(I'm posting this in the APV review section: since it's VV and it isn't as simplistic as it looks, it qualifies as an APV I guess...)
Ok so I got this USB VV passthrough in the mail today:
How it works:
- Plug it onto a 2 amp USB port,
- Screw on a carto or clearo,
- Turn it on / select the voltage with the single button,
- vape away.
The button:
The packaging says "push button to cycle through voltage options". In fact, it's not quite accurate: you have to quadruple-click to cycle through OFF, 3V, 3.6V, 4.2V, 4.8V and back to OFF.
When the device changes voltage, the button flashes 3 times and changes color. When it turns itself on and off, the button flashes 4 times. The actual voltage colors don't match what the packaging says either, but it doesn't matter, as this is all pretty simple and intuitive.
Note that if the device can't get enough power from the USB port, it'll flash blue 4 times upon connection, and whenever you try to press the button, and won't power the coil no matter what (see below for explanations).
Will it harm my computer's USB port?
No - and incidentally, anybody who tells you their USB passthrough ruined their computer's USB port is talking BS, or had a very shoddily designed computer.
To understand why, here's a little primer on USB power:
The USB standard says that "dumb" devices may draw up to 500 mA (2.5 W) from a USB port without negotiating. That's the most basic requirement: either the USB host is dumb and can't supply more than 500 mA, or the USB device itself is dumb, and the host is supposed to limit the current to 500 mA if the device tries to draw more rightaway. Either way, if your computer's USB implementation is correct, it'll never supply more than 500 mA to any device that doesn't negotiate for more.
If the device is more advanced, it must negotiate with the host to draw more current. The way it happens is, the device starts in dumb mode, then switches to "smart" mode and jacks up its power consumption until the host reaches its limit and refuses to supply more. The device then knows how much it can get at the most from the host. Usually that limit is 2 A (10 W), usually implemented in power-hungry smartphone chargers. But again, if the host is designed properly, it'll refuse to supply more power than it can handle.
This passthrough obviously needs more power than a dumb USB port can supply. So it is implemented as a "smart" USB device, and it does negotiate with the host for as much power as it can get. If you plug it to a dumb port, it'll refuse to work and flash blue 4 times. If you plug it to a suitably powerful smart USB port, it'll work. Plain and simple. There is zero risk to your USB port.
Pretty neat huh? And you thought it was just a dumb passthrough
Many people don't really know how USB power works, and it's too bad the passthrough's packaging doesn't make it clear that the device will flash blue and refuse to work with dumb hosts: I'm willing to bet a lot of people will try the passthrough on low-power USB ports and will end up returning it, believing it's faulty. But don't be fooled by the flashing blue button: it's just telling you to plug it to a better USB port.
How it performs:
It vapes really good actually. There are only 4 power settings, but I found them more than adequate. Of course, you're not going to put out massive clouds with a 10 W power limit, but personally I rarely vape any of my clearos higher than 8 W, so it's working dandy for me.
The device being so short, you end up with the go-go button at the bottom. You'll end up pinching the thing between two fingers to hold it, so you'd better not screw a heavy clearo on top of it, lest it becomes uncomfortable to use. I've been using it for 30 minutes with an iClear 30 though and it's not tiring.
Conclusion:
For the price, it's a really slick little device for home or office use, provided you have a 2 A charger or a PC with a USB port that can supply 2 A. Also, if you like hiking or bicycle touring like I do, and you usually take a USB battery with you in your backpack, this passthrough will provide hours of vaping at the campsite after your day's hike or ride for almost no extra weight.
In short, you'll love it!
Ok so I got this USB VV passthrough in the mail today:
How it works:
- Plug it onto a 2 amp USB port,
- Screw on a carto or clearo,
- Turn it on / select the voltage with the single button,
- vape away.
The button:
The packaging says "push button to cycle through voltage options". In fact, it's not quite accurate: you have to quadruple-click to cycle through OFF, 3V, 3.6V, 4.2V, 4.8V and back to OFF.
When the device changes voltage, the button flashes 3 times and changes color. When it turns itself on and off, the button flashes 4 times. The actual voltage colors don't match what the packaging says either, but it doesn't matter, as this is all pretty simple and intuitive.
Note that if the device can't get enough power from the USB port, it'll flash blue 4 times upon connection, and whenever you try to press the button, and won't power the coil no matter what (see below for explanations).
Will it harm my computer's USB port?
No - and incidentally, anybody who tells you their USB passthrough ruined their computer's USB port is talking BS, or had a very shoddily designed computer.
To understand why, here's a little primer on USB power:
The USB standard says that "dumb" devices may draw up to 500 mA (2.5 W) from a USB port without negotiating. That's the most basic requirement: either the USB host is dumb and can't supply more than 500 mA, or the USB device itself is dumb, and the host is supposed to limit the current to 500 mA if the device tries to draw more rightaway. Either way, if your computer's USB implementation is correct, it'll never supply more than 500 mA to any device that doesn't negotiate for more.
If the device is more advanced, it must negotiate with the host to draw more current. The way it happens is, the device starts in dumb mode, then switches to "smart" mode and jacks up its power consumption until the host reaches its limit and refuses to supply more. The device then knows how much it can get at the most from the host. Usually that limit is 2 A (10 W), usually implemented in power-hungry smartphone chargers. But again, if the host is designed properly, it'll refuse to supply more power than it can handle.
This passthrough obviously needs more power than a dumb USB port can supply. So it is implemented as a "smart" USB device, and it does negotiate with the host for as much power as it can get. If you plug it to a dumb port, it'll refuse to work and flash blue 4 times. If you plug it to a suitably powerful smart USB port, it'll work. Plain and simple. There is zero risk to your USB port.
Pretty neat huh? And you thought it was just a dumb passthrough
Many people don't really know how USB power works, and it's too bad the passthrough's packaging doesn't make it clear that the device will flash blue and refuse to work with dumb hosts: I'm willing to bet a lot of people will try the passthrough on low-power USB ports and will end up returning it, believing it's faulty. But don't be fooled by the flashing blue button: it's just telling you to plug it to a better USB port.
How it performs:
It vapes really good actually. There are only 4 power settings, but I found them more than adequate. Of course, you're not going to put out massive clouds with a 10 W power limit, but personally I rarely vape any of my clearos higher than 8 W, so it's working dandy for me.
The device being so short, you end up with the go-go button at the bottom. You'll end up pinching the thing between two fingers to hold it, so you'd better not screw a heavy clearo on top of it, lest it becomes uncomfortable to use. I've been using it for 30 minutes with an iClear 30 though and it's not tiring.
Conclusion:
For the price, it's a really slick little device for home or office use, provided you have a 2 A charger or a PC with a USB port that can supply 2 A. Also, if you like hiking or bicycle touring like I do, and you usually take a USB battery with you in your backpack, this passthrough will provide hours of vaping at the campsite after your day's hike or ride for almost no extra weight.
In short, you'll love it!
