Mechanical Mods: What's the Attraction?

[roadie]

With these in place and operational would be ok. The thing is that these mechs are being so glorified and when placed in the wrong hands could be asking for trouble. I do things in my profession that are not the best practices but I have been doing it for over 30 years and know exactly what I'm dealing with. I liken this to asking a new apprentice to perform the same tasks I do. Not a good idea. I believe anything can be made safer if put into the right hands with forethought. Without having the correct knowledge or safeguards in place, trouble is looming!

I agree 100%. I've been vaping for about 6 months, and have done SO much research everywhere I can from local shops, Youtube, internet, etc. In fact, my local shop sells Patriot clone rba's preset to .3 ohms. .3!!!!! That's asking for trouble, especially when they have no idea who they are selling them too. It's taken me a long time to determine the proper safety, batteries required, setting up a proper coil, etc. I'm an electronic engineer and am very familiar with electronics and Ohm's law. With that said though, it's also not rocket science. Watts, volts, amps, ohms, are all very basic formulas than anybody using a MM should fully understand. Otherwise, good luck.

 

[Ryedan]

If the switch get stuck or it fires in your pocket or falls down in the "crack monster" and is continually depressed it will heat and burn until either the coil burns in two " an open circuit" or catches fire. This is how a fuse works. It gets hot and burns in two therefore "opens" the circuit. Without it you are relying on the coil acting as a fuse or if it doesn't, FIRE! That's what I am talking about. There is a published form of literature that governs all electrical installations called the National Electrical Code written to prevent these things from happening. Most of the conditions spelled out in it are there because someone somewhere has neglected to take safety into account and caused death or destruction. The articles are written in blood. Literally! If anyone wants to use one of these devices it is their prerogative but for me, I want some sort of over current device between me and my stupidity or neglect. This is just my own opinion. I am just sharing my knowledge.

Not sure I understand what you're getting at. I think you're saying that a fuse will stop a properly functioning device that is turned on for a while before it catches fire.

I must be missing something.

 

[emus]

Mech mod coin fuses are available but don't seem overly popular.

 

[Up in steam]

Very interesting read. Thanks! I think the safety issue is important since it can create the public/media idea of e-cigs being dangerous. I'm into Rc-planes and helicopters, we have had a revolution in batteries and electronics the last 10 years. Because some people don't know why they should get a decent charger, and how to use it correct on their LiPo's, or how not to abuse the battery in flight, there has been raised all kinds of concerns and safety issues (ok, first gen LiPos were just fire bombs waiting to happen). That hobby has shown me that safety most of all depends on the user, anyway. And maybe the bad reputation will come from cheap mini's catching fire in a pocket... not from these mechs. Also it has shown me that we like to play around with hundreds of different ways to do almost the same thing. It's just fun to tinker with mechanics and electronics, if you want to reach the clouds, or make clouds! Btw, I have a 220g battery that can deliver 110A and 1800 watts. Anyone interested?

 

[Free6413]

Not sure I understand what you're getting at. I think you're saying that a fuse will stop a properly functioning device that is turned on for a while before it catches fire.

I must be missing something.

That's exactly what I'm saying. Even though the device is operating correctly, if the button is depressed with no fuse, fuse link, or device to open the circuit under over current situation it will catch on fire. This is unless the coil burns open (fuse operation). Every electric/electronic device used today has some sort of over current protection. UL, ETL, CSA and numerous testing labs around the world have deemed necessary these devices to protect life and property. Why should it be any different for a PV device? Anyone using a mech is welcome to do so. That is their given right but to glorify these devices as a common mainstream practice and then make them available to anyone that has enough cash is just crazy! If you know what you are doing with them and know the theory behind them then it is less likely that the catastrophic will happen. On the other side, if placed in the wrong hands the likelihood of the catastrophic increases. The only problem is that they are being made available with little or no information given to the consumers buying them or building them and they have no idea what they are dealing with.

 

[Free6413]

Very interesting read. Thanks! I think the safety issue is important since it can create the public/media idea of e-cigs being dangerous. I'm into Rc-planes and helicopters, we have had a revolution in batteries and electronics the last 10 years. Because some people don't know why they should get a decent charger, and how to use it correct on their LiPo's, or how not to abuse the battery in flight, there has been raised all kinds of concerns and safety issues (ok, first gen LiPos were just fire bombs waiting to happen). That hobby has shown me that safety most of all depends on the user, anyway. And maybe the bad reputation will come from cheap mini's catching fire in a pocket... not from these mechs. Also it has shown me that we like to play around with hundreds of different ways to do almost the same thing. It's just fun to tinker with mechanics and electronics, if you want to reach the clouds, or make clouds! Btw, I have a 220g battery that can deliver 110A and 1800 watts. Anyone interested?

Hook a coil to that and........wow! Look at the fog!!!

 

[roadie]

Mech mod coin fuses are available but don't seem overly popular.

Do they have them available at higher amperage? I haven't seen any that would work in a MM with a lower ohm RBA. I think most max out at 7A.

 

[Ryedan]

Not sure I understand what you're getting at. I think you're saying that a fuse will stop a properly functioning device that is turned on for a while before it catches fire.

I must be missing something.

That's exactly what I'm saying. Even though the device is operating correctly, if the button is depressed with no fuse, fuse link, or device to open the circuit under over current situation it will catch on fire. This is unless the coil burns open (fuse operation). Every electric/electronic device used today has some sort of over current protection.

Over current is not the situation that happens when a PV is left on for a while. Over current is what happens, well, when you're drawing too much current.

I think what you're looking for in this situation is a timer that shuts down the PV after a pre-determined time. Regulated devices typically have this protection and a lot more.

 

[Ryedan]

Do they have them available at higher amperage? I haven't seen any that would work in a MM with a lower ohm RBA. I think most max out at 7A.

You're correct roadie. At least I've never seen one above 7A. I've often wondered why, but there must be a good reason. If I could get a 10A fuse I would use it.

 

[MikeJA]

I don't have a solid answer as to why I prefer mechs over apvs. To me, the vape is superior; fuller, richer. The closest analogy I can think of is one of music playback: mechs are to vinyl as apvs are to mp3s/cds. This may sound esoteric, but it's the best explanation I can come up with.

 

[Lukas`]

For me, its a matter of appearance. For all their function, apvs just dont seem to have the looks. A good mech with clean lines and a functional switch, with a nice looking atomizer just seems more elegant.

 

[Rossum]

The argument about pulsed DC vs battery voltage may not be as important as many think. The incandescent light bulbs in your house (everyone still has some) run at 60hz (actually 120 if you count the positive and negative transitions of one cycle). The light bulb doesn't flicker because it takes a few milliseconds for the electron flow to slow down between voltage rises and the filament stays hot.

Actually incandescent bulbs running on AC do flicker somewhat, but your eyes and brain can't perceive it. Here's 300 frame/second video:

 

[jbalet666]

i enjoy mechs but not as much as others its great to "cloud chase" and sub ohm but im a convient vaper so i stick to my regulated mod most of the time. the thing that really gets me is the over all pricing of mech mods and the general similarity of them all theres only a few differnt form factors/materials between them in all honesty theu are all metal tubes dont get me wrong i love a good mech but with all the stigma that comes with clones/voltage drop/availability it gets redundant and frustrating. im really waiting for the next BIG development in mechanical mods for now ill stick to dripping on my mech at home and not worrying about .1 voltage drop

 

[Lewtz]

I use a Vamov5 as my current main vapor right now, but I have a mech Nemesis Clone also. The Nemesis I bought for when they start regulating ecigs, I'll have something I can DIY on all the parts. I see a mechanical as future proofing my vaping experience in case they regulate to hell and I break my VVmod.

 

[emus]

You're correct roadie. At least I've never seen one above 7A. I've often wondered why, but there must be a good reason. If I could get a 10A fuse I would use it.

I have 10 amp SMD fuses waiting to be mounted on PCB.

 

[DaveP]

Actually incandescent bulbs running on AC do flicker somewhat, but your eyes and brain can't perceive it. Here's 300 frame/second video:

My point exactly. We perceive them more as a constant source of light, not as we do a Xenon strobe, which actually does present a contrasted transition.

 

[rawr]

It seems like Mechanical Mods have a big following right now. I'm not sure I understand. I get that with sub-ohm coils you can get a great vape with a lower wattage, direct from the battery, but what's the attraction of the Mech Mod? I own a Vision Spinner and a Vamo, and I love that I can adjust the volts / watts to get the perfect vape. I can see investing in a Provari before long, which seemed like the standard bearer for a while anyway. But I'm curious about this Mech Mod thing. Lots of love out there for them right now. Tons of enthusiastic reviews. And some big bucks are being spent too. What's the attraction? Simplicity? No circuit board? Efficiency? I don't really get it.

Size and looks mostly for me. If you want performance, you can get Kick. Win win

 

[DaveP]

No one mentioned the sacrificial spring that all mechs should have. It's designed to soften and sag when the current load hits a given level, then the battery loses its contact as the spring loses tension. That's probably the best mechanical protection available.

 

[rawr]

No one mentioned the sacrificial spring that all mechs should have. It's designed to soften and sag when the current load hits a given level, then the battery loses its contact as the spring loses tension. That's probably the best mechanical protection available.

Interesting. I am using magnets in my Nemy. No problems with overheating or whatsoever.

Protank2 is slightly larger than protank1 and there is a kick in my mech. Nemy w/o kick and with 18350 battery is only a little over 6cm long!

 

[NicoHolic]

No one mentioned the sacrificial spring that all mechs should have. It's designed to soften and sag when the current load hits a given level, then the battery loses its contact as the spring loses tension. That's probably the best mechanical protection available.

The problem some see with a hot spring is that it adds resistance, and hence voltage drop, to the mod. The power that heats and softens the spring to let it collapse is current squared times resistance. The REOs use these and are among the safest mechs on the market, but there are REO owners who short around the hot spring with brass shim stock or jury rig a lower resistance fuse in its place just to get that extra voltage to the coil.