Smoktech Caterpillar???

[Kingboomer]

I'm looking to get into dripping, and my B&M has the caterpillar for $12 and change. I'm not looking to do any serious cloud chasing, just want to get a reasonable priced rda, and this looks right up my alley. Anyone have any info/comments on this device? also I'm looking to pick up a SID 18650 from the same shop for $60, comes with the charger and battery. Any advice /criticizms on the two are much appreciated!


-Kingboomer

 

[AndriaD]

I'm looking to get into dripping, and my B&M has the caterpillar for $12 and change. I'm not looking to do any serious cloud chasing, just want to get a reasonable priced RDA, and this looks right up my alley. Anyone have any info/comments on this device? also I'm looking to pick up a SID 18650 from the same shop for $60, comes with the charger and battery. Any advice /criticizms on the two are much appreciated!


-Kingboomer

If you like dual coil and huge airflow, you'll love it. If you prefer single-coil and tight airflow, you'll hate it (which applies to me -- I vastly prefer my little Igo-S). I will say that it's pretty easy to build on, with holes in the posts so you don't have to wrap around the things as you do with a kayfun; just stick the wires thru and tighten; piece o'cake.

Andria

 

[Kingboomer]

Thanks AndriaD. I'm actually still in the learning stage of single vs dual, and I figured this platform would help get my feet wet, so to speak. What about the battery? Would that power the cat?

 

[steeledragon78]

Thanks AndriaD. I'm actually still in the learning stage of single vs dual, and I figured this platform would help get my feet wet, so to speak. What about the battery? Would that power the cat?

it will for a single coil build at above 1 ohm (more like 1.3 ohm +), IIRC the SID has a 5 amp limit on the electronics so you cant get too crazy with it. for a dual coil you could go mech with a good battery (sony vct4) or a 30watt + regulated also with a good batt (sony vct5).

 

[Kingboomer]

it will for a single coil build at above 1 ohm (more like 1.3 ohm +), IIRC the SID has a 5 amp limit on the electronics so you cant get too crazy with it. for a dual coil you could go mech with a good battery (sony vct4) or a 30watt + regulated also with a good batt (sony vct5).

Yeah, I'm no where near ready to go sub-ohm xD. I'm also useing a mini Nautilus, and I figure the SID would power both. I'm kind of on a fixed budget for this as well (I get to spend $100 for my b-day next month )

 

[AndriaD]

Yeah, like steeledragon said, if you don't get crazy with the ohms, an 18650 should power pretty much anything. If you use a dual coil, then each coil's resistance will need to be quite high, since you end up with half the resistance of each coil -- so if each coil is 3 ohm, you end up with 1.5 ohm. The lower the ohms, the greater the amp draw, which means faster battery depletion. I'd probably wrap each coil at 4ohms, so end up with 2 ohms, if you want the battery to last any time at all. Or just use a single coil. Though if you're going to use a single coil, there are far better choices than the Caterpillar.

Pretty much any electronic (regulated) mod, like the SID, is going to impose a lower limit on ohms, below which it simply will not fire.

Andria

 

[Kingboomer]

That's good advice. The Cat comes stock with 2-3 ohm coils, so I think I can replicate that easily. Basically I want to start getting used to a dripper before I jump in to DIY e-juice. Would, say, an MVP do a better job?

 

[AndriaD]

That's good advice. The Cat comes stock with 2-3 ohm coils, so I think I can replicate that easily. Basically I want to start getting used to a dripper before I jump in to DIY e-juice. Would, say, an MVP do a better job?

Probably not; the MVP only goes to 5v or 11w; the SID goes to 6v or 15w. The SID says it has a 4 amp output limit, however you will only get 4 amps if you stack 2 18350s, which obviously can't be done with an MVP, since the MVP's battery is integrated.

If you need to figure out amp draw for a given coil, The Steam-Engine calculator is invaluable, and also has a calc for coil building.

Andria

 

[AndriaD]

Also -- unless you're really fixed on a dual-coil setup, the Igo-S (14.5mm) or an Igo-L (17mm) may be better in terms of flavor. I'm also starting to look at the Magma RDA, because of that huge juice well. I have a Caterpillar, but I really hate dual-coils, but even with a single coil in it, it's just too airy for me, so I got an Igo-S, much smaller, and it really provides a lot more flavor -- and a LOT less air.

All the Igos are very inexpensive.

Andria

 

[AndriaD]

Stupid double post! Forum's really misbehaving today!

Andria

 

[Sgt.Rock]

I like my Caterpillars.. I have two. One is setup with a .50 ohm single and the other is a .75 ohm dual setup

The airflow is way adjustable...1 hole per side (or even half a hole per side) up to 5 holes per side which is basically like breathing through a garden hose..lol

 

[AndriaD]

I find the Caterpillar very much like trying to "smoke a straw" (breathing thru a garden hose?) even with "half a hole" on each side. Waaaayyyyyyyy too airy, can't taste anything. There's no resistance in the draw at all, it feels like you're not getting anything, then you get so much it just about kills.

I guess if you're into the "lung hit" thing, it's fine... but if you're trying for a cigarette substitute, it's horrible.

Andria

 

[Kingboomer]

LOL, thanks for all the advice. I'm still doing some research on things, but I'm deffinitely wanting to start dripping, eventually. The reason I thought along the lines of a caterpillar is I can find it at my B&M, rather than purchase online (I've gotten burned several times with online shopping, including useing prepaid cards)

 

[JD1]

...... I'm also starting to look at the Magma RDA, because of that huge juice well. ...........

I decided to go with the Veritas 1:1 clone ($8.49 at FT). It seem to be the most leak resistant of the deep well rda's, adjustable air flow, and building a single, horizontal micro for it is easy enough. (I tend to prefer single coils over double.) There's several good utube vids if you want to check it out.