How to best use my new Vmod XL with cartos?

[MarcK73]

So my Vmod XL arrived today, and while I'm not new to ecigs or mods (just got back into vaping 2 months ago and this is already my 7th "beyond eGo" device!) this is my first bottom feed device. I'm not a dripper unless I'm sampling new juices, so I always use cartos and usually self-punched in tanks.

Does anyone have any tips or tricks for using a cartomizer on the Vmod XL? Like how many "puffs" on average can/should I take before a light bottle squeeze? Or if I tip the device upwards when using it will the juice self-feed through gravity & suction without me having to squeeze the bottle (thought I read that somewhere)?

Thanks, and I'm already loving the device so far! And thanks to everyone who raved about it here on ECF or I might not have given it a try! I already feel less stressed knowing I can take it to work with only some emergency backup juice, a couple of spare LR cartos and a battery or two in my old eGo case and know that I'll be set all day.

 

[karmakatie]

If you are used to using cartos already, then you should know how the taste changes when it's time to top it off, it is no different with the bottom feeder. I will say it does take some practice to get where how much to feed become second nature
I have used the Vmod XL extensively and it is my go to device for form factor, it is so comfortable in the hand and is an excellent vape!

 

[iowajosh]

I just got one a couple of weeks ago.

It works fine with cartos. I like the full sized ones rather than the tiny ones. The tiny ones need topped off a lot.

My tip is don't use the cartomizers. Try the atomizer. It took me a few weeks to get bored and try it out. It is great. Its what the feeder is for.

I've been contemplating buying another one so I have have two flavors loaded up.

Also, button top batteries work a lot nicer than flat topped ones. Enjoy

 

[erictho]

i use boge lr cartos with my vmod. i would like to invest in a few different atomizers, but i still have 13 boge cartos left and don't really need to make a hardware order until i pump through those.
i tend to squonk more often than i topped off cartos, but i used to use cartos (no lie) for a couple hours at a time before i needed to top off. i find it's not really worth it to allow your cartos to run kind of dry on a bottom fed pv. otherwise you're squonking what feels like forever trying to get a decent hit.
the vmod has a little liquid chamber that you fill when you tilt. don't squeeze the bottle when it's tilted, there's no need. when you turn upright and squonk the liquid from that inner chamber moves to your carto/atty.

 

[MarcK73]

If you are used to using cartos already, then you should know how the taste changes when it's time to top it off, it is no different with the bottom feeder. I will say it does take some practice to get where how much to feed become second nature
I have used the Vmod XL extensively and it is my go to device for form factor, it is so comfortable in the hand and is an excellent vape!

Yes, true, just having a hard time figuring out how much juice to give it, whether to tilt it up (down?) or keep it level since there's no hose, etc...

 

[MarcK73]

I just got one a couple of weeks ago.

It works fine with cartos. I like the full sized ones rather than the tiny ones. The tiny ones need topped off a lot.

My tip is don't use the cartomizers. Try the atomizer. It took me a few weeks to get bored and try it out. It is great. Its what the feeder is for.

I've been contemplating buying another one so I have have two flavors loaded up.

Also, button top batteries work a lot nicer than flat topped ones. Enjoy

Kind of hard to explain, but when I'm at work or in the car I'd rather use a carto so that I don't have to keep up with it too much. At home of course I have no problem trying that, although I'm not sure if my AVA Atomizers will work with the Vmod since they have a sealed center post?

Yes, I'm using those Panasonic 2250mah 18650 batteries that everyone raves about and they work great! Hardly have to push the button to fire but it won't fire when the switch is locked.

 

[MarcK73]

i use boge lr cartos with my vmod. i would like to invest in a few different atomizers, but i still have 13 boge cartos left and don't really need to make a hardware order until i pump through those.
i tend to squonk more often than i topped off cartos, but i used to use cartos (no lie) for a couple hours at a time before i needed to top off. i find it's not really worth it to allow your cartos to run kind of dry on a bottom fed pv. otherwise you're squonking what feels like forever trying to get a decent hit.
the vmod has a little liquid chamber that you fill when you tilt. don't squeeze the bottle when it's tilted, there's no need. when you turn upright and squonk the liquid from that inner chamber moves to your carto/atty.

Yep, that's exactly what I'm using too! Hits that 7 watts of heat that I like on the 3.7V battery.

Ah yes, "squonk"! I'd heard that before and will use the term now that I know it's correct. Wow, I must be a chain vaper because I have a Boge SR carto on my Pearl PT at my desk and it goes dry in under an hour!

Thank you, that's what I needed to know! So I tilt the bottle past 90 degrees without squonking, and that will allow the juice to run into the chamber via gravity, and then when I squonk with the device upright the air pressure will push the juice from the chamber up into the carto?

 

[erictho]

you betcha! that's the recommended way to feed.
and maybe not a boge would last me a couple hrs, but definitely a smoktech xl carto. i know some people like the xl cartos on a bottom feeder, but i'd rather use something that requires less juice to be awesome.

 

[donneee]

i set up my vmod, and finally cracked and got myself a long barrel hh.357. by cartos standards in the time to prime it: i'd say it last 1/3 of the time it'd take to finish off a carto (with my vaping). this sucker holds a lot for "dripping". it'll get flooded but still works well.

i dont really ever need to squonk, cause i figured out a technique to always have it juiced up. as i vape i just turn the whole mod as if i'm drinking out of an apple juice bottle and i'm trying to get the last bit, but only for a few secs. not 90 degress however. unless my perception differs and you vape starting at a 90 degree angle (where you look) and tilt another 90 degrees (above your head) to feed it.

not sure if you can do that with a carto however. i'm assuming you can. try it and let us know . i have a few juices that i can't vape cause it only taste better in a carto (imho). i think some juices i get are only made best when put in a cart.

quick question though; (see below)

i'm looking to get a better battery and charger to go with it for my vmod.

 

[MarcK73]

i set up my vmod, and finally cracked and got myself a long barrel hh.357. by cartos standards in the time to prime it: i'd say it last 1/3 of the time it'd take to finish off a carto (with my vaping). this sucker holds a lot for "dripping". it'll get flooded but still works well.

i dont really ever need to squonk, cause i figured out a technique to always have it juiced up. as i vape i just turn the whole mod as if i'm drinking out of an apple juice bottle and i'm trying to get the last bit, but only for a few secs. not 90 degress however. unless my perception differs and you vape starting at a 90 degree angle (where you look) and tilt another 90 degrees (above your head) to feed it.

not sure if you can do that with a carto however. i'm assuming you can. try it and let us know . i have a few juices that i can't vape cause it only taste better in a carto (imho). i think some juices i get are only made best when put in a cart.

quick question though; (see below)

i'm looking to get a better battery and charger to go with it for my vmod.

Haha, yeah that method doesn't work so well with cartos unfortunately!

These are the batteries that you want:
CGR18650CH Panasonic 18650 Li-Mn-Li-ion CGR18650CH High Drain 10A Rechargeable IMR Hybrid Battery Cell

Everyone raves about them in just about every device-specific forum on here, and I have 4 of them in rotation. They are perfect for the Vmod XL! They fit very well inside the device, leave enough room at the bottom for the spring to be able to thermally collapse in case of a failure, and are just the right height to be able to only have to gently push the button to fire but won't fire when the button is locked. (My GF has the smaller Vmod 2.0 and the batteries that came with it still allow the switch to touch when locked)

 

[donneee]

hmm i'm still debating over the NCR18650A panasonic and that high drain version. i'm not sure which one i should get. i love that the ncr18650a i'm looking to get is 3100 mah, and no mod ever goes above i believe 4A for discharging. but i think the CGR will have a higher discharge then NCR fresh off the charger so idk. but that's a bit off topic...

anywho, i don't think you'll feed an AVA with a bottom feeder efficiently (to answer that question). an open center post really helps keep it from flooding since excess juice and just drop down through it and get sucked back in through the sides when you tilt it again.

as for more incite with carto's. i'd do what iowajosh said. ditch 'em and use atty's. once you've learned how to avoid flooding them, taste is so much better. i don't want to keep mentioning the glory and magnificence of a hh.357, but that's all i ever need now to go with my vmod. they last so long as well (with proper maintenance of course). i can't even go back to carts, let alone other atty's. unless i go to one of my juices that taste better in a cart, i'm not using anything else.

if your dead set on using cartos, put a thin rubber piece with a hole into your carto (like the thin rubber top that come inside new cartos for tank systems). and squonk, pump, and tilt till your sure it's completely wet. hold it right side up, dry-squonk the bottle so you push only air into the carto multiple times and then hold it, blow a small amount of air into the carto, and let go of the bottle to get excess juice back into the chamber/bottle. this helped with spitting and also made it complete wet for a long time.

that's what i used to do on my carto before i got my hh. it helped.. a little. only with spitting and not my frustration of course

 

[iowajosh]

D, I'd get the protected 2400ma bats for a number of reasons. Plus, the vmod button works much nicer with a button top bat.

The atomizer that came with my vmod worked great. My first order to replace it did not work the same.

 

[donneee]

when i first got my vmod, i thought the hybrid amg atty's were phenominal. when i started to lose preformance with time on it, i oppt'd up for the 357. totally beat it. i keep trying to go back to it, but it's ohm is too high for sub-par taste for me. when their live chat is avalible i'm going to contact them about having them send me 1.5 ohm ones.


as for the battery, i'll end up getting a protected one most likely. i think hi-drain would only be valid in a vv device.