper since Friday. Got it from Chris @ Cigtechs. vaping AVE Hype on it right now. I also got the AW IMR 2000mAh at the same time. Already had one of the Joyetech ICR18650 2200 mAh bats from the eGoT 18650 mod. Both fit, no problem. The Joyetech actually lasts noticably longer than the AW (duh, 2200 vs 2000mAh). At any rate, I've only had to charge both batteries three times since I got it and I vape a lot, A LOT!

I've taken it to 3A using a Vivi Nova tank 1.8ohm (measured @ 1.6ohm by the Gripper) @5.9V (way too hot for me), so obviously current limiting is kicking in. I really don't care a bit that it won't do 4A. Using high resistance devices and vaping at a sane 7-9 watts puts me in the 4.7-5.3V range, I'll take that all day long and do with this little powerhouse. I think it's a great idea to have some voltage overhead so you're not pushing that little regulator to the max all the time.

The plastic build doesn't concern me much either. I pretty much only vape at home, in the car, and at my desk and break room at work (all carpeted), so I don't see dropping damage anytime in the forseeable future.

The clicky activation button is no big deal to me at all. Click, click, click. What's the problem? It fires every time and I can vape to my hearts content, I'm happy. Someone said that it fires for a split second after you release the activation button, please - give it a break.

In my opinion, ergonomics are great. I can use in either hand very comfortably (lefties shouldn't be concerned about this, I haven't hit one of the voltage up/down buttons one time while holding it in my left hand since I've had the Gripper).

Top mount vs side mount button, I'd rather push with my thumb than my forefinger any time. Our thumbs are really made to push and pull things with some additional power over the rest of our fingers.

Four finger detents vs three - believe me, you'll never notice it after having held this in either hand for 5 minutes or more. If you've EVER had a bottom firing PV, you'll know what I mean (my pinkies have very well developed muscles now...lol).

As for the plastic battery hatch door, this is a real Achilles Heel! I will baby it like a little defenseless puppy and that's all I can do. If it breaks, like others, I'll just reuse the contents.

I DO know that with this box I can vape like Ol' Faithful, taste all the different nuances of my selected juice and get just the right amount of TH every time thanx to a very reliable variable voltage design (electonically, anyway).

All things considered, this little mod is at least just a nudge under the ProVari in functionality and capability (but certainly not in build) and at a quarter of the price. And it will run a darn site longer than the ProVari between battery charges.

When SIZE, WEIGHT and PRICE are figured into the equation this is one HELLUVA DEAL for a variable voltage vaping machine.

 

[Zurd]

You know, if I had read that reviews when I started vaping, I wouldn't have understood a word you said but now I understand everything !

 

[Zurd]

If you've EVER had a bottom firing PV, you'll know what I mean (my pinkies have very well developed muscles now...lol).

I only used them for a few minutes in vape meeting, I still doesn't understand up to this day why people bought them, it's not a pinky job

I don't understand why you're saying that the Gripper will run longer than the ProVari between battery charges, can you enlighten me?

 

[jackrussel]

I don't understand why you're saying that the Gripper will run longer than the ProVari between battery charges, can you enlighten me?

For 2 (or more) reasons.
1. It uses a larger battery in stock form. although you can buy the extended cap for the Provari, it is an add-on option.
2. The Gripper uses PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) which seems to give longer battery times.

 

[meli.]

I would really like to say a BIG Thank You to All who have contributed on this thread.
Thanks to you guys, I've been 'talked into' investing in this little APV. My very first Mod!
Thank you Rader2146, for all your work with the numbers and graphs, so much effort! Well done! I have no idea what you're on about, my Husband deciphered it all and explained it to me using small words and picture cards. I am completely clueless But I do have bags of enthusiasm. It helps when else fails.
Anyway, despite not quite understanding everything, and as I'm soon to be a proud owner of a Black Gripper VV I'm also seriously keen to see (if it all goes horribly pear-shaped with the casing) how to rehouse the innards into This. I'm not sure which one of us is more afraid of this occurring.
I have a few questions about the batteries, can I use these? are these the same as the ones previously mentioned? Just making doubly sure? Are they safe to use? Any chance of missing teeth in a weeks time?
Panasonic IMR CGR18650CH 2250mAh 10A discharge 3.7v 18650 li-Ion batteries + case

How would you rate this charger? Is there something better?
XTAR WP2 II Charger for 10440/14500/14650/ 17670/ 18500/18650/18700 Li-ion Batteries

All opinions much appreciated.

 

[txtumbleweed]

Both are very good choices meli and what I use with mine.

 

[Rader2146]

Thanks Meli. That encloser is on a slow boat from china, but when it comes in I'll document the transplant. I have yet to decide what I want to do about changing/charging batteries. There is enough room for onboard USB charging, so I've been seriously thinking of going that route. If I don't I'll have to come up with a way to change the battery. My current idea is a hinged bottom plate with magnet closure.

Those batteries are great. Very consistent with top notch performance.

That charger is also great. Two independent charging channels and selectable charge rate. IMO, it is the best charger for the money on the market.

 

[Striker911]

With all this battery talk and the fact that this box mod is one of two that I am considering I hope you awesome folks that post here can help me make my mind up. The second mod I am considering is the telescope.

So here is why I want the telescope as my first choice. I have 7 batteries that will all work for it. 1 MNKE 18650, 1 aw imr 18650, 2 aw imr 14500's, 1 aw imr 18490, 1 lc 18500, and 1 li protected 18350. Can anyone see why any of them batteries would not be safe using on a mechanical mod and .8 ohm coil?

I guess on the one 20 watt mnke thats what I would get. But the rest I would only get 10 watts? If so I would have to change coils every time I used the one MNKE cause I cant adjust anything but the coil.

The gripper would be good and that chart posted a few pages back says its putting out 18 watts.
With that being said I would only have 2 batteries. Unless the MNKE is not a recommended battery. Then I will only have one battery.

Any and all help please. I want to by tonight or early this morning cause my only other PV just broke on me. Was only a week old and I am unprepared for this trouble. So need help asap. Will be sitting here pushing f5

 

[Rader2146]

The AW 14500 and the protected 18350 would not be good with a .8 ohm coil on a mechanical mod. That will draw 4-5 amps depending on battery voltage level. AW IMR 14500 have a 4amp max, and the protected 18350 is much less.

A .8 ohm coil will not work with the Gripper. It has a low resistance/short circuit protection at 1.2 ohms. MNKE's will do fine as long as the length is not an issue. 18w was with a 1.5ohm cartomizer, you could probably squeeze a few more watts out of it with a 1.3 ohm coil.

 

[Striker911]

The AW 14500 and the protected 18350 would not be good with a .8 ohm coil on a mechanical mod. That will draw 4-5 amps depending on battery voltage level. AW IMR 14500 have a 4amp max, and the protected 18350 is much less.

A .8 ohm coil will not work with the Gripper. It has a low resistance/short circuit protection at 1.2 ohms. MNKE's will do fine as long as the length is not an issue. 18w was with a 1.5ohm cartomizer, you could probably squeeze a few more watts out of it with a 1.3 ohm coil.

Thanks for the fast response and helping put this into perspective. Id have 4 batteries or 2 then depending on the mod I get. How sure are you about the 18350 though. I dont know a lot about batteries but the 18350 is rated at 1200Mah. Thats more then the 1100 the aw imr 18490. Not sure how to tell if it can be used or not. The 14500's are only 600 though.

Its funny that you bring up 1.3 ohms and the gripper cause that's the second coil I ever use. .8 and 1.3. Same 2-3 wrap but with 30 and 32 awg. Only with the thinner wire anything over 15 watts is over kill. Guess for that topic I should get to crunching the numbers now that you helped with the limits.

 

[Rader2146]

Pretty sure on that 18350. I'm guessing that is is a _____Fire brand. Your typical protected battery is Lithium Cobalt chemistry. Knowing that, this post from another thread sould explain a lot.

The two most common rechargeable Li-Ion types are:

ICR: Lithium Cobalt, LiCo
IMR: Lithium Manganese, LiMn

LiCo batteries, unless otherwise published by the manufacturer, should not be discharged beyond 2C.
LiMn can get a little fuzzy because not all LiMn battries are "high drain". This means that some may be 2C, some may be 5C, and some (AW 1600mAh) may be 15C or higher. What makes it even harder is that there are only a handful or manufaturers that produce the raw cells (Panasonic, Samsung, LG, Sanyo,....), there rest of the "Brand Names" are re-wrapper's and resellers. The resellers don't like to disclose the identity of the raw cell, so finding a data sheet that stated the max discharge rate is liken the odds at Vegas. Best bet is to use a lifeline and ask the experts (I've been accused of being knowledgable, but certainly not an expert.)

Just to cover all the bases, C rating...
Max safe discharge (in Amps) is a product of the C rating times the capacity.

2C x 750mah = 1500mA = 1.5A max discharge
2C x 3100mah = 6100mA = 6.1A max discharge

So when we speak about the protection circuit cutoff current, 2.5A is a good cutoff for ICR 14500's but is less than half of the max current for an big 18650.

I would hope, for safety reasons, that the protection circuit on you 18350 would kick in with a .8 ohm coil. But the *fire brands have been known to be a bit loose in thier cutoff current.

 

[Striker911]

Well I wonder how the battery usage would be on a gripper with a 1.3 coil. You know how long moderate vape time would be on a 2k aw imr? I use two per day in the junker that just broke.

 

[Zurd]

I have a few questions about the batteries, can I use these?
How would you rate this charger? Is there something better?

Those batteries are the best on the market for ecigs, they keep their initial voltage longer than any other batteries, it's what I have and they do fit the Gripper. The charger is, AFAIK, the best on the market too, you can charge batteries at 1A instead of the usual 0.5A in other chargers, half the time to charge your batteries!

 

[Rader2146]

Well I wonder how the battery usage would be on a gripper with a 1.3 coil. You know how long moderate vape time would be on a 2k aw imr? I use two per day in the junker that just broke.

I get a day and a half, or about 6-7ml, out of a Panasonic CGR18650CH. That is at ~10w, so if you are going to push it to the max you will likely need one full battery and at least part of another.

 

[meli.]

For anyone in UK/ Europe you can pick up a Gripper VV for €39.90+€3.00 delivery to UK!
All in all about £35.50! From Gripper VV 18650 - le petit vapoteur That's a smashing deal.

 

[Longhorn]

OK...Today I knocked the 510 connector out of whack (even more than it was to start with). Now it really moves back and forth way more than I'm comfortable with. I had my Vivi tank on it and it fell over the coffee table edge (not so stable with a tank, I guess).

Here's what I did:

Pry the 510 connector up a little bit on both radii (all around). Be VERY careful doing this, you just need about 1/32" (it will pry up, I used a jewelers flat blade screwdriver). Get a 3/8" E ring (available at any of the big box home improvement centers, mine was $0.29). Using a small needle nose pliars insert (with just a little pressure) the E ring between the bottom edge of the very top of the 510 connector and the plastic box. Then, using superglue with the little brush applicator, carefully "paint" the E ring and the inner spaces (where plastic is exposed). Mine is now solid as a rock (no movement AT ALL!).

Cosmetically, it's not a great improvement (lol) but it is a plastic box, afterall. If you could find a silver E ring ( I have the silver model), it would probably look much better, all I could find was black. It really doesn't look all that bad and now I have a very solid 510 connection.

Thought this might help anyone who encounters the same problem.

Vape On!

PS - I also carefully "painted" super glue along the top seam, hoping to prevent any accidental juice leaks or spills from entering the box.

 

[Striker911]

I went with the Telescope, but after all this trouble and being without I still want to get this mod but I am having a hard time spending the extra money. I really hate being without like I am at the moment. To make things worse is I know the Tele was shipped early morning yesterday but now my email account is down so I cant look up the tracking number. Anyways, the gripper is now my first choice for a back up and at the very top of the budget. Just want to keep my eye on the Classy's for a better deal. Already seen a tele for $15 less then I spent at MadVapes.

 

[niczgreat]

Cool Breeze please desist advocating a dangerous course of action. A High Amperage Unit like the Gripper is not capable and doesn't have the protections in place to draw limited amounts of Amperage. This E-Cig can and will pull more than what your battery is capable of. You are depending totally on the protections in the battery to protect you. This is a bad idea. Battery Protection especially in the Cheap Brands is sketchy.

IMR uses a totally different technology. The chemical makeup of the Battery is Lithium Manganese. This is a stable chemistry that is was created for high discharge rates and t high levels of Amperage. With LIMN or Imr Technology you don't need the protection because the chemical make up is stable and designed for High Amperage Discharge such as in Units like the Gripper.

If you want to be safe buy AW IMR Batteries from Lighthound they are recommended by the veterans on the candlepower forum as the place to go for authentic AW IMR Batteries.

With all respect, please cease advocating a dangerous course of action, which is to put batteries that are generally capable of 2.5Amps in a unit that the manufacturer claims will do 4 Amps and others say is around 3 Amps in real world applications.

The only battery to use in a Mod lIke this is IMR. Unless you are always going to be very careful and vape in the lower limits keeping the amperage to under 2.5.

This is a chart that you can use to plug in your Atomizer/Cartomizer/Clearomizer Ohm and the voltage you'll be vaping at and it will tell you the Amps
Ohm's and Joule's Law Calculator

The one intangible is that the Gripper is a PWM that is supposed to have poor filtering and you may be thinking that you are vaping at 3.2 but really vaping at 4.2. So it's even dangerous for you to rely on this chart.

If you are looking for a less expensive, high drain experience go to www.orbtronic.com and check out there High Drain Hybrid Panasonics Cells. They are less expensive than AW IMR and have a higher ah rate.

I'd like to find Protected Li-Ions to work with the Gripper per

1) Higher capacities (mAh), and
2) I'm comfortable with Protected batteries...don't quite understand IMRs in 'short' circumstances, etc.