?s on switching to sub-ohm

[faeridream]

Hey all - just joined and am so glad to have found you all! I've been vaping a few years now but haven't gotten into all the technical stuff yet.

I've been thru a few simple setups trying to find what I like, and for about the last year have been using a Kanger Protank 3 (with an added airflow adjuster), 1.2Ω coils, & an eGo-V V2 mega battery, set on 3.1U. I've been happy but not in love with it, as I'd prefer a stronger throat hit and never feel like I get a full inhale. Also, the battery runs out far too fast for me.

So, it's time to try something new! I'd like to try a box mod not just cause they look cool (although they do!) but also because I was told they have more battery life and are a step up from what I'm using now. I've been looking at the Kanger Topbox Nano (the purple caught my attention), but it's a sub-ohm, and I've been warned to steer clear of them until I know what I'm doing.

So what do I need to know about switching? And does anyone have any other suggestions? Maybe tips on switching to sub-ohm? Or a recommendation for a different box mod or for a different setup altogether? Thanks so muchin advance for your help!

Lauren

 

[KittyVapes]

Welcome to VU! I was extremely intimidated by all the new technology but it doesn't have to be scary. Search around on VU and read the posts on what other people are using for their box mods. I fell for a purple mod also but in the end it it didn't work for me. Literally...it didn't work. It was the prettiest shiny purple useless piece of equipment! We all have our favorites but you need to see what will suit you best. Go to some local shops and check them out. The newest hottest must have mods change from week to week. There are many options out there that do most of the programming work for you as far as recognizing what type of coil is being used. Get advice from others but do your research to find out what sub-ohming would or would not do for you.

 

[Heabob]

I'd start with just a new MOD at first, for stronger battery power and TC options for future use.
Just to not change too many things at once anyway.
Cause you will also need to buy batteries and a good 4 bay charger too.

RX200 (3 18650 batteries) good for home use mostly but not very pocket friendly IMO.
Cuboid (2 18650 batteries) better for pocket carry but not great.
Istick 100W TC(newer version) uses 1 or 2 batteries, (got my eye on this one) maybe slightly smaller than Cuboid.

And be sure to research batteries first so you don't buy efest like I did the first time.

 

[zaroba]

Welcome to the forum


As for switching to sub ohm, you are off to a good start. Finding something you like.
Some notes though

Battery Usage
The mod you selected uses a single 18650 battery so may not last any longer then what your currently using. Actually, it may even last less time if being used for sub ohming. Box mods often last longer then non-box mods because they typically use 2 or 3 batteries to share the load. So you'd get that many times the usage per charge vs using the same tank on a single battery mod. Sub ohming generally uses more power so the usage time gained by multiple batteries can easily be lost when going to sub ohm, depending on how low you go.

Based on personal experiences (if I remember correctly),
1.6ohm Nautilus tank @ 12 watts - 3-4 days on a pair of batteries, 1.5 to 2 days on a single battery mod
0.5 ohm Atlantis tank @ 30 watts - just under 1 day on a pair of batteries
0.12 ohm rda @ 90 watts - 2-4 pairs of batteries a day.
These are averages. If I go to a vape convention, I could easily use 5 pairs of batteries in a few hours.

e-liquid
A sub ohm setup drinks liquid like a dry sponge. You will go through liquid much faster, so be ready to buy more. I used 5ml a day with the Nautilus a day, used 8ml a day with the atlantis, and now use around 30ml a day dripping. So you will need to buy liquid more often as the ohms go down and the power goes up.

Nicotine
What nicotine level are you at currently? The lower the ohms, the more efficient the device is at delivering nicotine. It somewhat 'amplifies' the nicotine, partially due to vaporizing more juice, partially due to having more heat that creates smaller particles of vapor. You may have to buy all new juices when you switch because the ones you have may suddenly make you light headed due to nicotine overdose, or it might have too strong a throat hit. You could buy new liquid that is 0 nic and mix it with your existing liquid to cut the nicotine in half, or just buy plain VG or PG to dilute your existing liquid (this will also effect flavor).

 

[Markw4mms]

I would recommend a Joyetech eVic mini as one to consider. It's a small single battery mod that is TC capable if you decide to go that route in the future, and can charge the battery via the micro USB port on it if you don't want to buy a separate charger to start with (stand alone charger is better though). Also, as mentioned above, if you do go sub-ohm you'll find that you will need to cut your nicotine content about in half of what you use now to keep from getting too much of a nic hit.

 

[RatRacer]

All good advise here. I wish I had found this place before I tried subohm. I nearly passed out trying my normal 18mg on it.

 

[Markw4mms]

All good advise here. I wish I had found this place before I tried subohm. I nearly passed out trying my normal 18mg on it.

OMG, 18mg would blow my head off! I did have some 12 and 18mg that I had to cut by buying some of the same flavors in 0 nic as 9mg is about my top limit now, and it's borderline too much.

 

[RatRacer]

OMG, 18mg would blow my head off! I did have some 12 and 18mg that I had to cut by buying some of the same flavors in 0 nic as 9mg is about my top limit now, and it's borderline too much.

Yeah, I bought some 0 flavor and cut mine in half. But also found that subohm was too much (juice usage and heat), so now I'm settled on using 1.0 to 1.5 coils. Still more flavor and vapor qualities than the old 2.0 setup, but only going thru ~10ml a day vs the previous 5.

I settled on a 2 battery Cuboid for home/work setup, and an IPV D3 for out and about rig, though the VTC mini is being considered also.

 

[SOC]

A good box mod can open up all sorts of options. Most of them seem to come with temp control these days, and you get higher power output and better battery life depending on your power requirements (i.e. vaping at 120 W will drain batts faster than at 40 W!).

Not getting a big enough inhale suggests you might be a direct lung vaper? Sub-ohming will definitely solve that problem!

First off, recognize that this may be a bit pricey at the outset. Most box mods want two 18650 batteries (Samsung, Sony, or LG, not cheapo re-wraps!). That means you need a charger. And you may want a second set of batteries so you can easily swap out when one pair drains. That's likely around $50-60, depending on the vendor you use.

A good box mod can run around $50 as well, so this may be $100 before you're done, and that ignores grabbing a new tank, which can be another $20-30 or so. Plus replacement coils. Plus more juice, since you'll burn through it faster simply by vaping at higher power.

Al lthat said, your upkeep costs for that setup will basically be coils, and juice. A good box mod and tank can last you a hell of a long time, unless you transform into a vaping gearhead and seek out all the new stuff. Which is also OK, and craploads of fun

Now, ask 50 different people what their favorite mod/tank combo is, and you may well get 50 different answers! What this place is great for at the very least is learning what the options are. The setup I've used daily for months now is a Sigelei 150W TC box mod (TC being temp control) with the Uwell Crown sub-ohm tank. The Crown has 0.25 and 0.5 ohm coils, and 0.15 ohm nickel coils for temperature control use. Great tank, and it's top-filling, which means no need to take the tank off the mod, flip it over, open, juice up, etc. I used to run an 0.25 ohm coil at 80 W on the Sigelei and get around two days out of my batteries; nowadays I get "better" life because I swap out mods and tanks/RDAs all day, but two days on a pair of good batteries is probably about standard. The advantage with the Crown is that a properly primed coil can last at least a month.

Might be smart to buy a mod first (and the batteries obviously); your Protank 3 will work just fine on it (and at its power levels you'll get a crapload of battery life probably). You can always try new tanks out if you know other vapers and see where you want to be vaping at. You'll notice a difference between an 0.25 ohm coil and an 0.5 ohm coil, for example.

Other stuff I can recommend:
- Fuchai 200 W box mod (a sub-brand of Sigelei; I think it may work a bit better than the 150 TC but the battery indicator irritates me)
-RX200 box mod (already mentioned, but it is pretty damn good - will need three batteries though so you'd need a bigger charger and a total of six if you want a backup set)
-FreeMaX Scylla tank - new, haven't had it for that long, but might be better than the Crown. Just ignore the stupid ceramic coil.

Another option is something like the Kanger Subox starter kit. Single 18650 box mod capable of 50 Watts, and a tank capable of using sub-ohm coils. This'd be around $50 and potentially a lot cheaper - but if you want to go below 0.3 ohms or higher than 50 W you'd need another new box mod. I started with a pen type thing, graduated to a 30W iStick box mod with a Kanger subtank, and then went up to a Sigelei/Crown combo. If I had it to do over again I'd start with the Sigelei for all the features and options, and the Crown.

The possibilities are endless!

 

[faeridream]

Wow! Thanks for all answers everyone! So much info that I'm actually overwhelmed! But that's ok - I'll just take time & do some research on anything I don't understand yet.

Just to make it easier, I think I'll get another Protank 3 and go with a box mod, but stay away from sub-ohm on my next buy (which will be in the next day or so, cause my tank & battery are on their last legs LOL). Then I have more time to look into everyone's suggestions & advice and learn more of the technical stuff cause it's really making my head spin trying to figure it all out! Plus, then I can also keep the 150ml of juice I have right now, along with the coils I already have.

I'm so thrilled I've found somewhere to get some help with these things! Not a good vape bar/shop near me since my favorite one went wholesale only so I wasn't sure where to go.

Now I just have to decide on a box mod & find a good site to buy from... Off to do more research! Thanks again!!!

Lauren

 

[Markw4mms]

Good luck, and let us know what mod you decide to go with. BTW, pics, or it didn't happen!

 

[fckaugust8th]

All good advice, but first and foremost, how do you vape? Just getting to sub-ohm is not the whole story.
The eVic VTC mini is a great mod that gives you the option to use Temp Control (TC) with all the bells and whistles. You may not think you want it but believe me, you will in the near future. It has enough power for start and middle. That all depends on how you vape!
The choice of tanks is befuddling at best. Why? It all depends on how you vape!!!
OK, so, how do you vape? Do you MTL (mouth to lung like a cig. ) or do you DL (Direct Lung inhale)? That is the main point to decide on. If you like to create huge clouds (your own weather front) but enjoy flavor too, then the UD crown is a good tank. If flavor is your thing then sub-tank mini, Triton, or if you build your coils then Goblin mini is a good choice.
If you like MTL with a moderate weather front, then Hurricane, Pico, Goblin mini (these you'll have to build) or Wismec Amor plus and Triton (can be a loose MTL or tight-ish DL) or eLeaf GS Air (ready built coils) would be good choices. Strictly MTL, the Nautilus/Nautilus mini are great with the caveat that you need to use the Triton mini coils in them, the standard nautilus coils...meh, not so good! Crazy but it's true. Is your head spinning yet? Just a bit more and I'm done....maybe! The Kabuki is a tank designed to use the nautilus coils and without getting into details, it performs wonderfully with them. $80 for a Kabuki not in your budget? Look at FT for the $15 clone, it's a good one.
So you see, We're not trying to scare you, we're trying to help you decide without buying 20 tanks and hating 15 of them(like many of us did).
Hope all this helps and if you're a MTL kinda' guy, check out this thread http://vapingunderground.com/threads/next-gen-shorty-tanks-designed-for-mtl-use-ex-smokers.147757/
Cheers,
Brewbear

 

[JERUS]

Wow! Thanks for all answers everyone! So much info that I'm actually overwhelmed! But that's ok - I'll just take time & do some research on anything I don't understand yet.

Just to make it easier, I think I'll get another Protank 3 and go with a box mod, but stay away from sub-ohm on my next buy (which will be in the next day or so, cause my tank & battery are on their last legs LOL). Then I have more time to look into everyone's suggestions & advice and learn more of the technical stuff cause it's really making my head spin trying to figure it all out! Plus, then I can also keep the 150ml of juice I have right now, along with the coils I already have.

I'm so thrilled I've found somewhere to get some help with these things! Not a good vape bar/shop near me since my favorite one went wholesale only so I wasn't sure where to go.

Now I just have to decide on a box mod & find a good site to buy from... Off to do more research! Thanks again!!!

Lauren

Lots of good websites, and I mean LOTS. I typically check vapecrawler.com first. It gives a nice list of prices though doesn't list everything. There are chinese companies that will get you typically better prices but take weeks to deliver, where american companies are faster but generally a bit more expensive.

As far as getting a box mod, do some research. There are a lot of good mods out there. If you want to get something "future proof" it'll only cost you $10-20 more than something that might fit your needs better. Might be worth investing in something beyond your needs just to be covered if you decide to go more intense. Then there are 18650 mods and fixed battery mods. 18650 are great for longevity, batteries do wear out so fixed batteries means once the battery is dead the mod is dead, where with the replaceable 18650 battery mods you can replace the batteries and be good to go. Now with the replaceable batteries you have to buy batteries as well, it is worth buying quality there (liionwholesale.com, something like Samsung 25r), they don't cost any more than things like Efest/Imren/whatever but are more trustworthy, check out the battery area. Then you need a charger too, so in the end you're looking at an additional $20-40 for the batteries and charger on top of the mod.

Just things to consider. Batteries last anything from 6mo-1year, so again take that into consideration. I realize it may be overwhelming but taking some time to understand and purchase what fits you is worthwhile. There are even more details but you likely won't be concerned with them for a long while.

There is a "regulated mod" section, might be a good place to browse some options. Your choice will depend on size, usage (wattage needs mainly), battery/fixed, and consider the feel (some are more boxy, some rounded and padded, etc).

Lastly, coming from a protank, have you tried sub-ohm? Do you MTL or DL (suck into your mouth then inhale, or breath directly into your lungs)? There are even more options for tanks that will fit different needs. Flavor a premium or do you like playing with the clouds?

 

[fckaugust8th]

I think I'll get another Protank 3

That is a MTL tank! Do you rebuilt your coils? If you do, you can get to sub-ohm land without a cyclone blowing your cash away. Start with the eVic mini or even the Wismec Presa 75 w ( check out vapenw.com prices) and when you get the 2 or 3 battery mods either one of the afore mentioned will be a great back-up or out and about mods. Using 316L stainless steel wire is a kick because you can use in TC mode or straight power mode with the same mod. In TC you can set it at 25-30 watts and possibly vape one day on one battery YMMV. There are new mods and tanks popping up almost weekly now but the ones mentioned here have been out for a while and proven their sustainability.
Cheers
Brewbear

 

[OBDave]

Hi Lauren, and welcome to the Underground!

You've already got a ton of good advice here already, but that Tobpox kit you've got your eye on could make for a great transition from entry-level to mid-grade hardware. The Kanger Subtank series (which the Toptank is a part of) seems tailored for users wavering between mouth-to-lung and direct-lung vaping, which makes it a nice introduction to the world of advanced vaping. The problem is that if you end up liking the direct-lung experience you may want to go searching for something better as soon as you get used to it - I vaped happily on the original Protank that came out around 2012 until I found airier gear, and I've been on a shopping spree ever since.

If you see yourself diving deep down the rabbit hole, you might consider a dual-cell mod - I've had good, but limited, experience with the Kanger Kbox 120, which is a nice low-budget way to explore high-power vaping. Every iStick I've had has broken in short order, so I no longer recommend those, but if you want to step up without going overboard (and you're willing to accept the fact you may be craving more before too long) the Topbox could make for a great introduction to box mods...good luck, whatever you choose!

 

[Tlbtheonly]

I started with a Sigelei 75w TC mod with a Sense Herakles tank using the 1.93 ohm coil at 50w and batteries lasted all day chain vaping. Then i went up to a Doge Rda with .1 ohm dual coil build and it would last around 2 hours. I have since upgraded being a cloud chaser. But it all depends on how long you want your batteries to last and how much vapor you can handle on where to start

 

[OBDave]

I can't imagine how a 1.93 ohm coil could come close to pushing 50 watts, and I can't imagine how or why anyone would want to run a 0.1 ohm coil - unsafe on any single cell mech mod, and pointless on a regulated mod when you can build higher and still regulate your power output.

 

[Tlbtheonly]

With a 30a battery it can push 57.9w on a 1.93 ohm coil. And the vapor produciton from my .1 coil is far more then say a 1ohm coil at the same wattage. More vapor more clouds. Like i said i am a cloud chaser. And let me see a normal tank not a RTA fire at 200w like i can get my claptons to do and not burn the cotton and i may consider it

 

[Tlbtheonly]

Also the higher ohm you build the lower you can go in wattage. My ipv3 li will only go up to 50w on the same 1.93 coil but i cab take anything from .2 to .05ohm coils up to 200

 

[Tlbtheonly]

And finally to take a 1.93ohm coil to 200w it would take 103.6 amps witch would take atleast 4 18650's

 

[pescadore]

eVic VTC Mini !!!! great little box mod. Cubis tank with .5 ohm coils is a pretty good vape at 30 to 35 watts and you will get good battery life. The Mini takes a single 18650 battery so invest in a standalone charger and a couple extra batteries that you can carry in a plastic case and you will be covered for those times when a USB charger is not handy. You are going to invest a little money at first but sub-ohm is the way to go IMHO. Good Luck with whatever you choose and welcome to VU.

 

[RedDirtTrooper]

Honestly, if you think you might be at all interested in sub ohm vaping, the only mod I'd bother recommending right now is the RX200. Just about every body I know has pretty much put away all their other devices in favor of it. Great features, great price, and surprisingly ergonomic. Don't get me wrong, the dual battery mods are decent, and the single ones are great if you are just looking to power a non sub ohm protank or aspire, but for me, a RX200 and Uwell Crown are by far the best value for your dollar you could spend at the moment.

If you are a dedicated mouth to lung vapor, I'd grab any decent single or double battery mod that will do stainless steel temperature control and check out some of the tanks Brewbear mentioned above. He gave some really good advice, and I can personally back up his recommendation on the Kabuki clone. Even as a dedicated sub ohm direct inhale vapor, I was impressed with the performance. Not my kind of vape anymore, but totally respectable.

 

[Flightmedic76]

I fully recommend something that'll hold 2 batteries just for extended life. I personally avoid mods with LiPo batteries because they have to be charged internally. You either have to put it down, or be tied to a charging cable. Also when the battery stops working the mod becomes a paperweight. Starting with a quality mod (doesn't have to be expensive) is a good foundation for whatever you'll choose to put on it down the road. I have an iPV D2 and RX200. Both work flawlessly and serve different purposes for me. The D2 is my "traveler" due to it's small size. My RX200 is what I use for just about everything else. I also have an X Cube II. It was fun for a while to play with settings through Bluetooth. My biggest problem is the design of the battery holder tears up the wraps on the batteries when removed. If they are damaged too much they can short, and that is no bueno!

 

[fckaugust8th]

https://www.fasttech.com/products/0/10018705/3870800-kabuki-styled-bcc-bottom-coil-clearomizer this is the Kabuki to order from FT. The triton mini coils fit in it no problem. There are a few other offerings there ( I have another cheaper model )but for $4 extra this one is good. Now I'll have to see if the nautilus rba fits in it.
Cheers,
Brewbear

 

[Nancy_Bout]

If
I was to try subohm-
Today-
I would just grab the PICO w the melo 3... Only downfall is the melo 3 is small but carry some juice if u go out (I do anyways)
I am about to buy this didn't try it YET- read a LOT of reviews.
Right now I'm using RX200 w cleito (love)
My Sigelei 150 w crown
And I have the evicVT which I'm
Currently using two tanks on w diff juices lol the herkales and the Atlantis 2


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Nancy_Bout]

Oh the melo 2 can use so many diff coils!
Another tank I would consider for the PICO is the smok Micro-
& cleito- or supertank Mini.
Love the way we can use diff coils.
I am loving the cleito BUT it may be too airy for someone switching from protanks... Even thou u can move the air holes...
And only dislike is when I need to change coils I need no juice in the tank lol- we have to remove the glass!
Thankfully I have juices I LOVE and can Vape for a month cause the cleito kicks bootie for me!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[LunaChaos]

I'm really liking my new Pico with the Melo3 tank ...I'm not into a lot of hassle, and just want to put in a coil, put in some juice and GO! This little guy packs a wallop, and with 75W and upgradeable firmware, I hope to be using it for a while. I have the TopBox Nano in purple (something about that PURPLE!!) and like it too for portability, but the Pico is a great little guy! The best advice for the pico or the nano though is to get yourself a good external charger and some GOOD 18650 batteries. Love the fact that I can use my Atlantis2 and Triton2 tanks on it too, and don't have to worry about a whole new brand of coils with the Melo as it takes the Atlantis and Triton coils!!