Energy monitors for your AC-powered vaporizer (Kill-A-Watt, Hampton, etc.)

[CheeseSandwich]

Hopefully newegg.ca will cancel my order. I'd rather just go to crappy tire.

 

[Tweek]

They deliver pretty quickly. I wouldn't worry either way

 

[pakalolo]

Dialed in a steady 31-32W with the aid of my new Kill-a-Watt and let my Sub sit for over an hour. Previously I had been using it at a higher temp I'm sure as the abv had turned dark brown quickly, but this time the abv was a medium brown after two hits. The effect at this temp wasn't as disorienting and closer to a "standard" vape experience, although a very rich one. At the higher temp it felt more like a combustion high with the mind going off on wild tangents and hard to reign in, but without the mental fuzziness or fogginess that smoke can bring.

What I feel makes the Sub's higher temp experience especially unique is that you can go dark brown to near black without actually combusting and turning the herb into ash. I've found that other vapes at such a high temp will almost always combust and create ash and smoke instead of the pure feeling, high temp vapor. I've only combusted once with the Sub. This may be attributable to the lack of airflow during the quick initial flash vape process right after you drop in the herb.

It's nice to be able to precisely dial in certain effects consistently, however I wish I knew how long it really takes to hit that steady temp where the wattage level eventually lands. I might start playing around with a probe thermometer stuck in a crater hole so I can find those temps, and eventually be able to easily test and see when it's at stable temp for the set wattage.

Even though the taste is fairly neutral with the Sub, I find the aroma to be incredibly sweet and rich with the particular strain I've been using, and very rich in other unique ways with other strains and herbs. The terpenes and other chemicals must be burning off quickly and in a very clean fashion, as the purity and robustness of the smell is unparalleled in my experience with vapes. That makes it definitely less stealth if that is important, but great for aromatherapy benefits.

I used 15-20 minutes as a stabilization time but I've not tried measuring it.

Your power readings seem a bit higher than mine. At 30W we got some combustion. Your description of the ABV matches what we were getting at 25W on my meter. The question is whether we're seeing variability between meters or Sublimators.

We need to develop a standard way of marking the dial so that we can compare settings as well. I think the dial might be where the variability originates. How do we determine 50%? Do we measure from the OFF position or turn it on first?

 

[CheeseSandwich]

The question is whether we're seeing variability between meters or Sublimators.

Im probably going to grab the same meter you have later today pakalolo. Maybe that will give us a little more insight to where the differences lie.

 

[Brayden]

Dialed in a steady 31-32W with the aid of my new Kill-a-Watt and let my Sub sit for over an hour. Previously I had been using it at a higher temp I'm sure as the abv had turned dark brown quickly, but this time the abv was a medium brown after two hits. The effect at this temp wasn't as disorienting and closer to a "standard" vape experience, although a very rich one. At the higher temp it felt more like a combustion high with the mind going off on wild tangents and hard to reign in, but without the mental fuzziness or fogginess that smoke can bring.

What I feel makes the Sub's higher temp experience especially unique is that you can go dark brown to near black without actually combusting and turning the herb into ash. I've found that other vapes at such a high temp will almost always combust and create ash and smoke instead of the pure feeling, high temp vapor. I've only combusted once with the Sub. This may be attributable to the lack of airflow during the quick initial flash vape process right after you drop in the herb.

It's nice to be able to precisely dial in certain effects consistently, however I wish I knew how long it really takes to hit that steady temp where the wattage level eventually lands. I might start playing around with a probe thermometer stuck in a crater hole so I can find those temps, and eventually be able to easily test and see when it's at stable temp for the set wattage.

Even though the taste is fairly neutral with the Sub, I find the aroma to be incredibly sweet and rich with the particular strain I've been using, and very rich in other unique ways with other strains and herbs. The terpenes and other chemicals must be burning off quickly and in a very clean fashion, as the purity and robustness of the smell is unparalleled in my experience with vapes. That makes it definitely less stealth if that is important, but great for aromatherapy benefits.

Which Kill a watt unit did u use satyrday? I ordered the p4400

 

[satyrday]

I used 15-20 minutes as a stabilization time but I've not tried measuring it.

Your power readings seem a bit higher than mine. At 30W we got some combustion. Your description of the ABV matches what we were getting at 25W on my meter. The question is whether we're seeing variability between meters or Sublimators.

We need to develop a standard way of marking the dial so that we can compare settings as well. I think the dial might be where the variability originates. How do we determine 50%? Do we measure from the OFF position or turn it on first?

There may be variability in how we determine percentage on the dial, but my 31-32W reading for this report was of course based solely on the readout of the Kill-a-Watt.

I measure dial percentage by maxing and using the tip of my thumb to turn it back from full rightward position to leftward position, and I can do that exactly twice. This makes it literally a rule of thumb to determine where 50% is , although I feel a fairly accurate one. It would be better if I counted dial ridges, but I thought it good enough for rough descriptive purposes.

One common dial point should be max, and I believe your max reading was 49W and mine approx 53W, so we definitely have some discrepancy and I too wonder where it originates, i.e from the meter, the Apollo heater, or the Apollo dial/dimmer itself. Possibly perhaps even from some combination of the meter and the particulars of the electrical service? It will be interesting to know what other members max dial setting reads on the Kill-a-Watt.

Since you're combusting at a reading of 30W I would think the discrepancy is in the meter, especially since my abv seems to be markedly lighter and doesn't even appear close to combustion at 31-32W, unless there is some difference in the Sub itself that would account for the variability (like mass). Also, our max reading difference lends credence to this theory.

Technique such as at what point the hit is drawn and air flows over the herb could also be a factor, but I doubt it with such a different outcome. But the herb itself such as how dry it is or the grind could very well be a significant factor, as always. Need a lab to control all these variables!

 

[pakalolo]

There may be variability in how we determine percentage on the dial, but my 31-32W reading for this report was of course based solely on the readout of the Kill-a-Watt.

I measure dial percentage by maxing and using the tip of my thumb to turn it back from full rightward position to leftward position, and I can do that exactly twice. This makes it literally a rule of thumb to determine where 50% is , although I feel a fairly accurate one. It would be better if I counted dial ridges, but I thought it good enough for rough descriptive purposes.

One common dial point should be max, and I believe your max reading was 49W and mine approx 53W, so we definitely have some discrepancy and I too wonder where it originates, i.e from the meter, the Apollo heater, or the Apollo dial/dimmer itself. Possibly perhaps even from some combination of the meter and the particulars of the electrical service? It will be interesting to know what other members max dial setting reads on the Kill-a-Watt.

Since you're combusting at a reading of 30W I would think the discrepancy is in the meter, especially since my abv seems to be markedly lighter and doesn't even appear close to combustion at 31-32W, unless there is some difference in the Sub itself that would account for the variability (like mass). Also, our max reading difference lends credence to this theory.

Technique such as at what point the hit is drawn and air flows over the herb could also be a factor, but I doubt it with such a different outcome. But the herb itself such as how dry it is or the grind could very well be a significant factor, as always. Need a lab to control all these variables!

Seems to me that your Kill-A-Watt reads about 4-5 watts higher than my Hampton. That's roughly the distance apart they are for both the max and the medium brown ABV point.

 

[Brayden]

derppp, read back and found it was the p4400, my bad satyrday.

 

[Tweek]

My fancy one is showing up today Can't wait to hook it up and get some hard numbers.

 

[CheeseSandwich]

Hoping my doesn't take too long...wasn't able to get it cancelled b4 it was shipped and buy the canadian tire one.

 

[Tweek]

newegg is pretty good. You should have it fairly quickly.

 

[Brayden]

newegg is absolutely incredible. I had my product within 2 days. I ordered late in the day on the 26th and received it at 1030 today. Holy shit, that was quick. Anyway, im trying out my settings at 75% (33 watts). ill post more exact numbers after ive had more time.
Update: Ok so, ived maxed my unit out and I max out smack dab in the middle between satyrday, and paka at 51 volts(100%). I have the same watt-meter as satyrday, so my guess is that it may actually have something to do with the units specifically. VERY cool gadget, a must have with the unit in my opinion. It saves some serious fiddling and tweaking.
Update: 33 watts (75%) is a perfect oil temperature for me. Im gonna dial it back to 29-30 watts like tweek and see what that gives me for a color for bud, it was too dark at 75% for me.

 

[Tweek]

I'm sitting at 28.5 to 29.5 and all is working well.

 

[Brayden]

What watt meter do you have again tweek? the fancy p4480 wasn't it?

 

[Tweek]

4460.

 

[Brayden]

Interesting, im very curious to see what others readings are, it seems to be between 29-34 based on meter and unit. I encourage others to try this out if your tired of using black dots

Update: I am having a lot of fun with this meter

 

[Brayden]

Update: sitting here after the unit was heated at 33volts and it near combusted the bud, this house puts out a max of 59 volts and im being suprised because i dont have to turn up the meter as high because my house puts out a max of 51 volts. normally 33 volts is the same point on meter as 25 volts so its odd that it was that hot. Voltage=heat from what im seeing but ill keep updating. My house only puts out 51 volts max so well see what happens here. im guessing the unit could technically be pushed to higher temperatures if the socket puts out more volts.

 

[hassan]

people keep talking about both volts and watts - which one are we actually discussing?

my volts are outside the range that has been mentioned - about 110 - but the watts are within the same range.

 

[Brayden]

I stand corrected, talking about watts hassan

So basically, from what ive collected, watts should b the same on everyones units based on whatever monitor you use. Your max temp may very if your house happens to pump out a shit load of electricity im not an electrician and have no knowledge of any of it, thats just what ive collected after bringing it to a friends as well.

watts=temp

pref bud watt for me is 25-26 and my pref extract is 32-33

 

[Tweak]

people keep talking about both volts and watts - which one are we actually discussing?

All you need is Watts. Volts X amps = Watts. 1000 watts = 1 Kilowatt.

I'm afraid to put my cloud on the KAW EZ (kill a watt) because of how sensitive it is. I'm sure it would be fine but I'm chicken.

Oh I just found out the other day that to tell the difference between models, the 4400 says "KILL A WATT" while the 4460 says "KILL A WATT EZ" on the top.

 

[CheeseSandwich]

Hope mine shows up monday, I feel left out. Lol.

 

[hassan]

Contemplating buying the Honeywell Febreze Tower Fan and setting it next to the Sub for the flash vape process - seems to leave lingering odour that doesn't allow for one to be stealthy at a moment's notice if need be....

Any other suggestions for something that'll suck in the vapour that is released into the atmosphere?

 

[z9]

No sublimator here but I went ahead and ordered a 4460 because I've been wanting one of these for my PC for a long time. I'm interested to see what kind of numbers my E Nano pulls on various settings, I'd like to be able to adjust my dial to a certain power draw instead of a certain spot on the dial. I like my digital displays...

Thanks for the recommendation on the 4460, hopefully I receive mine soon. Only $27 shipped priority mail on Ebay!

 

[Brayden]

Hey guys, can anyone tell me what voltage their using for dabs/budders/bubbles? Im using 34-35 volts and wondering if I should go hotter, I get pretty thick smoke but im wondering if my dabs are not all getting burned and its dripping down.

 

[CheeseSandwich]

So I missed the purolator guy today...the place they want me to pick it up is like 45 min drive away...wtf? Kinda defeats the purpose of shipping...