The VAMO battery thread

[meli.]

The black &gold and black & white Efest 2600mAh 18650's are ICR batteries. (Bad for Vamo)

The Efest IMR 18650-2250mAh FlatTops and Button tops are Panasonic CGR's/ Hi Drain Hybrid Safe Chem (Good for Vamo)

 

[RansomB]

What do yo0u guys think of these for the VAMO?

batteries

 

[xpen]

What do yo0u guys think of these for the VAMO?

batteries

Good batteries, I was mentioning them a few posts earlier; mine are of the button-top variety (protruding pin on the positive pole) instead of flat-top as those you've linked. Either type will work on the vamo.

 

[Deebo]

Recently acquired 2 Efest V2 18350s nipple top batteries. The bottom cap on the Vamo will NOT screw all the way on.

 

[xbassman]

Recently acquired 2 Efest V2 18350s nipple top batteries. The bottom cap on the Vamo will NOT screw all the way on.

I've got a pair of those as well as a pair of AW button top 18350's.

That said... If you install one battery the bottom cap closes completely.
It works with 2 bats, but the cap doesn't screw all the way on.

In reality, the only reason to use 2 18350's, is if you're vaping over 11 watts.
Don't do it for extended battery life, an 18650 will get you much more.
And using 2 batteries, you have no way of knowing how much your batteries have discharged without checking them individually.
You shouldn't rely on your Vamo to shut down before an unsafe discharge.

 

[Fullknight]

I agree I think 18650 is best. Or 18350 in single mode.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[xpen]

Recently acquired 2 Efest V2 18350s nipple top batteries. The bottom cap on the Vamo will NOT screw all the way on.

yes it's a known "problem", if you do some searching in the vamo forum you'll come up with plenty of hits.

one more reason for not stacking batteries, unless you absolutely need (?) to

 

[Mudflap]

Try applying a little bit of noalox to your battery cap threads. It will lubricate them and slow down the accumulation of oxidation. You might be able to get the battery cap a bit more snug when using stacked 18350's.

Everyone should use the battery option they're most comfortable with, but stacking two 3.7 volt batteries and having the electronics step down the voltage/wattage is more accurate and efficient than employing one larger capacity 3.7 volt battery and having the electronics draw more current from it to boost the voltage/wattage. When using stacked batteries, a little extra organization is necessary to manage your batteries.

Too many folks keep posting statements like "stacking batteries is more dangerous." That's like saying cars that use gasoline for fuel are more dangerous than electric cars because gasoline is flamable. Gasoline powered cars have been commercially viable and in use since the early 1900's. What are most folks still driving today in the year 2013?

Just my

 

[meli.]

Madflap you are correct, here is a simpler explanation and caution on stacking taken from Any Vamo/Etna VV VW owners here yet? if reference is required.

Of course members can also do their own research on the topic, but as the Vamo is attracting newer members perhaps it isn't a bad idea to give everyone a small refresher note.:

Just remember the warning regarding stacking batteries. The risk goes up, however small, by stacking batteries and caution should be used in doing so and there are some pre-cautions you should take such as having what I call a matching pair of 350's.

Have 2 like batteries and use them at the same time then charge them at the same time and only use them again when you need both. Keep them as a set and if one starts to degrade or go bad you discard them properly as the set or in this case only use the remaining single battery for the single 350 mode. The reason behind this is you use them as a pair they discharge together, charge together and drain together thus keeping them as aligned as you can to thwart any other possible issues.

Just be safe, think about the pro's and con's and treat your mods/batteries with love and care and they shouldn't give you issues but also be sure to know the warnings of these types of batteries and their possible states/conditions and if problems do arise you'll know how to take care of yourself.

The first post had the test results so you can see how the voltages stack up from 2x350's vs a single 350 or single 650. I've have 2 pairs of 350's for this Vamo and while I have run a full cycle on them I don't seem to go over 10-11w vaping and blew a few coils on my RBA's so I'm staying away until I have more time to rebuild and figure what I was doing wrong. Not saying the batteries did them but since you have so much more power with stacked you have so much more potential issues using them.

Be safe!

[Edit] Read tc1's post on Battery Safety HERE which is an excellent primer on rightful usage, care and maintenance of batteries. Great resource!

~Icky

 

[ElectraClyde]

Vapor Joe has these listed today:

$6.23 TrustFire "Enhanced" 18650 3.7V 2000mAh Rechargeable Li-ion Batteries (2-Pack) - 1500mAh~1700mAh actual capacity at FastTech - Worldwide Free Shipping

They also have these:

$8.80 TrustFire 18650 3.7V 2400mAh Protected Rechargeable Lithium Batteries (2-Pack) - 2400mAh actual capacity at FastTech - Worldwide Free Shipping

Seems like a dirt cheap price for two batteries, with free shipping.
Are these things any good?

Clyde

 

[meli.]

Clyde, they are both ICR batteries and not suitable for your Vamo.

 

[ElectraClyde]

Clyde, they are both ICR batteries and not suitable for your Vamo.

Geez, I don't even know what that means.........guess I'll start at the beginning and read this whole thread!

Clyde

 

[meli.]

Lol Clyde, don't sound so sad... here's an explanation:

In a general nutshell:

Protected batteries (IRC) have a protective circuit built in to "help" avoid a short or other battery catastrophe. They will often have higher mah ratings compared to an IMR. The mah stands for something like mili amps per hour (not sure). 100 mah is equal to 1 hour battery useage. So an 2000 mah battery should last 20 hours of use on average. These are often used in mechanical mods.

Unprotected high drain, or IMR, batteries are made with a safer chemistry. They are naturally not as liable to short out and therefore do not require protection. These are most often used in variable voltage devices which utilize a boost circuit to provide high amps of power in brief moments. All variable voltage mods have inborn protection in their circuitry.

I would add avoid all batteries ending in Fire. TrustFire's and UltraFire's are mostly Protected ICR's, do your research properly before hitting the pay button.

 

[xpen]

It's just MTTF at work...

The more variables you add to a system, the more complex/less manageable it gets; after many centuries, Ockham's razor still applies

(...)
Too many folks keep posting statements like "stacking batteries is more dangerous." That's like saying cars that use gasoline for fuel are more dangerous than electric cars because gasoline is flamable. Gasoline powered cars have been commercially viable and in use since the early 1900's. What are most folks still driving today in the year 2013?

Just my

 

[Gunner83]

As usual, I was cruising Vapor Joe's blog for the latest deals, and saw these: IMR 18350, LiMn 800mAh Battery, Flat Top

I've never used them, but he (Vapor Joe) says he uses them in his Vamo with success.

 

[Gunner83]

OK, so just put my order in for (2) of those batteries above. I've never used 18350's before, but I remember reading that if you plan on stacking them, that they must be always be used together and charged at the same time. Is this true?

I bought them mainly for single-18350 "stealth" mode in my Vamo, so I'd only be using 1 at a time. If down the road, I want to stack them, will I still be OK, as long as both are fully charged?

 

[awsum140]

I dunno...stacking 18350s, assuming it's done properly, does have an advantage versus a single 18650. I have both setups for my Vamo, 18350-800s and 18650-2000 Efests. I use the 18350s stacked and get almost exactly as much vaping time, measured by ml used, from them as a single 18650. I vape at, typically 6 watts in RMS mode.

The difference is the nominal 7.4 volts of the stack versus the 3.7 volts of the single. The boost circuit doesn't get used much, if at all. The boost circuit, by its very nature, is not particularly efficient and requires much higher current to operate than a "buck" circuit. A comparison of total available power shows 7.4 watthours for the 18650 versus just under 6, 5.92, for the stacked 18350s. So in terms of efficiency of the device at least, a stack of two 18350s works more efficiently.

Just my opinion, worth what you're paying for it. Your results and mileage may vary. No warranty or guarantee is expressed or implied. Proceed at your own risk.

 

[Trainguy059]

When stacking 18350 batts in the Vamo, is a combination of flat tops and button tops required or will 2 flat tops work w/o rattles or disconnects?

 

[meli.]

Guy's unless you know what you are doing and feel Confident in the Knowledge you have acquired to Stack batteries then don't do it. That you are Fanatical about How you use the ones for stacking and use them Only for stacking, you rotate them, you name them, you keep notes on which ones you placed on top/ bottom last At last use, you meter/test them every single time you use them, you maintain a set of notes on degradation, etc. etc.

I would Not Recommend anyone Stack Batteries UNLESS they Know what they are doing.

Please Read TC1's Thread on Batteries Explained . He wrote it for Your safety, please read it.

 

[awsum140]

I agree, Meli. I understand batteries, their limitations and hazards. I label them all, track the charge cycles, which one was on top the last time and check voltages. That is exactly what I am saying, if done properly, IE with the right precautions and monitoring, it can be done safely. People have been injured stacking batteries in ordinary old flashlights simply because they have no idea what the heck they're doing and mix types or brands willy nilly. Then, they blame the batteries or flashlight and sue. There is no cure for stupidity, but ignorance can be easily corrected with a little informative reading.