VV -vs- Mech

[Tangaroav]

I have my VV grand on its way to me and I just ordered a LP Grand this morning.

Am I wrong to think that many, (maybe most), Reo owners that have both models prefer the mechanical Reos to the regulated Reos ? Why is that ?

I'll soon find out while experimenting both, but it will help me to understand how experienced Reo owners feel about this .

 

[Papa_Lazarou]

Well, maybe a couple of things at play...

1) Rob doesn't make or maintain the VV controller, so when it goes, it goes for good. Compared to everything about a pure mech reo (or even a woody), that means he's not able to keep us 100% whole and secure (which we've become accustomed to and is yet another reason we're so devoted to these little beauties).

2) There aren't any new VV grands in production, so availability is an issue. Coupled with point 1), this means the world's supply of VV grands is dwindling (hmmm... that means we're past 'peak VVG') and with it is the chatter about them. Thus, the VVG doesn't get as much air play as the full mechs in here, possibly skewing the perception.

Soooo... consider yourself lucky to have one, sir. They're collector's items.

 

[David1975]

I do believe most Reo user like the mechanical better as is more reliable when compared to a VV mod. I on the other hand, prefer VV/VW BF mods... and thus, the Reo was sadly unchecked from my want one list. I have found a few VV/VW BF MODS, but only have one for now (S-CA1 by s-body). My next will be one I found on ECF here...http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/modding-forum/560010-printed-dna30-bottom-feeder.html I know this is not going to be a popular comment, but I hear the VV Reo was discontinued because the boards would go bad due to juice leaking on it. While I do understand this is a problem for both consumer and manufacture, I'm left with a sense of "you made the unit wrong" is juice can get to the board, which leads to a feeling of "why did you discontinue it, rather than redesign it and make it better". Ultimately, I feel that more Reo users would go VV if it worked much like their Mech version (flawlessly), and more vapers would go BF if a 30+ WATT BF was easily had and more drippers have conversion kits.... I'm currently drilling out the pins myself(from SS screws, as are others).

 

[Raynman]

I got my 2 VVG's and a VVW for the sake of having them. I prefer my mechanical Reo's because that's what I started with. The VVG doesn't hold up well in my work environment. I've dropped one onto a steel plate and it went wonky and won't fire. Now I'll send it to the spa and it will never go to work again. The mech's go to work daily and can take a lot of abuse.

 

[Raynman]

I do believe most Reo user like the mechanical better as is more reliable when compared to a VV mod. I on the other hand, prefer VV/VW BF mods... and thus, the Reo was sadly unchecked from my want one list. I have found a few VV/VW BF MODS, but only have one for now (S-CA1 by S-Body). My next will be one I found on ECF here...http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/modding-forum/560010-printed-dna30-bottom-feeder.html I know this is not going to be a popular comment, but I hear the VV Reo was discontinued because the boards would go bad due to juice leaking on it. While I do understand this is a problem for both consumer and manufacture, I'm left with a sense of "you made the unit wrong" is juice can get to the board, which leads to a feeling of "why did you discontinue it, rather than redesign it and make it better". Ultimately, I feel that more Reo users would go VV if it worked much like their Mech version (flawlessly), and more vapers would go BF if a 30+ WATT BF was easily had and more drippers have conversion kits.... I'm currently drilling out the pins myself(from SS screws, as are others).

The reason Rob quit making the VVG is because he has no control over the boards. Not because of any juice leakage. A board can take a dump on you whereas a mechanical will not. It's hard to put out the high quality product and stand behind it when you're at the mercy of someone else.

 

[David1975]

The reason Rob quit making the VVG is because he has no control over the boards. Not because of any juice leakage. A board can take a dump on you whereas a mechanical will not. It's hard to put out the high quality product and stand behind it when you're at the mercy of someone else.

I understand they wont take the abuse a strait Mech would, and that the boards are "water proof". But most of the posts I found on-line discussing problems with, and the demise of the VVG were pointing to juice screwing with the electronics in the build, as well as drops and such. I assumed they meant the board, I know first hand the boards are sold as "water proof" but water and juice are very different to the coating over time, hot or warm juice even more so. That said, I've even seen juice bridge electrical connections on VV/VW MOD's and create it's own set of problems. So I don't know what exactly they meant be "electronics"...

 

[Spydro]

Like Raynman I bought an original VVG (used but in mint condition) to have a piece of Reo history. I've been a collector all my life of certain things that I liked, so I had to have a VVG. Unlike many folks I have never dropped a PV, never shorted anything out, never had accidents with joose in them, etc. All my PV's are as they were when I got them, and most were bought new. But I also rarely take any of them out of the house except the many I bought for their small size/weight to take when running errands, my wee hours of the night walks, etc. A luxury of being very long retired and mostly not a part of the outside world anymore. IE, I don't have to take them to work, etc. I was a VV/VW guy for a time, but I went back to the mech's as my go to's, bought way too many new ones and they have been my thing again for many months now. All the mech's and other stuff bought before about 4 months ago just collects dust now days. Starting mid August enter Reo... and a Mini, LP Grand, VVG and a Woodvil live with me... so far. I like them all and use them all 24/7, but am leaning to the Woodvil and VVG the most. Like the metal Reo's just fine and they are serving me very well, awesome PV's. So I'll blame the lean on loving fine woods (that I hobby crafted for over 50 years until the health failed) and being Old Skol that likes old things from the past. There will be more Woodies, lots of them I hope, and I'd bet more metal Reo's as well.

The VVG model may be on their last leg, but so am I. So my VVG and I are enjoying our time together just fine.

 

[Raynman]

Rob is going to make a Kick Reo with a spacer so it can be vaped when not if the Kick dies. That will give the opportunity for those who want to use a VV control in their Reos. I've been here a year longer than you and haven't seen anything about juice causing problems. Even so the way it's built juice wouldn't be able to get to the board in the quantity needed to short the board outside of serious user error. I have 3 of them trust me on this one. On my end this topic is over.

 

[Rule62]

I haven't used a regulated mod of any kind in probably 1 1/2 years. Even if Rob offered a current version VV or VW Reo, I likely wouldn't buy one. The current DNA 20, 30, 100, or whatever it's up to now hasn't interested me at all.

 

[Papa_Lazarou]

I think the reo plus kick is a marvellous idea (especially since I believe it could be operated as a full mech, per the modmaster's description). This would bring in some new users who want/need/think-they-need VV/W. I know it would put my wife over the edge if she felt she had better bat management and control of the vape after the coil was installed. These two things (plus wick management, largely mooted with RxW) are what're stopping her from sharing in the reo (or any mech) fun.

To the OP's OP, she's an example of one person who would love a VVG over the straight mech grand.

 

[Rickajho]

I prefer... both.

I'm not a sub ohm vaper person, so the wattage limit of a VVG is not an issue for me since I prefer to stay at 1.8 ohms. If anything, I prefer the VV option having the ability to tweak around the requirements of different liquids. And I'm weird - at least some times I'm convincing myself that a small voltage tweak makes a difference. For my non VV Reos I tend to stay a bit more "locked in" to what liquid is working good with what coil. But that's ok - I have 5 various non VV Reos. (For now...)

No problems with my VVG's. Not seen those supposed reports that liquids leaking into a VVG has been the source of any problems either. Based on my experience even when I do have a spill over the catch cup, the door seal to the body never allowed for a boat load of liquid to get inside there. It might get 'moist' along the top edge of the body where the magnets are located, but not on the delrin cover or into the pot area inside. Can't imagine how much liquid you would really need to dump for it to get under the delrin cover. (We aren't using clearos on a VVG here...)

I don't know from Rob's side of things how many problems he had reported with the VVG. I'm still kind of sad (ok - a little miffed) that I never got a chance to buy a VV Woodvil directly from him.

The other option is to mod a Grand to use a Kick. I don't like that option, because of the PWM electronics a Kick uses. Not looking to turn a Grand into a cheap eGo "rattlesnake" experience in the process. In that respect the Notcigs chip in a VVG is better.

 

[ed101z]

When I got my Grand a month ago, Rob explained to me that I COULD use the KICK 2 or CROWN 2.0 with a 18490 to have VV/VW. He recommended to get both from RTD. I've thought about trying it, but would rather see some reviews on how well it performs before investing.

After using VV/VW for along time (usually set at 2.0ohm @ 4.0 or 4.2 volts), I didn't find it difficult at all to switch over to a Mech Mod Reo at 1.2ohm. It could be the RM2 making the juice taste so good, or could be KGD cotton. What ever it is, something has surely improved flavor and taste. I don't use anything at all anymore ....but my Reo Grand. I don't think about VV/VW anymore. I'm liking it just as it is.

From what I understand, the links below will provide everything you need to take a regular Reo Grand or LP model over to VV/VW.

KICK 2
or
Crown 2.0

AW 18490 1100mah

 

[MamaTried]

i used to run a kick in one of my grands. it worked just fine. but as i settled on ~1.2 ohms on my non-kicked grands, the kick saw less use, particularly after i learned to sense when the battery level on the non-kicked ones dropped to 3.7V.


i have some VV Reos as well. i like keeping one in rotation, just cuz. the others get used if i wrap a coil and miscalculate and the ohms end up in the 1.8 range

if you do a "forum search" using the advanced option to limit the search to "kick" in the subject title, there are lots of helpful threads

 

[six]

You asked about ownership and preference...

This is a tough question. I own a VV Woodville. There were only something around 170 of those made total. I was very fortunate to get it... and it is the best PV I've ever owned. It's light - It's powerful enough - My chip is an above average example of a notcigs chip and I get extraordinary battery life - It's pretty (not sure how important that is to me) - All in all, it's the perfect PV.

About 2 months ago, I bought an SL Grand. It is currently my primary PV... I've been intending to send my VVW in for spa treatment (new finish - new guts - make it nice and shiny new again), and I put it in a shipping box a couple of weeks ago. I'm not entirely positive my SL Grand would be my primary PV if my VVW wasn't sealed in a box. The VVW after more than 2 1/2 years has just about become a part of me, so to speak. It has been with me every single day - all day - day in day out for so long, I just can't imagine not having it.... but I really, really, really love this SL Grand. So much so that I'm probably going to buy another one sooner or later.

I can't say for sure one is "better" than the other. I'm not certain I can say for sure "I Prefer" one over the other.

To throw a monkey wrench in the works... I also own a 14500 mini that's been with me about 3 years. I wouldn't want to be without it. It gets some use every day too and has for coming up on 3 years. It was pretty much my primary PV for the first 6 months I had it. That little mod has seriously fed my nicotine habit with perfect reliability the whole time I've owned it. Zero problems. Zero issues. Zero hassle. It has fired and made vapor every single time I have ever pushed the button.