Well crap I wasn't aware I wouldn't be able to adjust the preheat on the device without using Escribe... That's just dumb IMO. So if I go to a local B&M and want to try another atty or put someone else's build on, I'd need to connect to a PC if I needed or wanted to change preheat. Yea that's dumb dumb dumb. Maybe they'll add it in firmware at some point. I should receive my DNA200 powered device tomorrow to compare to the SXmini M. Just praying it works out of the box and continues to work. I was very hesitant in making the DNA200 purchase with all the failures reported across the board from components falling off to burnt chips or just dying after a few days/weeks of use.
SXmini M Class (TEMP CONTROL)
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Well crap I wasn't aware I wouldn't be able to adjust the preheat on the device without using Escribe... That's just dumb IMO. So if I go to a local B&M and want to try another atty or put someone else's build on, I'd need to connect to a PC if I needed or wanted to change preheat. Yea that's dumb dumb dumb. Maybe they'll add it in firmware at some point. I should receive my DNA200 powered device tomorrow to compare to the SXmini M. Just praying it works out of the box and continues to work. I was very hesitant in making the DNA200 purchase with all the failures reported across the board from components falling off to burnt chips or just dying after a few days/weeks of use.
The SXmini M Class has not been without issues for me. The S Class on the other hand, has been a solid performer since I purchased it when they were first made available.
Lets' see.. So far with the M Class:
e-liquid leaking past the 510 gasket into the battery tube, and inside of the mod. e-liquid was actually coming out of the C frame seams. Kind of my fault for using an RDA with a BF'er pin, but it still should not have gotten past the gasket IMO, and what if one wanted to use an open pin atty, or one of the new Ni200 cartos?
Peeling paint issue. (Resolved by Varitube with a replacement unit)
Replacement unit had rattling +/- buttons, and the battery charging indicator "lightening bolt" became stuck, no longer showing the bar. Varitube resolved the rattling +/- button issue for me, and did not see the charging indicator issue.. Must have worked again when returned, and for a couple of hours after I received it back. Had to send it back again for an entire board replacement when the issue reappeared (under warranty). I should note that I never used the USB port for charging, so the stuck "lightening bolt" wasn't due to that.. It just appeared, and stuck there..
Unit again has peeling paint issue, and also a top cap which either is not totally flat, or the 510 threading is off, causing a noticeable atty lean (especially when taller tanks are installed)..
Don't get me wrong, I love the SX350J board, and how well it works using temp-protection, but to say someone just has "bad luck", or "user error", just isn't always the case.I've seen almost all of the same issues I've experienced reported from others at the SXmini Brotherhood FB group, so I know they are not isolated. Not common perhaps, but happening nonetheless.
Good seeing you back @Technonut , your presence was missed around here. Hope all is well with you. On the SXmini m, sounds like you've had your fair share of problems unfortunately. Only real problem I can complain about to date is the paint on the first one I bought Grey/Silver that's been resolved. If your still having problems I suggest you get with Perry @ Varitube.com as he's gone above and beyond in working with me.
Well, one can set up all sorts of presets to cover a range of preheats, so that's sort of the best workaround to the lack of pre-heat control on-chip. However, that means out of the box you still need to hook it up to escribe to get it working that way. So in my case, that meant hours of figuring out how to setup a windows virtual box on my mac, than watching tutorials on escribe, then playing with escribe, etc. Once one gets past all that, one can finally start configuring the DNA200 so that it works better than the default settings.
In the meantime, that 200W preheat hits way too harsh for nickel coils. I'm using a Smok TCT tank, which has a hefty .15 ohm parallel nickel coil, and with that default preheat I get a very unpleasant initial hit. I have to turn the preheat down to at least 100W on that coil to not get the nasty preheat hit. Also, if left along long enough, the DNA200 seems to reset the preheat as I found out this morning. However, that might have been a fluke, not sure. Unfortunately, the display gives you zero information about your preheat setup and no ability to change that in escribe, which I also find annoying.
However, there are some positive aspects of the DNA200. I do like being able to make custom screens for each preset. One has pretty fine control over the brightness of the screen and when it shifts from active to idle display state (though how it is presented in escribe is confusing). The Device monitor is helpful, but not necessary, for figuring out optimal preheating. Overall though, the fact that one has to set preheats and what type of coil is being used (e.g., Nickel, Titanium) via presets only in escribe bothers me. Further, the display gives no indication if important changes from default are in use or not. For example, there's no way to tell if it is still using Nickel's TCR curve or a custom one, which is sort of important when the DNA200 doesn't allow you to lock the device into a specific TCR regardless of what else you change. Consequently, it's not a device that I feel I can trust to work right, unless I've spent substantial time in escribe setting up a preset for a particular coil.
Consequently, my feeling thus far is that the DNA200 is more focused on the power kanthal users, with temperature control users being more of a secondary consideration.
I totally understand your opinion but my experience has been much different from yours. Even though my preheat is set to 200 watts, the dna200 starts off at 40-60watts because it knows that 200watts will char my cotton. But then again, I'm using TI coils. My TI profile never resets to default after any amount of time. It's weird that's yours is acting this way. I've also noticed that I can make the preheat act differently by adjusting the wattage and temp. I do think that evolv should allow us to change a lot of these settings with out escribe.
^^^^^ I have three (soon to be four) coil types set: Ni 200, Titanium, SS316 L...NiFe 52 (to come) for three atomizers.
Each is set to optimal performance in eScribe by which I mean hits and holds set Temp and Wattage.
Having the DATA available for realtime observation and adjustment means I'm "out of the dark" and not living in a "guess" or hope.
Still enjoying my SX Mini, though, it will be VERY interesting to see how YiHi responds to this challenge. It is definitely a CHALLENGE
Each is set to optimal performance in eScribe by which I mean hits and holds set Temp and Wattage.
Having the DATA available for realtime observation and adjustment means I'm "out of the dark" and not living in a "guess" or hope.
Still enjoying my SX Mini, though, it will be VERY interesting to see how YiHi responds to this challenge. It is definitely a CHALLENGE
I have enjoyed my SXM greatly but I guess I feel different than you about the DNA 200. Specific parameters can be set up and clearly labeled for each of 8 presets including a different preheat profile for each. All the parameters are in memory and when a profile is changed there's no doubt what I will get with respect to performance.
The ability to set a precise preheat and the length of the preheat cycle allows me to get optimum vape conditions for each specific wire and atty that I use. I know of no other devie that does that and the result for me is a superior vape to anything else I have ever used including my beloved SXM. I am not a "power vaper" going for big clouds etc. I aim at the best flavor available using primarily titanium coils on Manta or Magma drippers and on Kanger Subtank Mini and Ubertoot tanks. I use only temperature control and will likely never use Kanthal coils again.
An additonal huge benefit of the DNA 200 and Escribe is that I can observe the thermal performance of specific wicking materials and packing densities to get optimum e liquid delivery conditions to the coil and evaluate flavor in real time changing parameters as required to get the precise power level and preheat which gives me optimum flavor. When I find what I like I save all the parameters to memory with a single click. I personally believe that optimum wicking is the key to great vaping and no other device allows one to optimize wicking as does the DNA 200. As to problems with E scribe. I have had absolutely none but i am a Windows user. I understand that some Mac users have had issues with the clunky way they have to set things up to use E scribe but for me there is absolutely no problem.
My experience is that the DNA 200 has become the only device I want to use. Understand that this is coming from someone who had 4 DNA 40 devices, was unhappy with both the performance and reliability of the DNA 40 and had to think long and hard about whether to take a chance on the DNA 200. Obviously I decided to take that chance and I'm GLAD I did
Duane
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After reading all the issues with escribe I believe I'll stick with my SXJ M for the time being.
Not a single problem to report since I bought it several months ago.
Not a single problem to report since I bought it several months ago.
I understand where you are coming from, but it requires plenty of time with escribe to do all that. Meanwhile, if you don't want to have to learn escribe or don't have access to it for a new scenario, the DNA200 is sort of sub-par in terms of functionality due to the lack of on-chip menu control and display. Also, where I to show this to a friend of mine, the moment I have to fire up escribe to have to configure the chip, he'll have lost interest. The hassle of learning a computer program for him, which is not all that unusual to encounter, just isn't going to be worth it. And with the default preheat of 200W, one has to learn escribe to make the chip usable in my opinion.
From my perspective, escribe does help reduce the trial and error in figuring out optimum settings, mostly because of the device monitor, but if I don't have escribe handy, I prefer the SXM because it allows me to quickly configure things that the DNA 200 by itself does not. Even with escribe, it's a matter of patience. On my computer, downloading settings takes about two minutes, uploading settings takes about the same, so to change one thing takes about two to four minutes. So even with escribe, the time it takes to do updates is in itself a frustration for me.
I'm someone who has done all sorts of things, such as run linux, hacked my phone's OS, etc. It can be fun to see all the extra functionality, but at the same time, it's only a passing interest if accessing that functionality is a hassle. With the DNA200, if I have time to set it up for a particular tank, it may be worth it, but at the same time, I find the hassle of doing it to be a turn off. Whether it's too much of a hassle even for that is yet to be seen, but the moment someone comes out with a faster and easier way to do the same or more features, I wouldn't be surprised if my DNA200 ends up being retired. In the end, it's not just whether a device does 10% more than some other device, but also the ease of which it allows access to that functionality. With the DNA200/escribe combo, I'd say it's not where it needs to be. Yihi also could use some improvement in that regard, but there's quite a difference in terms of degree between a menu system that could be optimized for easier use vs. an obtuse software package that is far too slow at pushing out updates.
Well I just had to give the Ti01 mode another try and still the same. I have to go to 480 13J pulling 2.52v reaches temp in about 2sec exactly what it does in NI200 mode at 260 13J. Same exact vape. Just have to try it now and again to see if some miracle has happened.
I did spend about 25 minutes scanning eScribe before I had everything set up the first time.I was just going through the menus to see all the things I could do so I didn't have to learn anything because everything was intuitive and self evident. The whole experience has been pure joy.
Yesterday Balazsk posted a simple little hint as to how to do a controlled temperature dry burn. Slick, and very helpful for titanium coils which can oxidize if over heated. I can now clean a coil perfectly in 5 seconds and I'm good for another month. I'm also exploring NiFe/NiFe and stainless steel/NiFe Clapton coils. I can use any wire that anyone can conceive of by just inputting the temperature coefficient of resistance. Nirvana.
I still like the SXMs but I likely won't be using them again. They were a big step over the DNA 40 but they just don't perform after experiencing the DNA 200. I'm no fanboy but I sure enjoy the vaping experience now in a way I'd never experienced before. If you'd like to trade your DNA 200 for one of my SXM's let know.
Duane
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I'll take a piece of that action "If you'd like to trade your DNA 200 for one of my SXM's let know.".
It's an interesting supplement to my sx350j stuff, so I'm not in a rush to sell it or my sx350j stuff. ;p
Personally, I'm a bit exhausted with escribe and multiple 2 minute wait times though to bother with it for now. Then again, maybe staring at an upload bar repeatedly does bring some people nirvana, but I'm not one of them.
So you're giving your dna 200 for duckle's sxm or will you make the same and take another dna 200 and give your sxm in exchange? Just clarifying
I'm not giving my dna 200 and I was one of those suspended for fighting with the Evolv cheerleaders... Go figure how things change.
Regards
Tony
Sent from my keyboard through my phone or something like that.
What operating system are you using? As I said I'm using a bottom of the line 3 year old ACER windows laptop and my firmware upgrades take only seconds.It's an interesting supplement to my sx350j stuff, so I'm not in a rush to sell it or my sx350j stuff. ;p
Personally, I'm a bit exhausted with escribe and multiple 2 minute wait times though to bother with it for now. Then again, maybe staring at an upload bar repeatedly does bring some people nirvana, but I'm not one of them.
Duane
So you're giving your dna 200 for duckle's sxm or will you make the same and take another dna 200 and give your sxm in exchange? Just clarifying
I'm not giving my dna 200 and I was one of those suspended for fighting with the Evolv cheerleaders... Go figure how things change.
Regards
Tony
Sent from my keyboard through my phone or something like that.
I will trade my SXM for anyone's DNA 200.
I'm using a 3 year old asus vivotab (yeah, more a tablet than a pc) with a crappy dual atom processor and it takes around 4 seconds to upload or download.
Regards
Tony
Sent from my keyboard through my phone or something like that.
Since Evolv does not support Macs (nor plans to anytime soon) and the DNA200 ain't all that grand without escribe, I had set up a virtualbox running Windows XP and then set that up to work with the DNA200. A substantial amount of work just to change a misguided default preheat setting I'd say, but at least it is set up now. Might not be the fastest setup, but unless a free PC comes with the DNA 200, it is what I have to use.
Just noticed what I think is another safety feature, I put in a brand new fully charged Powertech 2600 Mah battery and performance was crap. I then noticed that a line through the battery indicator, I am assuming the SXM was limiting power output as a safety measure to an unsuitable battery I replaced battery with my regular NCR 2900 and all was well.
Settings are 35J 299f Ti Eco .5 Uwell ss.
Just love this SXmini M, looks and performs as it did from day one.
Settings are 35J 299f Ti Eco .5 Uwell ss.
Just love this SXmini M, looks and performs as it did from day one.
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