New here, been e-cigging for months.... Thoughts and Questions

[smswanso]

So here is my story..

At work I saw some kid smoking some wierd contraption - i thought he was getting high on some kind of wierd vaporizer. He explained to me it was in fact an e-cig and after his own research he settled on vapor4life. Me, wanting to get off a pack a day habit quickly ordered 2 Vapor Titan Manual Batteries, 1 6ml tank, 1 3.5ml tank and 10 1.5 ohm dual coil atomizers along with an assortment of juices.

It worked out great...for the first few months.

1. The batterys do not hold a charge long enough for my usage I had to make sure I would keep both batteries on me at all times and charge the dead one ASAP.
2. Out of the 10 atomizers I got 4 of them were faulty - burned taste. (yes i properly saturated it)
   NOTE: V4L has been awesome and has probably sent me over 15 free atomizers as replacements when i brought this to their attention. But even still - I get about a 33% failure rate on them.
3. My second battery just died. I have NEVER dropped it and now it wont charge - if I shake the battery i can here a wiggling of the parts inside.
4. And just a side note - their "Priority Shipping" is terrible. Order on a Friday and dont expect it to be there until atleast 4 Biz days later. I live in CO and apparently this company ships from IL. I know from personal experience that priority mail takes only a max of 2 biz days MAYBE 3 to get from CO to IN. But I'm willing to let that slide - they may be a busy company.

With that said, I am not here to particularly bash on V4L - I am very surprised about the free shipment of replacement atomizers and them actually ACKNOWLEDGING that this is a known issue and "they are talking to the manufacturer why this occurs" - so I commend them.

ANYWAYS

It is time for me to move on. I have seen people walk around work with much thicker batteries. I see V4L has the OMG mod - but I am wondering if there are any better options out there. The OMG mod kinda looks....cheesy. I would like a battery that will last me all day, and a company where the atomizer success rate is much more reliable.

What do you guys use? What do you guys suggest?

 

[artt]

The options are endless and a answer is difficult to give. I still feel that when starting out a Joye Ego kit with lr cartos, drip tip, and juice is a excellent set-up .

 

[Baditude]

Don't make any premature purchases until you have read around here on the forums about what is available. There are the mini-batteries that look like cigarettes; ok to get you started into vaping should you need something that small. But you'll quickly tire of the frequent need to replace spent batteries for charged ones.

Mid level sized batteries would be the eGo class. Cigar sized. Improved battery duration between charges of between 6-12 hrs, but are considered to be disposable, only rated for 250 charges. Once the battery no longer takes a charge, it must be thrown away and an entire new device bought to replace it. Also, juice carrier capacities are limited due to the extremely slim form factor.

Tube battery mods or APV's (advanced personal vaporizers) are battery holders with a power switch. Built to last years. Replaceable, rechargable batteries are inexpensive (< $10), easy to carry spares instead of needing to carry multiple devices such as is true with the eGo batteries. The batteries have an overall lifespan of 1 year and carry a charge from 6 hr to all day, depending upon the battery size and the mod size. Because of the larger form factor, they can carry juice tanks up to 8ml of juice.


FIRST IMAGE: cigarette, two sizes of 808 mini's, three sizes of eGo size
SECOND IMAGE: Provari variable voltage mod or APV

 

[klynnn]

I have found it to be a journey and I have learned new lessons every step of the way. I started with a cig alike which worked but couldn't keep up with a heavy smoker. I kept at it because after my first try I knew it could work. I then got away from the small batts and that was a good move. I hated cartomizers from the beginning but they worked for awhile til I got smarter. Then came clearomizers which lasted me a month. That was cool. Then I found the vivi nova which I love. I want something to last me all day with minimal effort and easy to clean and reuse. I tried the dct with cartos etc thats okay but the whistling noise drives me crazy or should I say crazier. Now if they come out with a vivi nova setup with glass tank I am all for it. Each new piece just gets better keep at it. I am into diy now since people make lousy juice at times and I have to just fix it and make it work for me. Some things can't be fixed but I give it my best shot.

 

[nj1001]

smswanso,
Cig-sized batteries, especially with a low res carto attached, wont last long at all & that's probably the frustration which caused you to start this thread. You need to get rid of those cig sized batteries and go with the next step up like baditude mentioned, the eGo. Also, I've heard good things about V4L, I've even tried some of their cartos a few years back, but there are soooooo many different sellers out there you should really look at some more of your options. You could easily compare dozens of different online vape stores all selling the same eGos at slightly different prices (& maybe slightly different shipping costs too). eGo twists are cool since they have the variable voltage factor which is really nice and if you don't think you need to jump in to variable voltage at this point that's fine, but you probably will want to soon thereafter. I recommend getting an eGo and low resistance cartomizers. Personally, I went from strictly dripping on atomizers for a few years & not liking cartomizers to going full fledged into using nothing but cartomizers for years because I was sick of dripping all the time & they worked great. Now I'm back to attys (HH357) & cartos & rebuildable tanks/mods, but anyway enough about me.

For you at this point I would suggest an eGo (or eGo twist) & low resistance cartomizers. I never liked the dual coil or cleartomizers at all but to each their own. The next step after the eGo might be a bigger battery mod like a silver bullet, provari or one of a million other options out there with more being created every day. I think that researching info on forums like this one is a good idea before making purchases blindly or through only one seller. Seeking out reviews, tips & tricks to problems or to make things work better is also crucial as you set out on your vaping journey. Anyway, I'll stop rambling so you can go get yourself a better battery to vape on. Once you do you'll realize how much those cig-batts suck and you wont look back.
Cheers

 

[peraspera]

I quit my 2+ pack a day cigarette habit from vape one using cig-alikes but I only lasted a week before the constant battery charging and topping off cartomizers drove me batty. I was over the moon when I discovered that the Twists and Vivi Novas I ordered not only solved the battery charging and cartomizer problems but provided a vastly improved vaping experience. I was even happier when I found out that my new gear was dead easy to use.

I'm very thankful that the variable voltage has allowed me to skip a lot of the frustration that many people new to vaping seem to go through. This video is review for the eGo Twist but the KGO and Vision Spinner work the same way.
THE EGO TWIST IS A GAME CHANGER Grimm Green video review

This is a review of the Vivi Nova, A PBusardo Review - Vivi Nova 2.5.

I follow the directions in this video, A PBusardo Tutorial - Vivi Nova Cleaning & Rebuilding, for cleaning and dry burning. Instead of rebuilding as shown in the last part of the video you can replace the heads for about $3–$4 but rebuilding is considerably cheaper. I clean my Vivi Novas after every two or three fills per the instructions in the PBusardo video (takes about three minutes) and the heads have not yet needed to be replaced after two months.

 

[wadup]

I use an Altsmoke BB @ 6v, with standard resistance attys from vaporkings. My husband makes our juices - some chocolate, some expresso, he uses a few juices from myfreedomsmokes.com to mix in our homemade brew. His favorite mix is Double Chocolate Fudge Brownie Expresso Cool French Tobacco...

 

[-Mimi-]

As a newbie I have been lucky so far. I have the 1000 ego twist batteries and mini nova tanks. It isn't bulky, batteries last all day, tank holds 3 ml, easy to use and clean. BUT the longer I vape, the more I want to try other set ups. It is just hard for me to see myself using these big bulky set ups that others use so I keep looking. Quite frankly, some of them have an ummm "adult toy" look to them lol I did try carts and despise them. I am just a tank kind of person.

I have ordered from several vendors and its never taken me more than 4 days MAX to get hardware, even from CA to TN. Juices are a different story obviously. I see you are in IN. I don't know anything about them but for hardware, you might look at Hoosier E-cig Welcome to hoosier ecig supply - The Best E-cigs, Juices, and accesories. They are in Greensburg, IN. At least, you can get quicker shipping to hold you over til you decide on something.

 

[-Mimi-]

Bad - I just looked at your setups. I am jealous lol You have some gorgeous tanks and drip tips!!

 

[smswanso]

Thank you for your kind responses guys!

I've decided to take a plunge to the next step. The Provarie is not in the budget at this time but those Ego Twists look nice. I am just very confused about what type of type of battery to get.

It looks like they have 1000mAh Battery and lower. What is the difference between these?
I also am kind of clueless in what type of ohm versions to get. Right now I have a bunch of 1.5ohm cartomizers. What the difference between the ohms of these?

Basicly...I want the setup that guy had in the video peraspera posted "
THE EGO TWIST IS A GAME CHANGER Grimm Green video review"

I'm having a hard time finding a good site where they just sell a complete kit. Am i allowed to ask for suggestions on sites?

So to review:
1. What are the differences between the mAh of the batteries?
2. What is the difference between the ego twist and the ego c twist?
3. What does the cartomizer ohm have to do with its operation with the battery - i.e. why would one get a 1.5ohm over a 2.0, 2.5 etc?
3a. What is the difference between a dual coil cartomizer and a single - I have been using duals.
4. Can anyone kindly recommend a good site with good customer service located in the states?

Once again thanks for all your opinions thus far! I know i have a lot to learn still - especially with the ohms and mAh of batteries.

 

[Catmau5]

This is my new fantasy: modding!!! The possibilities there are infinite and you can do this with anything! You save thousands of dollars on batteries. Also my advice is stick with an atomizer they stay intact for longer and are a much tastier (my opinion) option when coupled with something on a high voltage. I had a ce4 once and smoked on it for a week before the wick burnt out and it was no good the only reason people like them is that it is easier to hold their liquid rather than a mod but I figure why sacrifice quality for quantity. I would much rather have an atomizer that I add a couple drops to every half hour or so rather than a defective junky tank that goes out in a week. Just my opinion but explore the vast possibilities I gave up after one use and may regret it. Also I saw a mod to make your own tank you may be interested in that this way if it doesn't work you know how to fix it!

 

[Baditude]

What are the differences between the mAh of the batteries?

The mah rating of a battery is how long to expect a battery to last under use. Figure 100 mah is equal to 1 hour use.


Size comparisons. Numbers beneath the batteries are mah ratings.

More mahs in a battery generally will mean a larger or longer battery, but longer battery duration. 600 mah = 6 hours. 1000 mah = 10 hours. Get it?

What is the difference between the ego twist and the ego c twist?

I actually don't know the answer to this question.

What does the cartomizer ohm have to do with its operation with the battery - i.e. why would one get a 1.5ohm over a 2.0, 2.5 etc?

Lower resistance (lower number) will give a hotter or warmer vapor (not always a good thing, can cause juices to taste burnt), some feel it provides more vapor and throat hit. Lower resistance may mean the battery must work harder and drain it faster.

I personally would recommend a standard resistance (higher number) for a Twist with 2.5 ohm, or a 2.0 ohm would work, too. A more comfortable "cooler" vaping experience.

What is the difference between a dual coil cartomizer and a single - I have been using duals.

Personal preference. Two heating coils vs one heating coil within the cartomizer. Dual coils are a larger drain on batteries, and it is highly debatable if they make more vapor than a single coil. I highly prefer single coils.

Can anyone kindly recommend a good site with good customer service located in the states?

Yes. Altsmoke. AltSmoke.com | Personal Vaporizers | Electronic Cigarette | Ecigs | Your one stop shop! You can get 2 Twist batteries that will last you all day, a charger, a wall adaptor, 5 cartomizers or 3 clearomizers for around $90 if bought piece-meal. I don't like kits because you always get equipment that is not useful. Trusted site that sells quality, genuine brand products, good customer service and fast shipping.

 

[Baditude]

Bad - I just looked at your setups. I am jealous lol You have some gorgeous tanks and drip tips!!

Thank you for the compliments.

Images of my setup are available by clicking the link in my sig below. Not the most gorgeous compared to many members here, but it all works to my satisfaction.

 

[peraspera]

…
Basicly...I want the setup that guy had in the video peraspera posted "
THE EGO TWIST IS A GAME CHANGER Grimm Green video review"

I'm having a hard time finding a good site where they just sell a complete kit. Am i allowed to ask for suggestions on sites?

I've bought 9 Twist style batteries, including the Joye brand. I like them all just fine but the ones I like the best are the ones in Vapor Beast's starter kit, EGO Twist Ultra Kit. They have easy to read voltage numbers and low battery indicator. They ship immediately and shipping is free. I've found Vapor Beast's customer service which includes phone support, to be superb and Tim, the owner, seems to do a good job of weeding out the worst of the ever present Chinese manufacturing quality control issues.

If you want the Viva Novas Vapor Beast carries both sizes as well as replacement anodized aluminum sleeves that you can use for plastic unfriendly juices.

Vivi Nova 2.5
Vivi Nova mini Tank
Vivi Nova (3.5 ml) Tank Replacement
Vivi Nova (2.0 ml) Replacement Tank
5 Vivi Nova Replacement Heads

The Vivi Novas don't cover the outer threads on the Twists so you will also probably want to pick up a couple of Ego Shorty Cones - Stainless to cover them. It protects the threads and looks nicer.

2. What is the difference between the ego twist and the ego c twist?

None that I can tell. I think the "c" is just used to further describe a class of Joye battery.

3. What does the cartomizer ohm have to do with its operation with the battery - i.e. why would one get a 1.5ohm over a 2.0, 2.5 etc?

You change the vape from warmer/more throat hit to cooler/more taste on a fixed voltage battery by using devices with different resistances. With variable voltage you just turn the dial to adjust from a warmer to cooler vape. It's the beauty of using variable voltage. I usually use something around 2.4 because that is in the middle of the voltage range of the Twist class of batteries

You can vape your 1.5 ohm cartomizers on a Twist but they will need to be set at the lower voltage settings on the Twists according to this voltage/ohm chart.

 

[smswanso]

Awesome replys guys I think im starting to understand the number game with e-cigs. I placed an order with Rocky Mountain Vapor, The Mountain top of Electronic Cigarettes Talked to the owner on the phone for ~30 mins and hooked me up with 2 batteries 5 vision ego clearomizers, a 3.5ml tank and a wall/usb charger for 70 flat.

I'm sure ill be upgrading some options, trying different types of atomizers etc - but i'm happy ive moved on from the tiny little vapor titans.

 

[y cherry y]

Great chart! That would be really useful for anyone starting out with a Twist or other VV battery.

 

[TheVap3Junkie]

This is a simple yet effective way of knowing what resistances will work with what voltages without causing a problem.

Recommended Resistances / Mad Vapes Blog

 

[TheVap3Junkie]

That ultra kit from vapor beast is a good recommendation that I will have to remember.