New member here, need advice on cost-effective and reliable upgrades to first setup (long post)

[successfulswitcher]

Hello all,

As my username indicates, I have (for the most part) successfully switched to vaping from analogs and couldn't be happier!

I was a pack a day of Marlboro Lights for the better part of a decade, and this is the first thing that's actually worked!

After doing a lot of research (which included many very helpful posts on this forum), I purchased the following:

V2 regular length automatic battery (included short USB charger),
V2 car and wall chargers,
Four Congress carts (all gone now),
3 LiquiMax Blanks,
1 50ML bottle of Congress e-liquid

After reading more of the forum and looking elsewhere, I'm considering switching several (if not all) elements of my setup.

As for the e-juice, I went with a deal for 90ML from Mountain Oak Vapors, which I am very excited about for many reasons.

The LiquiMax Blanks, however, haven't really impressed me so far. I had bought them under the impression that they wouldn't leak and that they would last reliably for 20 uses without cleaning. I still have one unopened, but out of the other two one is completely shot (horrible taste no matter how little or how much liquid was in there, difficulty pulling etc.)

As for the battery, I have no problem keeping it charged, especially given the wall charger, but I really think I'd prefer a manual battery now.

I've seen tons of posts about different setups, but I'd like to stress that cost is one of the key motivations that has helped me quit. My wife and I don't make a lot of money at our current jobs and analogs were just killing us financially (not to mention killing my body!) Given V2's higher prices and the imperfect quality of what I've received so far, can someone recommend me a replacement product?

Here's what I need:

A manual battery
Whatever chargers that battery requires (if it needs any extra, points for not)
A reliable long-term way of vaping the liquid I ordered (9 mg strength)
...and anything else that's required.

If you all think I should stick with the V2 in getting the manual, that is of course fine. The things that worry me most about the company, though, are (1) price, (2) reliability for eliquid usage with the batteries (i.e. LiquiMax / blank carts), and (3) ability to get fast enough shipping should something go wrong with any of my equipment such that I won't have to pay an arm and a leg.

I realize this is a gigantic first post, but I'm trying to get this resolved ASAP so I keep saving money and stay quit from analogs!

Thank you to everyone who contributes to this fantastic forum for giving people like me a way to free themselves from tobacco!

 

[skoot]

I started with a 510 kit and hated the carts. I got a Vivi Nova and am much happier. Not sure if it's compatible with what you have though.

 

[Tonyctitan]

I love my ego 650 with mega dual coil Cartos. Got the starter kit at altsmoke.com for around 50 bucks and couldn't be happier.

 

[Vapoor eyes er]

New member here, need advice on cost-effective and reliable upgrades to first setup

Hi successfulswitcher congrats and welcome to ECF. First of all keep an eye on this thread for deals:
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/pay-forward-pif/85781-deals-steals-970.html
The problem with most smaller PVs is the batteries are good for 250- 300 charges before they die.
With this kit it fires at 3.7 volts and has separate batteries so when they need replacing cost is less than $10 for 2. It comes with 2 Mini Vivi Novas- the heads (coil+ wick) that vaporizes the juice can be cleaned. Mine are lasting about 6-8 weeks. Cheaply ($2.00) and easily replaced (10 secs)
Battery Info- 100 mah= 1 hr normal vaping before recharge is needed.

Kit Includes:
2 ICR 14650 1050 mah 3.7 V rechargeable batteries
1 Battery Charger
2 2.5ml Mini Vivi Nova's with Ming style Silver drip tip (Use any 510 drip tip)(With 1.8ohm heads)
2 Extra 1.8ohm Heads
1 Battery Tube
1 Switch (HAS 5CLICK ON/OFF LR FRIENDLY WHITE LED)
30ML Bottle of E-Liquid (Specify flavor and strength)
Free priority shipping
COMPLETE E-POWER NOVA KIT and 30ml juice (Free priority shipping)

 

[Sathorael]

I highly recommend a 900+ mAh variable voltage as an upgrade. Either an ego twist or a vision spinner. Also, Vision's Vivi Nova tanks are hard to beat. I used one exclusively for months before upgrading and loved it.

 

[Maui73]

I started with eGo C Twist with Kanger Tanks, but when battery is low, the vape becomes low too. I ended up buying a Provari, which has voltage regulation and 3.5 amp limitation. ZMax is cheaper and it has those too. I might get a ZMax because it has Variable Watts or Power. I heard with that, you don't have to adjust when you put a different Ohms / Resistance cartomizers, which might help if you have many tanks (I have 10 tanks with different flavors and different Ohms in it).

 

[darkhood]

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/general-e-smoking-discussion/378914-suggestions-newbies.html

 

[Mr.Bungle]

Successfulswitcher,

You are going to get a lot of opinions, which, if you take them all seriously, is going to lead to a) a lot of research b) a lighter wallet. Don't worry, we all go through it.

That said, after I used the OG Joye 510 to make the switch, I moved on to a kgo variable voltage battery (excellent battery for the price because of it's true passthrough capability), kanger mt3 and ce5 clearomizers. My idea being to gain experience with upgraded, simple to maintain equipment and continue to learn and research my next move as I went.

My next move will be to a Vamo, again, inexpensive, but feature packed equipment, compatible with my current juice delivery systems and a DiD so I can experiment with rebuildables.

READ, READ, READ. And welcome to your new addiction.

 

[patkin]

A PBusardo Video - What's Behind That Door? - Not To Be Missed! - YouTube

 

[successfulswitcher]

Successfulswitcher,

You are going to get a lot of opinions, which, if you take them all seriously, is going to lead to a) a lot of research b) a lighter wallet. Don't worry, we all go through it.

That said, after I used the OG Joye 510 to make the switch, I moved on to a kgo variable voltage battery (excellent battery for the price because of it's true passthrough capability), kanger mt3 and ce5 clearomizers. My idea being to gain experience with upgraded, simple to maintain equipment and continue to learn and research my next move as I went.

My next move will be to a Vamo, again, inexpensive, but feature packed equipment, compatible with my current juice delivery systems and a DiD so I can experiment with rebuildables.

READ, READ, READ. And welcome to your new addiction.

This certainly seems like the case! I just now checked back in to the thread and am very excited at the response as well as with your summary statement here.

Thanks everyone for your comments; I'm about to do some research and make a decision, which I might then run by you all again.

Here's to one of the best communities on the Internet!

 

[successfulswitcher]

So I bought this eGo-T Starter Kit:

Joyetech eGo-T Starter Kit - The Best and Most Popular Electronic Cigarette

Seemed like a pretty great price for what you get and was mentioned by several others on the forum.

I've seen many posters in this thread and others recommend getting different individual components, but I'm going to try these out first. Out of these parts, which am I most likely to have to replace soon / repeatedly? Again, trying to save money here.

Also is it a bad idea to use 70 PG / 30 VG liquid with this setup? Another site said not to use anything mixed with VG in this kind of kit.

Thanks again for all the help!

 

[Light Seeker]

Ego-Ts are a good starter, but has limitations. The atomizer will last 2-4 weeks depending on what juice u use & how much u vape. There's some videos on how to totally disassemble it & clean it, I've had limited success though, usually just put it in an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner with vodka to clean. These atomizers are replaceable of course, but it's cheaper (and often better tasting) to replace it with a clearomizer or a tank. The end caps on the tank mouthpiece often need replacing, each time you fill it and push it in to the atomizer the hole enlarges a little, it will eventually start leaking a little bit. This plastic mouthpiece/tank kind of 'muffles' the taste of your juice compared to other delivery systems, when it needs replacing you can try some other methods. Batteries on it will last maybe 4 months before they won't accept a charge or need constant recharging.

All that said, I still use the original ego batteries with a full size viva nova clone tank for a discreet ecig. Looks silly since the tank is so much larger than the battery, but works very good.

Not sure if it's VG or PG mixes, but the thicker and darker juices will gum up your atomizer more quickly needing cleaning and eventually replacing.

So all in all, not a bad 'starter' system, enjoy it, in a month or less you can also start looking at some different atomizers to use with the battery.

 

[gzp4]

The advice about not using any VG sounds a little extreme. If it is a problem, you might thin it by adding a small amount of distilled water. You'll probably be trying cartomizers or clearomizers or tanks to find what works best for you.
A low cost option you might want to look at:
The PUCK e-Cig Mod - An e-Cigarette Box Mod You Can Build Cheap and Easy and Uses Standard Rechargable Batteries

 

[RDonat]

I've had the best luck with the following and couldn't be happier:
EGO-C Twist battery
Kanger T3 Clearomizer

The best juice I've had came from vaper4life.com

The battery and clearomizer was from litecigusa.net

You can get replacement heads for the clearomizer and keep using the same 3ml tank. After watching a few vids online I can rebuild the replacement heads on the cheap. I've been using the same batts and clearomizer for going on 9 months now !!

Good luck !

 

[Vapoor eyes er]

So I bought this eGo-T Starter Kit:

Joyetech eGo-T Starter Kit - The Best and Most Popular Electronic Cigarette

Seemed like a pretty great price for what you get and was mentioned by several others on the forum.

I've seen many posters in this thread and others recommend getting different individual components, but I'm going to try these out first. Out of these parts, which am I most likely to have to replace soon / repeatedly? Again, trying to save money here.

Also is it a bad idea to use 70 PG / 30 VG liquid with this setup? Another site said not to use anything mixed with VG in this kind of kit.
Thanks again for all the help!

Nothing wrong with the eGo batteries BUT the outdated "tank" system ,atomizer+ cartridge is prone to leaking. Plan on spending extra $$ on cartos or tanks IMO.
Standards for juice within the industry is 70/ 30 or 80/ 20 PG/VG. Perfectly acceptable and normal to use 70/30 PG/ VG.

 

[cloudbringer]

My first upgrade from the standard was a Twist and a VV Nova

 

[hausmouse]

i'm shocked you liked congress. i've never heard of anyone liking that. v2 is good about battery replacement though they'll ship them to you for free fairly quickly and they never hassle you about returns. the liquimax however are just not worth it. i bought them on a couple occasions. they leak and burn easy and they just aren't worth it. you can get anything kr808 threaded for it though as long as it will fit

 

[successfulswitcher]

i'm shocked you liked congress. i've never heard of anyone liking that. v2 is good about battery replacement though they'll ship them to you for free fairly quickly and they never hassle you about returns. the liquimax however are just not worth it. i bought them on a couple occasions. they leak and burn easy and they just aren't worth it. you can get anything kr808 threaded for it though as long as it will fit

Now that I've opened and tried my new setup, wanted to quote this post for truth. After I got my Mountain Oak Vapor Coffee and Cream liquid I realized just how horrific Congress tasted. I think my liking it had more to do with being happy about not smoking analogs anymore.