My Blackbox and Skyscraper VV mods .

[Str8V8ping]

I built two mods yesterday and figured id show them off . Both are VV . On the "skyscraper" (had to give them name like my cars lol) i had to change what type of circuit to run . I had it pretty much complete with a NCP chip but could not get the cap that housed everything to fit back on so i took it apart again and converted it to a single 18650 mod . It will be getting a VV boost circuit since with a single battery design i have more room in the tube .I made the pcb's for everything as well as some varioua other chips in case i change chips . The tube is a old aluminum tripod which i scuffed the paint off and polished out on the bench grinder with tripoli . The potentiometer and switch holes i also beveled .

The black box is powered by 2 14500's .OKR-t6 chip . I also added a PTC fuse and low voltage shutoff for protection . It is VV from 3.7-6v . Voltage is marked by the potentiometer for ease of switching . I also want to take it apart again and add some battery contacts to check independant battery voltages on the fly with a dmm . Case is from a sequential LED circuit i make . I also made a long vent hole in the bottom with LED glowing out of it when on .I mounted the pot so you can actually adjust it with your thumb or fingernail .I didnt want to have to use a screwdrive all the time . This vapes so good . Leagues above my riva510 . Been vaping all day at 5v . Tons of vapor . Also added a piece of carbon fiber Dinoc over the recessed area with embossed flame design underneath it .

Heres the pics

Black Box (Used a 220ohm before the pot not 200 like in the diagram)

Skyscraper (The pcb inside the cap btw is potted with clear potting compound in case anyone was thinking i put the circuit in there exposed.On the positive battery contact i drilled 2 micro drill bits(around size #40 through the tube to hold the contact in place . When they were cut off its not noticeable on the exterior )

 

[ScroungerLee]

Nicely done!

 

[P1NkY]

Nice mods, dude!
Keep 'em coming!

 

[WillyB]

Nice, and I like how you've brought a few 'extras' to the table. I often see mods where folks leave out various components, and then assert they aren't really needed. Yea sure.

I do like that black case, seems like a nice size. Gotta link?

 

[Str8V8ping]

Thanks guys . The case size is 3.4"x2.5x.90 . I had about 25 of them a bought from a local electronics surplus store in which they practically gave them to me . Im now down to only 2 cases left and cant find more . It fits nicely in my hand and vape is incredible . I havent touched my riva since building it . Vaped about a whole day and just checked the batts and their still at a little over 3.75 .One battery being .3v lower . Only thing i did not like it i should have put the external LED on the side since it blinds me if i hold it a curtain way . Iv dimmed it down a little and sprayed some tint over it and its a little better now though .

Also i did not use any of the case screws . I didnt want to keep removing screws to change batts . The case kind of force fits on anyway . I also put a tiny bit of 3m ribbon sealer just to make it even tigher . ALL in all its still easy to open up but wont come apart unless you actually want to .

Do you think i should add in some mlcc smd caps off the input ?

 

[WillyB]

.One battery being .3v lower

That's the way it is, one cell works a little harder. Folks often talk of keeping them in pairs, it would be best if you switch positions after each charge cycle, the reason being so that they age (the resistance starts to increase) hopefully, at the same rate.

I'm glad you mentioned that you used a 220Ω resistor in series with your trimmer, I have no idea where the 200Ω value came from.

smd caps off the input

Why so little, seems you got room for something more manageable. Seeing as you are using the enable pin which I assume kinda soft starts the reg you should be fine as is.

Maybe Craig 'The Riddler' HB will chime in and provide some cryptic, non-committal clues.

BTW on that NCP630 it would have been nice if you had made the copper pad it's on as large as possible, to help with the heat. You really should consider some extra heat sinking, especially sealed up in the tube like that.

 

[Str8V8ping]

That's the way it is, one cell works a little harder. Folks often talk of keeping them in pairs, it would be best if you switch positions after each charge cycle, the reason being so that they age (the resistance starts to increase) hopefully, at the same rate.


I'm glad you mentioned that you used a 220Ω resistor in series with your trimmer, I have no idea where the 200Ω value came from.



Why so little, seems you got room for something more manageable. Seeing as you are using the enable pin which I assume kinda soft starts the reg you should be fine as is.


Maybe Craig 'The Riddler' HB will chime in and provide some cryptic, non-committal clues.

BTW on that NCP630 it would have been nice if you had made the copper pad it's on as large as possible, to help with the heat. You really should consider some extra heat sinking, especially sealed up in the tube like that.

Yes , I usually swap positions 1 or two times while using it as well as after each charge cycle . You can see in the pics i mark the cells to know which is which . Im gonna pick up some new cells and was wondering which you suggest ? Right now im using flame protected trustfires which i have always used in my single cell high power flashlights . Im thinking of going with the best for these mods since they are stacked 14500's .What would be the best cell to go with .

Im thinking protected AW's or AW IMR although i think this is a unprotected cell but safer makeup . For 18650 what cell do you think i should go with out of AW protected ,AW IMR , Panasonic high draw IMR or Callies Kustom protected 3100mah (panasonic) ? Im using a X-tar MP1 charger but finally about to pick up a Pila Ibc .

Also how do you think NiMH batteries compare to Li-ions ? I know i need to use more stacked but and they put out the same power and mah ? I like that they are completley safe . I hate always worrying about Li-ions

Yea i thought the 220 would be a better choice . 200ohm is whats listed in the easy okr-t thread .


All the components i have already in stock and i normally work with smd components .cool i wount bother adding any then .


The thermal pad is slightly larger then the madvapes board as well as using 2oz copper clad instead of the norm 1oz . I ended up not using the NCP630 chip in the tube mod anyway since i couldnt get the cap to screw back on with the stacked 14500's . I rebuilt it using a single 18650 .

 

[Str8V8ping]

Made another little box mod .This ones called the Midget . Its a replica of my VV box mod but much smaller (fits in my palm ) Its just a simple 14500 mod with LED and DMM test points built in for checking voltages on the fly .

Some more pics .

Been Vaping for a little over two weeks and already got the mod bug ,damn u people lol . Collection keeps growing .

 

[lynleestar]

wow~! those look great~!!!

 

[P1NkY]

Ah, how the family grows! Teh Midget is full of win.
Is that real carbon fiber sheet or vinyl decal? Me likey!

 

[Str8V8ping]

Ah, how the family grows! Teh Midget is full of win.
Is that real carbon fiber sheet or vinyl decal? Me likey!

It is 3m carbon fiber Dinoc 1080 . It about the closest thing to real cf . Id does have the 3d texture and color changing weave like cf

 

[P1NkY]

It is 3m carbon fiber Dinoc 1080 . It about the closest thing to real cf . Id does have the 3d texture and color changing weave like cf

Wow! That stuff looks killer; just found some on eBay, $7.10 for 1 sq. foot!

 

[Str8V8ping]

Wow! That stuff looks killer; just found some on eBay, $7.10 for 1 sq. foot!

Yup thats it . I use it to wrap interior car parts all the time .