Looking to be pointed in the right direction.

[Huuwap]

Right now I have a ProVari v2 and a KGO. They're doing me pretty much just fine. That said, I know the KGO is going to crap out on me, and I want a mod with a replaceable battery. Another that said, I don't have a ton of money to throw at a mod, and everything in the affordable range, everyone has. And again, that said, I want something different, something that is 100% mine, something with a wood body...and I want to make it. Oh, and I want it to be a bottom feeder with a single 18650 or 18490/18500 protected battery at 3.7v. I mentioned affordability above...I'm well aware this could end up being a $100+ project, but it's going to be over the course of a couple months most likely, and I'm OK with that.

So, with the backstory out of the way, I think I can make it through making a wood case for internals....the problem at this point is that I have zip for knowledge of electronics past basic common sense. I'm up to speed on battery safety, and want to build a safe mod, but I just don't know where to start. I know I'm going to need a 510 connection with soldered leads to a switch to battery contacts...past that, I don't know where to start. Should there be a resistor in the loop? Capacitor(s)? What is the best way to build some protection into the mod to avoid having to solely count on battery protection?

I've been scouring this sub-section, and haven't found a lot, though I really haven't known what to look for. If somebody could point me in the right direction, I'd be very much appreciative. And I know some of you may be scratching your head, thinking "this guy is going to blow himself up and I don't know how I feel about giving him advice"...trust me, I don't do anything without doing research, and if I'm not comfortable with the knowledge I have on hand, I just don't do it. Either this is going to end with a successful mod on my part, or I'm going to drop the idea and go back to buying the same thing everyone else has. I don't like admitting that I don't know everything, just ask my wife, but I'm asking the question because this isn't going to go anywhere if I don't.

Thank ya'll.

 

[DonG]

Check out the mod kits at Madvapes.
Advanced Personal Vaporizers

Affordable complete and with instruction. Can easily use all components in a wood box of your making.

 

[Huuwap]

It looks like the ones in your link are pre-made. I checked MadVapes earlier (Mod Kits) but the only DIY kits I'm seeing are made for 14500 batteries, either single or dual. Only the VV kit includes a regulator, and it's adjustable, I'm just not looking for variable voltage or multiple batteries...more interested in a single battery regulated at 3.7v, but of the 18mm variety rather than 14mm. Would those contacts work the same with a larger battery? Are other regulators available on their own? I'm not seeing them on the MadVapes website.

Hah! Found the regulators.

EDIT: Nevermind, all are 5v regulators. I really just think I don't know what I'm looking for. If anyone has a list of parts required for a 3.7v regulated mod and how the parts interact, that's exactly the kind of info I'm looking for. In the meantime I'm out to do some research on the roles of resistors, regulators and capacitors...I suppose I could find the answer there myself.

Thanks.

 

[Huuwap]

So I found MadVapes' how to section, and this is all beginning to make more sense to me. The problem I'm having is that it doesn't appear that MadVapes has any regulators under 5v, and I don't need VV (and don't think it would work with a single battery anyway, correct me if I'm wrong). Where would I go to find a 3.7v 3amp regulator? Do they exist? Is this one of the things where I'd just have to deal with the voltage drop on the battery as charge goes down?

 

[Digital-Dragon]

Okay, so I wondered about this also when I first started making mods. Basically, all you need is a switch, 510 connector, and optional 18650 batt holder, you could just use battery clips instead though. That is all that goes into many basic mods, including my first mods. There is voltage drop of course, but with 18650's, I'm not bothered by it. I just swap out batts every 3 days or so, not a big deal to me. I decided I want more protection built into my future mods though, even though it's not necessary, so all you need to do if you would like to add built in protection is to use a protection pcb. I asked a lot of questions about this in another thread, and basically, look for one with a 4-6 amp rating, that also comes close to matching the specs of the batt you want to use. If you plan on using protected batts and not imrs though, a protection pcb is really not necessary. Basic "unregulated" mods like this are super easy to wire up, so just decide how you want to do it, and then go for it!

 

[bnrkwest]

You know something I have been thinking about is has anyone made a APV out of metal mesh, the whole thing would be completely vented from the gitgo, just a thought?? Same for a Box mod, you know how cool those designs look in wood where they are etched completely thru, has anyone done that? Would be plenty vented and very cool looking too. bnrk

 

[bnrkwest]

You know something I have been thinking about is has anyone made a APV out of metal mesh, the whole thing would be completely vented from the gitgo, just a thought?? Same for a Box mod, you know how cool those designs look in wood where they are etched completely thru, has anyone done that? Would be plenty vented and very cool looking too. bnrk

Laser Cut Wood & Laser Cutting Services-Library of Patterns here is what I mean, designs like this used in wood or tube mods, wow would look great! And also have venting covered. bnrk

 

[Huuwap]

Okay, so I wondered about this also when I first started making mods. Basically, all you need is a switch, 510 connector, and optional 18650 batt holder, you could just use battery clips instead though. That is all that goes into many basic mods, including my first mods. There is voltage drop of course, but with 18650's, I'm not bothered by it. I just swap out batts every 3 days or so, not a big deal to me. I decided I want more protection built into my future mods though, even though it's not necessary, so all you need to do if you would like to add built in protection is to use a protection pcb. I asked a lot of questions about this in another thread, and basically, look for one with a 4-6 amp rating, that also comes close to matching the specs of the batt you want to use. If you plan on using protected batts and not imrs though, a protection pcb is really not necessary. Basic "unregulated" mods like this are super easy to wire up, so just decide how you want to do it, and then go for it!

Maybe I'll just give that a shot and see how it goes. I do plan to use protected batteries, and I suppose I could just pick up one of the fuses the guys from epipemods are coming out with when they're available if I get paranoid about it.

So let me run this by you. I don't know how to read diagrams...yet...but I can kind of explain what I'm thinking based on what I've seen:
Negative Battery Terminal > Outside of 510 Connector
Positive Battery Terminal > Kill Switch > Push Button Switch > Center Pin of 510 Connector

Does that sound about right?

 

[Digital-Dragon]

That sounds exactly right. Though I think you can put the the kill switch and switch on either side.

From what I understand, used with a single quality protected batt, venting, and a master on/off switch, this would be considered a "safe" mod.

Just ask if you have more questions.

 

[bstedh]

From what I've read what you're looking for your gonna wanna look for something like a buck boost modul like the ever cool. This is variable voltage but you set it to where you want it and then leave it. This will give you consistent vapes with a single battery. Also you can set it up with a single resistor instead of a variable resistor.

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