just dropping by and checking on you, I donated my v3 almost two years ago and just got curious on how well yours have withstand over the years any 2013 users still?
Sigelei Zmax V3 and V5 Telescopic: User's Group
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I still have my 2013 V3 and it works fine. I have been using a V5 with a DIY switch replacement for the last year. I have been using either a V3 or a V5 in daily use since April 2013.
Good quality, heavy duty for daily vaping. I used 5wvdpw tactile switches from mouser electronics for replacement switches. I think they were $.50 a piece, I felt bad and bought half a dozen. Easy fix and much more stable. No more misfires and unwanted screen changing. The other thing I"ve done is super glue the battery floor in place, so no moving the board up when you crank the battery to tight, contributed to mis-aligned button problem. I imagine you folks have been there done that. The site is a bit overwhelming in size and content. We'll get comfortable with it soon enough.
I've read a good bit about this switch issue here in this thread, but I guess I'm just fortunate, my switch hasn't given me a single issue, and I've had it almost a year now, got it about mid-April last year. The chrome is flaking off the button, but it still works just fine. It's become my favorite mod just because it's so reliable, and so versatile, I sometimes use some '500s in it if I get tired of the "wand" feeling -- with an 18650 and a kayfun on top, it's definitely not small (though not nearly as long as a Vamo with that config!). But it's a great mod, I'd recommend them to anyone. I hope the box mods are of similar excellent quality.
Andria
Andria
The switch on my 2013 V3 will misfire occasionally but this isn't bothersome enough to replace the switch yet. I used this V3 every day for seven months. I bought a second V3 in November and used both V3s together. I liked the second V3 better because it had a straight screen and the removable top cap. The switch on the second V3 has never misfired. In April 2014 I bought my first V5. I liked the V5 so much it became my every day rig until the switch crapped out four months later. I replaced the the original switch with a better Omron tactile switch SW976-ND from Digikey. I'm still using this V5 to this day. I posted sort of a photo tutorial on switch replacement here.
V5 switch replacement
The posts linked above run from post #3208 on August 24, 2014 to post #3237 two days later. My last post shows a close-up autopsy of the failed Sigelei switch.
Fairmana posts links to his excellent switch replacement videos right after that at post #3239.
V5 switch replacement
The posts linked above run from post #3208 on August 24, 2014 to post #3237 two days later. My last post shows a close-up autopsy of the failed Sigelei switch.
Fairmana posts links to his excellent switch replacement videos right after that at post #3239.
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That's funny, that's the video I used as a guide to repair mine. Mine have a hard plastic clear button. I lost one also, and McGivered one out of a pen stopper. The clear buttons are showing the yellow switch.
Mcgivering is the best way..lol.. I think the yellow looks pimp though.. Some remotes have buttons the same size that can be fitted in. Any old remotes laying around..
Mine still going strong all original but with the retainer mod.
We need a good Zmax cult name to go along with a sorely needed wiki to index these pages.
I have 2 - V2 mini with extensions. First one was early enough to not have removable top cap. That one took a hard drop onto cememnt from apx 5' and at first the screen read all wrong and wouldn't fire. No dents or dings. Got the second early in 2014 and picked the first up "VIOLA" it's as if nothing happened now. When it comes to firing, they are interchangable performers. Once I found out about stacking batteries, I prefer my zmax over my provari mini. They are my daily device paired with nautilus and look shap with the cage tank. Zero firing issues.
My only complaint is that Jwraps doesn't produce a wrap big enough for them (SS gets boring after awhile). I've been tempted to try an alcohol ink treatment to my first mini.
If I ever do need a new switch, I'm praying to know someone who can do it. I would not want to replace my zmax's with anything I see on the current market. Only a Zmax will do.
I still have my original V3 that I bought in March, 2013. It still works great but it does misfire a fair amount. I haven't used it much in the past 8 months since I've found I prefer a box mod to a tube mod. I now use the Sigelei 100w plus box as my daily device and I love it. I think if my Zmax had a new switch it would work forever. It's definitely a quality device (except for the switch).
Is the V5 as well made as the V3 SS? If it is I just may buy one on clearance. I won't say what my first two V3's cost.
It is amazing how much the prices have come down on the V3s. Mine cost a heck of a lot more 2 years ago. 
It is amazing how much the prices have come down on the V3s. Mine cost a heck of a lot more 2 years ago.
Prices have dropped on all low wattage (15w) devices now. Everyone is power hungry. Also the new small box mods are coming out so fast the market is flooded. Even though some have been out a month or so there are price drops there as well.
Now I'm sounding like a geezer.
When I started vaping in 2012 low voltage vaping was under 3.7V. People were actually vaping and quitting cigarettes at under six watts.
Then semi regulated and then fully regulated rigs happened. The fully regulated rigs morphed into variable voltage and from there the next step was variable wattage. 3-15 watt rigs reigned supreme for a couple of years with most people vaping less than 12 watts.
Then cloud chasers happened and people were vaping 20, 30, 50 watts which quickly escalated to over 100 watts. Power was not so much about quitting smoking as a brandishing a status symbol. The marketers were having their way with the vaping public just like they had their way with the car buying public. They got people to buy cars with fins and drive 3/4 ton diesel pickups to the grocery store.
I feel no need to vape over seven watts. I don't like the taste at higher power levels. I quit smoking before buying the Sigelei Zmax when I was vaping a puny 3.4V.
When I started vaping in 2012 low voltage vaping was under 3.7V. People were actually vaping and quitting cigarettes at under six watts.
Then semi regulated and then fully regulated rigs happened. The fully regulated rigs morphed into variable voltage and from there the next step was variable wattage. 3-15 watt rigs reigned supreme for a couple of years with most people vaping less than 12 watts.
Then cloud chasers happened and people were vaping 20, 30, 50 watts which quickly escalated to over 100 watts. Power was not so much about quitting smoking as a brandishing a status symbol. The marketers were having their way with the vaping public just like they had their way with the car buying public. They got people to buy cars with fins and drive 3/4 ton diesel pickups to the grocery store.
I feel no need to vape over seven watts. I don't like the taste at higher power levels. I quit smoking before buying the Sigelei Zmax when I was vaping a puny 3.4V.
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I can't see vaping over 12w and can't wait to get the Cloupor Mini. It's so mini...
Zmaxinati just like Rayonati and Provariati
Regards
Tony
Sent from my keyboard through my phone or something like that.
I didn't know what "blog this post" was for. 
That would be simple.
I agree that much of this power stuff is marketing - from what I can tell. It's hard to avoid when new atty's are rated best above 30w (atlantis). I still put wrapping my own coils at par with cleaning the toliet. It's hard when these fads come along to not go with the flow just because there's little choice. The market should be big enough by now to allow more variety.
Wonder if Sigelei would do a special end cap for zmaxinati with their new 50w zmax v7?
(ok, so I need more coffee to wake up)
That would be simple. I agree that much of this power stuff is marketing - from what I can tell. It's hard to avoid when new atty's are rated best above 30w (atlantis). I still put wrapping my own coils at par with cleaning the toliet. It's hard when these fads come along to not go with the flow just because there's little choice. The market should be big enough by now to allow more variety.
Wonder if Sigelei would do a special end cap for zmaxinati with their new 50w zmax v7?
(ok, so I need more coffee to wake up)
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