New Variable Voltage device from smoktech?

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AaronY

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This just in....this just in....


Just a quick interjection: the $128.99 floor has been broken (lol, that didn't take long, did it?)...Nick at Goodejuice is doing $119.99 (black only at the moment). His ECF10 discount code puts it @ $107.99 shipped.


And......so it begins :D
Do you see batteries there? Seems like a great deal.
 

AaronY

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Thanks for TFV explanation. The darwin thread is more then 12 K comments now. I know there is a good explanation in there but I am giving up on finding it. I think it was disused around this time last year. Maybe you have better search mojo then me. But I think it is too hard to find. Anyways what ever works for you. Think if there was the same wattage per coil more coils means a better hit but I am having trouble trying to find the facts. Have a great day.

Oh yeah, sorry about that. It's a Phil Busardo term; TFV = "throat hit, flavor, and vapor (production)".

And please know that I'm not out to "get into your face" about anything. I really want to get to the bottom of this for my own maximum enjoyment of vaping, and for that of people that I know or maybe haven't even met yet. I'll be doing a lot of experimenting on my own, but the "single coil" thing just keeps striking me as the "way to go", for the reasons I've previously stated (with no obvious shortage of detail).

Thanks.
 

sailorman

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... As for the voltage ratings...i dont think Smokech is "wrong" in how they're determing the Vmax voltage, they're just using a different, yet viable, methodology. I dont think they're the first ones to do this (i could be wrong here...someone correct me if so) doesn't Joye do something similar with their PWM voltage rating? I'm pretty sure that 3.3 "real" volts are not gonna hit anything like a eGo...

I don't understand this. Other PVs that use PWM have a loaded voltage that is close to what the device is set on. In the case of the Provari, darn close. With the SVO, close enough to work with. That at least makes it possible to predict how hot your vape is going to be in comparison with fixed voltage devices with varying battery combinations.

The Vmax operates at one range of voltages, displays another voltage, and feels like yet another voltage. The voltage you display is entirely useless except in purely relative terms. The fact that Vmax, or anyone else, uses wild swings in voltage to achieve some sort of mean voltage doesn't give them license to call it whatever they want. I think Pbusardo probably hit the nail on the head when he mentioned the lack of "tuning" or "calibration" or however he put it. They need to cut down the duty cycles so that the displayed voltage bears some relationship to what is being delivered to the coil. Their methodology may be viable, but it's not valid, IMO. It basically just underestimates the wattage ultimately used by the coil by some indeterminable factor.

Maybe Provape should re-program the Provari to display 1.2V less than what it is actually delivering. Everyone would rave about how powerful it is, I guess.
On the subject of manuals, i believe that shipping PVs with manuals/instructions increases their chances of siezure in customs significantly, so i understand why they don't typically ship in the PV box. IMO, this doesn't mean units shouldn't come with them, but i think vendors bear some responsibility and play a role in their absence as much as the manufacturers do......Just some thoughts...
I think the time for using customs seizures as an excuse for not including a manual is long past. At least in the U.S., it's a non-issue unless they're trying to evade taxes by passing them off as $5 meat thermometers or something. If they're going to try to smuggle wholesale quantities of them into a country that bans e-cigs, you might have a point. But, in that case, I'd think the packaging would be different anyway.

A mini-CD manual would cost pennies to produce and include. There's really no excuse for the manufacturer not to include either a digital or printed manual, particularly since one has already been written. If the vendors bear any blame, it's for not raising hell and insisting that Smok provide it. Heck, I got a manual, such as it was, with my $20 PCC over two years ago when there actually was a legitimate risk of customs seizure. Any piece of Chinese electronic detritus you buy nowadays comes with a manual. For a PV like this, being shipped to the U.S. under today's settled legal climate, it's inexcusable and could even enhance their liability if a battery event should occur. Omitting a manual is a cheap, stupid and shortsighted move, IMO.
 
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VAPNJ350

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Do you see batteries there? Seems like a great deal.

So far to my knowledge these are the 2 most inexpensive places to get batteries and chargers shipping included for around $2:

Electronic Cigarettes and AW batteries by Super T &
RTD vapor

I usually go with superT due to fast cheap shipping and they always have the Ultrafire WF-188 charger in stock. (best Intelli-charger for IMR charging with multiple settings and functions for around $16-$18 bucks) My opinion ofcourse

As far as the voltage situation goes..I consider myself a pretty simple guy, I don't really diagree with anything thats been said but saying it over and over again isn't really going to change the situation. At this point we all pretty much know how this device works. From the day I got my 1st unit, I put the batteries in I set the voltage down to what I would normally vape at, I hit it, then I said *%#$@*^%$#@#&*^^$#.....cough...cough...cough....WHAT THE **^%$#@^$%$#%@****#%$#$........WOW....ok lets try that again with a bit lower voltage. 3.0V....ooooooK, much better, from there I just adjust upwards till I got my perfect fit. This is my VERY basic point. If you so choose to purchase on eof these splendid devices(opinion) for the love of all the is holy just know that this device is DIFFERRENT than most and start at 3 VOLTS, then work your way up till you find what suits you. The concept is sooo simple. Please dont take offense to this as I love all of my vaping family but none of us are 3 years old here,were all atleast half witted adults that can adjust an a/c temperature to our liking, just do the same thing with this. It truly is a simple concept. And I'll add that if their is anything I can ever do to help anyone in any way please don't hesitate to PM me, it would be my pleasure......everyone except John D, .....lol...lol...anyone who fills a thread up with everything to do with BUT the VMAX, Im just not sure if I can help !!! ........lol..lollllooolllll....Kidding John.....love ya buddy. Take care everyone.
 
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FsckCigs

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I don't understand this. Other PVs that use PWM have a loaded voltage that is close to what the device is set on. In the case of the Provari, darn close. With the SVO, close enough to work with. That at least makes it possible to predict how hot your vape is going to be in comparison with fixed voltage devices with varying battery combinations.

The Vmax operates at one range of voltages, displays another voltage, and feels like yet another voltage. The voltage you display is entirely useless except in purely relative terms. The fact that Vmax, or anyone else, uses wild swings in voltage to achieve some sort of mean voltage doesn't give them license to call it whatever they want. I think Pbusardo probably hit the nail on the head when he mentioned the lack of "tuning" or "calibration" or however he put it. They need to cut down the duty cycles so that the displayed voltage bears some relationship to what is being delivered to the coil. Their methodology may be viable, but it's not valid, IMO. It basically just underestimates the wattage ultimately used by the coil by some indeterminable factor.

Maybe Provape should re-program the Provari to display 1.2V less than what it is actually delivering. Everyone would rave about how powerful it is, I guess.

I dunno, i haven't used an SVO but the eVo (which are tuned differently than SVO, or at least Pbusardo's test examples were) I have used seemed to be considerably hotter than a comparable fixed-volt device. This, along with the eGo example, kinda tells me that there's somewhat of a tendency to rate the output of these devices at least a little "creatively". Even so, i agree that it would be nice if Vmax was tuned a bit closer to other examples, and maybe future versions will be, but one thing's for certain: Vmax has made a hell of a debut/first impression. I get where you're coming from but i kinda wonder if maybe the market's clamoring for the hottest, most badass and extreme PV mightn't have played a role in it's volt rating scheme *shrugs*. It's also possible that it just wasn't tuned "right" simply because it's new to market, and the tuning will be corrected in revisions. I'm not inclined to view any launch-period device as a final version. I don't think L-rider, for example, intended for the Lavatube to be...umm, like they were at first :D. Guess time will tell in this case as well.


I think the time for using customs seizures as an excuse for not including a manual is long past. At least in the U.S., it's a non-issue unless they're trying to evade taxes by passing them off as $5 meat thermometers or something. If they're going to try to smuggle wholesale quantities of them into a country that bans e-cigs, you might have a point. But, in that case, I'd think the packaging would be different anyway.

A mini-CD manual would cost pennies to produce and include. There's really no excuse for the manufacturer not to include either a digital or printed manual, particularly since one has already been written. If the vendors bear any blame, it's for not raising hell and insisting that Smok provide it. Heck, I got a manual, such as it was, with my $20 PCC over two years ago when there actually was a legitimate risk of customs seizure. Any piece of Chinese electronic detritus you buy nowadays comes with a manual. For a PV like this, being shipped to the U.S. under today's settled legal climate, it's inexcusable and could even enhance their liability if a battery event should occur. Omitting a manual is a cheap, stupid and shortsighted move, IMO.

Perhaps so, i'm not "in the biz" (yet?) so i don't know firsthand what the actual risks or triggers are...but i do know that if there was ANY risk at all of siezure, however minute, i'd be doing my best to minimize it. But, even if there's no risk at all, if manufacturers aren't including manuals for whatever reason, I don't think it automatically relieves vendors of all responsibility for providing them. I agree, there is a lot of liability involved, and someone's gonna get hit with a serious lawsuit if (when?) an end-user gets hurt under circumstances which can be shown to be related to not having any instruction manual. I'm no lawyer but i don't think passing the blame off onto a Chinese manufacturer or distributor is going to be much of an effective legal strategy. Thass all i was getting at.
But, legal issues aside, there's a larger matter to consider...there's no question that some of the devices we use and love have the capacity to cause harm, especially to the uninformed, and I really don't want to see anyone get hurt. I think vendors could make more of a difference in this area.
 

X P3 Flight Engineer

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I have a very simplistic understanding of PWM.

First of all, the voltage is not actually "regulated" to a stated value, like we are all familiar with.

A "full on" and a "full off" pulse is used to provide the power, and adjusting the time on and off is used to achieve an AVERAGE voltage effect. Practically no time is actually spent at this AVERAGE value.

The same AVERAGE voltage value can be achieved by a pulse staying "on" a short time and "off" a short time OR staying "on" longer and staying "off" longer.

With a heating coil, the effect of a longer "on" pulse would be more heat produced that would not be dissipated as quickly as the pulse reacts. (which is why PWM was applied to electric stoves to improve efficiency, as well as electric motors which have the benefit of momentum).

The VMax should probably have displayed "power levels" rather than an AVERAGE voltage.

(Go ahead and call it "Power level 3.0, 3.2, etc. if it makes more sense to you!)

In the meantime: Relax! Enjoy!
 

John D in CT

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Anyone know who has the cheapest VMax as of now?thanks in advance.

This would be it as far as I know:

This just in....this just in....


Just a quick interjection: the $128.99 floor has been broken (lol, that didn't take long, did it?)...Nick at Goodejuice is doing $119.99 (black only at the moment). His ECF10 discount code puts it @ $107.99 shipped.


And......so it begins :D
 

John D in CT

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Str8V8ping

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I definitely wouldnt recommend this mod to a beginner since the configuration is widely inaccurate. It wouldnt be fun to blow up a carto everytime you change the batteries and it goes back to 5v. 4v seems around the highest youd want to go even with SR's since 4v is pretty much acting like 6v.ANy higher voltages are really useless for most people. Beginners would just be all screwed up going to any other mod. I personally would rather a lavatube that drops voltage over a useless voltage readout altogether but thats just me. I wouldnt mind picking one up if it were around 40 bucks though just to use the tube with my own electronics in it. At the price they want for it though youd be crazy to not just get a provari or buzz pro IMO<
 

Errol

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how would a tripple coil carto do on the vmax? they are really high resistance right? Also i have OLed screen on my vision tox and in the sunlight i can't see what it says at all, this bright red LED should be really easy to see when your outside.


The triple coil units I have from COV are 1.6ohm and I suspect they will be a fog machine on the V-Max, not much on anything less than 3.5amp. A good working voltage will mean lots of juice and poor battery life but isn't that the price we pay for the vapor we want?

Errol
 

John D in CT

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Enjoyed your edit on the V-Max Co-Op board, particularly since I didn't understand what you were getting at in the original, just call me slow. :) :)

Errol

Ok, "you're slow" lol (I'm nothing if not obedient) :) I'll PM you about that original reference.

As for "John Makes A Funny", it's getting even better.

The original "funny" -

Some guy comes in and says : (no, he didn't walk into a bar) lol

"I really don't even see how there's a market for it, [the VMax] you can get a Provari for ~$30 more".

And he happens to be from: ===> Amboy, WA <===

So I answer:

"Because it might just be every bit as good as a ProVari in quality and performance, and might arguably outperform it in certain cases. Those limited cases are IMO powering low resistance attys when more amps are drawn than the ProVari can handle, and powering certain high resistance attys with more watts than the ProVari can.

So where are you from?? Fanboy, Washington? Oh, no, it's "Amboy", Washington. OK ... well, understandable mistake".

So I'm feeling pretty pleased with myself, right? :)

So today, he say:

"Whoah, no need to get butthurt.

Clearly it isn't as good as the Provari if it can't even perform basic tasks like actually regulating voltage properly.

Feel free to rage about me being a fanboy now".

So tune in, and see why:

"You Don't Mess with the Johan" LMAO!

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...-review-v-max-smoktech-all-about-vapor-2.html
 
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John D in CT

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Good Ejuice is down to $89.99 shipped (after ECF10 code)

I'm wondering something about that place, GoodeJuice. This might sound odd, but the site itself seems to have that "Chinese" look and feel. I wonder if they have a special "in" with Smoktech - or actually be owned and operated by Smoktech - for the pirpose of selling VMax's for a lot more than vendors are buying them for.

I also wonder how any vendors openly selling them for more than $128 will get any more of them from Smoktech, unless it changes its policy of selling only to vendors who maintain that price.
 

lalasalama8

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I'm wondering something about that place, GoodeJuice. This might sound odd, but the site itself seems to have that "Chinese" look and feel. I wonder if they have a special "in" with Smoktech - or actually be owned and operated by Smoktech - for the pirpose of selling VMax's for a lot more than vendors are buying them for.

I also wonder how any vendors openly selling them for more than $128 will get any more of them from Smoktech, unless it changes its policy of selling only to vendors who maintain that price.

I duuno...I've purchased juice from them before as well as communicated with the owner via email...never got the impression they were Chinese connected in any way. The site has been completely re-designed recently, and before, there was almost no emphasis whatsoever on hardware. They were almost completely juice guys..maybe they're doing this to try and make a hardware splash..you know, get noticed
 
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