Sigelei Zmax V3 and V5 Telescopic: User's Group

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yzer

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ch1naski

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Sep 21, 2013
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Yes, that's a Smoktech XL 1.8 ohm single coil carto punched with a Siam Mods V2 carto punch. I use a heavy VG juice so the carto has four holes. Each hole is punched 3 1/2 turns.

V2 Cartomizer Punch - Phiniac Rugged Pyrex Glass Tanks

Nice! I tried drilling mine with a press. Pain in the ..... Too hard to get just right so that the bit doesn't grab the carto filler.

Aren't the XL cartos fatter? Is that tank made for fatter cartos? Or am I mistaken?

Curt.
 

Thepinfamily

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Nice! I tried drilling mine with a press. Pain in the ..... Too hard to get just right so that the bit doesn't grab the carto filler.

Aren't the XL cartos fatter? Is that tank made for fatter cartos? Or am I mistaken?

Curt.

I use a drill press to punch all my cartos. I set the stop so it doesn't go to deep I also use the press(while off)to make a small indention where I want my holes. That way the bit doesn't walk on me. The press allows me to make perfect, controlled holes. I've been trying some new hole patterns out lately. Things like 6 small holes. Three up top and three at the bottom seems to work great. I've noticed small holes all over the carto make for even wicking. Kind of like the iclear30S.
 

yzer

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Nice! I tried drilling mine with a press. Pain in the ..... Too hard to get just right so that the bit doesn't grab the carto filler.

Aren't the XL cartos fatter? Is that tank made for fatter cartos? Or am I mistaken?

Curt.
The Siam Mods V2 carto punch is an improvement on the similar looking Smoktech carto punch. The two are actually very different. The V2 has a longer 9 mm barrel so it allows much less deformation of the carto tube. The V2 is stainless steel and has a harder, sharper screw. The video at the Phiniac link I provided shows how the V2 works.

The nice thing about the Siam Mods V2 is that it allows you to punch holes of different sizes accurately. Four turns is a wide hole. Three and a half turns is a little smaller. Most people punch only 1, 2 or 3 holes per carto. 4 holes is a lot and is useful only for those using practically 100% VG. It takes some work to get a carto out of the V2 after punching 4 holes. Lubrication with VG helps.

Except for super large cartos, 510 cartos in shorty, standard and XL sizes are all 9mm in outside diameter. Only the length is different. An XL carto is 45mm in length. The length of cartos includes only the length of the reservoir tube, and never includes the length of the 510 connection base. A Smoktech XL carto will hold about 1.7ml of liquid all by itself with no carto tank.

I use IBTanked glass carto tanks in two sizes: 22mm and 19mm. Both are sized for XL length cartos. The 22mm is fatter than the 19mm and holds more liquid.
 
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JoeVa

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Jun 20, 2013
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Almost two weeks ago, I bought a Sigelei Zmax v5, and I love all the new bells and whistles. My favorite update is the fact that you can now take off the top ring to clean the mod. Here is my problem: like many others, I noticed that the clear firing button is not aligned with the contact on the inside. The contact seems a quarter of the way higher than the button. Also the button protrudes slightly more on the left side than the right. However, unlike others who posted about this problem, my Zmax still works great. The button clicks when I press it, and it fires perfectly. I'm wondering if this is a normal issue for the Zmax v3 and v5. I haven't abused my mod. Do any of yours look like mine? I'm afraid that the button might stop firing in the near future. I'm attaching a picture to this post.
Zmax button.jpg
 
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Starlyte2

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Got my Zmax eventually :p just over a week ago. It's great, but the only hassle I had is that, having used a Mech Mod for a while, I'd gained the habit of giving quick little presses on the button...which sets it into regulating mode...which means I turn it off, or change the watts or some other canary like that. But now I'm getting back into a long single press habit, and it's a great Mod. Use it with T3's with the top off, and the difference between using them like that and in a Vamo SS well is noticable with the air flow, much improved. :vapor:
I waited tatting myself between a V3 Vamo - but fed up with 3 button controls, unblockable, and the settings changing if I laid it down wrong- and the Innokin VV/VW, the telescopic one, that is almost a twin of the Zmax - but read some pretty off reviews and posts about it, not reliable from what I'd read - and arrived at the...ZMAX :toast:
Up to now no regrets, everything I put on it sits flush, with or without the top screwed on, depending on what I use, it's good and straight, but, as someone mentioned, the screw threads do grind a bit and need treatment. I used a little VG, and it moves really nicely now. ;)
Not tried it with a 18500 yet, as I've a few stashed away, as I didn't use them...somewhere...but where is the question. I'll find them before the Mod wears out, I'm sure. :oops:
I like SS, and the simple straight lines, not to mention the telescopic factor. I really don't know why they're only just coming into their own, as it's such a great advantage to just screw it down and put a smaller battery in it, when you're driving, for example. OK, you could put a 18350 in a Vamo, but there was this damned settings change, in the glove box or where ever, and that really started bugging me something bad! And telescopic mods are popping up like mushrooms now :2cool:
Now, after having my 18650 batteries for about a year, they're starting to get a wee bit tired, losing their charge quicker, so I must think about some new ones, pretty soon. I still get 24 hours out of the 3000mAh ones, but it was more when they were young and strong. Like me, old age is creeping up on us, but I can replace the batteries, where as I am another question. I like at least 3000mAh if not more, but 20€ is over the top in my books. I get the Evic ones, for between 8 and 12 euros, so it's around the Mod's price for 3, if not more, and a year of non-stop use is OK for the price. I've seen some at 15€ and 3,500mAh, but are they REALLY 3,500mAh ?? :2c: I did buy some in China, "3,000" mAh supposed but they seem to run out a bit too fast, so I'll buy EU as the last ones were a pretty good affair, or USA, if there's no posting PITAs :glare: I'd never considered the importance of the batteries I put in my Mods, but quality IS important :blink: as well as price. You don't get what you pay for, in all cases, as I've a pair of batteries (my first buys :blush: ) which were not worth half the price I paid...but we all make erros at first...don't we ??? :toast:

If any one reads this, IMHO don't hesitate to get a Zmax, as, after shopping around, it's a few euros more than a Vamo V3, about the same as the innokin equivalent, but a good piece of metal and electronics all considered. If you've got a couple of hundred euros to spare, of course, your choice is somewhat larger, but if, like me, your budget's not entirely extensible, or you want a simple VV/VW Mod that works well, doesn't seem, as far as I can tell, fragile (though I've not thrown it out of a 3rd floor window...yet ;) ), and is versatile in battery length, w

Also I like the 2 screw on bottoms, one bigger for button top batteries, I presume, although I've not had any problems using the smaller one. Any one to enlighten me ?? :blink:

All in all, I'm pretty pleased with my final choice, and now my friend wants one, but OoS so he'll have to wait, or pay a good bit more. I paid 30 euros at a euro or 2 +/-, which is a pretty reasonable price, a little more than a Vamo, but I find it's worth it, about the same as the Innokin telescope, and the Smoktech one (which, personally, I find to have an air unbalanced, unattractive IMO. BUT that's me, and I don't know if the insides are better or anything...:glare: ) but a better, nicer looking Mod as far as I'm concerned. I'd advise any one to buy it after doing some careful research as regards the price which can from simple to triple, depending on the place you buy :2c: :2c: :2c: less two or four is a friendlier amount, always.

Happy vaping with your Zmax's, hope you're appreciating it's qualities as much as I am :thumb:
 

yzer

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Can someone please answer a question for me before I order this today..

Is the 510 stainless steel or plated brass?
Will I have problems with an oddy style atty. stripping the threads, making a connection, or ripping the 510 out? Who has this setup going for a while now.
On my 510 connector the center post is unplated yellow brass and the threaded section is machined stainless steel. I've used mine full time for 6 months now and only use the 510 connector for carto tanks. No problems with the 510 connector at all.
 

mackman

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Sigelei Zmax V3 Telescopic (flat top): Been using mine now for the last four days and have found it a fairly well built, nicely functioning VV/VW device. My only complaint out of the box was the gritty threads which was remedied with a little cleaning and Vaseline. Not a big fan of the plastic button...it functions as it should but detracts from the overall appearance of the mod. Hoping to see this in the $50 range within a couple months...I'll buy another.

Use Noalox not Vaseline you will be happy you did
 

yzer

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So no one can look at his or her button and answer my question?
My guess is that it's just a cosmetic issue because performance is not affected. I can only guess that the V3 button is not changed with V5. I've seen a lot of photos of Sigelei Zmax V3 buttons taken by others and many look different from photos of the button on my Sigelei V3. The button height on my Sigelei measures just under 2mm on both high sides.

Sigeleib.jpg
 
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JoeVa

Full Member
Jun 20, 2013
19
1
Tujunga, CA, USA
Thanks for answering. Actually, it is a bit more than cosmetic because the button became so crooked it wasn't very comfortable to use. To vertically center the button again, I took out the battery and shook the mod, slapping it against my hand. I got the contact about center again, though it is still higher than the contact due to the pressure from the battery. The button is pretty straight again, and mod is working well, but it is clear the internals are loose inside, and I'm not sure how long the mod will last. From the picture, it seems like your button is a bit lower than the contact, too, but it is hard to see at that angle. Is it? Can you take a close-up of the button? I've seen pictures of buttons from non-working V3's, but I'd like to see one from a working V3 or V5 because I'd like to see if this is a normal issue with the Sigelei telescopic mods, or if my internals weren't glued in place correctly, and I should contact the dealer for a return since many people with this issue have posted that their mods had eventually stopped working. Thanks again. It seems like yours has been working well a long time, and it would be great to see a straight close-up of the button.
 
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yzer

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Nov 23, 2011
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Northern California
Thanks for answering. Actually, it is a bit more than cosmetic because the button became so crooked it wasn't very comfortable to use. To vertically center the button again, I took out the battery and shook the mod, slapping it against my hand. I got the contact about center again, though it is still higher than the contact due to the pressure from the battery. The button is pretty straight again, and mod is working well, but it is clear the internals are loose inside, and I'm not sure how long the mod will last. From the picture, it seems like your button is a bit lower than the contact, too, but it is hard to see at that angle. Is it? Can you take a close-up of the button? I've seen pictures of buttons from non-working V3's, but I'd like to see one from a working V3 or V5 because I'd like to see if this is a normal issue with the Sigelei telescopic mods, or if my internals weren't glued in place correctly, and I should contact the dealer for a return since many people with this issue have posted that their mods had eventually stopped working. Thanks again. It seems like yours has been working well a long time, and it would be great to see a straight close-up of the button.
I try to get a photo for you. My old cell phone had a great macro feature on the camera but the new one... not so much. I'll try to get a shot this evening.
 
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