Safety question

[bostoncloud]

I think I'm safe but a bit on the high side

Experimenting with 24 gauge Kantal Wire.
AW IMR 18490 1200mHh battery, supposed to sustain an 18 amp continuous discharge rate (this forum)
Two coils in a Patriot atomizer measuring 0.38 Ohms

volts/Ohm=amps
4.2/0.38=11.1 amps

Should be OK with battery rated for 18 amps, right?

Now here's the thing. I'm using the Kick by Evolve, set at about setting 5 or 6.


Fired it wearing gloves and safety goggles, works great. It will not work on a higher setting. Produces tons of smoke.

 

[Topwater Elvis]

The evolv kick won't let it fire at a higher output because of exceeding the amp limit of the kick.

 

[bostoncloud]

That's what I figured. The Kick will let me go a little higher, say up to a third of a turn from low, but what I'm getting is enough - no need to find maximum output. Glad the kick is doing its job, though maybe it's doing it a little too well, but I guess that gets into variable voltage mods for sub ohm vaping.

So basically, by using the Kick, I can limit the rate of battery drain to a safe level of output into a coil that would could otherwise be unsafe. In this case, the 18 amp battery would be safe without the Kick, so long as the resistance did not change.

So, to use my mech mods safely without the kick, I have to be careful to use batteries with a sustained maximum drain rate of over 20 amps. Which leads me to

ANOTHER QUESTION

Can we trust the ratings of the batteries being sold? For example, there's lots of discussion about Sony batteries. I can trust my source RTD vapors. But one has to be careful. I wish there were a domestic producer of batteries.

 

[Silence]

You seem to be right on with your numbers for the AW IMR and should have plenty of head room... on the kick Steam engine suggests that the low end resistance limit is at .5 and that the amp limit is at 6A. this is of course at 15w. .38 ohms at 15 watts is 6.28 A ....

 

[Topwater Elvis]

That's what I figured. The Kick will let me go a little higher, say up to a third of a turn from low, but what I'm getting is enough - no need to find maximum output. Glad the kick is doing its job, though maybe it's doing it a little too well, but I guess that gets into variable voltage mods for sub ohm vaping.

So basically, by using the Kick, I can limit the rate of battery drain to a safe level of output into a coil that would could otherwise be unsafe. In this case, the 18 amp battery would be safe without the Kick, so long as the resistance did not change.

So, to use my mech mods safely without the kick, I have to be careful to use batteries with a sustained maximum drain rate of over 20 amps. Which leads me to

ANOTHER QUESTION

Can we trust the ratings of the batteries being sold? For example, there's lots of discussion about Sony batteries. I can trust my source RTD vapors. But one has to be careful. I wish there were a domestic producer of batteries.

If .38 is safe without the kick depends on the accuracy of what you use to measure resistance.
Inexpensive ohm / multi / dvom / including the 510 connector box type meters range in inaccuracy from .2 to .015.
So a .38 coil may actually be .18 ~ .58 at worst to .365 ~ .395 at best, depending.
Actual amp draw could be between 7.24a ~ 23.33a depending on the accuracy of your meter.

This is one reason staying under the batteries CDR is important for safety.

I feel comfortable trusting the continuous discharge rate (CDR) of known quality battery brands sold by reputable vendors.
On top of that I only use and recommend batteries that have also been independently tested and confirmed to be correctly rated by accurate & reliable sources.

 

[bostoncloud]

Elvis and Silence,

Can you recommend a good Ohm/Voltage meter?

I did check the reading I got on my cheap meter against the reading on one of my variable voltage mods (Seven 22) and got the same reading just to be more certain.

I now have some red 20amp 18650/2500mAh LG batteries (no LG marking) from a supplier recommended on this forum. I think I am OK running the Patriot with the 0.38 Ohm coils on my Super T 18650 mechanically w/o the Kick (in spite of what I said above). Noisy and lots of vapor - Wow! Glad to get away from tanks and batteries, much better experience. The batteries show no signs of getting hot.

Still, I might feel a little better with a VV mod capable of lower sub ohm. My Seven 22 is supposed to accept down to 0.5. Is there something I can do with the existing coils to increase resistance, some little tweak to add a couple of tents.

So:

1. Good reliable Ohm meter?
2. Tweak coils for more resistance?

I really appreciate the guidance I'm getting on this forum. Thank you all.