Regulator or Switch?

[Kemosabe]

To determine how many amps your device can handle, is it the switch or the regulator that governs this?

For example, my box mod has a 5 amp switch, and a 3 amp switching regulator.

My initial thought is that its the switch. However, what do the regulator specs tell me?

 

[Dougiestyle]

It's both. If you have a component in the circuit that isn't rated for the current, it's doomed.

I'd imagine your regulator supplies 5v @ 3A, so the switch is adequate for the supplied current. Now, if you attempt to draw a higher amperage than your regulator is supplying, it will default to 3A, and your attempted draw will be less than expected.

 

[Kemosabe]

i see. thanks for the info. i tend not to think id be drawing more than 3 amps, but im not ruling it out. my main concern is safety rather than performance. and judging by your response, it seems as if even if i did go over 3A, id be sacraficing performance and not safety. this is good news.

 

[DaveP]

Switches are rated for the voltage they were designed to be used at. Switches are rated at different amp ratings at different voltages. Underrated switches may actually experience contact fusing from load. When you release the button, it's welded permanently. Over engineered is better!

The MOSFET in your ecig or the regulator that drives it handles all of the load. It's actually a circuit using a low voltage switch pulse to turn a huge load on and off. A low voltage switch just signals a high current device to turn on the atomizer coil in an ecig. Think of elevator buttons.

The MOSFET or a regulator such as the NP630 is such a device. It takes the load so your switch is more of a device designed to signal it to apply voltage to the atomizer coil. I think better switches are also used for their robust mechanical design. On an ecig, they get actuated constantly. A good switch is required for an electronic mod as well as mechanical mods where the switch gets the high current of delivering voltage to the coil instead of turning the task over to an electronic component.

 

[Kemosabe]

thanks Dave. my mod uses an evercool regulator. even with my limited knowledge, to me it seems like a quality regulator.

 

[Rader2146]

It's both. If you have a component in the circuit that isn't rated for the current, it's doomed.

I'd imagine your regulator supplies 5v @ 3A, so the switch is adequate for the supplied current. Now, if you attempt to draw a higher amperage than your regulator is supplying, it will default to 3A, and your attempted draw will be less than expected.

This also depends on the regulator and/or device. In the DIY realm, ther are few regulators that have a built in current limit. Regulator ratings are set to what they can constantly and consistently provide. Heat output is usuallly the limiting factor. My 3 amp max rated LM2595 regulator will run 3.6+. It gets a little warm but it keeps on going.