I see. I was a little suspicous because this one looked a lot more polished than even the chrome models I have seen in stores. Nevertheless, it does in fact remember the power settings. I just didn't know how to get it to display the settings accurately as I was new to the controls. Thanks InTheShade
Vamo with protected batteries shuts off when fired above 6W
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I see. I was a little suspicous because this one looked a lot more polished than even the chrome models I have seen in stores. Nevertheless, it does in fact remember the power settings. I just didn't know how to get it to display the settings accurately as I was new to the controls. Thanks InTheShade
Three factories manufacture the Vamo. One factory seems to have higher QC. All 3 factories use the same pcb/ chipset. Difference is a matter of how they are machined and assembled- threading, solder joints- one Vendor seems to have an issue with cold solder as I've repaired/ re-soldered 5 of them.
Darn it I was right the first time - Smoktek made the vamo at one point not sigelei... let me re-edit
I agree with this.
The Panasonic NCR18650PB (or PF) 2900 mah batteries are the top battery presently for a regulated mod.
The Panasonic NCR18650A 3100 mah and Panasonic NCR18650B 3400 mah batteries are NOT a high drain battery, and only have the 6.8 amp continuous discharge rate. These are hybrid batteries whose hybrid chemistry is very heavily weighted to the ICR end of the chemistry spectrum; they are in fact more an ICR battery than an IMR battery. These were designed more for flashlights and cameras, not for regulated APV's.
Regulated mods use PWM (pulse width modulation) to achieve higher voltage from a 3.7 volt battery. The voltage you set will only be the average output voltage. It will in fact need to output up to 2 times that voltage in amp power to be able to achieve that set voltage. Technical - Why High Drain Batteries?
This means a regulated mod will need a high drain battery which has 10 amps continuous discharge rate to function optimally. Those 3100/3400 mah Panny's don't have the amps needed.
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Well I know this is kind of dangerous, but I took off the protection PCB from one of the batteries, and the vamo fired up just fine. I should probably shelve these batteries though since I have no idea what the effect of removing the protection has on its long term safety...
You guys are right, it appears that the protection is tripping on higher powers! Nothing but great advice once again from the Veterans!
Thanks guys
I had purchased 2 Efest 3400 18650's with protection tabs.... I pulled of the tabs ( very carefully) and have had no issues with them in my vamo or SVD....
Very bad idea.
This was just poor judgement on many levels. You realize you now are using non-protected ICR batteries in a mod? I don't care that the Vamo has built-in protection circuitry, ICR batteries have a volatile chemistry (as in flamable). Should your batteries encounter a hard short, they will go into thermal runaway and vent hot gas and flames.
ICR 18650 batteries have a continuous discharge rate of less than 4 amps. High drain 18650 IMR batteries have at least 10 amps CDR. Regulated mods will require 10 amps for their PWM circuitry. A user's set voltage is just the average voltage output, actual voltage required can be twice the set voltage. Technical - Why high drain batteries?
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the reason i mentioned the clone was i have a KSD vamo and one that i bought from "fast"tech. the one that i got from fasttech is made out of aluminum and is extremely light weight(i also only paid $20 for it) and it has horrible threads. the one from KSD feels realtively heavy(just a little bit lighter than my MVP v2 with a 18650 battery in it) and it also has all of the QC symbols on it like the big CE and a ROHS checkmark. the one from fasttech does not. either way they both work i just hate seeing someone get ripped off by paying ~@40 for a $20 fasttech.
Yes, that was what I had feared, that the seller had purchased it off of fasttech and sold it to me for a huge profit. I was avoiding the fasttech model in the first place because it was just too cheap in my opinion. Coincidentally I have an itaste mvp v2 also, and this vamo weighs in around the same, so hopefully that's a good sign. Great that you brought that up Natewesselink.
Ordered the SS Vamo V3 Kit from FastTech ( Vamo V3, 2 X Panasonics 2250 batts and a Nitecore charger) for $57.00/ free delivery incl. 8+ months ago and it's been a workhouse with no issues whatsoever. Here in N. America would've paid $100+ delivery. A number of converts have also ordered the same and have no problems. Realize also FT has a warranty that is unheard of- 3 months/ 6 months. If defective return to their warehouse in Florida. The 5 Vamos that I repaired (cold solder) were from a diff Vendor located in China.
Just be very careful with the 510 threads as they strip very easily- drop it, lands the wrong way and a very good chance the threads are seriously damaged. For that reason I never stand mine up.
Best of Luck.
P.S. If ever ordering from FT ask here first as they sell both genuine and knockoffs.
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One thing I keep reading about is using IMR batteries in the vamo, and that an ICR will trip it. I've been using a V3 with stacked 350 ICR's for a few weeks, and it hasn't been an issue yet. I've also pushed it to 14w with a few juices that seem to need it.
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Very bad idea.
This was just poor judgement on many levels. You realize you now are using non-protected ICR batteries in a mod? I don't care that the Vamo has built-in protection circuitry, ICR batteries have a volatile chemistry (as in flamable). Should your batteries encounter a hard short, they will go into thermal runaway and vent hot gas and flames.
ICR 18650 batteries have a continuous discharge rate of less than 4 amps. High drain 18650 IMR batteries have at least 10 amps CDR. Regulated mods will require 10 amps for their PWM circuitry. A user's set voltage is just the average voltage output, actual voltage required can be twice the set voltage. Technical - Why high drain batteries?
show me the specs on that specific battery and then I will put them in the trash if they are ICR.
And just maybe you've been lucky. Just because you "can" doesn't always mean "you should".
So, have you been using the strict battery safety routine used for stacking batteries? Ie: Matching new batteries which are exactly the same battery, marrying them as a mated pair for life and marking them as such, alternating the order in which the pair are put into the mod, measuring voltage coming out of the mod and coming off the charger...each and every time?
When it becomes an issue ICR batteries explode in a split second. If those batteries blow when that PV is in your face you DO NOT have any time to contemplate what just happened.
i have 2 vamos one is a v3 the other i was told was either a v3 or v5. being new to mods i cant say for sure which is which. i run both at 4volts normal vaping and max them out to clean built up off my coils and they shut off after 10 seconds, thats what the booklet said cut off time is and i counted. both my vamos came with efest batteries 2 small ones each, my shop also sold me a larger battery. no issues thankfully.
Apparrently, the Efest 18650 3400 mAh is the Panasonic NCR18650B 3400 mAh battery which has been re-wrapped with Efest shrink wrap according to Smoktek. EFest / Panasonic NCR18650B 3400mAh 3.7V Protected Li-ion Battery.
As pointed out earlier, the Panasonic NCR18650B 3400 mAh is a hybrid battery with the chemistry heavily weighted to the ICR end of the spectrum. Consider it an ICR battery for all pratical purposes.
Therefore, both batteries have a 6.8 amp limit. Smoktek states the overcurrent protection spec as 8 amp (which I find to be an inflated figure), which is less than all 18650 IMR high drain batteries. Use these Efests at higher voltages in your regulated mods and you'll be pushing them harder than they were designed to be.
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I have two mated pairs that I've alternated, the pairs are different in appearance (so not going to mix/match). What benefit is there to alternating the order? What trend should I be looking out for in measurements? I am intrigued, as this is supposed to be a protected device, and ICR are supposed to be protected batteries (I have not modified them, they are as packaged).
I am not arguing with you, but rather trying to see the WHY behind this... I am hoping this will garner a more detailed response than "it could blow up". I have over a decade of experience in electronics, but admittedly didn't work with batteries much in that.
You really shouldn't have to use protected batteries with a vamo. The chip set in the vamo protects you against over discharge etc. Get I high quality IMR with a 10-30 amp draw and you'll be fine.
In fact most regulated mods I think screw up when using a protected battery? More advanced and expert users can elaborate on why.
I just saw some stacking of battery comments in this thread. There is no reason to stack batteries in a regulated mod. Use an 18650 if you want to use it long mode. Use 1 18350 if you want to use it in short mode. Stacking batteries was only suggested about 5-7 years ago when VV and VW devices didn't exist. It was used to put the batteries in a "series" to double the voltage in a mechanical mod. Now days there is no reason to stack batteries. It's unsafe and increases your risk of fire/explosion. You have to switch them AB, BA, AB, BA, etc each time you charge and use. You have to "marry" the pair and never use with other batteries. Now days there is no point...DON'T STACK THEM.
Unless I hear of a good reason I'm sticking with that. Now days there is no reason to stack batteries. Vendors that sell with 2 18350's are reckless in my opinion.
Sorry for the rant.
Unless I hear of a good reason I'm sticking with that. Now days there is no reason to stack batteries. Vendors that sell with 2 18350's are reckless in my opinion.
Sorry for the rant.
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