Sigelei Zmax V3 and V5 Telescopic: User's Group

Status
Not open for further replies.

VapieDan

Vaping Master
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Nov 30, 2013
3,295
4,029
Flint, Michigan, United States
Hehe, I don't recall seeing that sigelei before.

Out of curiosity, I spent a few minutes trying to find any info on the web regarding the internals. I came across this ECF blog about the Bobo that was written back in mid 2013 (prior to V5 release). The author states that he was able to determine "that it is, in fact, a version of the Zmax V2" which may specifically mean a V2 or may possibly mean a V3. "A version of" is a confusing statement. At any rate, I doubt that it's a V5 based on the above, in addition to the fact that the blog was written before the V5 came out. I doubt sigelei bothered to upgrade it with V5 internals later on, especially since you can't even find one of these on their website (or anywhere else for that matter). I could be wrong, but I suspect that this model didn't sell very well and was pulled from production.

Now I'm sad. I was waiting for the camo version.
 

ricks

Vaping Master
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jan 11, 2011
7,245
10,303
61
Moscow PA
My Yellow button V5 0321151221b.jpg0321151221b-1.jpg
 

aikanae1

Vaping Master
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Feb 2, 2013
8,423
26,259
az
Does anyone know if the Bobo is a V3 or V5 board? Does anyone care? :laugh:

I missed out on the Bobo. It was a Zmax v2. The pattern is a china deft blue pattern that they distorted for some reason. They don't pop up in classies either. People seem to hang on to them.

From my understanding (discussions in old coops) Sig v2, v3, mini's, all used the same chip - even the v5 did but they added a chip to the v5 which gave it the extra features and why some avoid the v5 (added chip can go haywire). As far as chips go there was the v2. Vision Vamo's also used Sig v2 chip. Only the externals changed. Sig's chip was used in almost every vv/vw device at the time.

SJ and others may remember more clearly.

There's a zmax mini with all the extensions in the classies now.

bobosmiley.jpg
 
Last edited:

aikanae1

Vaping Master
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Feb 2, 2013
8,423
26,259
az
Someone should offer a repair kit with a switch and stainless button. But then you would have to be able to solder well.

I wonder how much money and effort I should put into a 15w $40 tube with all the other things out there now.

All the other stuff doesn't replace the Zmax.
Someone started a collectors list. I think Zmax is at the top.
Sig really needs to come out with a 40w version.
 
Last edited:

ricks

Vaping Master
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jan 11, 2011
7,245
10,303
61
Moscow PA
Would anyone know where to get a replacement button? I've ordered new switches but was wondering if I could also replace the button while I'm at it. My buttons are the stainless colored ones and are all chipped and looking blah from all the finish that has worn off.

I can't find any buttons. Can you peel off the chrome on it? How would that look.
 

Monotremata

Ultra Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jul 15, 2014
1,662
1,744
Fontana, CA
monotremata.bandcamp.com
I missed out on the Bobo. It was a Zmax v2. The pattern is a china deft blue pattern that they distorted for some reason. They don't pop up in classies either. People seem to hang on to them.

From my understanding (discussions in old coops) Sig v2, v3, mini's, all used the same chip - even the v5 did but they added a chip to the v5 which gave it the extra features and why some avoid the v5 (added chip can go haywire). As far as chips go there was the v2. Vision Vamo's also used Sig v2 chip. Only the externals changed. Sig's chip was used in almost every vv/vw device at the time.

SJ and others may remember more clearly.

There's a zmax mini with all the extensions in the classies now.

View attachment 421161

Ive often wondered if the Smok devices used the same chips as the Sigs too.. I know Smok had their own 'Zmax', and the menus and operation on my SiD is like an exact dupe of the V3s menu system.
 

yzer

Vaping Master
ECF Veteran
Nov 23, 2011
5,248
3,870
Northern California
Ive often wondered if the Smok devices used the same chips as the Sigs too.. I know Smok had their own 'Zmax', and the menus and operation on my SiD is like an exact dupe of the V3s menu system.
Zmax electronics are designed and made by Yihi. Smok and Sigeli both contract with Yihi for the electronics. The Zmax electronics are similar in both however the control firmware provided to Sigelei and Smok are different. There may be hardware differences in the boards supplied to each company by Yihi but I haven't looked into these details. For all I know, Yihi provided all of the 33 MHz boards used by Chinese brands including Vamo and many others.
 

yzer

Vaping Master
ECF Veteran
Nov 23, 2011
5,248
3,870
Northern California
Someone should offer a repair kit with a switch and stainless button. But then you would have to be able to solder well.

I wonder how much money and effort I should put into a 15w $40 tube with all the other things out there now.
Soldering will always present a real problem for most people. Soldering requires a little skill and the right tools and supplies.

Some people consider vaping a hobby when users get into winding coils to a specific resistance and sticking wicks inside them. I get that. This is a different commitment of time and money to vaping than that of someone using a cigalike. Most vapers don't consider soldering electronics to be part of the vaping hobby.

I can see the same difference in hobbyist v. general consumers of radio controlled quadcopters. I have a nice little close-to-entry level quad called a Hubsan X4 H107L. This quad comes fully built and is dynamite when flown outdoors. The Chinese have done a great job of taking US quad tech and mass producing it as a consumer item.
20150219_201957.jpg


Most consumers buy the X4, fly it in the house and maybe outdoors a couple of times. After a few good crashes these quads are toast, usually after racking up less than an hour of flight time. The $40-$50 quad is trashed and maybe the consumer buys another to replace it.

I flew my X4 for a little over 6 hours of flight time when one of the four motors burned out and another was showing signs of impending failure. I took out my soldering iron and installed a new set of motors. I now have almost 9 hours of flight time on the quad.
20150219_184218.jpg


There is consumer level of use in which a product is used until it fails and is tossed and a hobbyist level of consumerism where products are designed to be used and maintained by the consumer. The Sigeleis are designed to be used and tossed out when they fail but a very small number of consumers repair and maintain them. The Hubsan X4 quadcopter is designed to be used and maintained but the vast majority of consumers use them until they fail and toss them out.
 

ricks

Vaping Master
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jan 11, 2011
7,245
10,303
61
Moscow PA
My Vamo V2 is apart and the window in it has no set way that it sits in the body. It appears to be glued loosely in place. I have to have the new board in place before putting the window in also. If the window is in place the buttons on the board get in the way of installing it. The Zmax was easier to work with. This is a pain in the ......
 

yzer

Vaping Master
ECF Veteran
Nov 23, 2011
5,248
3,870
Northern California
Would anyone know where to get a replacement button? I've ordered new switches but was wondering if I could also replace the button while I'm at it. My buttons are the stainless colored ones and are all chipped and looking blah from all the finish that has worn off.
Four different buttons are seen on these Sigeleis: smokey tinted clear plastic, chrome-plated white plastic (with power symbol), clear plastic and stainless steel. The stainless steel button has a silicon plastic plug that fits inside it to fit the switch snugly with zero free play.

I have never seen any of these buttons sold separately as parts.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Users who are viewing this thread