The best Variable Wattage Device?

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MayLovesMetal

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I purchased a ego twist with a viva nova to replace my cigarrettes. After vaping for about a week I am enjoying it and decided to upgrade. I think I have norrowed my decision to the lavatube or zmax. varitube.com has the young june lavatube kit for $70 which looks like a good deal. The zmax kit for $90 also looks like a good setup. Any thoughts?

If it's a V2 Zmax I would go with that, for the extra 20$ you get the ability to use vw which is a nice convenience, and also if I understand correctly the Young June runs hotter than it indicates-though that may have been corrected, someone wiser than me will jump in I am sure if I am mistaken. I almost bought a YJ and decided to go with the Zmax V2 and I am very satisfied with it. It looks good, is simple to use, vapes like nobody's business, and has survived being dropped and even a serious sidewalk dive I took yesterday with my beagle without a hiccup.
 

kiwivap

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Sounds like I should go with the ZMax. Anyone know of any other vendors selling? What else should I get with it (Battery, etc) My understanding is the kit I was looking does not come with very good batteries.

I have the Zmax 2 and the Vamo. Both have features that make them good.
The Vamo is cheaper. It is longer in 18650 mode. In 1x 18350 mode its great - and one of its pluses is that you can use it in two different sizes.
The Zmax 2 feels sturdier to me. The Vamo is sturdy, but for me the Zmax 2 feels sturdier.

Both give accurate variable voltage and variable wattage.

Mad Vapes have the Zmax 2 in gun metal chrome for $90. They have added vent slits to the side of the body. ZMax Variable Volt APV Rev. 2, Gun Metal
I haven't looked to see if they also still have the stainless steel on sale.

Electronic Cigs have the stainless stell Zmax 2 for $125.
PowerTube ZMax
The best batteries will be IMRs, and AW IMRs are the best of those.

There are probably other vendors selling them too.

The Vamo is available from different vendors also.
Health Cabin have them in China (registered forum supplier, as are the ones I mention above). $39 - they call it the eGo APV.
eGo Variable Volt/Watt APV V2 (Only Body) [D-B4 APV] - $39.00 : Healthcabin Electronic Cigarettes - Wholesale and Retail
It pays to check the shipping option. They have been offering cheap DHL shipping to some places - which is fast courier and is tracked every step of the way from departure to final delivery. I bought one from health Cabin and it reached me in 3 days.

Vapor Bank in the US have the Vamo for $47.
https://vaporbank.com/shop/index.php?p=product&id=884

Here's a couple of pics so you can see the size comparisons:

2012-11-29220436sm.jpg

L-R: Vamo 18350, Zmax 2 18650

2012-11-29221353sm.jpg

L-R: Zmax 2 18650, Vamo 18650
 
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JD1

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I purchased a ego twist with a viva nova to replace my cigarrettes. After vaping for about a week I am enjoying it and decided to upgrade. I think I have norrowed my decision to the lavatube or zmax. varitube.com has the young june lavatube kit for $70 which looks like a good deal. The zmax kit for $90 also looks like a good setup. Any thoughts?

I've ordered the Young June unit from Vaporbeast. They call it the Vector there. If you decide to go that route, take a look at the chrome version if you use the stardust, redux, etc. Only the chrome version will accept those - the others will need a 510 to ego adapter. The Kangers t2 and 3 will still need an adapter as they use the ego cone threads.

I think I'd just as soon have vv. I like different levels for different juices and I can dial in what I like in three or four puffs, no problem.
 

kiwivap

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I've ordered the Young June unit from Vaporbeast. They call it the Vector there. If you decide to go that route, take a look at the chrome version if you use the stardust, redux, etc. Only the chrome version will accept those - the others will need a 510 to ego adapter. The Kangers t2 and 3 will still need an adapter as they use the ego cone threads.

I think I'd just as soon have vv. I like different levels for different juices and I can dial in what I like in three or four puffs, no problem.

The Zmax has vv , and vw. So does the Vamo. So it doesn't have to be either/or with those. They have both on one device.
 

kiwivap

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Darwins are regulated, to whatever you adjust it to.

I agree, I woudln't overpay for a Darwin now. Surely lots of cool stuff coming down the road!

Good point there, and something new vapers may not know. The Darwin is not cheap. Around $230. VW only - no VV. I did look at getting one at one stage but it needs some redesign, and I like these newer mods with vw and vv combined.
A new one will be interesting to see. If the design isn't modified I'll pass though.
 

Fernand

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I have a Provari and don't find ANY of these VV flashlight-sized battery units (which is all these are) very practical. There's no provision for the liquid or the atomizer. You still end up using a tank etc. A JOYETECH eGoTwist works fine, provides all the adjustment required, and fits in your breast pocket, doesn't weigh as much as a Mag Light. Just sayin'.
 
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kiwivap

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I have a Provari and don't find ANY of these VV flashlight-sized battery units (which is all these are) very practical. There's no provision for the liquid or the atomizer. You still end up using a tank etc. A JOYETECH eGoTwist works fine, provides all the adjustment required, and fits in your breast pocket, doesn't weigh as much as a Mag Light. Just sayin'.

This thread is about variable wattage mods. Neither the Provari or Joyetech twist are variable wattage. Can we please stay on topic?
 

nanovapr

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The Darwin is not really a viable option to suggest to buy now, because of limited availability. The topic was however, "the best variable wattage device". A factor in the price over time, is batteries and chargers. It can be handy to keep a charger at work, and one at home. Keep a few spare batteries around, in case you are caught short.

I have a Darwin that is over a year old, it's original batteries still last over 18 hours. No dis-assembly to charge, no threads to worry about, just plug in to USB (and can vape while charging as a passthru, if desired). If the batteries fail in the first year, Evolv installs a new set for free. Within the second year, it's $25. You have to be without it, and send it in. After the two years of warranty, an astute tinkerer can solder their own in.

If you already have handfuls of appropriate batteries and chargers around, you have already spent the money, so no additional outlay required. Darwin requires no additional pieces.

The folding arm is a bad design for tank use. Conversely, the folding arm is a great design for carto/atty use. YMMV

If you have regulated power, VV is not a big feature to wish for. Keep an eye on Evolv. They designed and built the first regulated power PV (and in Ohio, USA), and have done very well so far. There will surely be excellent devices coming from them, as well as the whole PV industry.

As vapers, most of us are willing to ignore the total cost of ownership (more goodies!). The main thing is, we stopped smoking.
 
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remingtonh

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Hi All,
So I've been vaping for few months now - spent money upgrading, started with the gas station starter kit, then upgraded to EGO, etc, like many others. I was able to quit 2+ packs a day with the gas station kits, remarkably.
Anyway I ordered and recently received the "Sigelei Z-Max"
Although functionally it works well, I can't recommend it. The screen, though I didn't notice it the first day, appears a bit crooked in the window. It's almost like the force of the battery pushed the electronics up a bit and dislodged it.

With this quality problem I can't recommend it.
 

Fernand

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Variable voltage and variable wattage are really the same thing: you adjust the battery output, it affects the current and wattage. If you mean constant-wattage, or regulated-wattage, that's a different thing. In practice don't most people (appropriately) fiddle with the power source until it vapes best with a given burner/juice? it doesn't matter much what the indicator shows. I was just commenting on the form factor of all these "big battery base" units, that for all the cost, technology, hype, size and weight, only address part of the vaping setup. It seems a lot of novices are led to develop unrealistic expectations, saying things like "this VV or VW device gives better vapor", whereas the power source in itself has no effect on the vapor, taste etc. Any regulated adjustable device will do.
 
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