A question wrt battery longevity was raised in this
thread:
Upcoming and Incoming - two new products! - Page 3 - E-Cigarette Forum
I will concede it was not the proper place to exchange in the debate as it detracted from the topic, although it was first introduced in the aforementioned
thread by Mik.
Some pretty heated words were in fact exchanged and perhaps inappropriate for the forum, so I apologise to the membership for derailing the
thread.
Someone claimed to be a heavy vaper and that the eGo batt would last 22-24hrs. I amongst others found this claim a little reaching to say the least. My rule of thumb that has been exercised by many, was put to the test. A rule of thumb is exactly that, a rule of thumb were - a quick calculation can take place, and an educated decision formulated.
The nice thing about this ROT it is not proprietary and thus can be applied to any battery. I also mentioned in the thread and elsewhere in the past that the eGo battery's mAh rating was indeed the most accurate I had seen, especially when compared to the *fire series. Vendors relish in these type of positive comments, it's called free advertising. The flip side of the coin is that they do not take too kindly having their claims questioned, rightfully so as that becomes negative publicity, and will usually result in a heated exchange as seen.
The following mathematical calculations will be conducted at 2 voltages 3.1V and 3.7V. The delta is because JoyE products run at a modulated 3.1V not 3.7V. In these calculations we will be discussing current draw resulting from pushing a known voltage through a known resistance. The calculations will take into account both the regular JoyE atty at a resistance of 2.2 Ohms and the low resistance atty at 1.5 Ohms.
The current draw on the battery of 3.1V through a 2.2 Ohm resistor = 1.4A, the same resistance while pushing 3.7V = 1.64A
The current draw on the battery of 3.1V through a 1.5 Ohm resistor = 2.06A, the same resistance while pushing 3.7V = 2.46A
The battery we are discussing is 650mAh or:
- 650mAh / 1000 = 0.65A of available power for 1 hour or 0.65C
Since batteries are rated in mAh (milliamp per hour) we need to convert Amps to milliamp or A *1000 = mA. Which equates to:
- 1.4A x 1000 = 1400mA
- 1.64A x 1000 = 1640mA
- 2.06A x 1000 = 2060mA
- 2.46A x 1000 = 2460mA
Therefore...
- 1400mA / 650mAh = 2.15C... 60 min / 2.15C = 27.91min or 1674.6 sec
- 1640mA / 650mAh = 2.52C... 60 min / 2.52C = 23.81 min or 1428.6 sec
- 2060mA / 650mAh = 3.17C... 60 min / 3.17C = 18.93 min or 1135.8 sec
- 2460mA / 650mAh = 3.78C... 60 min / 3.78C = 15.87 min or 952.2 sec
The aforementioned figures represents the theoretical life span of a battery under a given load.
I consider myself a moderately heavy smoker of 1-1.5pk a day (25/pk). This translates to what I consider myself to be a moderately heavy vaper as well. 3-5ml @ 24mg. I take 3-5 sec drags on my devices, lower when using low resistance atomisers or higher voltages.
When I smoked, I use to smoke on avg 3-4 cigarettes/hr. Each cigarette represented 10-15 puffs. (Ecig vendor figures) I will use 12 puffs as a standard. Therefore, (12puffs x 3 sec)*4 = 144 sec total use/hr and (12 puffs x 5 sec)*4 = 280 sec total use/hr
- 1674.6 / 144 = 11.63 hrs @ 3.1V
- 1674.6 / 280 = 9.92 hrs @ 3.1V
- 1428.6 / 144 = 6.97 hrs @ 3.7V
- 1428.6 / 280 = 5.95 hrs @ 3.7V
Regular ^ atomisers. The following data is using a low resistance atomiser:
- 1135.8 / 144 = 7.89 hrs @ 3.1V
- 1135.8 / 280 = 6.61 hrs @ 3.1V
- 952.2 / 144 = 4.73 hrs @ 3.7V
- 952.2 / 280 = 3.96 hrs @ 3.7V
Those are the figures from theoretical calculations in a perfect world, using a "new" atomiser and new battery. It was allured to that depending on the state of the atomiser, that battery duration would vary. That statement is true as atomisers get dirty the resistance increases and longevity decreases accordingly.
Liquid was also mentioned, and it is a given that folks will vape less using higher concentrations of nicotine, whilst vaping more using less.
Hence the ROT that the average vaper can expect 1-1.5hr per 100mAh which equates to - 6.5 and 9.75 hrs respectively. When using that perspective that is indeed a large variance in time available.
Notwithstanding, the mAh rating is a given, under perfect conditions. You only have X available, regardless. How you use X is what determines longevity.
I will concede that we do not know how each vape, but at the same time 1-2 sec hits is not the average, try it sometime. 3-5 sec hits would be a more accurate average whilst 7-10 sec would be on the high side.
When folks ask how much liquid I need to buy, we recommend that the average smoker (1pk/day, anything more than that should be considered a "heavy" smoker IMHO) will go through 2-3ml/day in the beginning sometimes more, but should settle in around there, and at times as high as 5ml/day (read bad days).
The object of the vaping community IMHO is to help folks along with the transition and assist them in remaining smoke free. In saying that, it is also my opinion that our recommendations air on the side of caution, hence the ROT which I firmly believe is a more accurate description of battery longevity, and supported by many across the various forums I frequent. I will also concede that many use vaping as smoking cessation and over time decrease their consumption. I have only been vaping for 21 weeks but during that time frame I have decreased my overall consumption hence why I claim 3-5ml/day, depending on the day, stress etc... I have seen days where my consumption is greater than 5ml, those are the exception. We also had days where we smoked more than a pack a day as well.
So yes someone who vapes 1-2ml per day, with 2 sec hits, should be considered a light vaper, rather than a heavy vaper, which in turn led to the discussion. This is what was pointed out, and IMHO could be considered reckless and lead the consumer into a false expectations, which in turn can be construed as false advertising.
In the end if a product does not meet someone's expectations, it equates to a product that falls short of "as advertised", nothing more. OTOH the customer who is expecting 6-8hrs out of a battery and gets more is a happy customer, because the product exceeded his/her expectations.
In closing, we see far too many vendors these days brag about their products (not necessarily vape related here) especially during economical bad times, especially when mud slinging another product. This has been evidenced, and folks have noticed this. The average consumer is not that naive.
How many manufacturers have claimed that a cart represents a pack of cigarettes some have even claimed they equate to 2, when we know this is not true. 12-15 drops per cart, at a rate of 5-10 hits per drop = 72-150 hits or puffs at 12 puffs per cig = 6-12 cigarettes not 1-2 packs.
