Fluxer Heaters, induction heaters for Dynavap

kushkush

happy camper....
Thanks to all who spoke about their batteries and how long they seem to be lasting. So I figure one week is exceptionally good. It’s nice that it only takes 6 to 8 seconds inside the heater for our VC’s to be ready to vape, ain’t it. Prolly why the batts last so long. :D Thanks to all that answered! :nod:

:leaf:
 

Mono Loco

Well-Known Member
2019's gonna' be a busy year for @mr_cfromcali ! Congrats on your current success. I'm so happy the v1 units are so loved by their new owners ... making it hard to resist (other than a built-n battery meter, I'm very curious to see what v2 brings!). Still, I'm more interested in a Desktop/non-battery unit. re: "Fluxer Heaters desktop induction heaters are not being produced at this time, so that we can better focus our attention on our portable units." Hmmm ... the "... at this time..." verbiage leaves me a bit of hope. Will there EVER be a newer FH Desktop Offering ???
 

YaMon

Vaping since 2010
2019's gonna' be a busy year for @mr_cfromcali ! Congrats on your current success. I'm so happy the v1 units are so loved by their new owners ... making it hard to resist (other than a built-n battery meter, I'm very curious to see what v2 brings!). Still, I'm more interested in a Desktop/non-battery unit. re: "Fluxer Heaters desktop induction heaters are not being produced at this time, so that we can better focus our attention on our portable units." Hmmm ... the "... at this time..." verbiage leaves me a bit of hope. Will there EVER be a newer FH Desktop Offering ???
With the batteries in the Deluxe lasting 7+ days dependent upon how heavy a user you are, is the performance difference between battery powered and cord powered meaningful enough to buy a desktop, but also own a portable like the Deluxe? Would you buy both? This will be my first IH and I have a hunch it could be my last unless I fall into some $$.
 

Andy Capp

Well-Known Member
Accessory Maker
With the batteries in the Deluxe lasting 7+ days dependent upon how heavy a user you are, is the performance difference between battery powered and cord powered meaningful enough to buy a desktop, but also own a portable like the Deluxe? Would you buy both? This will be my first IH and I have a hunch it could be my last unless I fall into some $$.
If you could only get one, go portable. It’ll sit on your desk nicely.
 

Gray Area

Well-Known Member
Ok, where to start..?

Got my Flux Deluxe yesterday...
It's real small, looks and feels really well made. The lid snaps on firmly, but is easily popped off again without effort (so much that I haven't needed to use the dedicated groove in the lid for your fingernail).
The magnets in each corner will hold the vapcap to the outside of the casing quite nicely. Not as firmly as my launchpad, but firm enough for on the go if nothing else is at hand.
Overall just like you'd expect from all those pics we've been teased with for so long... :clap:

As far as performance, the FD is my first IH so I can't compare it to any of the alternatives but I gave the thing a pretty good hammering last night and agin this morning before work (couldn't resist playing a bit more).

I love it :love:
It's like the perfect torch work on a bowl each time. I'm getting completely evenly roasted abv with every bowl, there's no gradient to the colour at all.
Flavour lasts better and I'm getting more hits per bowl... I assume from that it's less aggressive than the way at least I use a torch
Love the dip and sip method (which also do with a torch) and it's excellent for that :tup:

Being like a kid with a new toy, I have caused the thermal cut off switch thingy to kick in a couple of times, but it easy enough to give it a minute or so to cool and turn the thing back on. Can't imagine it'd kick in much with every day use.

I had high expectations for this heater from the way the thread has developed, the open and frank way that @mr_cfromcali has shared both the ups, downs and changes to his design, and of course all those pretty pics to tease us along the way. Have to say I am not disappointed and am delighted with my FD.
Can't imagine it'll be the last heater I buy, and may well grab a Mother Fluxer too when they're offered... :D

On a final note, the battery meter is real neat, tiny and easy to use (the heater doesn't even need to be switched on).
But I was wondering if I use the FD and charger to charge my batteries (which would make sense as I only have a two slot nitecore), then how do you know that they're fully charged?? :hmm:
 

mr_cfromcali

Accessory Maker
Accessory Maker
That's great news, @Gray Area ! Thanks so much for taking the time to write that. I'm so glad it got there safely and is working well for you!

But I was wondering if I use the FD and charger to charge my batteries (which would make sense as I only have a two slot nitecore), then how do you know that they're fully charged?? :hmm:

The mains charger body has a status LED. Red = Charging; Green = Charged. You may not have noticed this capability yet. This is also why I need to finish the user manual.

Try this:

1. Install the batteries into the Deluxe.
2. Insert the mains adapter into a mains outlet. The status LED should be green.
3. Insert the DC plug into the Deluxe. Unless the batteries are freshly charged, the status LED on the mains adapter body should now be red or orange. When charged, this will switch to green.

If the status LED never indicates red, it could be because the DC plug isn't making good contact with the DC jack in the Deluxe. Or, it could be because the charger unit is defective - as would be true if it never illuminated.

Let me know what you find. These are OK chargers, but your Nite Core is better (as is mine ;) - NCs are great chargers!)

I have caused the thermal cut off switch thingy to kick in a couple of times

You fiend! :rofl:
;)

I hope you two have a good long run together.

:leaf:
 
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dynauser

Member
Thanks for all the welcomes. I've been using an OmniVap for my daily driver for a couple years now. Been using an IH for a couple months now. I'll post over in an introduction thread so I don't derail this thread.

The mains charger body has a status LED. Red = Charging; Green = Charged. You may not have noticed this capability yet. This is also why I need to finish the user manual.

That's great to hear. I somehow missed it had the ability to charge batteries. I was planning to have to use an external charger. Great to know that's a built in option. :rockon:
 

Gray Area

Well-Known Member
Try this:

1. Install the batteries into the Deluxe.
2. Insert the mains adapter into a mains outlet. The status LED should be green.
3. Insert the DC plug into the Deluxe. Unless the batteries are freshly charged, the status LED on the mains adapter body should now be red or orange. When charged, this will switch to green.

Yep, just tried and that works just as described...
 

analytika

Well-Known Member
1. Install the batteries into the Deluxe.

2. Insert the mains adapter into a mains outlet. The status LED should be green.

3. Insert the DC plug into the Deluxe. Unless the batteries are freshly charged, the status LED on the mains adapter body should now be red or orange. When charged, this will switch to green.
I'd rather a unit with easily swappable 18650s, not built for battery charging (no AC jack).

Inherently safer. I only charge 18650s with dedicated, first class, maximum safety chargers these days.

Shave a hair off the size or weight? (Frosting on the cake).
 
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YaMon

Vaping since 2010
I received my Flux Deluxe (FD) today and am floored by this IH (& my Vapcaps)! I debated doing any kind of review so early in ownership, but other posters perceived excitement is one of the traits of FC I enjoy. (I also received my new Lil'Bud today, so I'm pretty high writing this.. edits maybe required) This is my first IH so my feedback for the FD will be part FD and part the newness of IH. 'Floored' is a good word, because FD is addictive to use and before I finish writing this I am likely to be on the floor. I can get some consistency with various 2-4 flame torches, but the FD is on another level. Granted I am still in the honeymoon phase(a couple of hours), but I am seeing perfect consistent heating every time! So much easier and more enjoyable to use the Vapcaps... total game changer for my Vapcap use.

I purchased black and feel @mr_cfromcali has done a great job. The FD, transformer, stickers and battery meter were packed well in recyclable materials. The exterior of my FD appears rugged, the holes are drilled with a countersinking type cut and deburred. The LED is not annoyingly bright unless pointed at you, but it is bright enough to attract attention (Some electrical tape could easily cure this). The band around the case does add some extra security for the lid and also helps secure the FD from sliding. The FD with batteries has enough heft that I do not think you need worry about it sliding off a table. I do not think feet would really improve this, but I may feel different when I plug it in. (Can I used the FD without batteries, but plugged in? I am guessing no, that would be more load than the charger can deliver)

The cover has good strong magnets to hold it in place, but not so much so that it hinders removal. Inside the layout is clean. The battery carriage has +/- clearly labeled. I looked under the carriage briefly and saw the potentiometer, but the rest was way over my head.

I love using my Flux Deluxe and I thought I was in love with my FlowerPot and Splinter Z.. now the VapCaps will be making a major comeback as it's that much easier to heat now. Updates to come. Likkel more, -YaMon
 

mr_cfromcali

Accessory Maker
Accessory Maker
Some Friday Fluxer Updates:

Hi all,

It has been great hearing from those of you who have received your heaters week! I am very happy that they are performing well, and people are happy with them. which is not to say they are perfect - I know of at least a few minor issues I will be investigating - but considering this is v1.0 of a brand new device, the first batch seems to be working quite well. Thanks for your trust!

It seems almost unnecessary to say it, but please continue to report issues to me as you experience them, so I can track them and (hopefully) fix them. These things may be great, but I know they aren't perfect, so keep me abreast of your difficulties and/or frustrations as they crop up. Thanks! :wave:

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Flux Deluxe Batch #1 Update:

I have shipped 20 heaters as of today, including one yesterday and four today. Woot!

My first heater was successfully delivered to Germany today, too! (Yes, that's an accomplishment that gets its own line, lol.)

There are still 4 or 5 Deluxes yet to distribute from the first batch, and I hope to wrap that up by the end of the weekend. Thanks, all!

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Flux Deluxe Batch #2 Update:

I have the PCBs
I have the electronic component parts
I have the cases
I have most of the misc. parts
---
I am waiting on the battery management PCBs
I am waiting on the battery sleds
I am waiting on a few misc. parts

I expect to have all of the missing items by January 11, and will probably begin soldering up the circuit boards this weekend, as I have enough pieces to get started on that. Based on the first batch, I think the second batch will number 25-40 heaters, and will probably take me about a month to produce. Let's see how that plays out, OK? :sherlock:

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Flux Deluxe Waiting List:

FYI, the waiting list is current 60+ names long, which is more than a single batch. Thanks for your patience while I work my way through the list! :rockon:

BTW, for better or worse I've made a point of NOT posting a big, splashy, "these are my IH heaters" announcement on r/vaporents yet. I thought about it a few times, but I already have a list that exceeds my capacity by 100%, and I don't see much benefit to teasing people with heaters they will need to wait a few months to receive. It's been tempting though. :brow: Probably only a matter of time...

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Flux Deluxe Demo Videos:

I made and posted two new demo videos this week:

Using the Flux Deluxe from the user's POV:


and

A Demo of the Heat Adjustment Potentiometer:


My production values might be described as "disturbingly honest," (aka, incredibly amateurish). I'm trying to keep the tone light and not to take myself or this project too seriously. Please let me know what you think. ;)

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Mother Fluxer:

No specific update except to say that I have been thinking about improvements and ways to produce it better. I still want to get back to it this month, solve its issues - it has a couple of loose ends - and get it into the hands of some testers.


That's all for now. I am so glad so many of you are happy with your heaters! I hope the trend continues. :love:

Cheers!
:leaf:
 
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LongDraw

Well-Known Member
Looks awesome Mr_C, keep up the good work. I think the video's look great, and loved the slow mo fall of the vap cap, gave it a good dramatic feel haha.

Can't wait to start seeing more updates of the mother fluxer. After seeing the flux delux, may have to pick that one up down the road too.
 
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