SXK's self-branded TC mod - Nebula 50/60; TC with TCR adjustment; Big Screen; C/F temps

[k5blazer]

Ha, I did notice the serial numbers as well. I thought for a brief moment that maybe you were both one in the same.

As for low batt message, I don't remember any mention.

I did want to ask you about the buttons. VapnFagan says they are mushy feeling, and shows what he meant on camera. They did mush after the initial click, rather than a firm click/stop as you should expect. He also shows a janky cover for the board, seems they used duct tape to secure the black flimsy cover that conceals the board. He also said this may be because his is pre production. I hope they address these minor issues, I like this mod.

 

[soulseek]

I think the biggest problem with this mod is the lower ohm detection. Otherwise seems pretty decent for it's price.

 

[TheBloke]

The buttons feel fine to me, with a nice positive click. Except my fire button has a tendency to stick! Which is of course a rather large issue. I can always get it to unstick by pressing it again, but still it's a worrying problem.

I didn't notice the cover for the board, I'll check that.

Sorry I really should have posted a review of it by now. I will try to write one up in the next 24 hours.

 

[TheBloke]

I think the biggest problem with this mod is the lower ohm detection. Otherwise seems pretty decent for it's price.

Yeah it's a shame, but in practice not that big an issue I've found. At first I thought it was huge. But now I realise that NP70 is pretty accurate for Ni200, and that's all most users will use it for. Those who realise it can be used for other wires like Titanium will also most likely come and find out the correct setting, and therefore use eg NP40 for Titanium instead of the 35 it 'should' be.

A bigger overall issue is that the TC isn't particularly accurate. Probably the least accurate of the TC mods i've tested, including other Chinese DNA 40 clones. Still good enough to be sure, and the ability to easily vape non-Ni200 wires is a big plus. Just a shame the TC couldn't be a bit better

But for me the far and away biggest annoyance is the lack of Low Battery message. It wouldn't be so bad if the mod just switched off or just gave an obviously anaemic vape. What it does is worse - it gives a lower wattage vape, but also tells you on screen what watts it's actually firing. If you are in VW that's fine, the fact that the watts just started changing on-screen in VW mode, which shouldn't ever happen, is a give-away. But in TC mode it's so annoying - because you don't know if it's lowered the watts because of TP, or because of low battery!

I can now usually work it out, simply because a TC lowering of watts is preceded by a flashing Temperature Protection message. So if I see it lower the watts before it's flashed TP, and the battery bar is below half, I figure it's because of low battery.

But it's really annoying having to try and watch for that, and not being able to just pick it up and vape until it tells you to change battery. When I get a weak vape my automatic response is to check my tank, and if that seems full, to wonder about my build. So now I've having to learn to realise "oh no, it's an SXK, it's probably the battery!"

Anyway I've let them know so hopefully it will be fixed in future batches.

 

[k5blazer]

I'll watch a review if you make one, until then I think I will put this on a back burner until a updated version comes out.
Can I assume the np settings are accessed through the menu. I'm still learning about all this.

 

[TheBloke]

It's a DNA 40-type device, so there's no "menu" as such. Just a range of individual features accessed by holding down different combos of buttons, most when the mod is locked, some not.

The NP setting is accessed by locking the mod, then holding down fire+up+down. So it's one extra button held down compared to changing temperature (lock the mod then hold up+down.)

So yes it's easy enough to change. The only downside is that NP is not shown on screen, unlike the temperature. So if you do use NP to vape different wire types (either non-Ni200, or different kinds of Ni200 with different TCRs) then you'll need to remember your current setting or check it if/when you switch between different wires.

 

[Csmith10]

I picked up my black Nebula this evening evening from the post office, threw in a 6 wrap spaced 26g Ti build in my subtank mini which came out at .3 ohms on my ohms tester but shows .23 on the nebula. set the temp to 240c, 35w, NP45 and did a cotton burn test which it passed without a problem. So an hour or so in I'm pretty happy although I'm getting the sticky fire button which is a bit irritating but if you press the button kind of up and in its fine.

 

[polarbare]

The sticky fire button is a nonstarter for me - still using kanthal in some subtanks. Really want the mod for the form factor (plan on doing a magnet mod on it - at $50, I don't mind throwing it on the mill and hoping my taping job is good enough )

 

[Csmith10]

The sticky fire button is a nonstarter for me - still using kanthal in some subtanks. Really want the mod for the form factor (plan on doing a magnet mod on it - at $50, I don't mind throwing it on the mill and hoping my taping job is good enough )

Do you mean the fire button isn't an issue for you? Have you tried charging via the USB?

 

[polarbare]

I meant I won't be getting one until reports come in that it's fixed

 

[AtmizrOpin]

SXK Nebula should be here tomorrow. USPS is taking forever to get my package to me. At one point in the transit it took 4 days to travel 57 miles. If it does come tomorrow that will be a total of 15 days since it touched down at JFK. Anyways, can't wait to test it out. I mainly got for 4 reasons, solid brass, large screen, 60 watts and of course, temp control. Possible down sides, incorrect resistance reading, no weak battery message, and mushy tact buttons. Maybe I'll get lucky and receive a revised version, lol Ya right.

 

[AtmizrOpin]

Just got my SXK Nebula. Looks they fixed the resistance issue. Also displays live update of ohm reading when firing. Just gonna see if they added a weak battery message. Gimme some time with it and I will report back. This thing is sweet! I'm fooling around with the nickel purity adjustment I set it to 10 and I swear to god I'm getting sort of temperature control with this Kanger .5 vertical head, KANTHAL. Not super accurate but when the tank gets dry temp control kicks in and saves the coil from a dry hit. Kanthal has such a small TCR that I'm figuring the smallest rise in resistance is probably equal to 50-75° jump in temp. I figure 250°F on the device is actually about 480°-500°F in reality.

 

[hotflash]

Thanks for the heads up.
Just pulled the trigger on a black one a few hours ago. Got tired of waiting to see if anyone
got an updated unit yet.

 

[USMCotaku]

seriously considering one of these.... Anyone have a source on the cheapest vendor?

 

[AtmizrOpin]

seriously considering one of these.... Anyone have a source on the cheapest vendor?

I found only one vendor in the US and they want $80 but they are plentiful in China. Don't pay more than $60 for the brass version. I got mine from 3Fvape.com for $57. The temp control is kinda janky tho. It cuts the power aggressively when it reaches your set temp. I'm still fiddling around with mine tryin/ to stop that.

 

[USMCotaku]

I found only one vendor in the US and they want $80 but they are plentiful in China. Don't pay more than $60 for the brass version. I got mine from 3Fvape.com for $57. The temp control is kinda janky tho. It cuts the power aggressively when it reaches your set temp. I'm still fiddling around with mine tryin/ to stop that.

Try lowering the nickel purity some

 

[USMCotaku]

I found only one vendor in the US and they want $80 but they are plentiful in China. Don't pay more than $60 for the brass version. I got mine from 3Fvape.com for $57. The temp control is kinda janky tho. It cuts the power aggressively when it reaches your set temp. I'm still fiddling around with mine tryin/ to stop that.

$61.99 at 3fvape
SXK Nebula Temperature Control VW Variable Wattage APV Box Mod - Golden, Brass, 1~60W, 1 x 18650 - 3FVape

 

[AtmizrOpin]

$61.99 at 3fvape
SXK Nebula Temperature Control VW Variable Wattage APV Box Mod - Golden, Brass, 1~60W, 1 x 18650 - 3FVape

Yes, that's where I bought mine. Must of jacked up the price a little since I bought mine. Thats still a good price. Make sure wherever you buy it, make sure it's a high serial number(mine is 138) to make sure it has the fixes. To respond to your previous post, I'm using Ti sitting at .42 ohms with the NP at 53. The more I decrease the value the faster temp protection kicks in. This things weird, sometimes it will smoothly decrease power once temp is reached and other times it slams it down to 0.3, 0.2 watts, then back to my set wattage (20). When that happens, the vape feels almost like it's a PWM signal.

 

[USMCotaku]

Yes, that's where I bought mine. Must of jacked up the price a little since I bought mine. Thats still a good price. Make sure wherever you buy it, make sure it's a high serial number(mine is 138) to make sure it has the fixes. To respond to your previous post, I'm using Ti sitting at .42 ohms with the NP at 53. The more I decrease the value the faster temp protection kicks in. This things weird, sometimes it will smoothly decrease power once temp is reached and other times it slams it down to 0.3, 0.2 watts, then back to my set wattage (20). When that happens, the vape feels almost like it's a PWM signal.

Not sure I'll be able to select whether or not it's a higher serial number..... But I guess if you got yours from 3f, I should be safe ordering through them..... What is delivery time like from them?

 

[USMCotaku]

Well, got it ordered... Hope it ships fast
Sent with one hand, the other is busy vaping.