Just received my Provari.
I've been using a GGTS for the past year and have posted many rave reviews on the GGTS. I would still recommend it but the truth is that the Provari makes it look like a Dinosaur. My GGTS was giving a weaker vape. Could be the leads, could be the batteries are old. Instead of refurbishing it, buying more batteries etc. I decided I'd retire it for a newfangled gadget called the Provari.
I decided on the Provari because of the rave reviews that I've read in the forums. It also intrigued me the ability to change voltages. In addition I was buying aa Bicycle Flashlight and the best choice was to use the 18650 and bought Soshine 3.7 2800 batteries for it, so instead of buying 2 batteries, I bought 4 to cover the Provari. I also am distrustful of the two battery RCR123 that I've been using. Too many reports of explosions. 2800mah is alot of mah too!!
My first surprise was that I got lucky, they said it would take two weeks and it arrived in a few days. I opened my goodie package and this unit was heavy. I was figuring that because it looked so new it would be a modern lightweight flimsy unit. Nope this unit is solid. Maybe if I open it up I'll find lead pellets giving it artificial weight but I don't think so.
I watched the Videos and read the manuals and this unit was a snap to assemble and operate. The threads were just so precise. Everything lined up perfectly.
I started with a 510 Cartomizer. I've smoked 510 regulars before and figured I'd try a cartomizer. I've been using the old fashioned 801 HR Atomizers along with the 801 for years.
I inserted my Soshine 3.7v 2800 mah battery and screwed the cartomizer in. Than I checked the Battery, it came in at 4.0V I figure that when it checks the battery it's testing it under load because the atomizer comes on. So 4.0 under load is probably close to the 4.2 that the battery should be at full charge. It would be interesting to hear the factory's opinion or others opinion on this.
Than I tested the OHM on the 510 atomizer it came in at 2.9 ohm which is darned close to the 3.0 represented on the Provape website where I bought them from. I decided to cut to the chase and dial it at 4.4 that another reviewer said was perfect for this cartomizer.
I wasn't impressed the smoke was harsh. What I later found out is that at least initially you need to let the cartomizer sit for 10 or 20 minutes and soak up the juice. I put the cap back in which has a little plastic needle and blocks the cartomizer hole and filled up and let it sit.
I also found that at least on this cartomizer 4.0 is fine. 4.4 and 4.2 makes it crackle.
Than I figured to have a true test I'd need to use my old setup. So I put my Old 801 Hr Atty from Vapor Kings on and it came in at 4.3 so again the detection is .1 low.This Atty has been used for weeks so that could be the reason.
Anyway I dialed it up to 6 Volts and wetted my cart. Voluminous amounts of vapor with great taste came out. This was true 5V vaping at it's best. Remember my HR Atty is designed to lower the voltage by 1 V.
Than I proceeded to reinstall the 510 Cartomizer after letting it sit for 10 minutes and it gave a nice vape. I'm going to experiment around with the 510 cartomizer maybe in a week when I get accustomed to it, I'll change my tune. Actually I'm starting to enjoy it.
So back to the Provari.
Postives
1. It really does operate at any voltage up to 6v with the proper atomizer on it.
2. It is solid and sturdy
3. It has a resevoir opening under the atomizer that picks up excess juice that leaks out. Nice and clean. No more dripping out on my clothes.
4 With adaptors you can use it with virtually any cartomizer or Atomizer in the Market
5 While I haven't tested the battery life yet. So far with a solid 1/2 hour to 1 hour of vaping behind me it's gone from 4.0V to 3.9. Since the cutoff is at 2.5v I believe I have a long way to go.
6. I've been looking around for a battery tester for 18650 and they are difficult to find. A battery can only be tested under load so a multimeter doesn't work on just a battery you need to hook to the device and the battery. So I saved money on buying a battery tester.
7. Because of the battery an Atomizer testing features. Also the warnings when both are out of tolerance you will know when your batteries or Atomizer goes bad, so this takes out a variable of troubleshooting when the vapor gets thin.
8. The button is so precise and easy to push, while not a click button it comes really close
9. The light going on when the unit fires up is a very nice feature. And the ability to turn off that light is brilliant.
9. It's so fun pushing that button.!!
Negatives,
1. It's pricy
2. Some might consider it heavy. Me I don't mind.
3. Like all Heavy Duty Units it's big. But it seems average in size.
Doubts that were resolved
1. I was worried that it wouldn't work with my SoShine Batteries. Even though they are considered high end batteries and more expensive. It did work with them. 2800mah should go a very long way.
2. I was worried about leakage. The resevoir catches everything.
3. I was worried that with an adaptor it might have problems with a 801 setup. It works fine.
4. I was unconvinced that it would really go all the way to 6v using a 3.7v battery. It does.
5. I thought that pushing the button would be complicated but actually it's the simplest way to control so many features. They make the buttons two spaces apart and begin with 5 clicks so actually there are really only 6 features to find.
Improvements.
I'd like to see that the very first time you change an atomizer that you have to click 2 times to activate it. I would forget when I changed atomizers to change voltage so switching from a Hv to Lv setup you could fry an atty.
Conclusion;
Durability is yet to be seen. How long will the O ring last before leaking. What about the durability of the switch and the complex electronics.
This unit is a dream with the flexibility, the failsafes etc it is light years ahead of any mod on the market (that I've seen). The designer is a genius.
I've been using a GGTS for the past year and have posted many rave reviews on the GGTS. I would still recommend it but the truth is that the Provari makes it look like a Dinosaur. My GGTS was giving a weaker vape. Could be the leads, could be the batteries are old. Instead of refurbishing it, buying more batteries etc. I decided I'd retire it for a newfangled gadget called the Provari.
I decided on the Provari because of the rave reviews that I've read in the forums. It also intrigued me the ability to change voltages. In addition I was buying aa Bicycle Flashlight and the best choice was to use the 18650 and bought Soshine 3.7 2800 batteries for it, so instead of buying 2 batteries, I bought 4 to cover the Provari. I also am distrustful of the two battery RCR123 that I've been using. Too many reports of explosions. 2800mah is alot of mah too!!
My first surprise was that I got lucky, they said it would take two weeks and it arrived in a few days. I opened my goodie package and this unit was heavy. I was figuring that because it looked so new it would be a modern lightweight flimsy unit. Nope this unit is solid. Maybe if I open it up I'll find lead pellets giving it artificial weight but I don't think so.
I watched the Videos and read the manuals and this unit was a snap to assemble and operate. The threads were just so precise. Everything lined up perfectly.
I started with a 510 Cartomizer. I've smoked 510 regulars before and figured I'd try a cartomizer. I've been using the old fashioned 801 HR Atomizers along with the 801 for years.
I inserted my Soshine 3.7v 2800 mah battery and screwed the cartomizer in. Than I checked the Battery, it came in at 4.0V I figure that when it checks the battery it's testing it under load because the atomizer comes on. So 4.0 under load is probably close to the 4.2 that the battery should be at full charge. It would be interesting to hear the factory's opinion or others opinion on this.
Than I tested the OHM on the 510 atomizer it came in at 2.9 ohm which is darned close to the 3.0 represented on the Provape website where I bought them from. I decided to cut to the chase and dial it at 4.4 that another reviewer said was perfect for this cartomizer.
I wasn't impressed the smoke was harsh. What I later found out is that at least initially you need to let the cartomizer sit for 10 or 20 minutes and soak up the juice. I put the cap back in which has a little plastic needle and blocks the cartomizer hole and filled up and let it sit.
I also found that at least on this cartomizer 4.0 is fine. 4.4 and 4.2 makes it crackle.
Than I figured to have a true test I'd need to use my old setup. So I put my Old 801 Hr Atty from Vapor Kings on and it came in at 4.3 so again the detection is .1 low.This Atty has been used for weeks so that could be the reason.
Anyway I dialed it up to 6 Volts and wetted my cart. Voluminous amounts of vapor with great taste came out. This was true 5V vaping at it's best. Remember my HR Atty is designed to lower the voltage by 1 V.
Than I proceeded to reinstall the 510 Cartomizer after letting it sit for 10 minutes and it gave a nice vape. I'm going to experiment around with the 510 cartomizer maybe in a week when I get accustomed to it, I'll change my tune. Actually I'm starting to enjoy it.
So back to the Provari.
Postives
1. It really does operate at any voltage up to 6v with the proper atomizer on it.
2. It is solid and sturdy
3. It has a resevoir opening under the atomizer that picks up excess juice that leaks out. Nice and clean. No more dripping out on my clothes.
4 With adaptors you can use it with virtually any cartomizer or Atomizer in the Market
5 While I haven't tested the battery life yet. So far with a solid 1/2 hour to 1 hour of vaping behind me it's gone from 4.0V to 3.9. Since the cutoff is at 2.5v I believe I have a long way to go.
6. I've been looking around for a battery tester for 18650 and they are difficult to find. A battery can only be tested under load so a multimeter doesn't work on just a battery you need to hook to the device and the battery. So I saved money on buying a battery tester.
7. Because of the battery an Atomizer testing features. Also the warnings when both are out of tolerance you will know when your batteries or Atomizer goes bad, so this takes out a variable of troubleshooting when the vapor gets thin.
8. The button is so precise and easy to push, while not a click button it comes really close
9. The light going on when the unit fires up is a very nice feature. And the ability to turn off that light is brilliant.
9. It's so fun pushing that button.!!
Negatives,
1. It's pricy
2. Some might consider it heavy. Me I don't mind.
3. Like all Heavy Duty Units it's big. But it seems average in size.
Doubts that were resolved
1. I was worried that it wouldn't work with my SoShine Batteries. Even though they are considered high end batteries and more expensive. It did work with them. 2800mah should go a very long way.
2. I was worried about leakage. The resevoir catches everything.
3. I was worried that with an adaptor it might have problems with a 801 setup. It works fine.
4. I was unconvinced that it would really go all the way to 6v using a 3.7v battery. It does.
5. I thought that pushing the button would be complicated but actually it's the simplest way to control so many features. They make the buttons two spaces apart and begin with 5 clicks so actually there are really only 6 features to find.
Improvements.
I'd like to see that the very first time you change an atomizer that you have to click 2 times to activate it. I would forget when I changed atomizers to change voltage so switching from a Hv to Lv setup you could fry an atty.
Conclusion;
Durability is yet to be seen. How long will the O ring last before leaking. What about the durability of the switch and the complex electronics.
This unit is a dream with the flexibility, the failsafes etc it is light years ahead of any mod on the market (that I've seen). The designer is a genius.
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