Purchasing all the right gear

[njgeek]

Well, that didn't take long. I'm really interested in picking up the Provari after noticing how horrible SR cartos are on my eGo batteries and how much I love the feel from LR cartos, I'd like to be able to use SR cartos at their proper voltage...I believe, though I may be mistaken, that's the prime reason for getting a VV beyond the obvious build quality.

The thing is, I want to make sure I get the best, safest rig possible. As such I'm looking at the Provari V2 with the 18650 extender cap and a few AW IMR 18650 batteries. As far as I can tell, those are LiMN (safe chemistry) batteries. I'd also like to get a Pila charger, as I hear that's the best as well. However, the Pila 4-stage on provape.com says it's for Li-ion batteries: Best Rechargeable Battery Chargers: Pila Battery Charger & Pila Charger

So what I'm really looking for is the best all around starter kit for Provari. Provari V2, highly safe batteries, and a highly safe charger. Where should I be looking for all this?

One other question I have on the Provari...I'm not a huge fan of tinkering. Even with the amazing convenience of my eGo batteries, an LR cart and a tank, I miss the old KR-808 carts, just screw on and go. It looks like with the Provari I need to get used to taking voltmeter readings of my batteries, taking extra precautions while charging, and doing math formulas to get a good vape and not blow out anything. Is this true? Or am I over-reading some of this stuff?

Thanks for all the help guys and gals!

 

[BrandonSi]

You're over-reading.. I haven't checked my battery voltage in months.. When the provari blinks at me, I put it on the charger and put a fresh one in. I keep my 6ml tank + 3ohm cartomizer on the thing for weeks at a time.. I check the cartomizer resistance once, when I put it on.. (hard to tell sometimes if I grabbed an old LR tank cartomizer or a 3ohm one).

IMO, there's no tinkering required. One of the nice things about the Provari is the safety features. It's not going to let it blow up in your face.

I don't know about the batteries and over-charging.. I have the cheapo trustfire charger and I've left the batteries on there for a day or two after being charged. One of them seems to have a shorter life than the other, so perhaps it's best to take them off right after their done charging, but again, I don't think you need to worry too much about an explosion or anything on that front. Just be reasonable with the stuff.

 

[Spazmelda]

Nah, you are over thinking. You don't have to do any math with the provari. Just dial it up or down until it tastes right.

I do use the provari to check a freshly charged battery at each first use. That's just my personal preference and so far they have always been 4.1-4.2. You don't HAVE to check them, but it's a nice convenient way to do so if you want to.

I charge my batteries when the provari light tells me to, or earlier, and I just put them on the charger until the light turns green. I try not to charge my batteries when I'm not home or asleep, but I've forgotten them a few times. That's not a precaution that's unique to the provari though. I'd do that for any battery/charger, especially after the highly publicized ecig explosion. I don't use the same precautions with my cell phones, iPad, laptop, etc... Which is probably extremely illogical of me.

 

[njgeek]

This is all very reassuring.

I still need to find out if the Pila 4 stage charger will charge the AW 18650 IMR (Li-Mn) batteries.

 

[kwalka]

Nah, you are over thinking. You don't have to do any math with the provari. Just dial it up or down until it tastes right.

I do use the provari to check a freshly charged battery at each first use. That's just my personal preference and so far they have always been 4.1-4.2. You don't HAVE to check them, but it's a nice convenient way to do so if you want to.

I charge my batteries when the provari light tells me to, or earlier, and I just put them on the charger until the light turns green. I try not to charge my batteries when I'm not home or asleep, but I've forgotten them a few times. That's not a precaution that's unique to the provari though. I'd do that for any battery/charger, especially after the highly publicized ecig explosion. I don't use the same precautions with my cell phones, iPad, laptop, etc... Which is probably extremely illogical of me.

Its not illogical at all. You are assured that you wont be on the news! I just read over the weekend how they just settled the case where the Ipod nano exploded... After reading the battery safety here, I got a LiPo bag to charge all batts in, even all eGo's and especially the larger mod batts. The bag was like $8 on feebay. Have you guys seen here on ECF where there are guys who actually built blast boxes out of steel to charge batts in? Metering mod batts at least once a week is essential. Wouldn't it be nice to know ahead of time that your batts are coming off the charger way above what they should be, before you fire up an atty? Food for thought.

 

[njgeek]

Yeah, I think I may just say nevermind on the Provari. I'm not too keen on playing around with complicated and volatile electronics I don't understand.

I'd love to be able to enjoy SR cartos, but it sounds like a boxload of Joyetech batteries to compensate for LR wearout might be easier.

 

[kwalka]

I've been heavily using 4 eGo 1100mAh batts for at least 2.5 months, with LR along with everything else. I am basically on a 2-3 day vaping cycle then a day to charge all, one or two at a time. As long as you follow some basic rules, they will go the distance. Rest all batts at least 1 hr before and after charging. Keep the contacts clean. I use Q-tips, at least every other time I charge. Then once a week I get out the strong rubbung alcohol, and Q-tips, and give the contacts and threads on the batts a good cleaning. Be sure to let them sit for about an hr to assure all alcohol evaporates before charging.
There is mountains of info about all this in the battery section here. Good luck.

 

[jimbill]

You might want to try out the buzz pro or infinity pro very safe mod also it's cheaper than a provari love my ipo. Notcigs

 

[njgeek]

I thought stacked batteries were considered less safe than single?

 

[njgeek]

Scratch that "nevermind", just said screw it and bit the bullet. ProVari Mini with extender cap, three 18350 batteries, three 18490 batteries, a Pila 4 Stage Charger, extenders for the 18350 on the charger, and 5x3Ohm punched carts. Hopefully my Phiniac tank is in by then too.

Damn I'm fickle.