Variable Volt Gripper

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txtumbleweed

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I ended up using 18340 batteries in my v8, the 350s were just too tight getting in and out and I was concerned I would end up breaking it.

Really like the layout and the readout on the Gripper but I have a problem with it. Have had a ticket in for a refund since last week but no response yet.

Errol

What kind of problem did you have if you don't mind me asking? Mine has worked flawlessly.
 

nilbog

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I have had the Gripper VV for a couple of days and thought I'd throw my humble review in:

I really like this thing. The rubberized material is nicer than plastic and has some grip, no pun intended. PWM is different than my ProVari, but this thing hits like a beast. The only things I've noticed so far:

Pulse width modulation: People who have used other VV devices that use PWM like the lavatube or vmax should be used to this, but I was not. I kept thinking something was wrong with the device since it was running so hot even at 3.0V on a 3.0ohm carto it was still stronger than I felt like it should have been. Then I realized hey why am I complaining this thing is a beast.

The battery compartment door: The latch doesn't seat just right. This could be an issue if the plastic prongs that hold the latch closed and in place ever break. Plus it kind of sticks out ever so slightly even when fully closed it doesn't want to seat right against the mod with a battery in there.

Wobbly Female 510 connector: Not a bad wobble and barely noticeable with an atty or carto on there. But put a tank or something heavy and it does wobble back and forth.

Battery Spring: I've looked inside the mod at the battery spring and mine appears to be curled. Not flat and facing straight down which for some reason is really bothering me. I wonder if the battery compartment door would close better and tighter if this spring was pointed down straight instead of curled up? I'm scared to mess with it.

Button clickiness/responsiveness: A little too loud for my taste but it's okay I like the horn style button a lot. Out of the 200 times I've hit it I would say it hasn't fired maybe 3 or 4 times. This only seemed to happen when I had just turned the device on.

Plus and Minus Buttons: In the picture on the Smoktech website you can clearly see there are no + and - symbols on their respective buttons. I don't know if the vendors put them on there or what, but after just a couple days use they started rubbing off. So, I took some alcohol and a cotton swab and removed them completely. Rather have nothing that half a plus sign

Other than that for $50 you can't beat it. I carry this with me to work it fits great in my shirt pocket. It hits like a champ, it's small and has great form factor. It doesn't give 4 amps but I don't find myself going above 4.5V with this thing with the PWM it feels hotter/stronger. 4.5V with the PVM seems like 5 or more to me. Also the ohms checker that checks the resistance of your attached atty/carto whatever works great. It matched my ProVari with the 10 different things I put on there except 1 carto was .1 off. So that feature is awesome. I think some people might be surprised when they hit this thing for the first time. It has some power. The Gripper's like "oh you set me for 3.0V on a 3.0ohm cartomizer? No thank you I'm going to hit hard anyways". The Gripper gets what the Gripper wants. And the Gripper wants you to blow out huge clouds of vapor to impress people and annoy smokers.
 
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MickeyRat

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Does it look like you can use Gorilla Glue 2 part epoxy to strengthen the connector to accommodate a Tank?
Can the unit easily be taken apart?

There seems to be a lot of variation in these devices. My connector doesn't wobble and I'm using it with a Penelope. That's a heavier than a tank. OTOH I had to put a magnet on the battery to make it not rattle and consistently make contact. I haven't seen anyone else with that problem,
 

ejervjero

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Hi Tex. I have the same problem with the Gripper as with the V8 except the Gripper has a wider gap at the hing end of the battery door so I can use a dull kitchen knife to gently wedge the battery door open with no harm to the door or body.

Errol

Yep I tried forever to slide mine and it budges just barely enough where I can get a thick credit card in it and slide it the rest of the way.

It is funny it slides very easy when I put the card in to slide it but with my hands it is 100% impossible to open fully.

This is the VV Gripper that I have so I am posting on the correct device :)
 

nilbog

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There seems to be a lot of variation in these devices. My connector doesn't wobble and I'm using it with a Penelope. That's a heavier than a tank. OTOH I had to put a magnet on the battery to make it not rattle and consistently make contact. I haven't seen anyone else with that problem,

Did you buy yours from MadVapes? I love this thing I'm thinking about picking up another but would love one with a sealed connector. I've seen several videos with people describing the same problem I'm having. The magnet issue you mentioned I haven't heard anyone talking about so that's crazy. Is your sealed like injection molded together?
 

MickeyRat

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Did you buy yours from MadVapes? I love this thing I'm thinking about picking up another but would love one with a sealed connector. I've seen several videos with people describing the same problem I'm having. The magnet issue you mentioned I haven't heard anyone talking about so that's crazy. Is your sealed like injection molded together?

Yes, I actually turned in a ticket on it before it occurred to me to try the magnet. I have a bunch of them and it works fine that way. So, I didn't bother sending it back. I really like mine otherwise.
 

Stosh

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The connector is sealed but, I don't think the seam is.

Likely won't float either...:lol:...but for $50 it's a steal.

I've only had one minor problem, the ohm measurement started going crazy, 9.9 to 1.2 with the same carto, wouldn't vape, wouldn't do anything right....changed out the battery (old one measured 3.4V) and presto, fixed...:facepalm:

The only con in my view so far is the finger grips,
room for 4 fingers and the mod is only 3 fingers tall in my hand..:)
 

nilbog

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The only con in my view so far is the finger grips,
room for 4 fingers and the mod is only 3 fingers tall in my hand..:)

Yes I agree. I put my pinky under the device and and don't really even use the grips. These were obviously made by Chinese who have smaller hands than the average American. They have, however, made an excellent device that is a game changer simply for the price point and features. I want the colored ones though. I'd like a blue one.
 
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Bassmanspiff

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After about a week of pretty constant use this thing is still standing up to anything I throw at it. Single coil tanks, dual coil tanks, atomizers, a slew of cartomizers. The only con that I have found *and I have mentioned before* is the wobbley 510 connection. Is it bad enough for me to send in a ticket, not really. Does it bug me a bit, yes. Other than that, 10/10 for performance.
 
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