ManCaveMods - VW amd VV Wood Mods

[matador]

Any chance for a 26650 prior to the move?

Im going to try to make a few 26650's in the last batch.

 

[GloryVaprs]

Me picke!!

 

[jkmtwo]

Heck, if I can get 2-3 weeks out of one that's good enough to keep me using it....it's a very good vape as you know. I should have maybe mentioned mesh as you did due to it's clean taste as well but I moved on from those devices awhile back because I just got tired of messing with the setup routine.

I agree, I had the same experience with mesh, when you get it to work, its a great vape, but for me, the cost is more than offset by the completely laborious hassle of it, also it was my experience that mesh is better with some juices than others, it is just all around way too temperamental for my tastes to be something I would, or honestly, could ever invest the time and money in. Attys, it's a different story, I've got a long barrel HH357 that I bought back in November, that has seen probably 500 mils of juice through it and still going strong lol, I've always had good experiences with Cisco attys.

 

[jkmtwo]

I have some more DNA20's coming in the mail tomorrow and if they do in fact show up tomorrow I will have two Wenge on Wenge MCM20's up for sale tomorrow night.

I'm stalking now

 

[GloryVaprs]

I agree, I had the same experience with mesh, when you get it to work, its a great vape, but for me, the cost is more than offset by the completely laborious hassle of it, also it was my experience that mesh is better with some juices than others, it is just all around way too temperamental for my tastes to be something I would, or honestly, could ever invest the time and money in. Attys, it's a different story, I've got a long barrel HH357 that I bought back in November, that has seen probably 500 mils of juice through it and still going strong lol, I've always had good experiences with Cisco attys.

I'm totally different I feel mesh is easier to build then silica

 

[Carole]

Hmmm, let's see figuring CGR cells... 2250mAh x 3 = 6750mAh, in parallel, capable of delivering, say, 30 amps short term, 25 amps all day. Well, not all day, maybe 10 minutes, but who needs 25 amps in a vape. Maybe in a welder. Still that's a huge capacity. Vape all month with it. So maybe it doesn't matter that an evolv 500mA charging board will take, hmm, 14 hours to recharge it, since you'd only have to do it, say, once a month, or for a home only vape, maybe twice a year.

I've got Panasonic CGR 2250 cells (the grey ones) and I get between 2 and 3 hours vape time out of them. Sometimes a little more, but never 4. I use between 4 and 6 of those per day (chain vaping). I'd have to charge that mod by the end of the afternoon - unless my cells are defective or something like that? Or were you kidding?

 

[jkmtwo]

I've got Panasonic CGR 2250 cells (the grey ones) and I get between 2 and 3 hours vape time out of them. Sometimes a little more, but never 4. I use between 4 and 6 of those per day (chain vaping). I'd have to charge that mod by the end of the afternoon - unless my cells are defective or something like that? Or were you kidding?

Are you using them in a mech mod?

 

[NebulaBrot]

I've got Panasonic CGR 2250 cells (the grey ones) and I get between 2 and 3 hours vape time out of them. Sometimes a little more, but never 4. I use between 4 and 6 of those per day (chain vaping). I'd have to charge that mod by the end of the afternoon - unless my cells are defective or something like that? Or were you kidding?

If you are using the 2250 mah ones, sounds like something is wrong here. That vape "time" sounds horrendously short. Many variables go into vape "time" - biggest two may be amps draw and aggregate button time. I have not tested the batt on DNA20d yet but I do use it on a DNA12 device and get approx 9 MLs of vaping before the DNA signals time to recharge (3.2 volts under-load = 3.4-3.6 unloaded; again, many variables for the unloaded spread). I vape around 5 mls/day but I was proto-testing a DNA12 device so I measured in MLs as I see that as a better test. But, again, amps and aggregate button time are both huge variables. My vaping level generally pulls around 1.74 amps using 2.8Ω at 8.5 watts. If you are using very low Ωs, that amps draw could dramatically increase tho and that could significantly reduce vape time. For example, using an Ohms law calculator, on genesis style I see people wrapping .9Ω coils @ 11 watts -> takes the amps demand up to about 3.5 and that would certainly crash the useable "time".

EDIT: of course dual coils are another animal altogether and can run at much higher power levels. I find a 1.5Ω dc at 5.5-6V a very nice vape. But even tho 2x higher Ω coils they are "read" by DNA as 1.5 and pull higher amps too.

 

[matador]

I've got Panasonic CGR 2250 cells (the grey ones) and I get between 2 and 3 hours vape time out of them. Sometimes a little more, but never 4. I use between 4 and 6 of those per day (chain vaping). I'd have to charge that mod by the end of the afternoon - unless my cells are defective or something like that? Or were you kidding?

Wow! I thought i was a chain vaper. You must be doing some hardcore vaping for cgr 18650s to only last a few hours. I can easily get a whole day on 1 cgr. But I usually vape a 2ohm at 8 - 9 watts, which is pretty gentle on the coils.

 

[Carole]

I use a Wildfire VV mod; it had been suggested to me that this mod is hard on the batteries but I didn't think much of it, and I have no way of comparing the mod to, say, a Provari since I dont own one, and my technical knowledge about this is insufficient to determine the cause, so I'm very grateful for your replies

I tried to make coils on a Genesis style atomizer but failed to get them right. Always got hot spots and burned taste, and the small capacity of the atomizer wasn't motivating enough to keep trying, so I use 6-8ml tanks with XL LR cartos (either Smoktech at 1.5 Ohms or Boge at 2 Ohms - I like the low resistance of the Smoktech, but prefer the flavor of the Boge). Voltage is usually between 3.7 and 4.5V.

I vape between 8 and 12 ml per day with the above setup, so if a CGR 2250 lasts you guys about that, then I guess there's definitely something wrong here!

 

[matador]

Sounds like you vape around 10 - 13 watts of power. That shouldn't be enough to go through batteries that fast. Im not sure what kind of regulator the Wildfire VV Mod uses, but I usually vape on DNA boards and they are very very efficient. My guess is the Wildfire probably uses a far less efficient linear voltage regulator.

 

[tvBilly]

I use a Wildfire VV mod; ...[snip]... (either Smoktech at 1.5 Ohms or Boge at 2 Ohms - I like the low resistance of the Smoktech, but prefer the flavor of the Boge). Voltage is usually between 3.7 and 4.5V.

A good CGR18650CH has 2.25 amp hours capacity when fully charged. That means it can supply 2.25 amps for an hour. (Or, said another way, at its average voltage of 3.7 Volts, it can supply 8.33 Watts for an hour). The most power hungry configuration you mention would be the 1.5Ω Smoktech driven with 4.5V. That combo draws 3.0 Amps. (Or 13.5 Watts).

If your Wildfire VV's regulator was 100% efficient (it isn't), a good CGR18650CH should be able to fire your cart continuously for 45 minutes. If your VV's regulator is 90% efficient, that works out to 40 minutes.

The least power hungry combo is the 2.0Ω Boge driven at 3.7V. That combo draws 1.85 Amps or 6.85 Watts. That works out to just over an hour (65 minutes) of continuous run time at 90% converter efficiency.

Only you can tell how long you press the button each time you take a hit, and how many hits a minute/hour you take. But maybe knowing that good CGR18650CH should give you 40 minutes or so total power on time (or 65 minutes with the Boge @ 3.7V) can help you determine if your batteries are weak, or your charger sucks, or if your VV mod is a dog, or if all is really well and you're just a vape fiend (meant in the nicest possible way).

What kind of charger do you use? How old are your batteries? Do they each last about the same time in your mod?

 

[Carole]

Thank you so much tvBilly! The wording and reasoning of your message make it so easy to understand for me. Depending on resistance and voltage set, the batteries should last approx an hour (or just under an hour) of continuous use. Seeing as I press the button for between 5 and 8 seconds depending on how easy the draw is, pause for 2, 3 or 5 seconds and then repeat over and over again, it seems like the high usage is responsible for the low vape times I get out of the batteries (in combination with a low spec regulator). I cannot use metal drip tips, they get too hot too quickly. Even plastic drip tips reach temps hotter than a hot bath within 2 minutes. The caps on the tanks get so hot I cannot touch them for more than 2 seconds. I probably am a vape fiend!

To answer your questions: the cells are about 2 months old, I've got 6 of them, charge them about once a day with an XSTAR SP2 charger set to 2A (I read on here that these cells support this current, and they get fully charged rather quickly, about an hour or so). They all seem to last about the same time, although I might have one that doesn't last as long as the others.

 

[tierrataz]

Might want to up your nic if your not reaching satiety. ;-)

 

[Carole]

I did that already (using 18 mg/ml now) but I'm afraid that if I use more, I'll still just vape as much, only with a headache and more nic in my system. When I used 12 mg/ml, I vaped as much (maybe slightly more). In any case, switching batteries less frequently would really be great for starters.

 

[tvBilly]

Thank you so much tvBilly! The wording and reasoning of your message make it so easy to understand for me. Depending on resistance and voltage set, the batteries should last approx an hour (or just under an hour) of continuous use. Seeing as I press the button for between 5 and 8 seconds depending on how easy the draw is, pause for 2, 3 or 5 seconds and then repeat over and over again, it seems like the high usage is responsible for the low vape times I get out of the batteries (in combination with a low spec regulator). I cannot use metal drip tips, they get too hot too quickly. Even plastic drip tips reach temps hotter than a hot bath within 2 minutes. The caps on the tanks get so hot I cannot touch them for more than 2 seconds. I probably am a vape fiend!

To answer your questions: the cells are about 2 months old, I've got 6 of them, charge them about once a day with an XSTAR SP2 charger set to 2A (I read on here that these cells support this current, and they get fully charged rather quickly, about an hour or so). They all seem to last about the same time, although I might have one that doesn't last as long as the others.

Glad you were able to understand all the tech stuff; I was worried it might just be gibberish to you. The charger you use is just fine, and the charge time you mention is proper for good cells and a good charger. And yes, 2 Amps is OK for charging these cells, though personally I charge mine at 1.4 Amps, as that's what Panasonic uses in all their fast charging tests. Charging at 2A won't supply more (or less) power to the cell than charging it at 1.4 Amps. The trade off is the number of charge/discharge cycles versus how long it takes to recharge the battery. You'll get a few less uses out of a battery charged at 2A than at 1.4A before the battery needs to be tossed, but you won't hurt anything and they'll fully charge in 30% less time than if you charged them at 1.4A.

I took a quick look at the Wildfire VV, and it uses an efficient switching regulator, not an inefficient linear regulator, so you should be getting 85%-95% efficiency. (That's good). However, the spec for the Wildfire VV notes that the maximum current it will supply is 2.5 Amps, and your "worst case" setup (1.5Ω Smoketech @ 4.5V) wants 3.0 Amps, which is more then your Wildfire VV will supply. So with that combination, you're "starving" the cart a bit, and the regulator in the Wildfire will not be running in its most efficient state. You can drop the voltage a little to 3.75 Volts, which is within the 2.5 Amps the Wildfire can supply to a 1.5Ω load, but your hits won't be quite as strong.

Using your "I press the button for between 5 and 8 seconds depending on how easy the draw is, pause for 2, 3 or 5 seconds and then repeat over and over again" as a guide, it seems that you are firing the Wildfire 50% of real time. (5 seconds on, 5 seconds off, repeat). If you really are hitting your mod that much, then there is no technical problem with your mod or your batteries or your charger. 45-60 minutes times two is actually less time than you mention you get from a fully charged battery, so you're not quite vaping as much as your guestimates, but pretty close.

You win the "I vape more than you do" contest, hands down.

So what's the solution? Either vape less, or use a mod that takes more powerful batteries. I might suggest matador's dual 18650 mod, which will double your vape time, and then some (as the evolv DNA20 is more efficient than the regulator in your mod). Or maybe one of his 26650 mods, which is not quite as large as the dual 18650 MCM, but will also almost double your vape time. Personally, I would stick with a mod that uses 18650 batteries, as you can still use all the batteries you already bought, and you can still use the same batteries in your physically smaller Wildfire for the times you don't want to carry the larger MCM dual 18650 mod. I also don't know if the XStar SP2 will physically support 26650 batteries (they're larger), so you might have to buy a second charger if you went with 26650s. I don't get any joy from spending your money though, so take my suggestion with a grain of salt if you don't happen to have an extra $175 burning a hole in your pocket...

And speaking of dual 18650 MCMs, I just received mine from matador on Saturday, and I love it.

 

[Slot-Tech]

Thank you, Matt

 

[Carole]

I took a quick look at the Wildfire VV, and it uses an efficient switching regulator, not an inefficient linear regulator, so you should be getting 85%-95% efficiency. (That's good). However, the spec for the Wildfire VV notes that the maximum current it will supply is 2.5 Amps, and your "worst case" setup (1.5Ω Smoketech @ 4.5V) wants 3.0 Amps, which is more then your Wildfire VV will supply. So with that combination, you're "starving" the cart a bit, and the regulator in the Wildfire will not be running in its most efficient state. You can drop the voltage a little to 3.75 Volts, which is within the 2.5 Amps the Wildfire can supply to a 1.5Ω load, but your hits won't be quite as strong.

I saw in reviews that some mods are limited to 2.5 or 3 or so amps, but I never quite understood what this means, or why they would have such a wide range of voltage settings if they only supply limited current, or why there would even be such a limitation? But you're right, there is virtually no difference that I could tell between the 3.7V setting and a 4.5V setting with the 1.5 Ohm cart - which makes sense if the regulator supplies 2.5 amps in both cases.

Using your "I press the button for between 5 and 8 seconds depending on how easy the draw is, pause for 2, 3 or 5 seconds and then repeat over and over again" as a guide, it seems that you are firing the Wildfire 50% of real time. (5 seconds on, 5 seconds off, repeat). If you really are hitting your mod that much, then there is no technical problem with your mod or your batteries or your charger. 45-60 minutes times two is actually less time than you mention you get from a fully charged battery, so you're not quite vaping as much as your guestimates, but pretty close.

Quite right. I didn't mention it, but sometimes I put the mod down and let it cool for a few minutes - like right now, for instance, typing this message or during other daily activities. I also vape less while driving (stick shift), but I do have the mod in a holster around the neck

So what's the solution? Either vape less, or use a mod that takes more powerful batteries. I might suggest matador's dual 18650 mod, which will double your vape time, and then some (as the evolv DNA20 is more efficient than the regulator in your mod). Or maybe one of his 26650 mods, which is not quite as large as the dual 18650 MCM, but will also almost double your vape time. Personally, I would stick with a mod that uses 18650 batteries, as you can still use all the batteries you already bought, and you can still use the same batteries in your physically smaller Wildfire for the times you don't want to carry the larger MCM dual 18650 mod. I also don't know if the XStar SP2 will physically support 26650 batteries (they're larger), so you might have to buy a second charger if you went with 26650s. I don't get any joy from spending your money though, so take my suggestion with a grain of salt if you don't happen to have an extra $175 burning a hole in your pocket...

Yes, I checked before I bought the charger: it takes 26650s according to all the descriptions I have seen online. There seems to be enough space around the 18650s for that to be true, but I haven't tried it yet; I've got some King Kong cells on the way, but haven't got a mod for them yet. I tried to buy a 26650 mod from matador via PM, but unfortunately he won't take orders, I'd have to be online when he posts them for sale, and that's at 4 am where I am according to the timestamp of his last sale. I could stay up that long, but I'd have no guarantee of being able to buy one and I'd only have 2 hours sleep left before the baby starts to cry (assuming I can sleep at all right after the adrenaline rush of the acquisition), so that might prove more difficult than it may seem. I found 2 other (mechanical) 26650 mods that were out of stock, a local modder who refuses to make a box "that thick" and that's about it. Not sure what to do with the 10 King Kongs I should be receiving this week...

You win the "I vape more than you do" contest, hands down.

Naaa.... http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...67904-best-device-chain-vape.html#post5288587

 

[phil71185]

I'll just throw my experience in here I run about 5 mil a day threw my ody with a 1 ohm coil in it at 15 watts and it usually makes it threw the day on one cgr. The only reason I say usually is a few of the Cgr's in my rotation are getting ready for the trash heap. If I grab one of them some time around dinner I will have to switch out. That's just my experience and I know running a 1 ohm coil is not recommended on a variable power device but I am lazy and don't want to keep rebuilding it for when I want to put it on a mechanical. Plus if the DNA don't complain why change. btw for those curious I have done down to a .8 on the DNA still not sure how low it will go. .8 is as low as I dare go tho don't want no ...... of batteries trying to take my face off. The DNA has also fired a 4 ohm coil a friend of mine made one of his first coils. It fired it at 7.4 volts when cranked what can't this chip do.

 

[matador]

I've been waiting on a bunch of DNA20's to come in the mail, but I think they have been lost. It was supposed to be delivered on Saturday and I was going to finish 2 mods and list them. It looks like I'll have to put in another order for DNA's. This coming batch of mods (9 mods) will be my last. Im hoping that I can continue to make mods after I move, but it's looking like I won't be able to. I'll let you guys know when the last batch is ready.