VV regulators?

[Bardolf Blaze]

I'm looking into building my first mod and want it to be VV. I was wondering if anyone has used this board from madvapes: Variable Voltage Regulator Board Kit Rev 2
If so can you post a picture of it assembled.
Also would appreciate opinions of boards that might be better. I'm still learning about resistors and pots and all that, so I'm trying to keep it simple.
Thanks!

 

[5cardstud]

Heres a nice little one already built. Zeus Mini 3A Switching Regulator

 

[Bardolf Blaze]

Heres a nice little one already built. Zeus Mini 3A Switching Regulator

That looks great. I was looking at this prebuilt 3A Adjustable step down switching voltage regulator which is very similar. But at over 3 times the price I'm willing to assemble. Plus all the prebuilt ones seem to have the screw type adjustment.

 

[NicksVap3]

kis-3r33s
they are easy to mod, and CHEAP. search ebay for them

 

[CraigHB]

Plus all the prebuilt ones seem to have the screw type adjustment.

You mean the worm gear pots? Those really are way better. Trimmer pots < 1 turn get pretty jumpy once they accumulate some wear on them. The worm gear pots stay smooth a really long time.

 

[Bardolf Blaze]

*sigh* Still so much to learn. Sometimes I feel too old for this. LOL

 

[WillyB]

You mean the worm gear pots? Those really are way better. Trimmer pots < 1 turn get pretty jumpy once they accumulate some wear on them. The worm gear pots stay smooth a really long time.

I'll also add that with the MadVapes board only about 30% of the ~270 degree turn is actually in a vapeable range. Quite twitchy when it comes to dialing in a voltage.

 

[crk0756]

I built one just to have the experience... didnt order the pre made kit, ordered the board and drilled the box myself... gets warm awful fast for my taste.... ended up drilling some more cooling holes in the battery box to help with the heat... then added a homemade heat sink as well... Then again, I chain vape while at home enjoying a rum and coke while surfing the board or building a mod.... ordered one of the step down 3a adjustable chips for my next tinkering project.....

 

[TomCatt]

Here's an inexpensive setup for VV. A number of people have made mods using it. http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/battery-mods/189320-my-poorvari-mod.html.

A few of the multitude of mods asnider has made have used the 'poorvari'.

 

[Bardolf Blaze]

I'll also add that with the MadVapes board only about 30% of the ~270 degree turn is actually in a vapeable range. Quite twitchy when it comes to dialing in a voltage.

Would changing out the resistors to narrow the range from 0-7V to say 3-6V help with the touchiness of the dialing?

 

[jmanning]

The OKR-T has been my go-to regulator for all my most recent mods. No caps, just need a trimmer and resistor, and the size is nice.

 

[Nomoreash]

I'll second the OKR. The one from madvapes is fine but not as efficient as the switching regulators(waste more energy as heat and less battery life in between charges).

The OKR isn't that much more expensive. I've built both the Evercool which uses the TI regulator and the OKR. The OKR is a easier build since it doesn't require caps and performance is basically the same.

 

[TomCatt]

The 3A OKR Digi-Key - 811-2115-5-ND (Manufacturer - OKR-T/3-W12-C) saves a few dollars and unless you're running a LR on 6V, should be perfectly fine for VV.

 

[WillyB]

Would changing out the resistors to narrow the range from 0-7V to say 3-6V help with the touchiness of the dialing?

Well the trimmer in this case is not determining the end points. The regulator is on the low side, probably ~1.2V not zero, and the batteries on the high side.

You'll have to look at the datasheet for the voltage formula. But from a cursory look it seems like going to a 20k trimmer/pot in series with an ~18k fixed resistor may do it. This combo will be R2 in the datasheet. Should end up with ~3.5 to 6 ish Volts (too lazy to do the exact math).

Breadboarding is the only way to find out for sure.