Is there a regulated mod that fits my needs? Is it even possible?

[djironic]

So, in doing more research on the subject, I'm not sure if the regulated mod that I'm looking for exists.

One of the biggest criteria for me in choosing a regulated mod is it's ability to run my mech mod setups in a fashion similar to (or even better) what I get on my mechs.

I like the idea of being able to switch tanks/drippers from mech to regulated and back with no change in vape quality.

I still like to take my mech mods when I spend a night on the town. They have a small form factor, they look stylish, and I'm out less money if I lose one in the process.

But I'd like to have a regulated mod for the flexibility and more consistent ability to deliver a premium vape (as well as for the potential to overcome any build that isn't set up optimally for the gear, lol).

So it looks like I have two choices - 1) find a regulated mod that can run mech mod setups as well as an actual mech mod, or 2) buy duplicates of my favorite toppers so that I have one available for each type of mod. The second choice, obviously, leads to a smaller bank account and an increased need for vape storage. Both of which have a staggeringly high WAF (wife approval factor).

I've seen it been pointed out several times that running, say, a 0.3 ohm setup on a regulated mod is entirely different than running the same setup on a mech. If I'm pushing 80w to a dripper on a mech, doing the same thing on a regulated would not be at all equivalent.

I'm not entirely clear why that is - is there anyone who would be wiling to educate me as to why it is different, and let me know how feasible is it to accomplish what I am trying to do, if at all?

Thanks!

 

[tehdarkaura]

I haven't used a mech mod since I got my IPV3 -- the thing is a beast and beats the hell out of my mech mods -- I get as strong as a vape as I want and its consistent throughout. Compare that to a mech mod where you first few hits are killer and then its a slow decline from that point forward.

Get a high wattage device and I bet you will stop using your mech mods all together unless you choose to lug one around on your nights out. I really like the IPV3 -- just can't say enough good things about it -- and the builds don't matter that much, with a high wattage VW mod you set it where you want it and thats all there is to it.

the IPV3 will blow your mechs out of the water man.

oh thought of something else to add -- yihi has announced a highwattage chip with temp control coming out in the near future, if you are interested in TC/TP then that may be a better choice -- that way you can go high wattage -- and use TP with a nice nickle build if you choose.

 

[St0rm]

Maybe an okr/okl box will fit your needs?

 

[Garemlin]

Many of the higher wattage mods will allow you to use anything you want. For example a Sigelei 100w will fire down to a .2Ω. So if you are running a .2Ω at 75w you will only be pushing 3.87v. If you want to run a full 4.2v it is still only 88w. And that is pulling 21A. Still below the threshold of a VTC5. There are many options for 100w+ boxes out there now. The IPV4 will fire down to a .1Ω. As will the Sigelei 150w. The Sigelei 100w Plus will fire down to a .15Ω.

 

[sparkky1]

Regulated vs Mechanical Mods | Mt Baker Vapor

 

[gmoney$]

you might be a candidate for one of the regulated mods that has the option to fire unregulated. I don't know what those are off hand but I've seen a few of them (and wondered ... is that for?)

 

[SavePaperVapor]

The sx mini fires down to a .13 coil and has bypass mode, meaning it uses the safety features but doesn't regulate the power from the battery.

 

[sparkky1]

I think you will realize that a .8 - 1.2 ohm build works best for flavor IMO and if your not looking to get into cloud chasing contest then the 30 - 50 watt regulated will be more than enough or ask how many people on here vape all day above 50 watts ...

 

[djironic]

Many of the higher wattage mods will allow you to use anything you want. For example a Sigelei 100w will fire down to a .2Ω. So if you are running a .2Ω at 75w you will only be pushing 3.87v. If you want to run a full 4.2v it is still only 88w. And that is pulling 21A. Still below the threshold of a VTC5. There are many options for 100w+ boxes out there now. The IPV4 will fire down to a .1Ω. As will the Sigelei 150w. The Sigelei 100w Plus will fire down to a .15Ω.

And those are buck-down devices, correct?

As I recall, I might be able to replicate mech mod performance on a buck-down chip, but I'm not sure.

What I was hearing was that, while regulated mods can fire down into the low sub-ohms, the amount of voltage pushed to the atty will not be the same.

For example, on a mech, a fresh 4.2 battery paired with a .2 ohm coil will only effectively see 3.8v (or something like that) at the atty for…reasons (voltage drop increases as coil resistance decreases, or something?).

So if you put the same atty on a regulated mod, the mod will actually be sending 4.2v to the coil, creating a much hotter/possibly burned vape.

Therefore, it's imperative to have buck down on a regulated mod if you want to have similar performance to a mechanical mod.

Does that sound familiar/correct?

 

[Garemlin]

And those are buck-down devices, correct?

As I recall, I might be able to replicate mech mod performance on a buck-down chip, but I'm not sure.

What I was hearing was that, while regulated mods can fire down into the low sub-ohms, the amount of voltage pushed to the atty will not be the same.

For example, on a mech, a fresh 4.2 battery paired with a .2 ohm coil will only effectively see 3.8v (or something like that) at the atty for…reasons (voltage drop increases as coil resistance decreases, or something?).

So if you put the same atty on a regulated mod, the mod will actually be sending 4.2v to the coil, creating a much hotter/possibly burned vape.

Therefore, it's imperative to have buck down on a regulated mod if you want to have similar performance to a mechanical mod.

Does that sound familiar/correct?

That honestly is getting into a technical area that I am not 100% comfortable answering. I would rather give you that answer than to try to wing it. But I am sure someone that is more into the technical aspects that can give you a proper answer will chime in. I get a little confused myself with the step-down thing.

 

[djironic]

I think you will realize that a .8 - 1.2 ohm build works best for flavor IMO and if your not looking to get into cloud chasing contest then the 30 - 50 watt regulated will be more than enough or ask how many people on here vape all day above 50 watts ...

I currently run my single coil tanks in the .9-1.2 ohm range, my dual coil tanks and flavor drippers in the .4-.7 ohm range, my cloud drippers (which I don't use that often, but like to switch up with occasionally) in the .2 - .3 range.

As far as flavor vs. clouds, I find that the flavor is more dependent on the airflow than the resistance. My cloud drippers do respectably well on flavor if I build low enough to compensate for the massive airflow. My flavor atties, on the other hand, will lose flavor if I build the coils too low, and will lose vapor if I build too high.

 

[Nomoreash]

And those are buck-down devices, correct?

As I recall, I might be able to replicate mech mod performance on a buck-down chip, but I'm not sure.

What I was hearing was that, while regulated mods can fire down into the low sub-ohms, the amount of voltage pushed to the atty will not be the same.

For example, on a mech, a fresh 4.2 battery paired with a .2 ohm coil will only effectively see 3.8v (or something like that) at the atty for…reasons (voltage drop increases as coil resistance decreases, or something?).

So if you put the same atty on a regulated mod, the mod will actually be sending 4.2v to the coil, creating a much hotter/possibly burned vape.

Therefore, it's imperative to have buck down on a regulated mod if you want to have similar performance to a mechanical mod.

Does that sound familiar/correct?

Buck or step down just means it will regulate below the batteries available voltage. For instance if you have a 4.2v fresh battery and set the pv to output 3.7v it won't if it doesn't have buck/step down regulation. In this case it will output the batteries available voltage until it reaches 3.7v then it will start regulating again. If it has buck regulation it will regulate anywhere you set it below the batteries available voltage.

With a mech the amount of voltage pushed to the atty is what's available from the battery. With variable regulated what's pushed to the atty is where you have it adjusted. In both cases this doesn't mean you'll get that that same voltage output from the atty. There will be a drop and the amount of drop will depend on many factors, resistance, materials used, battery condition, solder joints, contacts, etc., etc. but their will be voltage drop on both mech and regulated.

 

[djironic]

Okay, so I did a little more research on voltage drop and it seems like, if I want to smoothly swap my toppers from mech to regulated back to mech and have the same vape, I need a buck -down (or a buck-and-boost) chip. Since the voltage drop on a mech is significant for lower sub-ohm builds, in order to replicate mech performance on a regulated box, the box has to be able to drop the voltage accordingly.

Since, say, a .2 ohm dual-coil is only effectively pulling around (maybe - haven't done the math) 3.7 volts from a freshly-charged 4.2v battery due to voltage drop, I will need a regulated box that can also effectively output 3.7 volts to run the same build at the same wattage. Of course, I may be able to run my .2 dual-coil at higher voltage settings without experiencing a vape that is too hot/burned, but having the ability to match the mech's voltage would be great insurance.

Does that sound about right?

EDIT: That also means that I *might* be able to get all of the flexibility that I need from a 50w box rather than needing to get a 100-150w box, right? Since I've been calculating my wattage used based on 4.2v, when in fact it is probably a lot lower than that. I'm not pushing nearly as many watts to my coils as I had been calculating, so my needs may not be as great as I had anticipated.

 

[roxynoodle]

Look at the mod specs to determine what it will step down to.

For example, if it says the chip can deliver 3-8.5V, it can step down to 3V. If the specs say 4-9.5v, it can only step down to 4V.

Yep, important things to check before buying.

 

[SavePaperVapor]

Look at the mod specs to determine what it will step down to.

For example, if it says the chip can deliver 3-8.5V, it can step down to 3V. If the specs say 4-9.5v, it can only step down to 4V.

Yep, important things to check before buying.

This is spot on and why something like the sx mini is so revered. The volt range on that is insane at 1-9.5.

 

[crxess]

Some one has been leg pulling.

80 mph is 80mph no matter what you are driving.
80 watts is 80 watts as long as your equipment is accurate that will not change.

As for differences due to built-in discrepancies, minor tuning of a Regulated should compensate and once known your set.