Poor boy's Provari?

[locke2121]

I'm a died-in-the-wool John Boy and Billy fan lol. This morning I was listening to them, and the son of one of their regulars, General Sadler came on with his wife Penny. Turns out they are running an e-cig site! Smokeforpennys.com They actually had Johnboy and Billy try a couple of what sounded like eGos and they really seemed to like them. Well...ever curious, I went to their site..and found this!

Vmax Variable Volt APV - Penny 's Store

I know these are made by Smoktech...has anyone tried both them and the provari? Any reviews for the rest of us as to how they match up?

 

[thinkingaboutit]

Vmax has quite a thread going a little lower in the forum under APVs.

Are they the same, no. Is one better than the other? I can't answer.

 

[SilentEcho13]

It's a stacked battery mod, so it's a little less safe than the Provari.

I've read some stories about them putting out more voltage than selected, and from what I believe, they don't regulate well, so you might hit some dropoff on low batteries.

I think there's a forum for the vmax's in the APV section though.

Personally, I went from a Lavatube to a SS Lavatube to a Provari, and I couldn't be happier.

 

[irwink]

It's a stacked battery mod, so it's a little less safe than the Provari.

I've been an electrical/electronic professional and hobbiest for over 40 years working in almost every setting and environmental conditions imagineable and have never witnessed any damage to property or personnel from exploding batteries of any type. Can it happen? Yes. An aircraft or even an asteroid can also fall on my head but the odds are against it. Driving a car a few blocks to 7-11 would worry me much more than so called stacked battery configurations. The relatively recent obsession with overly zealous safety precautions before all else at any cost in our society astounds me. Let's all resolve to live underground in sealed environments emerging above ground only when we have to and only wearing protective suits and breathing apparatus.

Sorry. Just had to vent. Now back to enjoying my Vmax employing its stacked batteries...

 

[unloaded]

This one would be more like a Provari:
Variable Voltage 1.5 Mod Kit - Penny 's Store

It uses a single batttery, shows resistance of atty, a batt meter, 3 amp limit. The amp limit can trouble you if you use too low resistance atty or carto on it. It will drop voltage to get below limit but you won't know it. Also it boosts the voltage to 6v and uses PWM to give you 50-100% cycle to simulate the voltage you select. This is OK most of the time but on certain devices or juices the 6v pulses will be enough to give you a burnt taste, even if you are set to 3v. The Provari boosts to whatever you set it at and stays there through the charge life of the battery. The one above will drop below setting as the battery drains. There are similar versions that have better end caps and same features:
NEW Varitube X - Black - Full Kit | Variable Voltage | MODS | iVAPE

I have one of the original LT's with 2.5amp limit and plastic end caps, a VariTube-X 3 amp and metal end caps and a Provari Mini. The Provari is built like a tank, is smaller and doesn't throw out 6v to screw with the flavor of one of my favorite juices. I use it everyday at work, in a tough, hot dusty enviroment with and Ody on it. I needed it small and tough so the extra price was worth it to me. The mini versions of the others might have worked for me but I was really missing Boba's the way I like it to taste. I still have the others, wife uses the LT and the VTX is in my toolbox at work for backup just in case.

 

[SissySpike]

Its not like a Provari It uses a cheep form Of PWM The frequency will not show up on a Voltage Meter. You have to hook it up to an Oscilloscope
I dumps Raw power to your attys and cartos while this sounds cool It will reduce the life of your accessory of choice.
I have one of each and they are not in the same league. I do use them both but the comparison ends with they are round has a button and a meter.

 

[Infinite]

This one would be more like a Provari:
Variable Voltage 1.5 Mod Kit - Penny 's Store

It uses a single batttery, shows resistance of atty, a batt meter, 3 amp limit. The amp limit can trouble you if you use too low resistance atty or carto on it. It will drop voltage to get below limit but you won't know it. Also it boosts the voltage to 6v and uses PWM to give you 50-100% cycle to simulate the voltage you select. This is OK most of the time but on certain devices or juices the 6v pulses will be enough to give you a burnt taste, even if you are set to 3v. The Provari boosts to whatever you set it at and stays there through the charge life of the battery. The one above will drop below setting as the battery drains. There are similar versions that have better end caps and same features:
NEW Varitube X - Black - Full Kit | Variable Voltage | MODS | iVAPE

I have one of the original LT's with 2.5amp limit and plastic end caps, a VariTube-X 3 amp and metal end caps and a Provari Mini. The Provari is built like a tank, is smaller and doesn't throw out 6v to screw with the flavor of one of my favorite juices. I use it everyday at work, in a tough, hot dusty enviroment with and Ody on it. I needed it small and tough so the extra price was worth it to me. The mini versions of the others might have worked for me but I was really missing Boba's the way I like it to taste. I still have the others, wife uses the LT and the VTX is in my toolbox at work for backup just in case.

Thanks for the recommendation on the VTX!!! I just placed my order! I received a VTube MINI today that I was absolutely disgusted with. It is promptly being returned to Apollo tomorrow. Seems like the new version is exactly what I was looking for. It was a very hard choice between the VariTube X and the VMax, but after checking out PBursado's review and the the common consensus, I reserved the VMax for my last ditch effort for obtaining power and style. The VariTube seems to fit both and cheeper, not to mention will save on my attys... Thanks again for the tip! Where the heck were you last Thursday...

Well, better late than never. Glad this convo has been started!

 

[V_Joe1981]

So glad you found what you were looking/needing/urning for in VV!!! It's hard at first to find that APV that speaks to what you need...been there and spent my dimes on the provari and that was me...gonna get my g/f one when the money allows I also want to try out the Vmax APV one of these days!

 

[Karla Lyle]

I LOVE my Vmax's. I have never owned a Provari but have used them, and I personell would rather have 2 or more Vmax's than one Provari, which is why I will stick to the Vmax. I have never done any accurate testing just my own personal experience and use and have never experienced any drop off in power when my battery is low. It always has more than enough power. As for those who say it spikes in power that is half true. It does give off more power than you set it for but once you know that you just set it accordingly. For example when I set it to 3 volts on a 1.5LR atty I get plenty of power. About what I think is about equivalent to 3.5-4v on other VV devices.

The reason people are comparing it to Provari is because it does look similar and has just the one button just like a Provari as well as all the same features. I hear a lot of people say negative things about the Vmax but I think most of them are Provari fanboys and girls who have never even owned a Vmax. If you check out the Vmax thread, I think it is called Vmax elite, you will see there are plenty of people that could not be happier with the Vmax and for the price I think I will stick with the Vmax. Actually considering getting another.

By the way, sometimes you can catch a co-op and get the Vmax at an even better deal. I believe there is one being held now for the SS Vmax for sround $53 or something insane like that. Good Luck with whatever you choose. I think you will be happy with either. You will just have a little more money left in your pocket if you go with the Vmax.

Not to mention it looks great too. Here is the SS which is my favorite.

 

[thinkingaboutit]

I'll compare a vmax to a provari in two months or so.

I can't see it being a bad option. Maybe not the best, but a world better than a twist IMO.

 

[cozzicon]

I've been an electrical/electronic professional and hobbiest for over 40 years working in almost every setting and environmental conditions imagineable and have never witnessed any damage to property or personnel from exploding batteries of any type. Can it happen? Yes. An aircraft or even an asteroid can also fall on my head but the odds are against it. Driving a car a few blocks to 7-11 would worry me much more than so called stacked battery configurations. The relatively recent obsession with overly zealous safety precautions before all else at any cost in our society astounds me. Let's all resolve to live underground in sealed environments emerging above ground only when we have to and only wearing protective suits and breathing apparatus.

Sorry. Just had to vent. Now back to enjoying my Vmax employing its stacked batteries...

Just sayin'

Unprotected CR2 Batteries Blow up the Detonator / Burn Leg

 

[mistinthewoods]

Just sayin'

Unprotected CR2 Batteries Blow up the Detonator / Burn Leg

Unprotected, stacked Chinese no-name CR2s in a modified flashlight ecig mod with no kind of protective circuitry ... What could go wrong?

 

[martinc]

condescending thread title if there's ever been one.



My Svoemestos **** over your Poorvaris anyways

P.S.

Can you tell I am a Vmax owner

P.P.S.

Just joking! (yeah right)

 

[unloaded]

Not to mention it looks great too. Here is the SS which is my favorite.

Anything would look great with a Penelope on it! 8P~

I wasn't knocking the Vmax, I've never laid hands on one. I'd compare it more to a BuzzPro because it uses two batts. And the ones I mentioned more like the Provari because they use single battery. I do have a couple of mods that use stacked batts and SWADJ regulators. I don't have a problem stacking them, just need to use the right batts for the job.

 

[cozzicon]

Unprotected, stacked Chinese no-name CR2s in a modified flashlight ecig mod with no kind of protective circuitry ... What could go wrong?

Everything?

Mark, I think it still illustrates the possible risks. Many don't agree with me.

 

[chedderslam]

Personally, I went from a Lavatube to a SS Lavatube to a Provari, and I couldn't be happier.

I have a SS lavetube and just ordered the provari. What where the differences you noticed?

 

[chedderslam]

I received a VTube MINI today that I was absolutely disgusted with. It is promptly being returned to Apollo tomorrow.

What was so bad about it? Just curious...

 

[SilentEcho13]

I have a SS lavetube and just ordered the provari. What where the differences you noticed?

Many. The Provari is heavier than the SS lavatube (or feels like it is), I sold my lavatube at a meet actually. On top of that, it's slightly more compact, has better threading, a higher amperage limit for LR atomizers/cartomizers, built in ohm-check, remembers the last voltage setting when you remove the batteries.

The best of all, if i set it to 5.2v on a freshly charged battery, it will still output that 5.2v when the battery is pretty much depleted and in need of charging. On the lavatube, I'd get a semi-accurate reading up to 5v, and it topped out at 5.5ish volts. Throughout the use of it, you can feel the power and vapor production "drop off". It wasn't regulated, if at all.

 

[Unforeseen]

Moved from General E-Smoking Discussion to Variable Voltage APV Discussion

 

[Rader2146]

Its not like a Provari It uses a cheep form Of PWM The frequency will not show up on a Voltage Meter. You have to hook it up to an Oscilloscope.

The difference between a "cheap" PWM output and the Provari's output.......a $.70 capacitor. ALL VV regulated devices use PWM, it is the means that makes VV possible. The difference is whether the output is filtered or not. Not filtered does not automatically make it cheap. It becomes a matter of preference. Most good multimeters will read an unfiltered output by averaging the volts over time (done automatically).