Stop the presses, new lavatube 3.0 is about to hit with a 4 amp limit!

[Algernon]

It kicks dual-coil ... is what it does but if you're waiting on a SS version... this isn't a SS version. There is a chrome version but it is just bare metal aluminum.

Mine is a Varitube X from iVape but it's still a LT 3.0 I guess if that's what you want to call it.

I... like this thing. I'm not having any issues at all with it but there is one problem you should know.

This thing is not accurate. The old Lavatubes were within .1 or .01 of their target voltages most of the time with 3ohm cartomizers and atomizers.

The new LT is either horribly centered on voltage or it is using pulse-width-modulation. 3.6v on this compared to a single ICR123a in my Smokei is completely different, it feels like 4v. The odd thing is that the higher you go, the more right it tastes. 5v tastes and hits like 5v. 6v tastes and hits like 6v. It's the lower ones that confound me.

But on to what most of you give a damn about, Dual-coils. They work, and they work great. I taped a punched one up that I had lying in my drawer and filled it with my usual juice. I compared 5v on my GLV2 with 5v on the LT, it is almost identical.

SO yeah, I guess that changes things. Lavatubes can now rock dual-coils at high voltage.

 

[billherbst]

To be honest I don't care who makes them only if they perform or not. Really waiting for a review on either the 1.5 or 3 to buy one.

filcei,

Numerous reviews of both versions (1.5 and 3.0) already exist as written posts in the various Lavatube threads about these new units. I've left a couple, since I own both versions.

Here's the skinny: Both versions implement major improvements beyond the V1 Lavatube. The most significant is raising the amp limit from the original weak-kneed 2.5A to Version 1.5's more robust 3.2A limit and Version 3.0's heavy-duty 4.0A limit.

Because these new units are pulse-width-modulated, inline digital voltage displays (such as the Madvapes display) do not work to measure unloaded or loaded voltage. To do that, one needs a much more sophisticated set-up with oscilloscopes, and even then, those numbers are not necessarily correct because we don't know the averaging algorithms for the voltage micro-pulses used in these particular regulator chips. As a result, no one can say for sure precisely how much voltage drop, if any, occurs under load.

I can tell you from my personal experience that these units hit just as hard at any power output as my many other VV mods (including Madvapes linear VV boxes, Maximum Vapors evercool wooden boxes, BuzzPro and iPro, among others). So, I think it safe to say that the voltage drop problem has been addressed and corrected. They vape like champs and seem to handle anything I throw at them without even breathing hard.

Also, these units have a feature no other VV has. They show digital displays of the resistance in ohms of an attached atty/carto. What's so significant about this? I mean, don't the ProVari, Darwin, and the SmokTech Vmax all do that, too? Well, yes they do, but the new Lavatubes do it with one click of a single button, rather than requiring the user to make multiple button clicks/pauses to activate a segmented menu system and then scroll through it to find resistance checking, as all the others do.

With both new Lavatubes, simply click the power button once, and the LCD screen lights up, instantly showing you the atty/carto resistance for two seconds, followed automatically by a second screen with the current voltage setting for another two seconds. Both screens also contain a graphic showing the remaining battery charge. Now, that's real ergonomics! No more tapping out morse code to get the information we need. Three pieces of important info with a single button click---Brilliant!

Build quality on both units is good, fit and finish is more than adequate, and the prices are right ($51.75 shipped for the V1.5 tube-only from crystalclearvaping, and $68.99 shipped for the V3.0 full kit from vaporbeast). We don't know yet about durability and longevity---time will tell on that. However, both units clearly raise the ante on the VV tube game. The Chinese are paying attention and making the right improvements very quickly.

 

[Kazoo]

Ok I think you did it Dr. Venture. I think you convinced me to get the 3.0 now and purchase a SS model in a couple months.
That way I can hand down the aluminum body to the wife lol ^_^

 

[txtumbleweed]

This won't add anything to solving the mystery but there is a review at Vaping Guide that has a nice picture of the eGo type connection with the flexible spring loaded center pin. Chrome Lavatube Review | Vaping Guides to the Electronic Cigarette

Glad you've brought all this out as I'm going to wait until a 3.5amp or better version of this PV is available. If not for your research I would have bought whatever was claiming to be a 4amp unit and definitely missing out these very desirable features.

Keep us informed.

Errol

I am going to do the same Errol. I really want the spring loaded center pin and be able to read resistance too. It is a pain when you use different cartos and they won't fire because the center pin needs to be pulled out. They did say it would be about two months before the L-rider lambo version with those capabilities will be out.

 

[Algernon]

Ok I think you did it Dr. Venture. I think you convinced me to get the 3.0 now and purchase a SS model in a couple months.
That way I can hand down the aluminum body to the wife lol ^_^

Whatever rocks your socks, man. Personally, I don't mind the aluminum. I think it's easily adequate for an e-cig body. It's a nice mod, I like it.

 

[txtumbleweed]

I agree with the voltage setting on the 1.5 needing to be set lower than the V1. When I use the same carto on each the v1.5 has to be turned down about .3 v to get the same hit. My thought is the V1.5 is showing the loaded voltage and the V1 is displaying the unloaded voltage.

 

[Cyrus Vap]

so when vapor beast gets restocked, if I want a lava tube that holds its voltage (I don't care about the connection so much) and displays resistance....I should jump on it.

consensus is....?

 

[Algernon]

so when vapor beast gets restocked, if I want a lava tube that holds its voltage (I don't care about the connection so much) and displays resistance....I should jump on it.

consensus is....?

They're for sale on iVape for $15 more... if your time is worth $15.

 

[txtumbleweed]

so when vapor beast gets restocked, if I want a lava tube that holds its voltage (I don't care about the connection so much) and displays resistance....I should jump on it.

consensus is....?

If I didn't already have the 1.5 I would jump on that one it is a good buy.

 

[Startle]

so when vapor beast gets restocked, if I want a lava tube that holds its voltage (I don't care about the connection so much) and displays resistance....I should jump on it.

consensus is....?

I would def check it out. Sounds like a great in betweener and backup at the very least.

Whether or not it has the right stuff to become the main squeeze is yet to be determined...

Vape On!

 

[Cyrus Vap]

thanks gentlemen

 

[Cyrus Vap]

is that ivape.com? just found it, its . net. man it has that stupid logo on it! lol

a chrome unit would be nice though with the 4 Amp limit....I guess we all have our senseless parameters for perfection

 

[Algernon]

is that ivape.com? just found it, its . net. man it has that stupid logo on it! lol

a chrome unit would be nice though with the 4 Amp limit....I guess we all have our senseless parameters for perfection

lol go get yourself a buffing wheel and a chordled drill and buff the hell out of the silver one. XD

 

[Cyrus Vap]

well I do have a dremel.... LOL

 

[ChrispyCritter]

well I do have a dremel.... LOL

Be careful to not buff off the chrome plating completely as it's probably copper then brass under it..I know the connectors don't have much plating on them because my eGo's wore through then I sanded/polished it off on one of them.

The body's plating is probably a lot thicker (if it's not a piece of stainless tubing which it could be because I never went through it sanding/polishing it)..BTW don't sand it with a dremel disk it won't look right..I just sanded mine so I could remove the black paint quickly and as a test on an old eGo to see how it looked...

 

[Cyrus Vap]

thanks for the info man, but I'm not brave enough to do this anyway lol

 

[Cyrus Vap]

anyone that actually has the new LT with 4A limit: have you tried pushing a 1.5 DCC at 6ish volts to see if it can handle it?

sorry if I missed this earlier in the thread, I'll go back and read

 

[Algernon]

anyone that actually has the new LT with 4A limit: have you tried pushing a 1.5 DCC at 6ish volts to see if it can handle it?

sorry if I missed this earlier in the thread, I'll go back and read

It rips it to shreds. It's awesome. I've been vaping MFS blueberry in a DCC at 5.5v and 6v on it and it rocks.

 

[billherbst]

anyone that actually has the new LT with 4A limit: have you tried pushing a 1.5 DCC at 6ish volts to see if it can handle it?

I second what Dr. Venture posted above. Although I can't measure the voltage, the real-life experience sure feels like 6 volts hits harder than 5.5V using any carto---3.0 ohm single coils and dual coils at 1.5, 2.0, or 2.5 ohms.

So far, I am immensely pleased with my new LTs---both Version 1.5 and 3.0 perform beautifully, without a hitch.

 

[Cyrus Vap]

thank you guys, that's good news