I have no doubts about you guys taking care of the switches. This is my first time dealing with InnoVapor, but I have so much confidence in you guys that it feels like I've been a customer for years. You have a great product, and I'm sure that everyone here will agree that your top notch customer service just puts you over the top. I've already PMed TmeisT, and I'm sure I'll hear back soon so for now...I'll just continue vaping away!!!
Reviews of the Apex Alpha Unit
- Thread starter Slo Ryd
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I have no doubts about you guys taking care of the switches. This is my first time dealing with InnoVapor, but I have so much confidence in you guys that it feels like I've been a customer for years. You have a great product, and I'm sure that everyone here will agree that your top notch customer service just puts you over the top. I've already PMed TmeisT, and I'm sure I'll hear back soon so for now...I'll just continue vaping away!!!
I'm glad that you have so much confidence in us, thats what were here for. We strive for the best customer service and products available. I will get a new switch sent out to you tomorrow first thing. How are you liking the Alpha so far?
Everyone who Pm's us today, N8T, myself or TmeisT will have a new switch sent out express tomorrow.
you have my word.
This ONLY applies to orders placed on or before 4/22/11. Not all of the switches sent out before the 22 are bad, but we know that everyone after that is a good one.
We appreciate you and will back our product 100%. Thank you all for your outstanding review and support.
Cheers!
SH
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I received my UltraMax with RES late this morning, and have tried to put it through its paces so that I could give my impressions of the unit as a whole. A lot of what I am going to say has already been mentioned by other posters so I hope that you guys don't mind reading what I have to say. In all of my excitement, I set up my camera and lightboxes over the weekend so that I could take some pictures of the UltraMax when it arrived today. I hope that you guys enjoy the photos.
I'm not one that cares much for packaging, but I will say that I did appreciate the way that the PV was presented in the box. It was well wrapped and lined by foam, and included was a comprehensive 95 page instruction manual. That's something that I have never received from any other vendor, and it just shows how much time, thought and care went into this line of PVs. Even with a 17670 battery, the unit itself is very lightweight and compact. The finish has a nice brushed aluminum look that does a very good job at resisting fingerprints. Like another reviewer mentioned, the finish of the base unit is not exactly the same as the finish of the RES. The RES has a much duller sheen to it; you can see this in the photo below. Many won't mind it so much, but I'm a stickler for matching so the difference in finish does bother me a tad...but it in no way affects how the PV performs. The rest of the PV is immaculate. The cutout for the switch on the outer sleeve is smooth and free of any sharp or jagged edges. The corrugated surface of the inner battery sleeve gives a nice tactile feel to the PV and allows for a sufficient amount of traction for activating the switch.
I disassembled the unit and noticed that the threads were binding a bit, especially the threads for the RES top cap. I inspected the threads and found a few nicks on them, and that was probably why it was binding. I applied some Noalox to all of the threads, and that made it much easier to assemble/disassemble. Like I do with all my other mods, I also applied Noalox to all of the brass contact points. I inspected the switch since there are others that have had problems with theirs, and it appears as though I also received one of the switches that slipped through QC. The brass contact on the atty side popped out when I depressed the switch, but it was easy to put back into place. I also noted that the brass center post on the battery end would bind every now and then. I fiddled with it a bit, and the post can easily be removed from the delrin bushing. Since my center post was already out, I applied some Noalox to it and it does not bind anymore. I'll PM someone to let them know that I got one of the faulty switches, but it's very apparent that the customer service at InnoVapor is on the ball with this issue so I am not worried about it. The PV still functions with this switch, but I am confident that it will perform even better with the proper switch.
I followed the RES filling instructions that were posted in a previous video. It was simple to do and didn't take much time at all. I filled a syringe so that I could find out exactly how much liquid the UltraMax RES could hold, and I was able to use 1.8mL before the RES was completely saturated.
I'm a chain-vaper that takes fairly long draws (at least 8-10 seconds, 3-4 times in a row). With that vaping style, the RES can't really keep up when using a Joye 1.5Ω atty. The first two pulls will produce massive amounts of flavor and vapor, but the next few draws results in a dry atty taste. I did notice that taking some long slow pulls without activating the switch will allow you to get more juice into the atty, and that seems to help a lot. I also tested the RES out with a Boge 2.0Ω cartomizer, and I feel as though it performs much better with that setup. Use of a cartomizer also provides an airier draw than a Joye atty, but I actually prefer the tighter draw.
With all things said, I am still very impressed with the unit. The use of a ceramic core in the RES is a very innovative idea, and it performs extremely well. The 2mL capacity combined with a full cartomizer provides enough juice to last me through most of the day, and I'm sure that as each day goes by I will enjoy this PV more and more.
That is a wonderful review, thank you for it. Its nice to get an honest opinion rather than what you think people want to hear. Seems like the alpha is going to work out great for you. And those pictures you took, they are great, we might even have to give you a call next time we need some pics taken.
I've always felt that the only way we can attain perfection is through honest constructive criticism. And I'm confident that those that read these reviews/critiques (and how you guys respond to them) can see that perfection is what InnoVapor strives for. That alone should be reason enough for others to support your endeavors....I, for one, do.
As for the photos, feel free to contact me anytime if you need pictures taken. It's a hobby of mine, and product photography is the next style that I'm trying to master. I'm glad you like them, but they're nothing like holding the real thing in the palm of your hand.
That is definitely what were all about. Thats why we chose the name InnoVapor. We are innovative and always looking for a way to make vaping that much better. Always looking for ways to improve existing products while inventing new ones. Its nice to see people who appreciate that.
i'm having trouble with RES working properly at 6V. i soaked RES, dripped few drops, just like i saw it on the video. after 5-6 puffs, i get dry vapor, so i wait few min, still dry, i leave for 20 min and it's still dry. i disassemble the RES and inspected and it's full of soaked juice, anybody having this issue?
SleepHater...thank you in advance for the replacement.
I am totally loving mine. 7ml in 14 hours. On my second RES refill.
I may be purchasing a second one for hubby. He keeps taking mine and trying it out. He has a short trucking run tomorrow and I told him to take it with him. If he likes it, which I think he already does, then I'll be placing that order shortly.
I am totally loving mine. 7ml in 14 hours. On my second RES refill.
I may be purchasing a second one for hubby. He keeps taking mine and trying it out. He has a short trucking run tomorrow and I told him to take it with him. If he likes it, which I think he already does, then I'll be placing that order shortly.
try sucking up the juice w/o activating the switch for a second or two
Hi to all.i trry to vapor 2 years ago with a little bit of success,fist usin epuffer catomisers,and then with a kiss box from janty dripping directly in to the atomizer.i have to quit analogs,my health isnt good.so the qustion is,what are your toughts about these new alpaha device?what model should i buy,i smoke 2 packs a day of marlboro lights.what do i have to buy to have my best change on quitting analaogs like what model and strength of nicotine juice?i appreciateyour comments on this so i can proceed to buy the alpha mod.
Thanks for everything.
Thanks for everything.
Since you smoke 2 packs a day I would suggest using the UltraMax with RES at 3.7v. It uses a 17670 battery that will last you all day. Plus the UltraMax RES will hold 2 mls of liquid which will last you quite a while before you have to refill it. As for liquid, I would suggest Regular Lite 18mg. Or possibly even full or medium flavor at 18mg. What you can do is check out the 3ml 6 pack. Try a few different flavors and strengths and see what you like best. Hope that helps.
Cheers
I got my replacement switch in the mail today and my Ultra is back up and running! Thanks again for the great customer service!
Here's a pic with my new DT:
Thats a very interesting looking drip tip. I like it. Goes great with the alpha.
With another day of vaping in the books, I decided to see how easy it would be to change to a different flavored juice in the RES. The process was extremely simple, and I was pleasantly surprised that there was virtually no residual flavor after cleaning.
After breaking down the unit and wiping down all the surfaces with a damp cloth, I ran the ceramic RES core under warm water for approximately 5 minutes. It was initially filled with one of my DIY menthol juices that contains some eucalyptus oil. It has a very strong smell and flavor so I wasn't surprised that 5 minutes of rinsing still left a small hint of it. I'm sure that an even longer rinsing period will take care of that (but I'm a bit of an impatient person so 5 minutes was all that I could afford). To speed up the drying process, I placed the ceramic core in a convection oven that was set to 300ºF. 30 minutes was sufficient enough to get the ceramic core bone dry. This time I filled it with a DIY double chocolate mint juice. On the first few pulls, I could taste a bit of the eucalyptus menthol, but that quickly went away on subsequent hits.
Overall, the process was very straight-forward and simple. I had a feeling that there would be minimal flavor transfer after cleaning, and in the end was not let down. It looks like this ceramic core concept is living up to expectations!
After breaking down the unit and wiping down all the surfaces with a damp cloth, I ran the ceramic RES core under warm water for approximately 5 minutes. It was initially filled with one of my DIY menthol juices that contains some eucalyptus oil. It has a very strong smell and flavor so I wasn't surprised that 5 minutes of rinsing still left a small hint of it. I'm sure that an even longer rinsing period will take care of that (but I'm a bit of an impatient person so 5 minutes was all that I could afford). To speed up the drying process, I placed the ceramic core in a convection oven that was set to 300ºF. 30 minutes was sufficient enough to get the ceramic core bone dry. This time I filled it with a DIY double chocolate mint juice. On the first few pulls, I could taste a bit of the eucalyptus menthol, but that quickly went away on subsequent hits.
Overall, the process was very straight-forward and simple. I had a feeling that there would be minimal flavor transfer after cleaning, and in the end was not let down. It looks like this ceramic core concept is living up to expectations!
I thought I would give a proper review of the Alpha Ultra after using it for a full day. I know I should wait, but I can't! I tried to include everything that I would want to know about the device before I bought it.
Packaging
As mentioned before, the packaging and presentation was real nice. The unit came in a black box with a clear covering containing all the materials I purchased, except obviously the battery charger.
The Manual
Haha, I know the manual isn't a big deal to many people, but this manual is awesome. You can tell a lot of time in front of the computer went into this little book. It has separate sections for each unit. Although the only difference I saw between the models was filling capacity of the RES and types of batteries used. Still, it's very nice to break down each model separately. I asked a question yesterday about how to use the battery charger. Since it was a third party device, I didn't even think to look in the manual. (I had looked through the manual online, so I already new how to work the device). But as I was looking through the manual last night, I found the exact info I had previously asked for. I was really surprised, and impressed.
Form Fit and Function
Like others have mentioned, the form and fit for this unit is unsurpassed as far as I can tell. The unit is really small and light; much more so than I originally thought. Everything fits precisely together. Really seems study too. If I dropped this, I wouldn't be too worried that it would break. The only issue I had is that the threads were a bit rough. Putting on some high quality gun lubricant fixed them. I love that everything is self contained. Nothing to take away from the sleekness of the device. A small silver tube really. Very modern looking.
The only thing that kind of irks me is the opposing threads on the switch assembly. It is a fantastic idea to prevent over tightening and the closing of airways. It works well in fact. Only, a few times I had wanted to use the threads on one side of the assembly and the other one got loose from friction on my hand. However, I think it is more due to the differing amounts of lubrication I applied to the threads than anything else. I just tried it now and both tighten and loosen properly. The threads were a bit rough, but metal on metal threads are never butter smooth. Nothing lubrication can't fix.
Quick side note: I bought the aluminum drip tip - this thing is awesome! I've never had a hole that big. Finally, I have a tip that I am actually comfortable dripping through.
The on/off switch
A fantastic idea to create a recessed switch to prevent accidental discharge. Another great idea to make the switch automatically turn off when the switch is released. No worrying about leaving batteries on. However, my hands sweat sometimes so a few times I've had difficulty getting a good purchase on the battery sleeve. The first thing that came to my mind was applying some sort of skateboard tape to improve this. Time will tell whether I get used to it.
I was also thinking however, that the out-of-spec switch I received may be contributing to a bit of extra friction. I'll know in a few days (thanks InnoVapor!).
RES Filling System
Well, the RES works exactly as InnoVapor said it would - It works well. The liquid is sucked through the holes in the bottom of the RES, into the holes at the bottom of the atomizer and into the coil. A simple but effective system. Using the natural viscosity of the liquid to transport itself is a cool idea and works well in practice. Being medical grade ceramic, I can't taste anything besides my liquid. Completely inert. One less thing to think about.
InnoVapor suggests two methods to fill the RES. One is to direct drip the suggested amount directly through the atomizer and into the RES. This works ok for me. You can see the liquid draining through the atty (and going into the RES). I actually smiled when I saw that happen. This method caused me to overfill the RES because I couldn't see exactly how much was needed. However, I firmly believe I will use this method more as I become more attuned to how much liquid is needed. I have no doubt about that as it's such an easy way to fill.
Method #2 is removing the ceramic wick and directly applying liquid that way. Currently, I like this method better because I have better visual cues to know when to stop filling. I really don't find it too messy. This thing definitely holds 1 ml of liquid...I watched it absorb it all. Haha, I smile about that. cool man.
When I take a pull, I can hear the liquid moving from the RES into the atomizer. It's a very distinct sound. When it's flooded, well you can tell. You can quickly tell whether the atty is receiving new quality juice, too much juice or is getting dry. It sounds different and quickly tastes different. When I start getting that dry hot taste, I will suck without activating the battery. That pulls new liquid from the RES into the atty. I do this until additional sucking no longer pulls new liquid. I'm not for sure yet, but these extra pulls probably get me 5/6/7 real quality hits before I add more liquid.
The only issue I have is overfilling the RES and getting the extra liquid in the little space between the RES and the atomizer. I've followed the directions for the atty drip method, but I don't think it was as dry as I thought. That extra liquid makes it hard to draw and vape obviously. So I take off the RES, wipe down the area, and go back to vaping. I know that I will have this down in a week or so. So I expect that little problem to go away shortly. Bottom line, when I fill it correctly, this RES works great.
Vaping Experience
Actual vaping experience is very enjoyable with this Alpha Ultra. I get generous amounts of vapor, solid but cool throat hits, and great flavor. To me, it feels just like direct dripping without having to drip. I pretty much only DD, never been partial to cartomizers and those large liquid reservoirs on other PVs look silly to me. The vapor is serious quality, and isn't that what we are all after?
Battery usage
I had some initial issues that messed up my first pair of batteries. (Simple mistake). So I can't yet comment on how long a 14500 will last me until I get full charge capable batteries. I will update later on this topic.
Customer Service
As has been noted, customer service is clearly InnoVapor's top priority. They are quickly answer all questions and comments. They have already taken care of an early switch issue. Absolutely nothing bad to be said about customer service and experience. And isn't it like a 3 year warranty? That's ridiculous. Edit: a 10 year warranty on the device / 3 year warranty on the switch
Final thoughts
This PV is a very enjoyable experience. I get the sensation of quality direct dripping without the hassle and mess. It does exactly what it's supposed to do. And as far as I can tell, it will last forever. From the quality of construction, quality of materials, really innovative ideas, and top notch service, I'm glad I bought it.
I have only one lingering thought, and that's my fault more than anything. It crossed my mind that the UltraMax might have been a better choice for me because of the longer usage. I thought with my vaping habits, this PV would be something that could last me all day without reaching for the bottle or potentially batteries. Now I don't think that's the case. I thought that I only vaped about 1ml a day, but apparently it's more than that. I will still have to add liquid, but it is nothing compared to dripping constantly. However, I have been meaning to cut back, and this might be my ticket to that. So if this 14500 can last me all work day (9-5), I will be super stoked. This Alpha Ultra really is a nice size, fully contained and hits great. Good work InnoVapor, good work.
Packaging
As mentioned before, the packaging and presentation was real nice. The unit came in a black box with a clear covering containing all the materials I purchased, except obviously the battery charger.
The Manual
Haha, I know the manual isn't a big deal to many people, but this manual is awesome. You can tell a lot of time in front of the computer went into this little book. It has separate sections for each unit. Although the only difference I saw between the models was filling capacity of the RES and types of batteries used. Still, it's very nice to break down each model separately. I asked a question yesterday about how to use the battery charger. Since it was a third party device, I didn't even think to look in the manual. (I had looked through the manual online, so I already new how to work the device). But as I was looking through the manual last night, I found the exact info I had previously asked for. I was really surprised, and impressed.
Form Fit and Function
Like others have mentioned, the form and fit for this unit is unsurpassed as far as I can tell. The unit is really small and light; much more so than I originally thought. Everything fits precisely together. Really seems study too. If I dropped this, I wouldn't be too worried that it would break. The only issue I had is that the threads were a bit rough. Putting on some high quality gun lubricant fixed them. I love that everything is self contained. Nothing to take away from the sleekness of the device. A small silver tube really. Very modern looking.
The only thing that kind of irks me is the opposing threads on the switch assembly. It is a fantastic idea to prevent over tightening and the closing of airways. It works well in fact. Only, a few times I had wanted to use the threads on one side of the assembly and the other one got loose from friction on my hand. However, I think it is more due to the differing amounts of lubrication I applied to the threads than anything else. I just tried it now and both tighten and loosen properly. The threads were a bit rough, but metal on metal threads are never butter smooth. Nothing lubrication can't fix.
Quick side note: I bought the aluminum drip tip - this thing is awesome! I've never had a hole that big. Finally, I have a tip that I am actually comfortable dripping through.
The on/off switch
A fantastic idea to create a recessed switch to prevent accidental discharge. Another great idea to make the switch automatically turn off when the switch is released. No worrying about leaving batteries on. However, my hands sweat sometimes so a few times I've had difficulty getting a good purchase on the battery sleeve. The first thing that came to my mind was applying some sort of skateboard tape to improve this. Time will tell whether I get used to it.
I was also thinking however, that the out-of-spec switch I received may be contributing to a bit of extra friction. I'll know in a few days (thanks InnoVapor!).
RES Filling System
Well, the RES works exactly as InnoVapor said it would - It works well. The liquid is sucked through the holes in the bottom of the RES, into the holes at the bottom of the atomizer and into the coil. A simple but effective system. Using the natural viscosity of the liquid to transport itself is a cool idea and works well in practice. Being medical grade ceramic, I can't taste anything besides my liquid. Completely inert. One less thing to think about.
InnoVapor suggests two methods to fill the RES. One is to direct drip the suggested amount directly through the atomizer and into the RES. This works ok for me. You can see the liquid draining through the atty (and going into the RES). I actually smiled when I saw that happen. This method caused me to overfill the RES because I couldn't see exactly how much was needed. However, I firmly believe I will use this method more as I become more attuned to how much liquid is needed. I have no doubt about that as it's such an easy way to fill.
Method #2 is removing the ceramic wick and directly applying liquid that way. Currently, I like this method better because I have better visual cues to know when to stop filling. I really don't find it too messy. This thing definitely holds 1 ml of liquid...I watched it absorb it all. Haha, I smile about that. cool man.
When I take a pull, I can hear the liquid moving from the RES into the atomizer. It's a very distinct sound. When it's flooded, well you can tell. You can quickly tell whether the atty is receiving new quality juice, too much juice or is getting dry. It sounds different and quickly tastes different. When I start getting that dry hot taste, I will suck without activating the battery. That pulls new liquid from the RES into the atty. I do this until additional sucking no longer pulls new liquid. I'm not for sure yet, but these extra pulls probably get me 5/6/7 real quality hits before I add more liquid.
The only issue I have is overfilling the RES and getting the extra liquid in the little space between the RES and the atomizer. I've followed the directions for the atty drip method, but I don't think it was as dry as I thought. That extra liquid makes it hard to draw and vape obviously. So I take off the RES, wipe down the area, and go back to vaping. I know that I will have this down in a week or so. So I expect that little problem to go away shortly. Bottom line, when I fill it correctly, this RES works great.
Vaping Experience
Actual vaping experience is very enjoyable with this Alpha Ultra. I get generous amounts of vapor, solid but cool throat hits, and great flavor. To me, it feels just like direct dripping without having to drip. I pretty much only DD, never been partial to cartomizers and those large liquid reservoirs on other PVs look silly to me. The vapor is serious quality, and isn't that what we are all after?
Battery usage
I had some initial issues that messed up my first pair of batteries. (Simple mistake). So I can't yet comment on how long a 14500 will last me until I get full charge capable batteries. I will update later on this topic.
Customer Service
As has been noted, customer service is clearly InnoVapor's top priority. They are quickly answer all questions and comments. They have already taken care of an early switch issue. Absolutely nothing bad to be said about customer service and experience. And isn't it like a 3 year warranty? That's ridiculous. Edit: a 10 year warranty on the device / 3 year warranty on the switch
Final thoughts
This PV is a very enjoyable experience. I get the sensation of quality direct dripping without the hassle and mess. It does exactly what it's supposed to do. And as far as I can tell, it will last forever. From the quality of construction, quality of materials, really innovative ideas, and top notch service, I'm glad I bought it.
I have only one lingering thought, and that's my fault more than anything. It crossed my mind that the UltraMax might have been a better choice for me because of the longer usage. I thought with my vaping habits, this PV would be something that could last me all day without reaching for the bottle or potentially batteries. Now I don't think that's the case. I thought that I only vaped about 1ml a day, but apparently it's more than that. I will still have to add liquid, but it is nothing compared to dripping constantly. However, I have been meaning to cut back, and this might be my ticket to that. So if this 14500 can last me all work day (9-5), I will be super stoked. This Alpha Ultra really is a nice size, fully contained and hits great. Good work InnoVapor, good work.
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well, i try this and it's only good for couple more puffs and it's dry again. i took out the RES and it's still moist, but i decided to refill and it's working good. looks like when the reserve drops to 1/2, i think it's time to refill. i have 2 mil RES, so i'll have to refill after using 1 mil, meaning i need to drip about 3 or 4 times a day. still beats dripping i guess, which i had to do constantly. maybe i'll get some 3.7V batts and see if i get more mileage with that. but i like 6V vaping.....
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