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

[dwcraig1]

I guess i got so used to the sizzle ang ooomph of the zmax. I am finding the provari quite tame.

Talking about sizzle, I just took my 2 ohm DC tank @ 4volts setting off of my Vmax and thinking that my Zmax V1 had the 18650 battery in it, I put it on there @ 6 volts setting. Didn't take long to know something was a-miss, wow, I just didn't see it coming. (I had in the stacked batteries)

Darn, I think I burnt my "diaper", I just put that carto in there too.

 

[Optimo]

Huh? Using a better battery (CGR18650-CH) will "ruin the ZMax experience"?? I'm talking about the stock low flat button top (alias flat top) Panasonics.

No...using cheapo unbranded batteries will ruin the ZMax experience as they can't handle the power demands of the V/ZMax like a AW can.

 

[Scott_Simpson]

No...using cheapo unbranded batteries will ruin the ZMax experience as they can't handle the power demands of the V/ZMax like a AW can.

Panasonics are cheap and unbranded? I thought the Panasonic CGR18650CH IMR was pretty highly regarded against the AW & Efest IMRs, and at $8.95 per each, I wouldn't call them cheap?

---EDIT--- Perhaps I misread Optimo's post ... I guess he wasn't referring to the CGR18650CHs?

 

[dwcraig1]

No...using cheapo unbranded batteries will ruin the ZMax experience as they can't handle the power demands of the V/ZMax like a AW can.

Let me give this a shot,
only use good quality IMR batteries if you want top performance from a high powered mod.
Panasonic CGR18650CH is the top dog of the pack.

 

[Morandir835]

Agree and disagree dwcraig sir. Depends on what you want most. Highest mah, the panasonic. Highest useable mah (as in still has mah left at at above 3.2v), again the panasonic. Best voltage holding capability, the AW 1600mah imr. Highest amperage output, AW 1600mah. Long term use, as of right now unproven. My oldest living aw 18650 1600 mah survived 498 and 508 charges respectively before they loss more than 20% of their capacity. I have 4 panasonic hybrid imr's, and the two with the most cycles are only at 78 and 79 charges. Until otherwise proven, for reliability still give AW the nod, but again long term testing will show.

 

[Optimo]

MAH doesn't mean a whole lot when it comes to the ZMax...you could have a 5000 MAH battery but if it doesn't have a good C rating, amperage, discharge ect like a AW it will drain and die quicker than a 1000 MAH battery with exceptional C rating and give weak hits as the battery voltage will dip alot while taking a toke.

This is why I say you shouldn't be using anything other than AW or E'Fest IMR IMO.

 

[txtumbleweed]

The most important thing is to get the extension cap so they will fit properly. Many of the 18650's put too much pressure on the circuit board if you use the standard end cap. I don't know why they even send out the short caps because all the 18650's work best with the extension cap.

 

[skipdashu]

No...using cheapo unbranded batteries will ruin the ZMax experience as they can't handle the power demands of the V/ZMax like a AW can.

This is appears to be SUCH misinformation... Where does it come from?

The following is MY testing with MY parameters, your mileage may vary. Sample sizes of some are only 2 so batch variations could swing them widely. My CGR averages come from a sample of a dozen batteries purchased over a 9 month span so I'm pretty confident of those #s.

The CGR18650-CH is rated for 10A continuous draw which I believe to be the same as the AW 2000mAh. The AW 1600mAh actually has a higher continuous discharge rating. I run tests on these IMR types @ 2, 3, 10 and 25 cycles and frankly the PAN battery wipes the floor with them. I use the better of the 2nd or 3rd cycle (always 3rd on IMRs but some cheap ICRs it's the 2nd) as the "new" capacity. All runs are from a 'hot' charge of 4.21~4.22v down to 3.00v @1A (gives level compare for ICRs also).

Anything within a 15mAh difference is probably indistinguishable and within variances run to run.

Cycles @3 (averages, rounded to nearest 5mAh):
Efest / BIO 18650 IMR: 1905
EH IMR 'flat top' IMR: 1915
AW 2000mAh IMR: 1940 (recalibrated AFTER this early run, so added 5%, original was 1846)
Pan CGR Hybrid IMR: 2130

Cycles > 10 (averages, rounded to nearest 5mAh):
Efest / BIO 18650 IMR: 1815 (updated)
EH IMR 'flat top' IMR: 1900
AW 2000mAh IMR: 1935 (confirms original adjustment for recal)
Pan CGR Hybrid IMR: 2020

Cycles > 25 (averages, rounded to nearest 5mAh):
AW 2000mAh IMR: 1900
Pan CGR Hybrid IMR: 1995

Spot checks at 30 cycles indicate the above two haven't moved more than a couple mAh.
EH and Efest batts are not yet to 25 cycles on them.

Skip

 

[Optimo]

Was my post really that hard to understand? I did not say Panasonic's were the cheapo unbranded batteries.

 

[skipdashu]

MAH doesn't mean a whole lot when it comes to the ZMax...you could have a 5000 MAH battery but if it doesn't have a good C rating, amperage, discharge ect like a AW it will drain and die quicker than a 1000 MAH battery with exceptional C rating and give weak hits as the battery voltage will dip alot while taking a toke.

This is why I say you shouldn't be using anything other than AW or E'Fest IMR IMO.

OK, I see what you are saying now... but see Morandir835's post. Also both the AW 2000mAh and Pan CGRs are rated 10A continuous discharge. The AW 1600mAh is higher. All double what any eCig/PV can demand.

 

[skipdashu]

Was my post really that hard to understand? I did not say Panasonic's were the cheapo unbranded batteries.

Might have something to do with you quoting something out of a conversation on CGRs? Seems I'm not the only one who took it to be a continuation of the CGR discussion. But I got it now. Stand by my short life numbers posted. Morandir835 may have better long term numbers.

BTW and straying into VMax land, my 18350 IMR numbers paint a picture for Efest/BIO batts of a significant drop off in >25 cycle performance on the ones I got after late May of '12 vs the ones I got prior to 5/25/12 from multiple sources. The AWs of course start out lower but have a much lower drop off rate. Interested to see how the EHs hold up that MadV is now selling (but previously avail directly from China). I'm not convinced they're not coming from the same place as the Efests.

And some of the generic IMR 18350s that were all testing out over 800mAh when new are falling off fast... some are down under 50% capacity @ 25 cycles :-(

Skip

 

[markophonic]

I have a V1 Zmax and really like it despite the inaccurate display...I just don't vape with my eyes with it

I just ordered a V2 Zmax from Premium Electronic Cigarettes | Electronic Cigz | Electronic Cigarettes Canada USA and used the aforementioned "spookygood" coupon code...and it worked!

I can't wait to get this and have a relatively accurate display with the Vrms. Looks like I'm putting that Provari off for another week or so.

 

[markophonic]

I have a V1 Zmax and really like it despite the inaccurate display...I just don't vape with my eyes with it

I just ordered a V2 Zmax from Premium Electronic Cigarettes | Electronic Cigz | Electronic Cigarettes Canada USA and used the aforementioned "spookygood" coupon code...and it worked!

I can't wait to get this and have a relatively accurate display with the Vrms. Looks like I'm putting that Provari off for another week or so.

$102.51 shipped priority mail! I hope the fit and finish is a good as my Stainless Version 1 Zmax

 

[aiccucs]

Has it been confirmed that the V2 truly has an eGo threaded connection? I plan on getting a rebuildable but still have some T3 heads that I would like to burn up before then.

 

[Morandir835]

Here's the stacked 18350's wattage numbers-

With Rms on, 2.5ohm single coil carto-

3w- 2.81v, 1.124a, 2.5ohms= 3.15w
6w- 3.98v, 1.59a, 2.5ohms= 6.33w
9w- 4.84v, 1.93a, 2.5ohms= 9.37w
12w- 5.54v, 2.21a, 2.5ohms= 12.27w
15w- 6.21v, 2.48a, 2.5ohms= 15.42w

Without RMS on-

3w- 4.12v, 1.64a, 2.5ohms= 6.78w
6w- 4.63v, 1.85a, 2.5ohms= 8.57w
9w- 5.44v, 2.17a, 2.5ohms= 11.83w
12w- 6.11v, 2.44a, 2.5ohms= 14.93w
15w- 7.03v, 2.81a, 2.5ohms= 19.76w

 

[cozzicon]

Here's the stacked 18350's wattage numbers-

With Rms on, 2.5ohm single coil carto-

3w- 2.81v, 1.124a, 2.5ohms= 3.15w
6w- 3.98v, 1.59a, 2.5ohms= 6.33w
9w- 4.84v, 1.93a, 2.5ohms= 9.37w
12w- 5.54v, 2.21a, 2.5ohms= 12.27w
15w- 6.21v, 2.48a, 2.5ohms= 15.42w

Without RMS on-

3w- 4.12v, 1.64a, 2.5ohms= 6.78w
6w- 4.63v, 1.85a, 2.5ohms= 8.57w
9w- 5.44v, 2.17a, 2.5ohms= 11.83w
12w- 6.11v, 2.44a, 2.5ohms= 14.93w
15w- 7.03v, 2.81a, 2.5ohms= 19.76w

Promising.

 

[hcour]

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

 

[crashtest22]

$102.51 shipped priority mail! I hope the fit and finish is a good as my Stainless Version 1 Zmax

I just ordered this too with the extra cap.
it was 111 shipped to california
cant wait

 

[dwcraig1]

Has it been confirmed that the V2 truly has an eGo threaded connection? I plan on getting a rebuildable but still have some T3 heads that I would like to burn up before then.

I don't have the answer to this but I am curious if you are talking about the large outside threads on an Ego.

 

[JeepBear]

I don't have the answer to this but I am curious if you are talking about the large outside threads on an Ego.

I've hadn't heard that, but it'd be nice. Kanger's new clearos all have eGo threading instead of 510. I kinda like them myself. Makes the connection more stable. And now those clearos are the only reason I keep any eGo batts around.

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