Taking the plunge...question about REO Grand batteries

[fourthrok]

I apologise if this question has been covered a bazillion times already. I tried the search feature but was not successful in finding an answer. I am seriously considering getting a REO Grand but wanted to clarify what type batteries. The website says "AW IMR" Do they HAVE to be AW brand? I have lots of 18650s...some flat top and some button top and all IMR. I need to know if I can use the batteries I have or if I'm going to have to make a Hugh Jazz commitment to change EVERYTHING (which would seriously bum me out). I hope someone can help me out with this! Thanks in advance.

 

[nerak]

I apologise if this question has been covered a bazillion times already. I tried the search feature but was not successful in finding an answer. I am seriously considering getting a REO Grand but wanted to clarify what type batteries. The website says "AW IMR" Do they HAVE to be AW brand? I have lots of 18650s...some flat top and some button top and all IMR. I need to know if I can use the batteries I have or if I'm going to have to make a Hugh Jazz commitment to change EVERYTHING (which would seriously bum me out). I hope someone can help me out with this! Thanks in advance.

The AW IMR 18650 3.7 1600mAh are the recommended battery as you have stated.

Other batteries will work in the Grand, BUT you will need to be careful about their length. The REO's have a safety spring that will collapse in case of a short. A battery that is too long will void this important feature.

The nipple top batteries also work better with the firing mechanism on the metal REO's.

Check out the REO forum Index for lots more informative threads: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/reos-mods/270331-free-reo-forum-thread-index.html

 

[boilednuts]

IMR button tops are fine, just make sure the spring is not overly compressed (will defeat short protection). AW IMR 18650 1600mah are about 65mm long, try and stay within 2mm of this.

 

[Norman Clature]

AW IMR are the recommended batteries and that's what I use, but you don't have to use them. It's better to use only "button/nipple" tops and I've been told by several "reonauts" that they did not notice any upside in going above 1600mAh (perhaps the voltage drops the same so there's no point spending more to get more mAh?)

You can use your flat-tops but you may end up messing up your firing assembly because you will be pressing the fire button way harder than you should have to in making contact with the positive pole but it sounds like you already have some "nipple/button" tops so use those.

As long as they are "safe" "high drain" IMR you should be fine. I have no way of knowing what type of batteries you have.

If you have several devices already in use you may want to spend $20 for 2 of the recommended AW IMR 1600mAh types and use your other batteries in your other devices.

Hopefully one of the more experienced "veterans" will chime in (I'm still in "flight-training" and haven't earned my "reonaut wings" yet.)



HA!

No matter what choice of batteries you decide on you are making a wise decision in getting a REO and this is one of the best user communities it's ever been my pleasure in being a part of.

Thanks,

Norman

 

[fourthrok]

Oh. Okay thanks. Yes..I do have a few button top, but most of mine are flat top. I always buy batteries with an eye to no more the 65mm in length, because I use several different APVs and I like to be able to use my batteries in all my devices that take a given size.

Might have to regroup then, if I "HAVE" to have button tops for 18650. I have a boatload of button top IMRs in 18350s. Maybe I can find a REO that takes that size that is not VV. Going to look now. I have some 18500s but don't remember if they are button top or not...will have to check.

 

[boilednuts]

Oh. Okay thanks. Yes..I do have a few button top, but most of mine are flat top. I always buy batteries with an eye to no more the 65mm in length, because I use several different APVs and I like to be able to use my batteries in all my devices that take a given size.

Might have to regroup then, if I "HAVE" to have button tops for 18650. I have a boatload of button top IMRs in 18350s. Maybe I can find a REO that takes that size that is not VV. Going to look now. I have some 18500s but don't remember if they are button top or not...will have to check.

The VVGrand uses 2 18350's stacked

 

[super_X_drifter]

Congrats fourth! It's about damn time . Welcome to REOville.
Actually it's more like an Olympic class dive than a plunge

 

[JC Okie]

Oh. Okay thanks. Yes..I do have a few button top, but most of mine are flat top. I always buy batteries with an eye to no more the 65mm in length, because I use several different APVs and I like to be able to use my batteries in all my devices that take a given size.

Might have to regroup then, if I "HAVE" to have button tops for 18650. I have a boatload of button top IMRs in 18350s. Maybe I can find a REO that takes that size that is not VV. Going to look now. I have some 18500s but don't remember if they are button top or not...will have to check.

Nope. The only REO that uses the 18350 is the VV Grand and/or Woodvil. But.....the VV Grand is a pretty awesome machine.....maybe you should take a look at that before you decide. I have just about one of every REO, and I truly LOVE my VV Grand and end up using that 99% of the time. Sorta the tail wagging the dog to buy a mod because you have a lot of batteries that will fit it, but.....maybe it's a sign.

 

[supertrunker]

if you have flat-top batteries the right length - just buy some small rare-earth magnets from Radio Shack and pop one on the top!

T

 

[darkzero]

You can use other IMRs other than AW. Years ago AW was all that were available. IMR is Li-Mn which is safe chemistry. Li-ion is not considered safe chemistry. You can use them but be sure to use protected li-ion cells only, the higher capacity/current draw the better. Cheap cells can explode, especially unprotected. But the higher draw cells are longer so as the others have mention, pay attention when using cells that are too long for the Grand.

I use only AW cause that's all I ever used in my custom flashlights as others have failed on me. AWs have proven performance for many years now. I really didn't expect to see AW IMRs to be so popular amongst the vaping community but then again I'm not surprised.

 

[Rhapsodies Fire]

Welcome, fourthrok

 

[Norman Clature]

if you have flat-top batteries the right length - just buy some small rare-earth magnets from Radio Shack and pop one on the top!

T

I feel it's my duty to give you my story about this. I know the magnets work with flat-tops because I didn't have "nipple/button" tops when I bought my first REO Grand so I was happily vaping away, but having to press the firing assembly with much force to get the REO to fire so I went to a local store and got some magnets for fear I would warp the firing assembly sooner or later.

That's when I got into trouble. I have no idea if the magnets I bought were "rare earth"; I only knew they were the correct height/width. Everything was "hunky dory" 'til I felt I needed a freshly charged battery and when positioning the magnet and charged battery into place I saw the dreaded "orange/red glow" of the spring collapsing.

I called Robert the next morning and he wanted me to send it back to him and that he didn't think the magnets should have caused the collapse except perhaps if I had a "tumbled raw finish" Grand (which I did.) HA!

He still wanted me to send it in since I had just received it and something weird happened (Rob never tells you it's your own fault ) but I had an extra spring so I figured before I sent it to him I would get the "correct" batteries and see what happened.

So I installed another spring and bought some button/nipple top batteries and all was swell.

It could have been some sort of fluke; the magnets may not have been "rare earth"; I still don't know but I really wouldn't want the hassle of positioning magnets on top of my batteries every time I put one in anyway.

Anyway, it's something to think about (especially if you are considering a "raw" non-anodized finish, which I guess conducts electricity throughout the mod more than one with the anodizing?)

Thanks,

Norman

 

[Racehorse]

I have a boatload of button top IMRs in 18350s.

trade them in ECF classies or maybe the REO Swap topic for what you need?

 

[jweavers]

Hey fourthrok it's good to see your face again.I ordered a reo!It's not here yet,but I had to have another bottom feeder as I sent my vmod in for repair-replacement.I guess it will be my back-up.Anyways-yay,you're here!!!!

 

[clyde2801]

Congrats, jweavers! Welcome to the Reonauts!