The Skinny on E cigs-from a newbie

[bclewis]

First..dont order all the kits and stuff...I have all the bells and whistles..and after 2 months I have settled on some very very basics:

-I smoked 1.5 packs of Marlb lights a day-$10
-Stopped smoking analogs 2 days after Ecigs V4L
-I tried the short batteries, med, batteries, long batteries, wall charger, USB charger
-Ditched all the batteries except for use in restaurant, by the pool, or in bar drinking and none are really satisfying
-If I had to do it all again would buy
1. Power cig that plugs into USB on my computer or wall adapter or car adapter...its the only thing that really gives a strong vap..none of the batteries do..but need one long battery for times when u can't plug in
2. 18mg juice PG vanilla flavor (mint gives u indigestion, and the tobacco flavors just taste like crap...vanilla is a little sweet and tasty...tried the 12mg juice but you cant get a throat hit...tried the VG mix but it made my lungs hurt like I was having a heart attack)
3. A 5pack of blank cartomizers (low resistance if you can get em) and a 30ml bottle of 18mg vanilla juice should last about a month- total cost approx 30 bucks a month...$1 a day
4. Just forget the battery crap..and get wired in..you can smoke at work in ur office thru USB (if they allow) or go to your car and plug in there, and when at home just plug into ur computer, and keep the batter charged up for times when u cant be tired to the "wire"...
5. Dont try to kick the smokes without commiting to plug in for a real cigarette imitation...have not found anything on the market that is the same with a battery....the 5volt battery just cant deliver enough punch to produce vapor equivalent to a real analog cigarette..so skip all the kits and personal chargers and battery varieties...for now..its like the early cell phones...if u want to talk..u need a good solid rock hard power supply and none of the batteries can deliver...either they run out to fast or they arent strong enough or they get overloaded to fast and just shut down on u...u will be disappointed...for sure...am sure the technology will improve

 

[JanuarySun]

...so skip all the kits and personal chargers and battery varieties...for now..its like the early cell phones...if u want to talk..u need a good solid rock hard power supply and none of the batteries can deliver...either they run out to fast or they arent strong enough or they get overloaded to fast and just shut down on u...u will be disappointed...for sure...

I have to say, I disagree with you entirely. I smoked about 1.5+ packs a day for 18 years, and I've been vaping for two weeks with no desire for a cigarette at all. In fact, I hit one a couple of times when my atomizers got clogged and I didn't realize it (was jonesing and didn't know why!), and the taste was horrendous. So I can actually say I find cigarettes pretty disgusting at this point.

While I can see the virtue of handiness with a USB passthrough, I have had absolutely no issues with my Riva 510. The batteries last around 12 hours each, which means one recharge a day, and I'm vaping menthol and spearmint, neither of which has given me any indigestion issues at all. I'm getting great throat hit and tons of vapor from my own mix of unflavored 24mg juice + menthol crystals and spearmint flavoring.

Vaping is a very individual experience, and I think telling folks a kit won't work for them is rather misleading. There are plenty of people on this forum who have had no issues with their battery kits, either. So while they may be disappointing for some--like you--that absolutely won't be the case across the board. I am glad you found what works for you, though, and it sucks that you had to waste money finding it.

 

[bclewis]

Let me recap to make it simple:

Once u use a power cig which has the USB input...wether you plug into a wall outlet, a computer, or a car cigarette jack...there is no "battery" that will deliver the vapor that mimics real cigarette smoke and can delivery the nicotine enough to satisfy they craving for tobacco...so...dont waste money on all the battery and battery charging bells and whisles...just get one good battery and keep it charged up for short term occasional use as a last resort when u are in a place where u can't plug in your power cig...I know it sucks being tied to the power cig and the wire...but you can waste a lot of money on all the battery and battery charging stuff and you will never be satisfied...the battery is like having a beer and the power cig is like a shot of tequilla...no comparison. Happy vaping!!!

 

[bclewis]

hey...tell me bout the Riva 510...my V4L and V2 batteries suck and cant compare to my hard wired 20dollar power cig..I am at my wits end..and have resigned myself to being tied to the cord forever...am not sure what i am doing wrong..i have tried 5 different batteries in two months at 15-20 bucks each...help!!!

 

[JanuarySun]

hey...tell me bout the Riva 510...my V4L and V2 batteries suck and cant compare to my hard wired 20dollar power cig..I am at my wits end..and have resigned myself to being tied to the cord forever...am not sure what i am doing wrong..i have tried 5 different batteries in two months at 15-20 bucks each...help!!!

I'm a little baffled as well...honestly, if this thing hit any harder, I'd be choking. If a cord makes THAT much difference, I don't want one! The Riva batteries aren't as powerful as 5v's, so I'm not sure that's the direction you want to be looking.

You say you tried a VG mix--was it high VG? I'm currently vaping a 25% VG mix, and it seems perfect for me. It's a little heavier on my lungs than the other juices I've tried, but nothing major. However, it hits MUCH better than the lower VG or pure PG juices I've tried. Also, a higher nic percentage might give you a more powerful throat hit.

 

[NicLiq]

There are happy and successful vapers on all types of equipment and flavors and some that vape less than 1 ml a day and some that vape 6 ml a day, and some even more. Lots that would never start vaping if their only choice was vanilla too.

I would agree that an eGo passthrough battery with a car adapter and some LR cartomizers would probably be a very easy way to "buy-in" to vaping, but that is also the same price as a Riva kit, which has more power and longevity.

If you're suggesting a 5v manual straight passthrough, that would turn many off from the start, although they certainly are effective for some people who need that power and can be tied to a cord.

 

[NicLiq]

Sounds like you might need a 5v mod, there are some lower priced ones here: Custom Mods

 

[bclewis]

I have tried mixing pg and vg..so have tried all ratios...i think its just the battery issue i am having...the slim little batteries just dont work for me...i have workd out the nic level..am settled at 18mg..but that VG just feels too heavy on my upper respiratory...am looking to get into a power pack instead of the slim little batteries..its not a voltage issue..its a current/amp issue..the slim cigarette style batteries cant deliver enough current..its like a car battery made for a 4cylinder engine that is trying to turn over a big V8...i think...

 

[jamminloud]

You may want to try a box mod if you have'nt already. I bought a Reos mini and loving it. The batts last all day. And the kick, well, I'll just say this thing can choke me like no cigarrette ever could. There is no getting around it that vaporizers are a little more trouble than whipping out a cig and a lighter. But at least you can plan on living longer to endure that inconvenience. I hear you on the fact that your tired of the re-charging and all the apparatus. But when you really think about it, how inconvenient was it to smoke? Not to mention being treated like a freak of nature.

 

[bclewis]

I think i am just a power hitter...it did choke me at first..but those little skinny batteries just dont deliver enough vap or punch for me..had to increase my nic from 12 to 18..and tried VG for more vap..but it made my upper respiratory ache bad..so am back to the PG and the power cord..I think I just need to look for a different portable power supply...other than the cigarette style slim batteries..

 

[Sellaman]

tried the VG mix but it made my lungs hurt like I was having a heart attack

Are you sure it was the VG? Maybe you vaped too much of it.

 

[hairball]

I hope that your passthrough isn't 5V that you have plugged into your computer. If it is, remove it. It could cause major damage to your computer. To run a true 5V PT, you need a 2amp wall charger.

Honestly, I don't agree with your post but to each his own. Give a variable voltage mod a try...you'll recap everything you stated. My hubby loves his 2 ProVari's from Provape.com and me, how about 5 Buzz's from notcigs.com (and yes all 5 are in use everyday with a different flavor on board for variety).

Unfortunately not everyone can vape on the same model and be happy. You have to find the right hardware to deliver the right vape with the right juice to get the right satisfaction.

Once I discovered mods, I never looked back and yes I have 6 x 5V PT's running along with my Buzz's but they are plugged into my wall outlets throughout my home. I won't dare risk blowing up my computer.

 

[bclewis]

Hey..i checked out the Riva..and there is one big difference..the Riva has a 3 part system, battery, atomizer, and cartridge...the one i use has an atomizer/cartride combo..so that might be the big difference..and the Riva has a big fat battery..which makes it not necessarily a higher voltage..but has more storage capacity...will check into it more..there are so many on the market..its hard to tell..I just went with the V2/V4life because it was the most recommended for newbies..guess after only 2 months its time to graduate to the next level...

 

[bclewis]

no..i mixed the VG with the PG at all different ratios...and its just did not work for me...it was too heavy in my upper resp..made my lungs hurt..really bad..once i stopped the VG and went to straight PG..the aching stopped...I loved the heavy vap..but..man..it felt like liquid settling in my lungs...

 

[jamminloud]

I add v/g to all my juices and I've noticed that some of them give me that heavy feeling and some don't. So it may be the juice. Maybe the base of the juice is already high in v/g. But alas, I'm still in newbie land and still learning. I'm digging Cassablanca e-juice from BWB today.

 

[M ike]

lol The 808's from v4l dont hit the spot for me neither. Keeps me off anologs but isnt my choice anymore for vapor and battery life since i tried Ego/tornado/riva style batterys.

 

[bclewis]

The power cig i use plugs into the computer, the wall jack, and the car jack..and..from what I can tell they are all 4.7V rated....is that bad??? it seems to work the same no matter where i plug it in

 

[James Wall]

Well, I've had some battery issues, but on the whole after a year and a half I've worked my way around them. I've been considering a passthru and I'm sure that once I get one I'll be hooked. I'm just away from USBs too much of the day to ever not be heavily dependant on batteries. I wonder if you could find an easily portable power source with a USB connector that isn't e-cig related? Something at a computer store...just a thought.

(Yeah, I bought this $1000.00 laptop computer to power my e-cig! Okay, yeah, that sounds a little funny. :/ )

 

[tmcase]

You say "there is no "battery" that will deliver the vapor that mimics real cigarette smoke and can delivery the nicotine enough to satisfy they craving for tobacco...so...dont waste money on all the battery and battery charging bells and whisles." Are you speaking from experience? Have you tried a mod that uses way bigger batteries than those slim style ones you've mentioned? I think you are sending a bad message to newbies when you say to start with a 5v passthrough. I have a 510 passthrough and I really love it (now) but if I had started with it I probably wouldn't be vaping now because it really kicks .... Not everybody is a power smoker. There are a lot of portable PVs with large batteries that kick ... also. Check them out. You might be surprised.

 

[tmcase]

Hey..i checked out the Riva..and there is one big difference..the Riva has a 3 part system, battery, atomizer, and cartridge...the one i use has an atomizer/cartride combo..so that might be the big difference..and the Riva has a big fat battery..which makes it not necessarily a higher voltage..but has more storage capacity...will check into it more..there are so many on the market..its hard to tell..I just went with the V2/V4life because it was the most recommended for newbies..guess after only 2 months its time to graduate to the next level...

Now you're talkin. The Riva & ego are very popular and great starter PVs. They are only 3.7 volts but with a LR atomizer you should get close to the hit you're use to on your PT. And battery life...you get 2 in a kit and 1 lasts me all day and the other is charged and ready to go so I can take it with me just in case the first one dies on me. I love my PT but I hate being chained to it. I certainly wouldn't want to be dependent on it because I ride a motorcycle, no cigarette lighter on a bike.