What is a Mechanical Mod?

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stols001

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Wait, I don't think the Tesla Invader three is a mech mod, when I looked it up on the Tesla site it calls it a box mod all over the place. Its board is apparently capable of 240 watts, but that doesn't matter you can't get two 18650 in series and that will not add up to 240 watts I don't think.

There are sort of hybrid mech mods where the mod has some protections but not so much of a board per se. Then you have mods like the Ephro 101 which can function like a regular mod including TC but it has a "bypass" mode where you can vape directly off the battery if you want.

So, yes, no maybe so, you kind of have to investigate each one but a traditional mech mod does not have protections, a board, or the ability to turn itself into a regulated mod, I don't think.

I'm still trying to decide if the ephro 101 is safer or worse than a pure mech. I mean, I could see vapers going, "What is this bypass thing I guess I am going to give it a shot. I have no idea whether bypass mode shuts off the built in protections or not so I could not say.

I'm sure plenty of mech mod folks will be along with more examples. I guess if the Tesla Invader has a bypass mode, well, maybe it does no I looked and it doesn't seem to. I think it's just a box mod, frankly.

Anna
 

djsvapour

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If there is any chip/board/control/regulation, then it's not a mechanical mod.

There are lots of mods which use a small chip to control some aspect or safety feature.

Take the Pico Squeeze. It has battery protections and a maximum watts but essentially functions like a mechanical squonk mod.
 

suprtrkr

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In general, a mod with no electronics at all. Some people would refuse to recognize a box mod that used a MOSFET in the switching circuit to avoid a gigantic and clunky switch, even if it didn't have any other electronics. Many people think it means only the mod has no ability to adjust the vape power level, the only means to do so being change the coil or replace a partially discharged battery, even if the mod also has some protection circuitry. Ask me?

photo1.jpg
 

bombastinator

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Language can be a problem with a rapidly evolving technology like ecigs. These days there are “true” mechanicals that are nothing but a battery holder and a switch, and then there are regulated mechanicals which have the vaping characteristics of mechanicals but are actually regulated. Many one battery regulated mods such as the original ageis have a “pass-thru mode” that will also do this.
 

VapePro

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Language can be a problem with a rapidly evolving technology like ecigs. These days there are “true” mechanicals that are nothing but a battery holder and a switch, and then there are regulated mechanicals which have the vaping characteristics of mechanicals but are actually regulated. Many one battery regulated mods such as the original ageis have a “pass-thru mode” that will also do this.

Thanks, Everyone is confirming my thoughts.

Even if it has bypass mod, it is still connected to the chip. Unless there is a real PHYSICAL mechanical Switch to take it off the physical circuit board wire.

If there is bypass in the menu that means there is still chip monitoring going on.

Part of the whole point of MECH MOds is to Fire up instantly and prevent Voltage drops. Can't do this with a chip in the way that says its turned off.
 

VapePro

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How does a mech prevent voltage drop? That sounds like a tall tale...
Maybe you tried to say something different?
Im not sure what your definition of a Voltage drop is.

A voltage drop is when your battery reads for example 4.0v off an ohm meter. You pop that in your mech mod. attach the volt meter to the 510 pin and read again. You lose like say .15v . thats the drop. Now you are actually vaping on 3.85v

the more stuff you put in the way the bigger the voltage drop.

NEW STUFF:
Mechanical hybrids remove this by allowing the RDA to connect directly to the top of the battery. There is a thread but no pin

These are real MECH MODs : Mechanical Mods (2+ Battery) - Mega Vaper

Yes?
 

untar

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Then I have bad news for you:
1)A mech doesn't actually prevent that from happening, the moment you hit the switch you'll have a voltdrop (related to the resistance of the mod and the internal resistance of the battery).
The more amps you're pulling the larger the drop.
2)A regulated mod delivers the voltage you dialed in (be it directly in VV or indirectly in VW) without any drop until the battery goes flat. The voltdrop happens but is on the battery side of the board and the atomizer doesn't get the drop.
 

VapePro

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Then I have bad news for you:
1)A mech doesn't actually prevent that from happening, the moment you hit the switch you'll have a voltdrop (related to the resistance of the mod and the internal resistance of the battery).
The more amps you're pulling the larger the drop.
2)A regulated mod delivers the voltage you dialed in (be it directly in VV or indirectly in VW) without any drop until the battery goes flat. The voltdrop happens but is on the battery side of the board and the atomizer doesn't get the drop.

I see where your mind is going now. Ok yes your 100% Correct. But your going in a different place, the place of why people use regulated mods.

I'm talking about Mech Mods and Getting the best Mech mod that ACTUALLY is a mechanical mod. And saying that these so called branded mechanical mods with BOARDS in them aren't helping prevent voltage drops.
 
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sonicbomb

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Regulated - Uses electronics and a chip to regulate the power supplied to the coils.

Unregulated - No wattage or voltage regulation. The coil resistance and the remaining battery voltage dictates the power output, which will diminish as the voltage in the battery/s decreases. May still have some electronics to provide safety features such as reverse battery polarity, 5 clicks to off, low battery cut-off or minimum coil resistance.

Mechanical - No wattage or voltage regulation. The coil resistance and the remaining battery voltage dictates the power output, which will diminish as the voltage in the battery/s decreases. Uses no complex electronics, just a simple circuit with a purely mechanical switch.

The Tesla Invader III is a regulated variable voltage device.
I'm not intimately familiar with that mod, but I would imagine that it uses PWM (pulse width modulation). This means you choose a coil that when combined with an selectable voltage range (in this case 3.6v to 6.6v) using ohms law will output the wattage that suits your vaping style. The regulator chip in the mod will consistently provide this voltage through the usable range of voltage available in the battery/s.

Voltage Drop – The amount of voltage lost as the electricity travels through your device to your coils
Voltage Sag - The transient drop in a batteries available voltage under load caused by internal resistance

Vaping Terminology | E-Cigarette Forum
 

Alexander Mundy

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I have never particularly liked the term mech mod although I have used it. To me a true mech mod would not have any electrical whatsoever. Common use though means no electronics. There used to be arguments over whether a mod with wire was a mech vs one with a tube or strips of metal. Symantec's as wire is just a round strip of metal. At the time these arguments were common I contemplated building a friction or fire heat based mod but life didn't allow the waste of time.

As for voltage drop, *any electrical circuit that has current going through it will have voltage drop. Yes, even on the output side of a regulated boards circuit. *Arguably a superconductor has zero resistance but not zero impedance nor zero magnetic field so some energy will be dissipated.
 

Swoop03

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Regulated - Uses electronics and a chip to regulate the power supplied to the coils.

Unregulated - No wattage or voltage regulation. The coil resistance and the remaining battery voltage dictates the power output, which will diminish as the voltage in the battery/s decreases. May still have some electronics to provide safety features such as reverse battery polarity, 5 clicks to off, low battery cut-off or minimum coil resistance.

Mechanical - No wattage or voltage regulation. The coil resistance and the remaining battery voltage dictates the power output, which will diminish as the voltage in the battery/s decreases. Uses no complex electronics, just a simple circuit with a purely mechanical switch.

The Tesla Invader III is a regulated variable voltage device.
I'm not intimately familiar with that mod, but I would imagine that it uses PWM (pulse width modulation). This means you choose a coil that when combined with an selectable voltage range (in this case 3.6v to 6.6v) using ohms law will output the wattage that suits your vaping style. The regulator chip in the mod will consistently provide this voltage through the usable range of voltage available in the battery/s.

Voltage Drop – The amount of voltage lost as the electricity travels through your device to your coils
Voltage Sag - The transient drop in a batteries available voltage under load caused by internal resistance

Vaping Terminology | E-Cigarette Forum
I feel like this would be a great thing in the new members information sticky. I remember when I started vaping a few years ago it was a PITA to figure out or look up all these terms for mods, then when I moved past prebuilt attys and got into rda, rdta, rdtsa, rta, rsa, rba, and whatever else. What a doozies jumping into a new crowd was. I almost got scared away from vaping at first cause it seemed so complicated with how much info is out there.
 

Zaryk

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I'm not intimately familiar with that mod, but I would imagine that it uses PWM (pulse width modulation).
Just for clarity, it is not a PWM. It just has a DC to DC converter in it the same as any other regulated mod, but instead of up/down buttons and a screen it uses a potentiometer to adjust the voltage.
 
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sonicbomb

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Using a potentiometer to buck down 8+ volts seems like a really inefficient way to run a mod. If thats the case then why bother at all, why not just leave it unregulated and adjust the coil resistance to set the output?
I would be really happy for someone with better knowledge than me to confirm/explain this.
 
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Zaryk

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Using a potentiometer to buck down 8+ volts seems like a really inefficient way to run a mod. If thats the case then why bother at all, why not just leave it unregulated and adjust the coil resistance to set the output?
I would be really happy for someone with better knowledge than me to confirm/explain this.

It is more for user convenience (build what ever you want and adjust to your liking) and to lower the production cost to make a more affordable mod. It is aimed towards those who do not want to build for a mech, but wants something cheap, easy, and durable. It does a fairly good job for such an inexpensive mod. I know some people who has put theirs through lots of abuse and it still runs like new.
 

Baditude

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The Pro's & Cons of Regulated vs Mechanical Mods:

Regulated Pro's:


The battery power to the atomizer is controlled (or regulated) to stay the same throughout the battery charge, from a fully charged battery until fully discharged.

The power can be adjusted to increase or decrease the voltage by the user, allowing the user to change their vaping experience.

Has built-in protective circuitry against atomizer short circuits, shorts in the 510 connector, or fire button; accidentally putting the battery in backwards; over discharging the battery; accidentally pressing the fire button too long (auto cutoff timer); and over-heating of the processor.

Has built-in battery voltage and atomizer resistance meters to check battery voltage status and the ohm rating of the coil.​

Regulated Cons:

Generally speaking, may not be as well made or as durable over time compared to a mech. Electrical components may fail over time or from physical abuse.

Unless it is a "high wattage" regulated mod, will not be able to fire a sub-ohm resistance coil.​

Mechanical Pro's:

Generally speaking, are made to be more durable and able to withstand some physical abuse. No electronic components to fail.

Mechs are able to fire sub-ohm coils because there is no protection circuitry or processor amp limits to prohibit it.

Many mechs are machined to be quite beautiful, nearly art pieces. Many are manufactured in a limited run, in limited quantities, and inscribed with the number on the mod. To see a few examples of these beautiful mechs, go to the very end of this blog.

Why do people choose a mech over regulated?
Mechanical Cons:

No protection circuitry. This is the big one for beginners. The new user must always be aware of the signs of a short circuit, which could cause the battery to vent into thermal runaway. The mod must have ventilation holes in case you experience a venting episode and which should prevent your mod from becoming an exploding pipe bomb.

No voltage regulation of the battery. As the battery drains from use, the vape quality will diminish.​
 

diagrammatiks

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Using a potentiometer to buck down 8+ volts seems like a really inefficient way to run a mod. If thats the case then why bother at all, why not just leave it unregulated and adjust the coil resistance to set the output?
I would be really happy for someone with better knowledge than me to confirm/explain this.
The pot isn’t bucking down anything. It’s just the control mechanism for the chip.
 
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