What are the advantages/disadvantages of high voltage vs. low voltage units, and what should one look for or look out for in each type?
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What are +/-'s about low vs. high voltage PVs ? How to choose ?
- Thread starter ronlitton
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Regular e-cigs run on low voltage, between 3.2 and 3.7 volts nominal. They use stock atomizers of between 2.1 and 3.5 ohms resistance. The resulting power draw is around 4 watts or less - which is the most important factor affecting vapor and TH. This arrangement is safe and steady but cannot give optimum vapor and TH as the power draw is not sufficient, although it is perfectly satisfactory for many users. Flavors are generally good in this range though - and some say best of all. Some models suit some people better, but that is all a matter of taste.
Flavor, vapor, throat hit, and battery life are the factors most people are concerned with; but each person has a different scale.
Some people find they need more 'hit', that is, more vapor / TH. If you get a lower resistance atomizer, normally 1.5 to 1.9 ohms, the power drawn goes up to 6 or 7 watts and this gives double the effective power, ie as experienced by the user. These LR attys draw so much power they reduce the life of the stock batteries, so you need a bigger battery - a 'fat batt' as Don aptly calls them. There are now models that come with fat batts and LR attys available, such as the eGo, Tornado, Riva, Hello, and Easy; and many people say these models are the best option of all. You might have to buy the LR attys extra, the stock kit may have standard attys as they are safer for new users (LR attys are easier to burn out through user error). The eGo and Tornado are well-known and reliable models, based on the 510 system, so parts are easily interchangeable. The battery lasts for hours, even with the smallest version.
The next group is 5 volt mods, such as the most economical options here: the Ken's Boxmod 5v or the Bartleby 5v. A stock atty is used on these, not LR. The power draw goes up to 8 or 10 watts and the effective power is three times that of the regular model. Some flavors survive this hike, others are burnt out at this level. 5 volts is for those who need a big hit. If you are absolutely determined to get the nearest possible replication of a tobacco cigarette, then a 5 volt boxmod with a tobacco flavor e-liquid will certainly do the job - although most people eventually move away from tobacco and go with other flavors, at least some of the time. One advantage of these mods is they use easily-available rechargeable batteries such as the 14500, so battery replacement is cheap and easy. Battery life is very good. Five volt mods are now made with a regulator, which is a superior system to the old resistor method of bringing the voltage down. The best type have a 4-pin regulator that allows just a control current to go through the on/off switch, improving switch life. Normally these mods run a 510 system, so there is a 510 connector on them - if you get adapters then the 801 or 901 atty + cart can be connected. Everyone has their own favorite, plus some flavors do better under one system than another.
Some mods produce 6 volts and this is for those who need the max, maybe with high-resistance attys, as something like a stock 510 atty will perhaps be overkill here. One advantage is that the batteries are physically larger, therefore they last longer. 6v was popular before 5v was widely available. As far as most people are concerned, 6 volts is OTT - but it's all a matter of taste. It works well with some attys though, and there are some good models that are very popular with their fans such as the Chuck and GG. Many technical advances have originated here such as liquid injector systems, large-format mods, and high-res attys.
Please remember that all e-cigarette opinions are strictly a matter of personal choice & taste - there is nobody else on the planet with the exact same preference for equipment and e-liquids and flavors as you. At least, nobody that you are ever likely to meet. An eGornado or three plus a couple of 5 volt boxmods, with some atomizer adapters so any atty fits on the boxmod, does it for me. Somebody else - anybody else in fact - would have a different opinion. You have to try them and find out if it's for you. A variable-voltage mod might not be a bad idea though, it means you are never going to be caught out with attys that don't work on your PV - as long as you have the adapters. Also good for liquids that need more power or less power.
Ideally a PV has a long and solid history, excellent reviews from a lot of people, few negative reviews, and has built-in flexibility: the ability to interchange parts as needed. Proprietary batteries or parts is not a great idea. The eGo / Tornado and the Ken's / Bartleby are fine on all counts. In theory a VV mod (variable voltage) like the Buzz or Big Brother is the answer as it scores higher on most counts - but they cost more, and they may not be your ideal choice for outside the home, where an eGornado is hard to beat.
Flavor, vapor, throat hit, and battery life are the factors most people are concerned with; but each person has a different scale.
Some people find they need more 'hit', that is, more vapor / TH. If you get a lower resistance atomizer, normally 1.5 to 1.9 ohms, the power drawn goes up to 6 or 7 watts and this gives double the effective power, ie as experienced by the user. These LR attys draw so much power they reduce the life of the stock batteries, so you need a bigger battery - a 'fat batt' as Don aptly calls them. There are now models that come with fat batts and LR attys available, such as the eGo, Tornado, Riva, Hello, and Easy; and many people say these models are the best option of all. You might have to buy the LR attys extra, the stock kit may have standard attys as they are safer for new users (LR attys are easier to burn out through user error). The eGo and Tornado are well-known and reliable models, based on the 510 system, so parts are easily interchangeable. The battery lasts for hours, even with the smallest version.
The next group is 5 volt mods, such as the most economical options here: the Ken's Boxmod 5v or the Bartleby 5v. A stock atty is used on these, not LR. The power draw goes up to 8 or 10 watts and the effective power is three times that of the regular model. Some flavors survive this hike, others are burnt out at this level. 5 volts is for those who need a big hit. If you are absolutely determined to get the nearest possible replication of a tobacco cigarette, then a 5 volt boxmod with a tobacco flavor e-liquid will certainly do the job - although most people eventually move away from tobacco and go with other flavors, at least some of the time. One advantage of these mods is they use easily-available rechargeable batteries such as the 14500, so battery replacement is cheap and easy. Battery life is very good. Five volt mods are now made with a regulator, which is a superior system to the old resistor method of bringing the voltage down. The best type have a 4-pin regulator that allows just a control current to go through the on/off switch, improving switch life. Normally these mods run a 510 system, so there is a 510 connector on them - if you get adapters then the 801 or 901 atty + cart can be connected. Everyone has their own favorite, plus some flavors do better under one system than another.
Some mods produce 6 volts and this is for those who need the max, maybe with high-resistance attys, as something like a stock 510 atty will perhaps be overkill here. One advantage is that the batteries are physically larger, therefore they last longer. 6v was popular before 5v was widely available. As far as most people are concerned, 6 volts is OTT - but it's all a matter of taste. It works well with some attys though, and there are some good models that are very popular with their fans such as the Chuck and GG. Many technical advances have originated here such as liquid injector systems, large-format mods, and high-res attys.
Please remember that all e-cigarette opinions are strictly a matter of personal choice & taste - there is nobody else on the planet with the exact same preference for equipment and e-liquids and flavors as you. At least, nobody that you are ever likely to meet. An eGornado or three plus a couple of 5 volt boxmods, with some atomizer adapters so any atty fits on the boxmod, does it for me. Somebody else - anybody else in fact - would have a different opinion. You have to try them and find out if it's for you. A variable-voltage mod might not be a bad idea though, it means you are never going to be caught out with attys that don't work on your PV - as long as you have the adapters. Also good for liquids that need more power or less power.
Ideally a PV has a long and solid history, excellent reviews from a lot of people, few negative reviews, and has built-in flexibility: the ability to interchange parts as needed. Proprietary batteries or parts is not a great idea. The eGo / Tornado and the Ken's / Bartleby are fine on all counts. In theory a VV mod (variable voltage) like the Buzz or Big Brother is the answer as it scores higher on most counts - but they cost more, and they may not be your ideal choice for outside the home, where an eGornado is hard to beat.
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A chart and calculator to add to the good info above:
post #7:
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...cts-maam-no-chit-chat-please.html#post1687242
Ohm's Law Calculator
post #7:
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...cts-maam-no-chit-chat-please.html#post1687242
Ohm's Law Calculator
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