1.5ohm Dual Coil cartos will work just fine on any VV PV including the VMax. I run mine in the 4.5v on my VMax and in the 5v range on others.
Errol
- Status
1.5ohm Dual Coil cartos will work just fine on any VV PV including the VMax. I run mine in the 4.5v on my VMax and in the 5v range on others.
Errol
Howdy everyone. I am new to vv, and I know some people say not to start with these types of mods, but I have enough common sense not to over work the machine, so I'm trying to save myself money by skipping things like the "twist" and what-not so I'm planning on starting with the vmax. Sorry if I missed it here, but I have read different places on suggestions for batteries to use; flat top, nippled, 16340, 18350, protected, unprotected. What actually "FITS" and "PERFORMS" best?
2 x 18350 AW (button top) IMRs (700mAh)
OR
2 x 18350 flat top IMRs (800mAh)
Both work fine. Non-AW button tops are usually too long.
The AWs are your best bet if you don't wanna mess with a magnet that some generic 18350 IMRs require between the two cells.
Last edited:
Awesome! Thank you so much for the quick reply and info. I can't believe how great people are here on ECF.
Actually the Efest IMR 18350 are now considered to be a little better than the AW, although they are both good batteries. Here's a link for a great price for the Efest: Crystal Clear Vaping
Is there any play (looseness) using flat tops, if button tops fit also? I don't understand how there is room for both types and it not be a little sloppy.
The spring in battery cap allows proper fit. Be aware that some flat tops do not make good contact with each other and may require special magnet to go between them, if you have a choice the nipple tops are a sure bet.
I'd sure like to know what this is based on!!! Testing that I've done on my own batts and testing done for some shops indicate otherwise.
New:
Efest / BIO 18350s that I have tested (over 10 of them) averaged 629.4mAh with the more recent ones being lower and the earlier (BIO) ones being higher. The difference is significant. The 1st four I bought from BIO averaged 699mAh new. The later (after 5/25) ones from 2 different sources have only averaged 586.4mAh.
I'm hoping to pick up some new Efests from a pending group buy to see if the capacity is still down or not.
New AW IMR 18350s subject to the same tests have averaged 722.0mAh.
Other generic IMR 18350s have done better than either of these when new (ENS in Utah's $5 IMR 18350s averaged 831.3mAh).
>10 charge/discharge cycles:
When retested after 10 cycles the ENS generics are down in the 641mAh range. (~18% drop off)
The early (699mAh) Efests from BIO when retested after 10 cycles are holding around 645mAh. (~5% drop off)
I don't have >10 cycle numbers on the later (lower) Efests yet but have one testing as I type. I expect something around 565mAh.
At this same stage the AWs are still hold an average of 696mAh. (~3.6%)
Testing:
These are all 'discharge to 3.0v under 1A load' ratings after coming off of a fresh charge to 4.22v. All new ratings taken after an initial charge/discharge cycle and an average of the 2nd and 3rd charge/discharge cycles is used.
Further Aging:
I've not yet done any testing on these batts with >25 cycles on them but I have enough at that stage to start that testing now. Maybe I'll get to it this week.
So as you can see a price / performance call has to be made when chosing IMR 18350s. I am hoping the >25 cycles will provide info towards that.
The last 6 Efest/BIOs and all the generics require a magnet between a pair to make end to end contact.
One further note on fit. All 4 of the button top generic IMRs I've tried have been too long to fit correctly into the Zmax but do fit LT mini's fine. The AWs being shorter fit into everything I've tried them in.
And lastly, the Efest/BIOs obtained at group buy or China direct prices are going to be nearly impossible to beat even with the low performance of the recent samples if you compare $20 worth off them compared to $20 worth of any of the others. IF you can accept the slightly lower run times per pair.
So as Sgt Joe Friday used to say... "Just the facts ma'am"
Skip
Exactly (on fit).
Button tops only IF they are AW sized. The generic button top IMRs I got from CCV are too long to fit a pair in the ZMax and get the bottom cap fully down. Caution here as you could break the + contact inside the device.
Noted Skip. Also see post 26...particularly the link provided, here http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...29684-max-devices-batteries-discussion-2.html
This data also appears to indicate the AW's outperform the E'fests. I've read everything from 'fantastic' to 'subpar' on these E'fests leading me to believe there may be some production inconsistencies. There is also some talk of E'fest knock-offs. As I can't be bothered with all of that I've stuck to my tried and true AW IMR 18350's from SuperT Manufacturing. I just ordered another couple of pair; every single one I've received from this company has performed perfectly and consistently.
This data also appears to indicate the AW's outperform the E'fests. I've read everything from 'fantastic' to 'subpar' on these E'fests leading me to believe there may be some production inconsistencies. There is also some talk of E'fest knock-offs. As I can't be bothered with all of that I've stuck to my tried and true AW IMR 18350's from SuperT Manufacturing. I just ordered another couple of pair; every single one I've received from this company has performed perfectly and consistently.
Last edited:
Yo Fuzz, I'll take a look at that post in a minute. Thanx.
Yes, I noticed that the Efests I've rx'd post 5/25/12 are all quite a bit down from the earlier ones I'd purchased straight from BIO in China.
Just finished two discharge runs on later Efests with 'more than 25 cycles' on them. It's not impressive, 417mAh and 426mAh. I've got an older AW in the cooker now to give a reference point because I've not done much testing on cells with this many usage cycles on them.
Skip
PS: I've been getting my AWs from RTD Vapor
Last edited:
dw, I don't know why I didn't think of that. I was looking at my maglite a little after I posted that question and thought, DUH... but thank you
I will make sure I keep an eye out.
I was watching this thread last night. Didn't seem like any one had a decisive answer. The debate and comparison of numbers made me slowly slink away into the night. It was all foreign to me. I do appreciate all the help you guys have tried to offer me.
Understandable... bottom line is if buying in US for a Vmax, an AW at $7.60 is probably a better long term buy than a generic or EFest at $5... and certainly a 'safer' buy from a consistent quality and fit standpoint.
Last edited:
I concur. One can always stray away from the AW's once the dust clears in the battery wars. If you still want to that is.
I have 6 Efest batteries, all less than a month old. One died what seems to me to be a very premature death two days ago. The rest have been fine, but I really have no basis for comparison. I'm new the whole IMR battery deal, so I have no experience with AW's. I have some on the way, though.
A button top cell is only 2mm longer. Every pv I know of has a spring to keep tension within the cells and a good positive connection. The cells Smoktech actually designed and made for the VMAX is a flatop cell. Although the way they designed it the top positive plate on the cell does protrude just enough to make and keep good contact with the stacked cell on top of it. The other reason Smoktech designed the cell like this is if you look at the internal positive post in the VMAX it is a small circle brass post soldered to the actual board in the VMAX, nipple top batteries have "sometimes" been pushed to hard inside the tube pushing the board and positive post left or right off the nipple causing the VMAX to seem 'not workin'. This is 1 of the main reason's Smoktech designed and recommends a flat top type cell used in the VMAX, they also have a larger diameter of positive plate on top (flat tops). Using 1 IMR E'fest Flat top and 1 button top I think is the perfect setup for the VMAX. This is the ONLY time and circumstance I will ever recommend using 2 types of batteries and it's only because they are the same EXACT cell, just 1 has a flat and 1 has a button top on the cell. The AW's are great batteries and do very well up to 3.84 - 4.68 'sustained' amperage output or discharge. But where the E'fest really shine is every amp after 5 up to 10 amps 'sustained' output. The E'fests I'm using last me 12-16 hours depending on voltage setting. Not sure why a few people are only getting 1 hour of use out of them other than they may be a knock off. I can't say for sure but all 10 18350's, 6 18650 2000 maH, 18500, and the 14650's I have all tested extreemely well at multiple discharge rates from 1amp up to 10. I don't recommend using 16340's in the VMAX at all...ONLY 18350 IMR HIGH DRAINS that are the absolute best money can buy, and not only with the VMAX but with every mod out there...I've said it a few times before and I'm sure I'll say it many more times just remember you heard it here......."YOU DEVICE IS ONLY AS GOOD AS THE BATTERY INSIDE IT" !!!
Take care all !
Last edited:
Please correct me if wrong here, I am under the impression that there are three styles available, flat top, button top and nipple top.
Button top are nipple top....just a different way to describe it without using a body part for a reference...lol
You trip me out DW ...lol !
- Status
Similar threads
