Smoktech ZMax Owners - Pics., Tips, Tricks and Quirks

[SabbelMR]

Oh besides here is some shiny video footage on the VAMO VV/VW (with the ZMAX V2 RMS circuitry) apparently made by a German vendor:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3knYbp7Ma0

 

[northofamerica]

I came home to a Zmax V2 and instantly stuck brand new stacked 18350 efests into it. I am impressed with the vape you can get from faerie mode. Turn it off and it is beast for sure.
I only have one issue with the Zmax v1 and v2 and I do not remember anyone mentioning it in this forum unless they thought it was a defect. Then again there are 1563 posts now so I may have missed something

Sometimes when I click to get into the menu, the device will fire and keep firing.
For example if I am going to increase the wattage, I click to get to the 2nd menu, and the device will keep firing until I select something or leave the menu for 2 seconds until the menu goes blank and the display turns off. the device should not fire if the menu is displayed. I thought my v1 was defective but this new v2 one is doing the exact same thing.

 

[salemgold]

I came home to a Zmax V2 and instantly stuck brand new stacked 18350 efests into it. I am impressed with the vape you can get from faerie mode. Turn it off and it is beast for sure.
I only have one issue with the Zmax v1 and v2 and I do not remember anyone mentioning it in this forum unless they thought it was a defect. Then again there are 1563 posts now so I may have missed something

Sometimes when I click to get into the menu, the device will fire and keep firing.
For example if I am going to increase the wattage, I click to get to the 2nd menu, and the device will keep firing until I select something or leave the menu for 2 seconds until the menu goes blank and the display turns off. the device should not fire if the menu is displayed. I thought my v1 was defective but this new v2 one is doing the exact same thing.

That may be a defect? My V2 does not do that. I don't have a V1.

 

[kiwivap]

My v1 doesn't do that, except a short fire in menu 5, which it's supposed to do when it checks voltage/ohms/watts. There were some reports of people having that issue with v1. Did you buy the v2 with 6 month warranty?

 

[Shekinahsgroom]

if I am going to increase the wattage, I click to get to the 2nd menu, and the device will keep firing until I select something or leave the menu for 2 seconds until the menu goes blank and the display turns off.

That may be a defect? My V2 does not do that. I don't have a V1.

I agree with SG, based on what you just described nofa....a V2 doesn't have the same programming. Menu 2 is only for decreasing the W or V, not increasing it.

I've not yet experienced ANY kind of mis-fire whatsoever on my SS V2.

 

[SolemnPenguin]

Here's some data I took comparing a few different VVs

The ProVari dropped out at 5.5V and 6V with an E1 error. The atty was 1.4Ω-1.5Ω

This graph was with a 3Ω or higher atty, so nothing should have been over amp limits. It seems to show that the Z1 more "beastly" in stacked mode than the Z2.

The Z2 seems to be as accurate as anything else when in stacked 18350 configuration with the ANS (RMS) enabled.

I threw in the TOX numbers because it was just sitting there all dressed up with no where to go.

I did all these same tests with the Z1 and Z2 in both single 18650 and stacked 18350s with the devices set to variable power as well. Haven't graphed them yet. If anyone wants my spread sheet (excel) just send me a PM.

 

[Shekinahsgroom]

Here's some data I took comparing a few different VVs

Nice graphs, but the header is kinda misleading considering they're not all "Vrms"...hmm?

 

[SolemnPenguin]

Nice graphs, but the header is kinda misleading considering they're not all "Vrms"...hmm?

These are the rms values of what ever was being put out weather the device was configured for rms or not.

That includes the non PWM output devices (ProVari and TOX) because their outputs aren't a perfectly smooth DC signal

 

[northofamerica]

I agree with SG, based on what you just described nofa....a V2 doesn't have the same programming. Menu 2 is only for decreasing the W or V, not increasing it.

I've not yet experienced ANY kind of mis-fire whatsoever on my SS V2.

Yes. My mistake. I meant decreasing. I can make this happen on both my v1 and my v2.

 

[Shekinahsgroom]

These are the rms values of what ever was being put out weather the device was configured for rms or not.

That includes the non PWM output devices (ProVari and TOX) because their outputs aren't a perfectly smooth DC signal

Frequently Asked Questions

"Does the ProVari use PWM? (pulse-width modulation)

Yes, the ProVari is using PWM technology"

 

[SabbelMR]

Yes, internally. However, it smoothens the signal again to a nearly smooth DC signal.

 

[cozzicon]

Frequently Asked Questions

"Does the ProVari use PWM? (pulse-width modulation)

Yes, the ProVari is using PWM technology"

Yes it uses PWM... but it's a switched power supply with a filtered output. The end measurable product is not pulsed, but a very slightly rippled DC.

 

[Shekinahsgroom]

Yes, internally. However, it smoothens the signal again to a nearly smooth DC signal.

That doesn't mean that the Provari is DC though....it's still PWM.

That coming directly from Provape!

 

[SolemnPenguin]

That doesn't mean that the Provari is DC though....it's still PWM.

That coming directly from Provape!

PWM or not all of them are DC. I haven't come across an AC output on any PV so far.

The ProVari's output is not PWM. It's more of a triangle wave that's width could be measured in milivolts. Voltage is a difference in potential between two different points (those points don't have to be either end of the battery. If you set say 4V on the provari the triangle wave is pretty close to 4V difference from the negative side of the battery. Since it's not a flat signal but a slightly messy triangle wave rms can be calculated and is different than the average voltage.

I'm sleepy so I may not have covered that as well as I intended.

 

[glauserjg]

PWM or not all of them are DC. I haven't come across an AC output on any PV so far.

The ProVari's output is not PWM. It's more of a triangle wave that's width could be measured in milivolts. Voltage is a difference in potential between two different points (those points don't have to be either end of the battery. If you set say 4V on the provari the triangle wave is pretty close to 4V difference from the negative side of the battery. Since it's not a flat signal but a slightly messy triangle wave rms can be calculated and is different than the average voltage.

I'm sleepy so I may not have covered that as well as I intended.

well put, perfect explanation

 

[Shekinahsgroom]

PWM or not all of them are DC. I haven't come across an AC output on any PV so far.

You know what I meant...geeez.

If the designer, engineer and builder of the device says that it uses PWM technology....then that's what it uses.

But to classify it any other way is an untruth and misleading....but whatever man.

 

[glauserjg]

You know what I meant...geeez.

lol I knew what you meant

 

[txtumbleweed]

I agree with SG, based on what you just described nofa....a V2 doesn't have the same programming. Menu 2 is only for decreasing the W or V, not increasing it.

I've not yet experienced ANY kind of mis-fire whatsoever on my SS V2.

I have with mine a couple of different times when scrolling through the menu. I don't remember where I was but I just quickly unscrewed my Clearo and it stopped firing. That was the first day when I was just learning how to use it. It hasn't happened anymore but I seldom scroll though the menu now.

 

[Morandir835]

Glauserjg (sir correct?) yes I do. Owned a version one (until a tragic truck incident), now have a version 2 of it. It's why I won't say the zmax is better than the provari. There are 3 factors to view when comparing the two-

Power output- This is the only area the zmax out performs the provari
Accuracy- Provari is still more accurate than the zmax v2 with rms function. It's a much closer competition though than the v1 vs. provari.
Durability- This is where the provari dominates the zmax in every aspect. My original provari (v1) survived a car running over it, pallet of water falling on it, multiple drops, falls, one accidental throw, and finally was killed by a truck (24' box truck) running over it. Considering how many zmax/vmax's that have died from a single hard drop, you can't compare the two.

 

[hcour]

What are the diameter and length of the Zmax? Thanks.

Bump. Anyone there? Beuller? Beuller?