I Screwed Up - Need Mod Advice

[Huuwap]

Go figure. I pulled out my multimeter today to troubleshoot an issue with my KGO. Turns out it was a carto issue and I resolved it. Flash forward 8 hours or so, and I've tested every battery and charger in my house for voltage. So I come up with the extremely bright idea to test one of my KGO batteries on every single option available on my multimeter. Go figure, the damn thing vented and went to battery heaven (thank god it vented) mosfet switch popped. Anyway, I have this terrible ozone/metallic smell permeating everything in my office, and now I'm looking for another battery since I know one will only last so long.

I guess it's time for a mod. I dig the KGO, it just works and does a good job...but I keep looking at available mods and such. I figured I'd wait a few months and pop for something when it was closer to my birthday or something. At this point, that's not going to happen. What I'm looking for here I guess is a suggestion for a mod that will give me more than the KGO gave me and not totally break the bank. Yes, I'm considering a ProVari, but I really don't want to spend $200+ dollars on a mod. I like the idea of variable voltage, but I know it doesn't come cheap.

I'm not 100% against another KGO battery, for $20 it's not too bad...but since I'm looking to spend the money on it anyway, I figure I can probably do better. Anyway, suggestions are exactly what I'm looking for here...I'll probably be making an order tomorrow. Thanks guys.

 

[AmnNate]

I truly and honestly wish I would have just sucked it up and spent the money on the Provari to begin with. I can 100% guarantee you will not be disappointed. It may not be the answer you were looking for, but trust me, I've been where you are and wish somebody could have convinced me. I would have saved literally hundreds of dollars getting to this point if I had started with the Provari sooner. I am absolutely in love with my Provari and my Reo Grand. They are by far the best things I've tried so far. Your other option is a Lavatube. They can be picked up for pretty cheap now (about the same as a good Ego kit). I just traded mine, but it worked great until it felt cheesy next to my Provari. Just my opinion and others may not agree, but I've read the same story many times around here. Good luck either way.

 

[Dandafixr]

Ovale v6 Variable Voltage Kit, I also love my kgo's this is my first mod bought here from surfer very good guy to deal with, shipping is included in the price

 

[mwa102464]

I'm stepping back one here and more interested in this KGO you say that vented ? could you please elaborate a little bit on this and Exactly what happened when this Batt Vented ? like what you where touching to what and where this Batts was when this happen, like Exactly what happen to this Batt ? Thank god it vented ? I dont get this one ?

 

[Nomoreash]

I presume you're wanting a tube. In a that case I'd recommend the Infinity Pro, Buzz Pro or Provari. They are great durable mods with excellent customer service at different price points. Between them would be features and preference.

 

[txtumbleweed]

You can get a VV Lava mini from DV for 44.99 for the tube and 8.99 for the battery. DiscountVapers - Your source for savings on electronic cigarettes and accessories, Go-go eGo, vGo

 

[Sicarius]

Or perhaps the 3VO from 310 Vapers

310Vapers.com | "3VO" EVO Variable Voltage Mod - Starter Kits | e-Cigarette, eGo, 3VO, cartomizers, atomizers, batteries

 

[Huuwap]

I'm stepping back one here and more interested in this KGO you say that vented ? could you please elaborate a little bit on this and Exactly what happened when this Batt Vented ? like what you where touching to what and where this Batts was when this happen, like Exactly what happen to this Batt ? Thank god it vented ? I dont get this one ?

I was being an idiot with a multimeter quite honestly. Touching red probe to center post, black to the outside of the threaded receptacle. Tried it on amps DC, tone and ohm. It was right before I went to hit the button on the 300mV setting that I saw smoke come up from the switch, and immediately, at the switch, the thing went from cold to way too hot to touch. I mean, it could be that just the switch died, but from the point that I saw the smoke and the thing heated up I had already decided it was garbage and not worth the risk. Sorry if I used the wrong terminology or described the wrong issue...sure seems like things vented through the switch to me with the way it smelled, lol. I screwed up no matter what the case is.

And thank god it vented is exactly how I felt after it heated up on me, after smoking from the switch. It didn't just blow up in my hand. I know now after pulling the end cap off it that it wouldn't have just blown up (doesn't take much to take the end cap off), but you know, the concern is always there that something catastrophic can happen.

 

[Huuwap]

I presume you're wanting a tube.

I'm pretty open minded, but I do like how the tubes look for the cost.

 

[Riverboat]

When you get a Provari you will say I cant belive I waited so long to buy this........... The performance will knock your socks off!!

 

[Stosh]

Putting you meter on Amps and across the battery with no load (atty or carto) is putting
a dead short on it, fastest way to see if it vents properly. On any mod it's important to
check your batteries before and after each charge.

Easy and necessary instructions:
How to check w/ DMM

 

[mwa102464]

I believe what happened is your Mosfet connection went bad and shorted and melted, not a vent, but I'm not positive but sounds like this to me cookdawg.

 

[Huuwap]

Well, I'll never do it again, lol. Thanks for the link, useful stuff in there.

I want the battery to last a while, and I don't want to stack batteries. I've been eyeballing the Buzz Pro pretty hard, but looking at the ProVari, it's only $30 more for the base setup right now, $222 after throwing in the charger, 2 18650 batts and the extension cap...a lot of money to spend and a hell of a way to justify the purchase to myself. I can save about $25 if I don't get the 18650s and the extension cap - what kind of life does the 18490 have?

I believe what happened is your Mosfet connection went bad and shorted and melted, not a vent, but I'm not positive but sounds like this to me cookdawg.

Could be. I opened up the tube to check and there didn't appear to be any real damage to the battery. Couldn't see the switch, but it definitely didn't work after it happened.

After looking at the mosfet PCB this morning, I'm fairly certain it's the only part that popped. Scorch marks at the bottom of the switch housing, and I couldn't really see anything on the PCB, so I'm not sure if something popped there or not, but it's a fair bet that the wires between the mosfet and the battery melted...it didn't put up any fight when I pulled it out, and if it was still attached it should have.

 

[markfm]

An Infinity Pro setup will run about $120 delivered, with two pairs of batteries and charger, though there's a 2 week wait (PCBs on order). Power and run time is the same as the Buzz Pro, same actual mAh in the batteries. The Infinity Pro batteries are protected, and it has multiple design safety features (as does Provari).

The notcigs products can go to higher total watts delivered than the Provari (15W vs. something like 12.5?), though Provari can claim higher maximum voltage (I believe it goes to 6, notcigs maxes at about 5.5). The notcigs products have longer run time between battery changes than the stock provari, based on reading multiple people's posts, though with the extender and larger 18650 batteries it sounds like the Provari delivers the same, or maybe even longer, time; on my buzz pro I'm consistent 6 - 7 ml at about 4.5V/8W, over many months of daily use. Both makes deliver cleanly regulated voltage, no sag as the batteries deplete. Both are known as being highly durable, able to take a beating, keep working well. Provari has an LCD, measures ohms, etc., vs. the notcigs extremely simple user interface; neither of these is right or wrong, it honestly just depends on user preference. It sounds like the Provari is heavier, though again this is neither inherently good nor bad, and it's not like it weighs a pound.

Overall, either the notcigs or Provari are really solid choices. I like my notcigs products, have an original Infinity, Buzz Pro, and new VVPV, however other people whose opinions I respect like the Provaris.

If you want something that'll meet the newly released ECF tube mod spec, that would be the new Buzz Pro 2 or Lightning. The tubes are apparently being machined this coming week. Instead of the unprotected powerizer batteries, you would use either protected ICR or IMR batteries, I know other people have already been using them in current Buzz Pros, they do fine. I would expect an updated Infinity Pro 2 pretty soon, too. Both are likely to have a fairly small cost bump compared to present models, due to the added machining. I would expect Provari to also come out with units meeting the new spec pretty fast, they are an on the ball company.

I personally see the lavatubes as a step down, but a very affordable price point. There are differences in performance and build quality, from the reports I've seen, compared to notcigs and provape, that's the trade for the significantly lower cost.

Good luck in choosing

 

[Huuwap]

I'm pretty sure at this point that unless I want to wait a couple weeks it's the ProVari I'll need to get. VV is a nice addition, but not what I'm really after solely. Mostly I want a safe, larger unit, with replaceable batteries. I don't want to mess with stacked batteries, and looking at the IP and BP that's the only option for them at this point (unless I'm wrong). FWIW, I like how the Buzz Pro looks a lot better than the ProVari.

I like the LCD on the ProVari and the functions it provides other than simple VV.

No matter what, the wife is already ...... at me for screwing up $20, and now is about the best time to jump at a high cost mod with the least amount of fallout.

 

[markfm]

Yes, the notcigs products absolutely use a stacked approach, buck regulator rather than boost. VVPV is their new, box format (not tube), unit, with top feed. I'm liking it a lot

Good luck with the Provari!

 

[saltysharktoes]

provari?? lavatube ftw!

 

[Huuwap]

provari?? lavatube ftw!

Ya'll just have to keep making this decision more difficult don't you? lol

Sell me on it man. Batteries replaceable, or when it stops taking a charge do I have to spend $70 on a whole new unit?

I'm looking at long term, and as long as the circuitry will hold up and it's just battery replacement costs I'm pretty sold on the idea of the ProVari.

 

[Huuwap]

Welp...I did it.

 

[washvap]

Congrats on getting a Provari V2. It's really a great mod with an improved amperage limit to it now. Plus, it's built very solid.