What battery should I use
- Thread starter Darrian Peace
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If you are using a mechanical mod, it is not the simple basic battery device that it may appear to be to a novice. I mean, it is just a box or tube shaped battery holder with a fire button and 510 connector. There is no chipset like in a regulated mod, and herein lies the problem.
That chipset includes multiple safety circuitry to prevent against battery hard shorts, accidental continuous firing of the fire button, putting the battery in backwards, using an atomizer resistance that is too low, etc. A mech mod has NONE of that. The only safety feature is what lies between your ears. If you don't know how to do simple math calculations (which Ohm's Law calculations are), don't know how to find the amp limit of a battery, and don't know what can cause a hard short...then a mechanical mod is NOT for you.
This is the very reason experienced and conscientious veteran vapors tell novice vapers to start out with a regulated mod first instead of a mechanical mod. A mechanical mod is not a beginners e-cigarette. It requires some self-research and basic knowledge to be used safely.
A regulated mod, with its computer chipset, has built-in safety protections. Does all the math for you and lets you know with an error message if you are exceeding a limit or if there is a hard short. Its not a carefree battery device, but comes about as close as one can.
Back To Basics – Battery and Device Safety
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Great post by @Baditude that I not only agree with but will add.......
There are even experienced vapers that should stay away from mechs, and I am one of those. I believe I have the knowledge and ability to properly set up a mech. But then again, I seem to be prone to making simple mistakes from time to time......or regularly if you ask my wife!
My resistance to using one is my poor memory, paying attention to what is going on while in use. Even with regulated, there are just too many times I'm vaping away and didn't notice the tank ran dry or, probably more important, the batteries were drained. Admittedly, I lack the knowledge of just how critical either of those factors could be, but that in and of itself tells me mechs are not for me.
There are even experienced vapers that should stay away from mechs, and I am one of those. I believe I have the knowledge and ability to properly set up a mech. But then again, I seem to be prone to making simple mistakes from time to time......or regularly if you ask my wife!
My resistance to using one is my poor memory, paying attention to what is going on while in use. Even with regulated, there are just too many times I'm vaping away and didn't notice the tank ran dry or, probably more important, the batteries were drained. Admittedly, I lack the knowledge of just how critical either of those factors could be, but that in and of itself tells me mechs are not for me.
@OlderNDirt , two thumbs up to your post. 
As you know, I've used both mech and regulated mods. I'm comfortable with both. However, "stuff happens" sometimes. All it takes is one careless moment to allow a catastrophe: absentmindedly putting a battery in backwards, not checking the battery wraps every time when removing from a charger or mod, not checking the atomizer resistance on a routine basis, putting a battery in a pocket that happens to have a coin or key in it, or not locking the fire button of a mechanical mod when placed in a pocket. Several years ago I had a battery explode in a mech when I put it into my pocket.
I always allowed a wide safety margin on my homemade builds, not building lower than 0.6 ohms. One time my vapor was not right...way too hot. I immediately stopped using that atomizer and began trouble shooting. I discovered that the resistance was now reading 0.1 ohm. Upon further inspection, one of the post screws had become loose. I tightened it up and rechecked the resistance: 0.6 ohm again. Had I not had that safety margin I probably would have fired a 0 resistance coil and caused a hard short in a mech mod. Boom!!!
I retired my mech mods about a year ago. Main reason is I like to adjust my vape on the fly on my regulated mods...something you can't do easily with a mech. And of course, I always feel a little more safe using a regulated mod.
As you know, I've used both mech and regulated mods. I'm comfortable with both. However, "stuff happens" sometimes. All it takes is one careless moment to allow a catastrophe: absentmindedly putting a battery in backwards, not checking the battery wraps every time when removing from a charger or mod, not checking the atomizer resistance on a routine basis, putting a battery in a pocket that happens to have a coin or key in it, or not locking the fire button of a mechanical mod when placed in a pocket. Several years ago I had a battery explode in a mech when I put it into my pocket.
I always allowed a wide safety margin on my homemade builds, not building lower than 0.6 ohms. One time my vapor was not right...way too hot. I immediately stopped using that atomizer and began trouble shooting. I discovered that the resistance was now reading 0.1 ohm. Upon further inspection, one of the post screws had become loose. I tightened it up and rechecked the resistance: 0.6 ohm again. Had I not had that safety margin I probably would have fired a 0 resistance coil and caused a hard short in a mech mod. Boom!!!
I retired my mech mods about a year ago. Main reason is I like to adjust my vape on the fly on my regulated mods...something you can't do easily with a mech. And of course, I always feel a little more safe using a regulated mod.
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I am in that same boat. I can't see myself ever using a full mechanical mod unless or until I have NO other choice. I like the fact that I don't have to pay second by second attention to my vaping device so Regulated all the way for me.Great post by @Baditude that I not only agree with but will add.......
There are even experienced vapers that should stay away from mechs, and I am one of those. I believe I have the knowledge and ability to properly set up a mech. But then again, I seem to be prone to making simple mistakes from time to time......or regularly if you ask my wife!
Great post by @Baditude that I not only agree with but will add.......
There are even experienced vapers that should stay away from mechs, and I am one of those. I believe I have the knowledge and ability to properly set up a mech. But then again, I seem to be prone to making simple mistakes from time to time......or regularly if you ask my wife!
True, our memory can fail us. And yes, we can be absent-minded. But any electronics can fail. For any and all of us. The good thing about mech's is they challenge us to understand electrical fundamentals that always apply. Simply suggesting that avoiding mech's is some kind of utopian safety zone is utterly misleading.
It really is a question of lucidly evaluating the probabilities. And not deceiving ourselves as to our own limitations. Why after a lifetime of seldom touching an automatic transmission, I don't drive stick anymore. Encourage preparation and premeditation and we promote less carelessness. There is no safe haven. All life is risk.
Good luck.
I didn't intend my post to make that "simple suggestion." Sorry if my verbiage left that impression!
I didn't take it that way and do agree with you. Important we understand both our limitations and the probabilities.
However, to state it clearly, there are those around who clearly who would have us do without mech's altogether. Mebe I give folks too much credit but I think we're (not going to say smarter) certainly more capable than that.
Good luck.
I know I will probably TRY a mech someday.... Just to have the experience. But, I imagine it won't be a "daily" type of thing for me, nor would I ever consider bringing one out of the house and I kinda think everyone should have ONE mech in their vacopalypse closet and an understanding of how to use it, in case all else fails (I really don't want to be smoking through the end of the world... Even though in some ways that strikes me as the BEST time to smoke.... I really don't want to smoke.
With that said, all electronic equipment carries a degree of risk as protections can fail. I guess I'd say use good vaping practices all the time and extra caution using something without protections in it.
I'd love to say "everyone" could use a mech, but I don't know if that's entirely true or not. What I don't LOVE to see are new user starting with a mech and/or someone flaunting their recklessness about one. Especially the SECOND. You can teach someone how to use a mech safely, it's much harder to "teach" someone not to be reckless, especially if its in their nature to be so.
Just my opinion as always...
Anna
With that said, all electronic equipment carries a degree of risk as protections can fail. I guess I'd say use good vaping practices all the time and extra caution using something without protections in it.
I'd love to say "everyone" could use a mech, but I don't know if that's entirely true or not. What I don't LOVE to see are new user starting with a mech and/or someone flaunting their recklessness about one. Especially the SECOND. You can teach someone how to use a mech safely, it's much harder to "teach" someone not to be reckless, especially if its in their nature to be so.
Just my opinion as always...
Anna
@OlderNDirt , two thumbs up to your post.
As you know, I've used both mech and regulated mods. I'm comfortable with both. However, "stuff happens" sometimes. All it takes is one careless moment to allow a catastrophe: absentmindedly putting a battery in backwards, not checking the battery wraps every time when removing from a charger or mod, not checking the atomizer resistance on a routine basis.
I always allowed a wide safety margin on my homemade builds, not building lower than 0.6 ohms. One time my vapor was not right...way too hot. I immediately stopped using that atomizer and began trouble shooting. I discovered that the resistance was now reading 0.1 ohm. Upon further inspection, one of the post screws had become loose. I tightened it up and rechecked the resistance: 0.6 ohm again. Had I not had that safety margin I probably would have fired a 0 resistance coil and caused a hard short in a mech mod.
I retired my mech mods about a year ago. Main reason is I like to adjust my vape on the fly on my regulated mods...something you can't do easily with a mech. And of course, I always feel a little more safe using a regulated mod.
I'd agree with you and def on that first example (backwards) particularly being a very common error. More insidious is the arc through wrap at the same time. What are the odds? It happens! We have to know our limitations.
When I was teaching folks at vape shops on Protanks, I always recommended starting with a VW. These days I'm kinda thinkin I don't even want to do that. I'd rather have them know first what can happen. And I'm so pleased with the FDA helpin us out there. /NOT
Good luck.
To be clear, I am not one of those and hope to never do that! But I do shudder here when reading some of the noobie posts asking "why doesn't this work?", even some using regulated mods!
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