Sigelei Zmax V3 and V5 Telescopic: User's Group

[MBP3]

*V3 is cheaper ^^^

 

[yzer]

eVic uses only 18650 and is 124 mm long.

Vamo V5 uses interchangeable tubes to fit 18650 or 18350 and nothing in-between. Nobody on the internet is exactly sure how long a Vamo is because several manufacturers make them. The only thing everybody agrees on is that they are long. The length for 18650 is 136mm to 139mm and 105mm to 108mm for 18350.

sigelei Zmax V3 and V5:
18350: 100mm with short battery cap, 105mm with long battery cap.
18490: 111-114mm with either cap, spring 1/2 compressed.
18500: 112-115mm with either cap, spring 1/2 compressed.
18650: 127-130mm with either cap, spring 1/2 compressed.

 

[Nailz]

The main menu screen when vaping is different on the V5 I believe, showing battery life for one, so I have heard, I only have the v5 myself, but I never use the usb charging.

 

[yzer]

I have the option to get the V3 or the V5. The V5 is cheaper and I do not care for the USB charging feature on the V5. Is there anything else that would make me get the newer model?

The V5 also has a puff counter.

 

[yzer]

You could get body-only V3 for $39.95 and V5 for $46.95 until recently at Desert Vapes. I bought a V3 from 101 vape for $41.95 in November. Both of these vendors are currently out of stock. Varitube has V3 at a higher price but they have a 90-day vendor warranty that nobody beats.

 

[MBP3]

Have you used sweet-vapes? They seem to have awesome prices and have V3 as well as V5 body (flat and round top)

 

[MBP3]

Do the V3 flat and V5 have the exact same look to them? They seem almost identical, though the V3 Round has a different body in which I don't like at alll

 

[p.opus]

Desert Vapes have good prices on the V3 and V5. Shipping was fast too.

I ended up getting the round. The flat top was out of stock and since my V3 is really designed to be a backup to my MVP's I don't really mind the round top.

I love the device. It's well constructed and I love the flexibility of the telescoping feature. Just don't tighten until "snug". I wish I could weaken the spring so I could snug it up. I have actually taken the spring out of the cap and snugged it up and it works fine. Is this "bad". I mean the spring just makes contact with the bottom cap anyway...so I figure.... {EDIT...Don't do this. Doesn't work on on my batteries. Get some Noalox instead and you will get buttery smooth threading and almost eliminate all thread "slop"}

The other thing I'm not fond of on the V3 is that you have to fire the device to read ohms. You really need another mod if you are rebuilding coils. Other than that, I love it. It's a nice value mod and performs great

 

[MrsP0721]

I bought the Zmax Mini last week and then went back 2 night ago (to get a second) and got the V3 (it had the telescope feature for only $15 more and my BM had JUST gotten them in lol). I got the round top because I didn't care for the horizontal lines (I opted for the one that looked more like my Mini with vertical lines). I'm curious though, can you buy JUST the top piece and change out the flat/round tops only? I tried switching the round top from my V3 with the flat(er) top of my Mini and they didn't fit.

My next questions are 1) What exactly are the two different battery ends for? I'm assuming the smaller one is for the 18350 battery (that I'm currently using), but I didn't know if there's another reason. And 2) What are the different batteries (other then the 18350) you can use with the V3?

Clearly I am REALLY new to vaping (been 'playing' with it for about a month, but only about 2 weeks in with no analogs and seriously getting into what set-ups I need/like) and I really just don't know that much about it all. I didn't take the time to ask the questions I should have asked because I was only there to buy it and get back home to my son who had a major surgery today. I was in a hurry!

Lastly, and this isn't a question per-say, but more something I've noticed. I don't see a whole lot about the Sigelei, I've seen that it's good and people tend to recommend it when mentioned, but I haven't found anything that says 'Hey, this is a great device, you should get one'. I'm curious to know why that is. Maybe I'm not looking in the right places!

 

[yzer]

Welcome MrsPO721!

The short battery cap (10mm) gives the Sigelei V3 the smallest size when used with 18350. The tall (15mm) cap must be used with 2x18350. With 18490, 18500 and 18650 either battery cap may be used. I find that the tall battery cap is much easier to handle while threading onto the tube.

Sigelei Zmax V3 and V5 lengths with different batteries:
18350: 100mm with short battery cap, 105mm with long battery cap.
18490: 111-114mm with either cap, spring 1/2 compressed.
18500: 112-115mm with either cap, spring 1/2 compressed.
18650: 127-130mm with either cap, spring 1/2 compressed.

More info than you will ever need about adjusting the battery tube for various batteries.

Sigelei Zmax Battery Tube Adjustment

Sigeleis are not hugely well-known. Most vapers at ECF know and stick with the familiar.

 

[yzer]

Just don't tighten until "snug". I wish I could weaken the spring so I could snug it up. I have actually taken the spring out of the cap and snugged it up and it works fine. Is this "bad". I mean thespring just makes contact with the bottom cap anyway...so I figure....

I see no problem with this so long as the tube isn't tightened so much that it dislocates the Sigelei internals. When this happens you may see the dreaded off-center or crooked screen syndrome. The battery spring will apply the correct pressure to the battery and telescopic tube threads when compressed half-way. The spring will keep the battery from disconnecting or being over tightened if the tube is inadvertently loosened or tightened a little.

 

[p.opus]

I received the Zmax 3 a couple of days ago, and I was pretty impressed for the value for your dollar. I picked up the round top (flat top was out of stock) from desert vapes for $39.95 (I guess I got the last one as none of the V3's are available anymore).

Anyway. I liked it OK....I did not like the thread play when using the 18650's. I purchased some Noalox from Home Depot today and holy crap. Although I didn't have any performance issues without it. The Noalox makes all the threads buttery smooth and has all but eliminated the thread slop I noticed before.

I simply line up the bottom of the tube with the bottom of my battery and screw on the deep well battery cap and it works flawlessly. The unit now feels nice and solid in my hand and the thread slop I noticed before hand is all but gone.

I am loving this device more and more. My MVP's are still my daily drivers due to the pure convenience and form factor they provide, but I love the option of having a replaceable battery mod that looks nice and feels solid as a change of pace.

This thing hits my Kayfun (clone) beautifully and I can't hear any rattlesnake (even though I know it's there) and I can't taste any difference between the MVP and Sigelei. And all for 1/4 of the price of a ProVari. It's nice to have a nice high quality vape out and about with out the panic attack that I would have every time I pull out a 160.00 to 200.00 mod.

 

[MrsP0721]

Man, y'all make me want to cry every time I hear how much you paid for your devices I paid $70 for my Zmax mini and $85 for my Zmax V3 at my B&M! I knew prices were less online, but I was scared I'd get a fake because I'm not familiar enough to know who has authentic ones online.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I437Z using Tapatalk

 

[yzer]

Can't say enough good things about using Noalox on tube threads for any mod using a telescopic tube. It makes turning the tube a little stiff but the advantages of better electrical conductivity along the ground path and and less tube wiggle shouldn't be ignored. Use it sparingly on the tube and battery cap threads. The Noalox will collect dust and dirt over time depending on the environment in which it is used. When the Noalox begins to act dry or too sticky then clean it off the threads with a soft cloth dampened with rubbing alcohol. Then re-apply. I do this every couple of months. You may need to do this more or less often depending on your operating conditions.

 

[yzer]

Man, y'all make me want to cry every time I hear how much you paid for your devices I paid $70 for my Zmax mini and $85 for my Zmax V3 at my B&M! I knew prices were less online, but I was scared I'd get a fake because I'm not familiar enough to know who has authentic ones online.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I437Z using Tapatalk

B&Ms, especially small shops have more overhead to overcome in operating the business and must charge more for products as a result. Ideally, the B&M should offer more in the way of customer service and expert advice than online shops. $85 is not a bad kit price for a small B&M shop. They cost that much online last spring.

 

[p.opus]

Man, y'all make me want to cry every time I hear how much you paid for your devices I paid $70 for my Zmax mini and $85 for my Zmax V3 at my B&M! I knew prices were less online, but I was scared I'd get a fake because I'm not familiar enough to know who has authentic ones online.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I437Z using Tapatalk

Now that you've done your patriotic duty and supported your local B&M...next time you have a major purchase, get up here on ECF and ask the folks here. They'll never steer you wrong.....

Of course I still throw some biz at my B&M's way. A protank here, some heads there, some e-juice over there....

 

[MotherNatural]

Can't say enough good things about using Noalox on tube threads for any mod using a telescopic tube. It makes turning the tube a little stiff but the advantages of better electrical conductivity along the ground path and and less tube wiggle shouldn't be ignored. Use it sparingly on the tube and battery cap threads. The Noalox will collect dust and dirt over time depending on the environment in which it is used. When the Noalox begins to act dry or too sticky then clean it off the threads with a soft cloth dampened with rubbing alcohol. Then re-apply. I do this every couple of months. You may need to do this more or less often depending on your operating conditions.

Smooth as a baby's bottom! Thanks for the tip. It did, however, take the entire customer service desk to locate the box of Noalox at Home Depot.

 

[MrsP0721]

lol, well at least you guys didn't say 'Man, that was stupid!' I really like the guys at my local shop, they're really nice and SO helpful and out of all of the B&M's in my area (and there's a SURPRISING amount in this small town!), they seem to be the most knowledgeable. I will ALWAYS go there for my juice, they know my style (which is sickening sweet apparently lol) and just in the last month that I've done business there, have really learned about who I AM, they don't try to sale me on some fancy this that or another, they ask about my family and my health (I have 2 fractures in my spine and Fibromyalgia).

I like them a lot so I guess I can't be too upset, I'm just going to do more research (and ask questions) before making another BIG purchase lol.

 

[p.opus]

Smooth as a baby's bottom! Thanks for the tip. It did, however, take the entire customer service desk to locate the box of Noalox at Home Depot.

Same here. I asked where thread compound (since I didn't know the name and knew I would recognize it when I saw it) was and was sent to plumbing, paint, etc. I finally just ended up in electrical since it's supposed to be conductive, and found it.

I went back to the guy and said, I found it. He said..."That's joint compound not thread compound".....Whatever....

 

[yzer]

Smooth as a baby's bottom! Thanks for the tip. It did, however, take the entire customer service desk to locate the box of Noalox at Home Depot.

There hasn't been much demand for Noalox since builders gave up on aluminum wiring for homes (and trying to fix it).