My VMU Mod with Switching Regulator!

[wwturner]

Here is a VMU mod that I built using a 3AA box from Madvapes, OKR-T/3 Regulator from Mouser, and the Coolgate schematic. It was a pain in the .... using 18ga hookup wire, but the next one will be with 22 guage to help things fit better. Squaring up the hole for the meter was a pain too, so any suggestions would be appreciated. I've been using the same batteries (2x AW14500) for almost 24 hours now, anthe hole for the meter was a pain too, so any suggestions would be appreciated. I've been using the same batteries (2x AW14500) for almost 24 hours now, and hoping the batteries last into the next day. So far this thing has been a little heavy-vaping workhorse!

Enjoy the pics and lemme know what you think!


Here is the voltage display



Voltage regulator circuit and red spaghetti



The voltage adjustment trimmer



Here is Mighty Mouse sleeping.......

AND in case anyone is wondering.... Yes, that is a home made carto tank filled with delicious AVE Juices "Boba's Bounty"

 

[Sinlak]

Nice work man!, got got a pic of the backside of the Battery Voltage Indicator? I want to make something similar and not sure how to wire the indicator up

 

[asdaq]

Nice work Turner, it's not you, it's the plastic box. If the meter would fit inside, which I suspect it won't with the other circuitry, you could drill a hole with a drill press and then push the box sideways to get an oval window. To fix what you got, you can use epoxy putty to patch/ mold around the meter and then sand it smooth once hard. I don't think it comes in black, but you could paint it even or use a sharpie. Or rubberize the outside with that tool-dip stuff if you like goopy.

 

[mv2envy]

All you need are these 2 pins, you can cut the rest off. I cut off all the pins to make it fit and soldered the wires to the back side pads instead.

 

[breaktru]

Very nice ww.
Yes smaller guage wire can be used for most of the circuit. Just use heavier gauge for atty & switch where the heavier current passes.

 

[wwturner]

The battery indicator is from Madvapes. Pin 1 is Ground. Pin 2 is Positive.

Nice work man!, got got a pic of the backside of the Battery Voltage Indicator? I want to make something similar and not sure how to wire the indicator up

 

[wwturner]

But wouldn't the same ampherage be pulled from the battery as was going to the Atty?

22ga @6 volts is supposed to handle 4.7 Amps I think?

Very nice ww.
Yes smaller guage wire can be used for most of the circuit. Just use heavier gauge for atty & switch where the heavier current passes.

 

[breaktru]

Low current would be from Adj pin to resistor to pot to neg.
I would use the heavier gauge for all the rest. 20 gauge at very least.

 

[breaktru]

22 ga can handle 5 amps at 12vdc. But the higher the gauge the more resistance is added to the circuit.
True it's a short wire run. Judging from the photo you have plenty of room to work the wire.

 

[wwturner]

So you're saying to use at least 20 guage for everything but the trimmer?

Hopefully it would at least be more flexible than the 18 guage. I had to kind of "smush" the regulator in after wiring it to get it to clear the back panel.

Low current would be from Adj pin to resistor to pot to neg.
I would use the heavier gauge for all the rest. 20 gauge at very least.

 

[mv2envy]

I didn't take any chances and used 18awg on mine. I only used thinner wire for the trimmer pot.

 

[jmanning]

Very nice! It's amazing you had room for all of that in that box!

 

[breaktru]

That is stranded wire right?

 

[wwturner]

Thank you. A LARGE part of making enough room was to make sure I cut and connected the wires in as exact a length as possible, so there was no slack.

Very nice! It's amazing you had room for all of that in that box!

 

[wwturner]

The 18guage I used is stranded. Would 20guage have worked just as well, since no wire in it is over 3 inches long?

That is stranded wire right?

 

[mv2envy]

20 would have been fine also. But if you can make 18 fit, then don't chance it.

 

[breaktru]

20 would have been fine also. But if you can make 18 fit, then don't chance it.

YES, I've used it with no noticeable loss.

 

[wwturner]

So....

Now that I've accomplished this, should my next creation be a VMU like this, but in a 4AA box with a slide switch to go between 3.7 Volts, 5 Volts, 6 Volts, and Variable Volts using a 4-position switch and different resistors, along with a seperate switch to read how much battery voltage is left?

 

[mv2envy]

Now do a dual 18650 VV mod w/ 2 aw 2900mah batts for those long trips. Put a charging port on it too so you can chefs it in your car with one of these Customize Smart DC Charger for 7.4V Li-ion Battery Pack with 5.5x2.5mm male barrel connector

 

[wwturner]

UPDATE!

1 set of batteries lasts an amazing 24+ hours! I LOVE this switching regulator!

No more running out of power with one of these 3 hours before getting off work!

Last week I had a day where my batteries died at 2PM. By 4PM I was ready to yank a power supply from one of the phone systems I work on and wire the 5 volt output straight to the battery terminals. lol