Ovale V8 VV discussion!

[fourthrok]

It's got my vote. The groove looks like an overpriced...something or other I don't have the faculties right now to describe while not sounding like an **shole... Seriously tho I feel like I belong to an exclusive club whose members know something everyone else is blind to...sounds corny but it's how I feel .....mit! While I'm at it come post ur ridiculous and absurb creations/abortions/beautiful monuments to the glory of the sport of 'vaping' here - http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/apv-discussion/382352-ridiculous-setup-thread.html and if ur lucky I'll bless ur offering w/ praise...or condemnation...ur choice

Don't have any really ridiculous set ups to post! But give me time...I might come up with something. I'll put my "ridiculous idea" hat on!

 

[Fullknight]

I have 4 Ovale v8's. I really like them. I haven't been persuaded to buy anything that doesn't have replacement battery's except ego ,kgo battery's.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Cool_Breeze]

Regarding my comment to darkhood's post about the price of The Groove...

I recently purchased a late model Ovale V8 and 4 - 18350 batteries from discountvapers. The price with shipping was $59.05. Other than the recent two-for deal that many have taken advangage of, I think that the price I paid is par or perhaps a little better.

Here is some infomation from one dealer...

The Groove by Smoktech

$63.98 - I note that it is on Back Order
There is also a banner at the top of the page I see regarding a 10% discount at the shopping basket. I haven't looked to see what the shipping charge might be.

From the above, price wouldn't seem to be too wide of an Ovale V8 and batteries. And we don't know where the price will settle. What was the price of the Ovale V8 when it was new to the market?

Regarding the battery, this is from a GotVapes thread...

"it looks like it has a built in lipo battery pack (like the itaste mvp) rather than an 18650 or whatever, and if so you could probably pull it apart and wire in a new battery pack at your own risk"

I seem to recall reading somewhere that the battery is 'common to some cellphones,' but can't find such a reference at present. While 'not replaceable' for just anyone, one contemplating a Groove might consider whether or not they have a friend that could perform a battery replacemnt for them. Could battery life be a year or more? Much is yet unknown, but The Groove may not be a 'throw-away.'

In another thread, it seems that cyclotron has opened and reclosed his Groove, so I guess that much is do-able. It would make sense for Smoktech to have used a battery that is common to other devices.

The battery situation is not yet proven to be reason to disuade me from thinking The Groove might be a resonable device (for me and perhaps many others).

At present I have no intention of getting a new device. I'll continue to use my two Ovale V8's and my home-brewed mod on occasion.

If I can draw a conclusion from what I've read, The Groove may have a *clicky* button like The Gripper. Now, that might be reason not to have one!


Do I look like a groupie?

 

[Cool_Breeze]

darkhood - as far as the 'top button,' some here have The Gripper as well as the Ovale V8. They might have some thought on whether the button on top is okay.

My home-brewed mod has a top button. I prefer that. Pushing with the side of my thumb seems slightly unnatural as I grip the V8, though I'm certain not as unnatural as pushing with my pinkie.

 

[Baditude]

darkhood - as far as the 'top button,' some here have The Gripper as well as the Ovale V8. They might have some thought on whether the button on top is okay.

My home-brewed mod has a top button. I prefer that. Pushing with the side of my thumb seems slightly unnatural as I grip the V8, though I'm certain not as unnatural as pushing with my pinkie.

I have both. I had the Smoktech before the Ovale, so maybe I just got used to the button on top, but I do prefer the top button more. I just wish the Smoktech had the build of the Ovale. But if it did, I never would have gotten the Ovale.

 

[fourthrok]

I prefer the top button, too. But other than that and the flat bottom of the VV Gripper, I'm tending towards liking the V8 just a bit more than the VVG.

 

[bivie]

The Ovale V8 is a, if not the top contender in the bang for the buck category. It will be interesting to see how the Smoktech Groove settles in in both price and acceptance.

PBusardo released a review today and gave it an overall thumbs down. The firing button
sticks sometimes, and he said it feels cheap and that the plastic might easily break if it
were dropped on a hard surface. He said good things, too, but those were all I needed
to hear. I think he said he got something like 42 hours of vaping time out of the charge.

 

[darkhood]

Ay guys quick question - I put my batts on the charger today at 6am, came home @ lunch and it's still red...normally I charge it overnight so idk how long it normally takes but this seems excessive ... is 5+ hours normal for these batts? When I threw it on the charger it was reading 6.2 volts, I assume when it gets down to 6, 3 for each batt it'll be dead, is that right? The charger says 500mah which for some reason I always took as meaning 500mah per hour, is that not a good assumption? Ok that's 3 questions lol...any help appreciated, not a big deal or anything just curious.

 

[michliu]

I run down to about the same, reading 6.0 or 6.1. I use a Trustfire charger and it takes about 5-6 hours.

 

[darkhood]

I run down to about the same, reading 6.0 or 6.1. I use a Trustfire charger and it takes about 5-6 hours.

Thanks

 

[fourthrok]

Maybe check your contacts on the charger as well as the batteries? Maybe there's some debris on there. Seems to me that charging for my 900 mAh batteries (that came with the kit) it's about 5 hours charging on my Xtar. For the 700 mAh ones (EH and AW IMR) it's between 3 and 4 hours. The EH ones are 16340s.

 

[Rickajho]

I haven't used the kit charger since I got my first V8. I have an xTar WPII 2 charger and the Ovale included batteries are charged in that one in under four hours. I'd say three and a half to four-ish.

If you ever want to upgrade your charger you should seriously consider the xTar WPII 2. It's akin to getting 95% of the performance and features of a Pila at less than half the price of a Pila. It can handle everything up to 28650's. And in a pinch you can use it to recharge USB devices too.

 

[fourthrok]

I do use the charger(s) that came with the kit(s) ...they do take a bit longer to charge than the Xstar, but I have numerous batteries so I don't particularly worry about it. Most times I use the Xstar, though.

We also have a Trustfire 2 chamber charger (don't remember the model type...it's sold at HECS). We can use it too..but I haven't noticed if it takes longer or shorter to charge in it. We mostly use that one for the longer 14500, 18500, and 18650 batteries. I'd like to get that Xtar WPII one...maybe we'll get one in the next couple of months. What we have is doing okay for now.

 

[Rickajho]

The WPII 2 (No that isn't a hiccup - "II 2" is actually the correct, most current version/model number of it.) really works well. I read all the technical reviews and comparisons I could find before purchasing and it gets you the most bang for the buck.

One of the first things I noticed is neither the charger or the batteries have even a hint of warmth during the charge cycle. It's not ramming so much current through the batteries at any time to cause them to heat up. All my cheapo chargers caused batteries to get slightly warm while charging. Not much, but batteries heating up - even slightly - during a charge cycle isn't a good indication.

So, why not just get the WP6 - the six battery charger by xTar? Well, it really isn't 6 independent channels - it's 3 channels. During a charge cycle it rapidly switches between battery 1 and 2, 3 and 4 etc., alternately supplying charging current to one battery and then the other one. Because of this AIRC batteries must be charged in matched pairs regarding size and capacity. And since it's really only charging 3 of the 6 batteries at any time the charging time is longer than on the WPII 2. There are also a couple other technical differences between the chip used in the WP6 and the WPII 2.

 

[Rickajho]

The WPII 2 (No that isn't a hiccup - "II 2" is actually the correct, most current version/model number of it.) really works well. I read all the technical reviews and comparisons I could find before purchasing and it gets you the most bang for the buck.

One of the first things I noticed is neither the charger or the batteries have even a hint of warmth during the charge cycle. It's not ramming so much current through the batteries at any time to cause them to heat up. All my cheapo chargers caused batteries to get slightly warm while charging. Not much, but batteries heating up - even slightly - during a charge cycle isn't a good indication.

So, why not just get the WP6 - the six battery charger by xTar? Well, it really isn't 6 independent channels - it's 3 channels. During a charge cycle it rapidly switches between battery 1 and 2, 3 and 4 etc., alternately supplying charging current to one battery and then the other one. Because of this AIRC batteries must be charged in matched pairs regarding size and capacity. And since it's really only charging 3 of the 6 batteries at any time the charging time is longer than on the WPII 2. There are also a couple other technical differences between the chip used in the WP6 and the WPII 2.

 

[fourthrok]

I just got the "MorningStar" from Smoke Revolt. It's white...and tiny! Even smaller than the Ovale V8! It has only three voltage settings...3.7, 4.8, and 6 volts. No ohm checker or battery level indicator. But it's a sweetheart!! By putting a 510/eGo adapter on it with a DCT tank cone...it looks like the V8 with the metal platform on it (and the sealed adapter is good to protect the recessed 510 connection from any leaks). Hits JUST like the V8. Awesome! Like a Sasquatch on steroids! hehehe!

The battery door is easy to open and the batteries are easy to get in. No ribbons inside.

I got white and it's really nice. It's not shiny or anything. It's almost like it has a powder coat on it (of course it doesn't since it's plastic and not metal) and feels good in the hand.

I think it's a great little back up to my V8s. Only $20. Sadly, Smoke Revolt isn't taking online orders right now due to issues with their credit card processor. Hopefully they'll be back online soon. They have all sorts of interesting PVs I haven't see elsewhere, or if they are elsewhere, at such good prices. I may try to post a picture in a little bit if anyone is interested.

SOOO glad I ordered it when I did!!!!

 

[Baditude]

I recently got the Xtar MP2 charger to charge my AW 18650 imr batteries for the Ovale. I'm not sure that it is working properly. I just put two spent batteries in, and the two LED lights blink red, then green, then red, etc. Never had a charger work that way. My Pila just shows red LED's until they turn green when the batteries are charged. Is the alternating blinking colors typical to the Xtar chargers? I've checked the batteries' placement in the charger and they seem to be laying properly.

Battery Chargers : Xtar MP2

 

[Rickajho]

That's not the way a WPII 2 works anyway. You have two status indicators on that one: red - aint done, green - done. It doesn't do any flashing, blinking or strobing between red and green as some charger do.

Dunno about the MP2. Fourthrok - isn't the xTar MP2 one of the chargers you use?

 

[fourthrok]

That's not the way a WPII 2 works anyway. You have two status indicators on that one: red - aint done, green - done. It doesn't do any flashing, blinking or strobing between red and green as some charger do.

Dunno about the MP2. Fourthrok - isn't the xTar MP2 one of the chargers you use?

Yes...I think that is what mine is. Can't locate the paperwork for it right now...but that sounds right. It only charges the 16340s and 18350s. Came with 2 spacers, too. That's the one that gets used the most for our V8s (and now the V6) batteries since it's in the bathroom with the other charger and the charging bag. I do use the charger that came with the V8 kit too, though. Some of the time, anyway. No flashing with the Xtar I have. Just red when charging and green when done.

 

[Baditude]

Okay, concerning the Xtar MP2... I think I may have figured it out, but this is still strange. Just out of curiosity I put the batteries into the charger backwards. Normally I assume that the battery tray in a charger will use the end with the coil spring side as the negative end. Well I put the button top end of the battery on the spring end, and the charger light turns red. I put the other battery in similarly, with the button top positive end against the spring in the other tray. Again, red light.

Kept an eye on the batteries until I noticed that the red light changed to green. Put them in the Ovale and the voltage reads 8.2 volts. So, unless my charger was manufactured ...-backward by mistake at the factory, the positive side of the battery goes to the spring side, the opposite of my other battery chargers.

So fourthrok, do you put the positive end of the battery to the spring side of the battery tray in your Xtar MP2 like I did, or is it the other way around?