What's up Sidewinder/Zenesis 2

[newboy]

I was considering retiring my old Darwin, and looking at some of the newer options. The Darwin was limited on what would fit on it, and the switch has gotten sporadic. I have a ProVari, that I like. I was looking at the Sidewinder and the Zenesis 2, but it doesn't look like they have many features. No variable voltage. No circuit protection. The voltage depends on the charge of the battery. Am I missing something here?

 

[rolygate]

There is a big range of APVs, and lots of options for different folks. Some like VV, some like mechmods with RBA's, and so on and so on.

Production VV models have excellent flexibility and fit any head and any liquid. They are the best modern approach to suiting most of the people most of the time. The downside is they are generally less reliable than simpler models, the electronic package is worked far too hard for the physical size of the components: they are asked to deliver up to 3 amps (sometimes more) and that is simply beyond the capability of micro electronics to deliver hour after hour, day after day, month after month. There are ways to build a device for improved reliability, but these models are never going to last as long as something without electronics. The ideal user for them is someone who doesn't like a massive vape with big vapour and big throat hit - because that takes amps, and continual big amp draw is no good for these devices.

Custom VV models (and VW as well) can be made to be more reliable by using expensive VV boards or even two of them - such as a DNA20 board. They usually come in boxmod format as there is no way to get the bigger boards (especially twin boards) in a tubemod without it being large Maglite size.

Basic electrical APVs like the Silver Bullet are very reliable devices. They have a wired switch on the positive line and deliver about 3.6 to 4 volts depending on charge (there is always a voltage drop in any circuit when you pull as many amps as ecigs do, 2 or 3 amps is a lot of juice for an electrical device of this size). The ideal use for these models is with a head that produces a big vape as standard. You can use RBAs with sensible coils, not too low in ohms.

Mechanical APVs or mechmods have had a huge renaissance of late due to the RBA and RTA, rebuildable atty & tank atty. This allows you to build a coil of as low a resistance as you want in order to pull whatever amps you like, for a massive vape. There is no wiring at all in a mechmod, just a contactor of some kind. The advantage is there is not much to go wrong even pulling ridiculous amps. You just need a good battery. The contactor (on/off button) may need cleaning from time to time.

Those are the most popular. There are loads more types, like liquid feeders and twin batt boxmods and small mechmods, and more.