Lightbulbs, Audio Amplifiers, and APV's - and a proposal for an experiment

[sbacho]

What do lightbulbs, audio amps and atomizers have in common? Their output is typically indicated by the manufacturer in watts, even though watts give no indication of the brightness of a light bulb, the loudness of an amplifier or the heat of an atomizer. They should be measured in lumens, sound pressure level (spl) and degrees (C or F), respectively. The technically savvy understand that the efficiency of the device under test, the translation between watts/lumens/spl, etc (linear or logarithmic, etc.), dictate the actual performance of the device. For instance, a 100w audio amplifier is certainly not twice as loud as a 50w amp, because spl is not linear. A 75w lightbulb may be brighter than a 100w bulb if it is more efficiently designed, etc.
Therefore, does anyone have any data to indicate whether 3.5v going into an atomizer is significantly different from 4.5v going into the same atomizer with regard to heat? This would require a controlled test with a thermocouple mounted on the coil and all other variables controlled to be identical. I'm interested in learning about the measurable differences in performance, as opposed to perception from using (which is not to discount perception, I am just curious to see if anyone has perfomed this test).
I will certainly look into it myself, once I'm working in a lab again (laid off last week).

 

[Thrasher]

as with amplifiers watts is not finite. but based on the connection being of a certain resistance watts will raise (if the chips can handle it) if the resistance is lowered, creating more voltage to drive the loudspeaker higher in volume at the same setting while generating more heat within the chip.
same with an atty coil, raise the voltage but keep the resistance the same and the wattage as well as heat output will rise within the coil changing the properties of the fluid potentially causing the coil,wick or fluid to burn. which will in turn cause the flavor and density to change.

your essentially saying you want to do research and test ohms laws. which i think have been well proven up to this point.
as far as what will it do to vapor? the results are easily attainable, get a genesis type atomizer, leave the cover off and watch the vapor cloud density increase as you raise either the voltage or wattage.
then with the cover on taste it - low taste like sugar and not much else - medium tastes full of flavoring - very high, taste like scorched metal.

 

[sbacho]

Thanks for the response! Actually, voltage does not drive loudspeakers, current does - Which is why a tube amp requires output transformers (tubes are voltage amplifiers). The efficiency of a loudspeaker is what determines it's output relative to the current provided (and frequency of course). I understand Ohms Law quite well, but it only applies here as a measure relative to Volts, Ohms, Amperes and Watts, which although directly related, doesn't correlate directly to heat - the efficiency of the transducer (the coil) does. Sorry - I'm an electrical engineer, don't mean to be out of line, I just wanted to clarify.
Your test proposal would certainly work, the only drawback being wouldn't explain why or provide a measurable data point to determine if other factors are in play for future investigation, such as coil size, coil material, number of windings, etc.

 

[JUDGMENT AFFIRMED]

Thanks for the response! Actually, voltage does not drive loudspeakers, current does - Which is why a tube amp requires output transformers (tubes are voltage amplifiers). The efficiency of a loudspeaker is what determines it's output relative to the current provided (and frequency of course). I understand Ohms Law quite well, but it only applies here as a measure relative to Volts, Ohms, Amperes and Watts, which although directly related, doesn't correlate directly to heat - the efficiency of the transducer (the coil) does. Sorry - I'm an electrical engineer, don't mean to be out of line, I just wanted to clarify.
Your test proposal would certainly work, the only drawback being wouldn't explain why or provide a measurable data point to determine if other factors are in play for future investigation, such as coil size, coil material, number of windings, etc.

HI again sbacho,
You might want to move to ; Assorted PV Topics-rebuildable atomizers systems, or Modding Forum
You will be right at home.......lots of ground breaking going on.
And how much current is lethal?

 

[NancyR]

If you have used any unregulated apv you would know that the volts of the battery does play a part in the heat and vapor production

 

[sbacho]

HI again sbacho,
You might want to move to ; Assorted PV Topics-rebuildable atomizers systems, or Modding Forum
You will be right at home.......lots of ground breaking going on.
And how much current is lethal?

Lethal current depends upon where it is applied. As little as 5 mA can kill you - but it wouldn't be easy!

 

[mouwthwash]

Can my metal coat hanger/ car battery mod be included in this research?

 

[Hoosier]

Of course a higher voltage will produce more heat in the same resistive coil if the power source has enough current. That was settled centuries ago.

What is more interesting is evaporation rates vs. surface area of the coil. That would be worth a peak in a lab. Along with wicking effeciency. Those kinds of tests always grab my attention.

 

[sbacho]

Can my metal coat hanger/ car battery mod be included in this research?

Absolutely - in fact that's where I was going with this

 

[sbacho]

I have an interview with Intertek tomorrow - if I get hired, I'll definitely be looking into some tests..

 

[mouwthwash]

Make sure to stay on top of your tps reports. I heard they're pretty strict over there.

 

[Thompson]

I'd like to look at an exposed coil with a FLIR just to get an idea on real world temperatures. I think it'd be the easiest way to measure the temp of the coil.

If I only had one

 

[JUDGMENT AFFIRMED]

Lethal current depends upon where it is applied. As little as 5 mA can kill you - but it wouldn't be easy!

Thanks, i thought that would be helpful for people. In 1972, i was 15, my dad gave me a paper from Tektronics, "How much current is fatal?" I still have that paper. "Voltage is not a consideration; it is important only because its level and the body resistance between the points of contact determine how much current flows." Good luck with the job interview.

 

[MattBott]

This thread may interest you: Watts do not matter. Its all about wire temp. Read on…

This is the reason why a lot of people's "sweet spot wattage" is higher when using a geni set up compared to wick. The SS mesh in a geni is acting as a huge heat sink, so you need more watts to get to the temperature that you were getting with a wick setup.