The Magic-Flight Box

Rico420

Rico420

Well-Known Member
I'm trying to determine the plug size on the barrel connecter that attaches to the power adapter from the wall wart. I have a ton of old nimh aa's laying around I'm not using, and am going to get a 12v dc step up regulator to use 6v (4xaa) battery packs to run the adapter on batteries instead of a wall wart to have a portable power adapter. Does anyone know (or have an accurate tool to measure, i don't) the barrel size on the connector?

I'm fairly sure its 2.5mm, but want to be sure before ordering the parts. Can't find anything with google or on fc to verify it is indeed 2.5mm.

Here's what I'm planning on ordering-

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280783486516
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230725224086
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290642977080

And i know that that step up regulator will get hot if i just use one, i plan on using two in parallel to be well below the current limitation (1.3a 12v per board, mflb adapter supplies 1.25a 12v) and not have to use heatsinks to cool the transistors.


Help here would be appreciated, thanks-
 
Rico420,
OF

OF

Well-Known Member
I think the first thing you might want to do is actually measure the current demands on the PA. I forget what they were, but at times they were way higher than I expected. Your switcher could bite the big one.

Otherwise it's the more or less universal 2.5mm used on the PD, the Maha chargers and so on.

You might also want to check your math. When I went to school four times 1.2 was five Volts, not six? That makes a big difference in stepping up. You're also looking at maybe 80% efficiency? I gave up the NiMH route (even ten series cells like some makers do) and went with 3 18650s. Thirty bucks of batteries and your good for 3 aH of go.

There ya go, if you call that help.....

OF
 
OF,
OF

OF

Well-Known Member
pakalolo said:
On what do you base that statement?
Click to expand...

Excellent point. is it a safe assumption it's not experience based? For sure I've been taken aback more than a few times by the power of that innocent little piece of wood......

X24? I hear ya bro. Soldier on. Don't let 'em tell you you're not having fun.

OF
 
OF,
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Rico420

Rico420

Well-Known Member
OF said:
I think the first thing you might want to do is actually measure the current demands on the PA. I forget what they were, but at times they were way higher than I expected. Your switcher could bite the big one.

Otherwise it's the more or less universal 2.5mm used on the PD, the Maha chargers and so on.

You might also want to check your math. When I went to school four times 1.2 was five Volts, not six? That makes a big difference in stepping up. You're also looking at maybe 80% efficiency? I gave up the NiMH route (even ten series cells like some makers do) and went with 3 18650s. Thirty bucks of batteries and your good for 3 aH of go.

There ya go, if you call that help.....

OF
Click to expand...

Thanks, thats what i needed. I'm sure the current demands will be fine, if the ww supplies 12v at 1.25a, then i should be more than safe with 2x 12v 1.5a max converters in parallel. Afaik your right as far as 5v/6v, they're prob talking about 1.5v cells when referring to the pack, but my step up regulator can go as low as 4v and still get a solid 12v output. Granted its not going to be the most elegant or efficient way of doing this, but i was looking at lithium batteries and realized a had a ton of fairly good ~2000mah nimh's around, figured i'd save some $, and upgrade later if necessary.

5-6v @ 2000mah (lets say 1700 taking efficiency losses into account) switched to 1.25a 12v should last around 30-45min of continuous draw and still be putting out a solid voltage/current when the batteries are almost discharged. I can double up the packs in parallel to double that run-time to 1-1&1/2h, but really if its only drawing current when hitting, 30-45 min of continuous draw should be more than enough for 75+ 30 sec hits. And thats assuming its running on full power, i usually trench at 60-75% full power with the PA so it should be even more than that. Possibly 100 30 sec hits per 2000mah 5-6v cell.

If it works out, i'll definitely consider lipo's, if even for nothing but the considerable weight difference. i just wanted to save money on using batteries and a charger (c9000) that i already have. Thanks for the help-
 
Rico420,
OF

OF

Well-Known Member
Hey, it's your call. You asked my advice, I gave it. Good luck.

One parting thought, I can actually read the nameplate on the wall wart too. And since I know that the box eats 15 amps at .75 volts normally, it can easily pull more than the wall wart alone can source at 100% duty cycle. Which is why I actually measured the current at 12 Volts as I suggested you do. I just dug the stuff out and repeated the experiment. A few dozen mA with no load as you might expect. 1.5 to 2.5 Amps depending on where the knob is set. More than the 1.25 Amps assumed. Perhaps enough to blow your switchers?

For sure enough to make your lifespan estimates questionable.

If you've been at this a while you'll recognize what that means, if not you'll probably learn first hand, not a bad way to learn, really.

Proceed as you see fit, best of luck.

OF
 
OF,
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S

Sip

Member
Just got my MFLB on Friday and have tried not to leave the batteries on the charger over night. However will it hurt the batteries? It is much more convenient for me to charge them over night rather than watch them until they are done.
 
Sip,
OF

OF

Well-Known Member
Sip said:
Just got my MFLB on Friday and have tried not to leave the batteries on the charger over night. However will it hurt the batteries? It is much more convenient for me to charge them over night rather than watch them until they are done.
Click to expand...

Lots of folks advise against it. IMO we beat these guys so bad it doesn't really matter that much. When I can't be there, I let them run too. The end trickle charge is minor IMO compared to the abuse we practice otherwise....they're not supposed to get hot, you know....

I vote, go for it. Then again, it's your batteries.....

OF
 
budbudbud

budbudbud

Well-Known Member
My favorite way to use the magic flight.
MagicFlightSetup.jpg

Power adapter + 2 ft whip = :love:

I've had the power adapter turned all the way up lately. Other than risking combustion, is there any reason I shouldn't have it on full blast?
 
Vicki

Vicki

Herbal Alchemist
budbudbud said:
My favorite way to used the magic flight.
MagicFlightSetup.jpg

Power adapter + 2 ft whip = :love:

I've had the power adapter turned all the way up lately. Other than risking combustion, is there any reason I shouldn't have it on full blast?
Click to expand...

That's a nice setup you have. I've never used a whip with my MFLB, that's long! :lol: I set my PA at full power so I can get as much medicine extracted as possible. Just have to be more careful. ;)
 
Vicki,
Quetzalcoatl

Quetzalcoatl

DEADY GUERRERO/DIRT COBAIN/GEORGE KUSH
Very nice, bud!​
​
So I come with a problem. I kinda sorta made a waterpipe, and some of the water went through the stem (because I'm a dumbass and didn't think it through any better). Now the floor of the inside of the vape is wet. Tried my best to dry it out with a tightly rolled qtip and then some blasts of compressed air, and ran a battery through it (burn cycle basically), and now I'm using it again. It won't, like, mold or anything will it?​
 
Quetzalcoatl,
OF

OF

Well-Known Member
Quetzalcoatl said:
Very nice, bud!​
​
So I come with a problem. I kinda sorta made a waterpipe, and some of the water went through the stem (because I'm a dumbass and didn't think it through any better). Now the floor of the inside of the vape is wet. Tried my best to dry it out with a tightly rolled qtip and then some blasts of compressed air, and ran a battery through it (burn cycle basically), and now I'm using it again. It won't, like, mold or anything will it?​
Click to expand...

You should be fine. I'd 'vape it dry' by running a few trenches through it and storing it with the lid open for a few days, but it should dry just fine. You are willing to run a few more trenches through it for insurance, aren't you? Maple's a tough wood, and it's probably pretty well sealed with resins anyway. I doubt it got very wet in real terms.

Good luck. Not my first choice in customizations, but it's your box to do what you want with I guess?

OF
 
OF,
pakalolo

pakalolo

Toolbag v1.1 (candidate)
Staff member
budbudbud said:
I've had the power adapter turned all the way up lately. Other than risking combustion, is there any reason I shouldn't have it on full blast?
Click to expand...

A minor point, but turning it up shortens the lifetime of the light. It's not an LED as many think, it's a tiny incandescent. How much shorter is anyone's guess; it might not be significant.
 
pakalolo,
OF

OF

Well-Known Member
pakalolo said:
A minor point, but turning it up shortens the lifetime of the light. It's not an LED as many think, it's a tiny incandescent. How much shorter is anyone's guess; it might not be significant.
Click to expand...

Good point. Some don't care, for others the light has mystic value past description.

I don't think this is a case of 'the lamp that burns twice as bright burns half as long', it's way worse than that. In such lamps doubling the light output can make a 10,000 hour bulb into a ten minute one. However, it's my guess it's heat from above and mechanical shock that get's most of them. When such bulbs die of old age they get darker as the glass collects condensed Tungsten from the filament....the reason household bulbs are as big as they are, so you don't notice it. In actual industry lifetime of bulbs isn't done by running a bunch until they go dark. Once the average weight loss percentage (seven percent IIRC??) is reached, that's the number of hours printed on the box. Blowing out really has nothing to do with it.

If that isn't more than you ever wanted to know on the topic we're both in trouble.....

OF
 
OF,
X24

X24

Well-Known Member
420poak said:
Are you serious? This surprises me a lot since most users who tried both the mflb and a desktop vape seemed confident that desktop vapes were better.
Click to expand...

Completely serious.

Now let me clarify a few things:

1. DBV produces larger "hits" of vapor.

2. You can adjust DBV much easier for either extremely heady highs or slightly burnt full body stone.

3. DBV is quite possibly more efficient. Not extremely so, but I've come to believe it's got an advantage. Although to be fair, I've owned Da Buddha for months, and I've only had the MFLB for a week or so.

4. If you want to get as high as possible as fast as possible, hands down DBV wins.

5. If you are going to offer to "vape up" some buddies, DBV is much simpler to explain how to use and will produce more consistent hits for inexperience vaporists.

However, the MFLB has some distinct advantages that have made me come to enjoy it more than my DBV:

1. Stealth. Straight up, no noise, almost no smell and you can carry/hide this thing just about anywhere. Pack a trench, throw a battery and the box in your pocket and nobody suspects a thing.

2. Convenience. Pre ground bud. Drop it in the trench. Slide the cover. Press battery in. Highhhhhh.

3. The quality of the high is similar to DBV. People have said that a trench in the MFLB won't get them baked, only buzzed. Well, for me at least, I can most definitely get pretty vaked on a trench.

4. Elegance anybody? I still can't get over how simple and elegantly this little thing was designed. Some people complain that it's not worth the asking price because of how simple the thing is. Well, I for one am fine with paying the price of admission and love how simple it is. Not much to go wrong, very clever design and it just flat out works.

5. Versatility. You can get baked in bed. You can venture off to a bathroom in a movie theater and get lifted. You can chill with some buddies and use it like you'd use your own personal piece.

I feel they both are worth owning. And in no way am I going to get rid of either of them. If I could only own one, I'd probably pick the MFLB just for it's versatility.

Different strokes for different folks.
 
Seek

Seek

Apprentice Daydreamer
Just just explained these differencies perfectly. They aren't comparable much. Neither of them is better. They make KILLER COMBO! I use my EQ the SSV style (This: http://i42.tinypic.com/2i6jsrp.jpg) so your DBV descrition fits on it too.

And yes this is so true. I still love the MFLB, but for DBV.4 i sometimes use my EQ. They so complement each other. But someday the Cloud will replace the EQ (And probabyl the PA too), but MFLB will have it's use/love forever.

Also if someone uses MFLB with waterpipe, but whip connected - cutting a small hole in the intake makes the airflow so much easier to manage. You can pull harder (the biggr the hole is), get more diffusion. MFLB without a hole forces me to pull uncomfortably slowly. The hole is equivalent to not making airtight seal with lips. If it works with lip it must work with tubing too. Oh and with the WPA, it should be even easier to just move the box a milimeter back (or maybe the pushback button there does this - ingenious).
 
Seek,
420poak

420poak

Member
X24 said:
Completely serious.

Now let me clarify a few things:

1. DBV produces larger "hits" of vapor.

2. You can adjust DBV much easier for either extremely heady highs or slightly burnt full body stone.

3. DBV is quite possibly more efficient. Not extremely so, but I've come to believe it's got an advantage. Although to be fair, I've owned Da Buddha for months, and I've only had the MFLB for a week or so.

4. If you want to get as high as possible as fast as possible, hands down DBV wins.

5. If you are going to offer to "vape up" some buddies, DBV is much simpler to explain how to use and will produce more consistent hits for inexperience vaporists.

However, the MFLB has some distinct advantages that have made me come to enjoy it more than my DBV:

1. Stealth. Straight up, no noise, almost no smell and you can carry/hide this thing just about anywhere. Pack a trench, throw a battery and the box in your pocket and nobody suspects a thing.

2. Convenience. Pre ground bud. Drop it in the trench. Slide the cover. Press battery in. Highhhhhh.

3. The quality of the high is similar to DBV. People have said that a trench in the MFLB won't get them baked, only buzzed. Well, for me at least, I can most definitely get pretty vaked on a trench.

4. Elegance anybody? I still can't get over how simple and elegantly this little thing was designed. Some people complain that it's not worth the asking price because of how simple the thing is. Well, I for one am fine with paying the price of admission and love how simple it is. Not much to go wrong, very clever design and it just flat out works.

5. Versatility. You can get baked in bed. You can venture off to a bathroom in a movie theater and get lifted. You can chill with some buddies and use it like you'd use your own personal piece.

I feel they both are worth owning. And in no way am I going to get rid of either of them. If I could only own one, I'd probably pick the MFLB just for it's versatility.

Different strokes for different folks.
Click to expand...
Alright thanks for explaining your statement. I was asking this because I never owned a desktop vape, yet I've read on many forums that a good desktop vape provides better hits than the small, budget-friendly mflb. I agree that the mflb has many advantages and that it's an amazing vape for what it was designed to be.

It's just that I had the preconceived idea that desktop vapes would provide better hits, because otherwise they would have almost no advantages over a small, portable vape such as the mflb.
 
420poak,
Rager951

Rager951

Connoisseur
When using the mflb with the whip and PA is it necessary to use the same techniques you would when hitting the box native or does the PA provide enough power hit it like a SSV or comparable vapes?
 
Rager951,
X24

X24

Well-Known Member
420poak said:
It's just that I had the preconceived idea that desktop vapes would provide better hits, because otherwise they would have almost no advantages over a small, portable vape such as the mflb.
Click to expand...

Rager951 said:
When using the mflb with the whip and PA is it necessary to use the same techniques you would when hitting the box native or does the PA provide enough power hit it like a SSV or comparable vapes?
Click to expand...

While I don't have the PA and I don't use my MFLB with a whip... I must say there is just no way the MFLB will hit as well as a desktop. Again, the MFLB does hit surprisingly well, and honestly if something "hits well" it'll just get you high a little quicker. With my DBV you can dial it up to where you are just ripping vapor. I usually have it dialed down and take very slow, steady hits... But it'll basically let you hit as hard as you care to.

People are so concerned about how well it hits... I mean... the MFLB hits decently but what does it matter if you can take 3 giant rips and be done with your X amount of weed or if you take 5-9 relaxing inhales and you're also consuming X amount of weed.

Honestly, I feel it's actually more efficient to take smaller hits. Blowing out a shat-ton of vapor is exciting and all, but it's a waste imo. It's super easy to ghost small hits. No smell, and you've absorbed all the vapor. (at least I'm under the impression that's what's going on)

I'm playing devils advocate a bit I suppose. But it's just how I feel. :S
 
Quetzalcoatl

Quetzalcoatl

DEADY GUERRERO/DIRT COBAIN/GEORGE KUSH
X24 said:
Honestly, I feel it's actually more efficient to take smaller hits. Blowing out a shat-ton of vapor is exciting and all, but it's a waste imo.
Click to expand...

I feel the same way! I know that my box is working because I can see the greens/kief changing right before my eyes, and I can feel the throat hit when I inhale, but I don't really put a lot of importance on how huge my clouds are. I do occasionally like using a chamber or a water pipe to get a few huge hits at the end of the trench, but I don't really like finishing a bowl in 3 giant hits. This was also coincidentally a factor in my purchasing of it. That and the fact that I can pack a full trench or I can pack a tiny snap and it's still as efficient as ever.
 
Quetzalcoatl,
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