The 6AMP Beast is Here- Smoktek Smokbox Varicool 6amp USA Mod -Review

[zoiDman]

...

Just to cover all the bases, C rating...
Max safe discharge (in Amps) is a product of the C rating times the capacity.

2C x 750mah = 1500mA = 1.5A max discharge
2C x 3100mah = 6100mA = 6.1A max discharge

...

Thank you for posting this. It is something I don't see a lot of on the ECF.

Here is something that happened to me.

A newbie friend of mine bought a Provari. He didn't take my advice to buy AW IMR 18650 batteries when he got it because he saw these and figured that 3000mAh was better that the 2000mAh AW IMR's.

Ultrafire 18650 3000mah BUTTON TOP Protected Rechargeable Lithium Battery Li-Ion UF18650-BRC

He called me a day or so after getting his Provari/Batteries and asked me if the Batteries should get Hot when used them. I told him that mine Didn't (AW IMR 18650) and asked him what Voltage / Ohms he was using?

He said that he was using about 4.4 volts with a 2.0 ohm Cartomizer. That didn't sound all that Crazy and a quick calculation said that he was vaping at about 9.7 watts. High for me but Everyone is different.

But then I did a Amp calculation for his Batteries. 3000mAh x .5c = 1500mA => 1500mA x 1.5 amps

And the Amps for the Carto. 4.4 volts / 2.0 ohms = 2.2 amps.

So I called him back and said Stop Using those Batteries. I think that you are pulling More Amps than what they are meant to do. He did and ended up buying some AW IMR Batteries and hasn't had any Issues with the whatsoever.

So what I'm saying is since the Retailer posted the specs of the Original Battery and with a few Basic things a person can Learn from the ECF, they can make a Much More Informed choice when it come to Buying Batteries or a Mod.

I think ALL Retailers should include Specs on ALL Batteries they sell.

----


One last Nob Question: Does the mAh of a Battery Change as the Battery is Discharged? Deoes it Change over the Lifespan of the Battery?

TYIA

 

[niczgreat]

I'm going to make a subjective statement. UltraFire is Garbage. I had a UltraFire 3000 or 3200 and my Soshine ran circles around it.

The problem is that some of the Manufacturers will post specs and the product won't meet them anyway.

Mah is basically a measure of how long the battery can output the voltage. As you run the battery down less time will remain. I've seen in the forums that after approximately 300 charges the batteries will lose around 20% of their run time or ability to hold voltage.

The consensus of the experts is that it's better not to totally discharge Lithium Ion Batteries but to partially use them and then top off.

Thank you for posting this. It is something I don't see a lot of on the ECF.

Here is something that happened to me.

A newbie friend of mine bought a Provari. He didn't take my advice to buy AW IMR 18650 Batteries when he got it because he saw these and figured that 3000mAh was better that the 2000mAh AW IMR's.

Ultrafire 18650 3000mah BUTTON TOP Protected Rechargeable Lithium Battery Li-Ion UF18650-BRC

He called me a day or so after getting his Provari/Batteries and asked me if the Batteries should get Hot when used them. I told him that mine Didn't (AW IMR 18650) and asked him what Voltage / Ohms he was using?

He said that he was using about 4.4 volts with a 2.0 ohm Cartomizer. That didn't sound all that Crazy and a quick calculation said that he was Vaping at about 9.7 watts. High for me but Everyone is different.

But then I did a Amp calculation for his Batteries. 3000mAh x .5c = 1500mA => 1500mA x 1.5 amps

And the Amps for the Carto. 4.4 volts / 2.0 ohms = 2.2 amps.

So I called him back and said Stop Using those Batteries. I think that you are pulling More Amps than what they are meant to do. He did and ended up buying some AW IMR Batteries and hasn't had any Issues with the whatsoever.

So what I'm saying is since the Retailer posted the specs of the Original Battery and with a few Basic things a person can Learn from the ECF, they can make a Much More Informed choice when it come to Buying Batteries or a Mod.

I think ALL Retailers should include Specs on ALL Batteries they sell.

----


One last Nob Question: Does the mAh of a Battery Change as the Battery is Discharged? Deoes it Change over the Lifespan of the Battery?

TYIA

 

[zoiDman]

...

Mah is basically a measure of how long the battery can output the voltage. As you run the battery down less time will remain. I've seen in the forums that after approximately 300 charges the batteries will lose around 20% of their run time or ability to hold voltage.

...

The reason I asked was since the Amps that can be drawn was a Function of mAH times the "C", than if mAh changes it would seem that the Amps would have to change also.

 

[Kemosabe]

I'm going to make a subjective statement. UltraFire is Garbage. I had a UltraFire 3000 or 3200 and my Soshine ran circles around it.

The problem is that some of the Manufacturers will post specs and the product won't meet them anyway.

Mah is basically a measure of how long the battery can output the voltage. As you run the battery down less time will remain. I've seen in the forums that after approximately 300 charges the batteries will lose around 20% of their run time or ability to hold voltage.

The consensus of the experts is that it's better not to totally discharge Lithium Ion Batteries but to partially use them and then top off.

i have heard this as well. i read it at batteryuniversity. i try to recharge my batts once they reach 50% in order to prolong the lifetime of the batt. i do the same thing with my laptop battery. its not always possible, but when it is i do it. id like my batteries' lifetime to last as long as possible.

oh, and nice work on the tests Tom.
great info from everyone in this thread.

 

[Slurp812]

Dude.. I'm talking.... because you are so totally wrong.

Totally wrong. Tragically wrong.

Most Provari fans would be extremely happy to buy a $64.00 PV which worked as well, as reliably, and as durably as a Provari. I'm in. If they do it I'll buy one.

But you should also remember that my Provari is over a year old. And from that perspective I'm quite happy with the purchase.

But bring it on! If a $64.00 mod ends up as good as a Provari- then Provari prices will fall and EVERYONE wins!

Lets have the run over with the car oops test, shall we?

 

[skelley]

Please post pics of both as soon as you do

Lets have the run over with the car oops test, shall we?

 

[niczgreat]

Lets have the run over with the car oops test, shall we?

Can you video tape the Provari being run over by a car? I want to see it survive. Or Not

 

[zoiDman]

Just so I’m clear.

We are comparing a Two Battery Plastic Box Mod to a Single Battery Stainless Steel Tube Mod?

 

[A17kawboy]

Just so I’m clear.

We are comparing a Two Battery Plastic Box Mod to a Single Battery Stainless Steel Tube Mod?

I'd like to surround the Beast in a simple aluminum shell personally. I work in construction and surviving a severe drop is essential. Shouldn't be that hard to have a (maybe two piece?) exoskeleton made up. Sometimes it's advantageous to be a sheet metal worker.

 

[zoiDman]

I'd like to surround the Beast in a simple aluminum shell personally. I work in construction and surviving a severe drop is essential. Shouldn't be that hard to have a (maybe two piece?) exoskeleton made up. Sometimes it's advantageous to be a sheet metal worker.

Yeah, I have a el-Cheapo VVPV Box Mod that I bought Lng Ago to see if VV was all that it was supposed to be Cracked Up to be. I use it now just to Dry Burn Filler-Less Cartos.

I can tell you how many times it has been Dropped on a Hard Surface by counting the Electrical Tape and Super Glue patches on it.

 

[skelley]

Why does it always come down to length? We all know that 2-14500's are longer than 1-18500

Anyways, I'm waiting on a order of unflavored nic so I can do some more extreme vaping. I think that I only went 23watts and that was pretty intense, but lately I've just been using the beast for normal vaping or pushing my hybrid coils.
I really like how it's able to rock my hybrid and stay cool doing it.

Just so I’m clear.

We are comparing a Two Battery Plastic Box Mod to a Single Battery Stainless Steel Tube Mod?

 

[skelley]

I'm a Millwright, but I was thinking of hitting up the sheet metal shop myself. You guys have all the good stuff to work with.

I'd like to surround the Beast in a simple aluminum shell personally. I work in construction and surviving a severe drop is essential. Shouldn't be that hard to have a (maybe two piece?) exoskeleton made up. Sometimes it's advantageous to be a sheet metal worker.

 

[zoiDman]

Why does it always come down to length? We all know that 2-14500's are longer than 1-18500

Anyways, I'm waiting on a order of unflavored nic so I can do some more extreme vaping. I think that I only went 23watts and that was pretty intense, but lately I've just been using the beast for normal vaping or pushing my hybrid coils.
I really like how it's able to rock my hybrid and stay cool doing it.

Just seems like Box Mods should be Compared with Box Mods. And Tube Mods should be Compared with Tube Mods. Kinda a Apples versus Oranges thing to me.

But what do I know? I think All Box Mods looks like your Vaping on a Garage Door Opener.

23 Watts. Holy Flinkering Snit !

When I vape Higher than 10 Watts my e-Liquids taste like this....

 

[skelley]

I use unflavored nic for high watts, but I could be nuts as I think even unflavored nic has it's own 'flavor' so to speak.

A garage door opener...hmm, never thought about that. Still, a door opener beats a adult pleasure looking device in my world of rock/paper/sizzors

 

[zoiDman]

...

A garage door opener...hmm, never thought about that. Still, a door opener beats a adult pleasure looking device in my world of rock/paper/sizzors

A Pleasure Toy. Never thought of that.

Maybe that is why Whenever I Whip Out my Provari I have Women I have Never Meet come up and start talking to me.

LMAO

 

[niczgreat]

Hi Zoidman,
Both Provari and Varicool are E-Cigarettes.

The Provari is considered the standard of excellence in the Industry so it seemed right
to compare the best of the Tube Mods to a Box Mod.

The Box Mods are not mainstream yet, although the performance of the Beast and it's price point makes it a worthy contender to a Tube Mod.

I agree that the Mod isn't pretty but the form factor is smaller than the Tube Mods.

There is a sector of the market that cares more about function than how it looks.

Just seems like Box Mods should be Compared with Box Mods. And Tube Mods should be Compared with Tube Mods. Kinda a Apples versus Oranges thing to me.

But what do I know? I think All Box Mods looks like your Vaping on a Garage Door Opener.

23 Watts. Holy Flinkering Snit !

When I vape Higher than 10 Watts my e-Liquids taste like this....

 

[doots]

Give me a good box mod any day over the tube... Much easier to carry in my pocket..

 

[zoiDman]

...
There is a sector of the market that cares more about function than how it looks.

I hear you. And it is a Valid Argument.


What I think about when all the rage was to Compare the Provari to the Lavatube is Shouldn’t Fit, Feel and Appearance be Considered?

I have both a Lavatube and a Provari. The vapor that comes out of the Carto is about the Same. But why do I use the Provari whenever I am at home? Because I like the Way it Feels when I hold it.

The Lavatube Feels Cheap and about Ready to Break compared to a Provari when I hold it.

Yes, from a Purely Performance Basis, this Box Mod may be able to Outperform a Provari. Not sure why I need something that can put out 57 Watts when I Rarely vape over 8 watts?

But some want Higher Watts. And like doots mentioned, some people like a Box Shaped Mod because it fits Better in their hand or is Easier to Carry.

 

[skelley]

With my hybrid coil, it defies the normal math of actual watts 'felt' at the element end, but my tube mods didn't care and performed their duties w/in their amp limiting functions.
I normally vape around 8 watts myself, but with the S.S. mesh / cotton core, the math said 12 watts but it felt like 5-6ish.
I believe that the mesh acted like a heat sink and the abilities of the cotton to wick juice to the mesh allowed the coil to cool quickly.

By the time my tube mod was able to get everything warmed up and and finally putting out good vapor, the tube mod was super hot.
It was so hot, that I actually touched it against my lip and it left a burn mark.
This is where the Beast fit into my vaping needs.

I love the form of the beast and I didn't think I would as my first PV was a Lavatube and every mod I've had after has been a tube.
I think I am just at a point in my vaping life that I want small form with big function and the beast fits my bill.

Not to mention that it performs w/out burning my lips...lol, so I would say varicool is a perfect name.

 

[doots]

Got my 6amp beast today. Awesome/ Thanks Rob!