Fluxer Heaters, induction heaters for Dynavap

[mr_cfromcali]

Hi all,

Thanks again for your comments! I have a few small updates I wanted to share.

The Hammond 1590B portable (the 2x 18650 device a few posts above this one): Thanks for the positive comments! As I mentioned last week, this model is waiting on a working, stable circuit board. The good news is that yesterday I found (and hopefully fixed) a major flaw in my circuit, one that was absolutely preventing it from working. I'm getting some new, corrected boards made now and should have those by the middle of next week. I'll post another update after I've had a chance to evaluate the new PCBs.

Fluxer Grande™, the Fluxer travel mug IH: It took a little longer than I expected, but I completed the prototype last night! I'm very happy with the way it turned out, and am excited to share some pics.

My initial impression: works great! I'm helping a friend move this weekend and will be bringing this along for some extended real world testing.

Check it out:

This prototype looks like a prototype. Productions versions will look a little better.

Features:

• On-demand, intuitive operation: There is a very light effort (200 gf, or 200 grams of force), MEC-brand high-temp tactile switch at base of coil. Insert a DV into the coil until it depresses the switch and activates the heater. Remove your DV when it clicks. Enjoy! Lather, rinse, and repeat after cool down.
• Power is supplied via 3x 18650 batteries, running @ ~12VDC
• On-Off toggle switch
• Momentary power reset switch (to re-initiate the battery pack after switching batteries, when no external power source is available to satisfy the battery management circuit.)
• DC charge port

The Fluxer Grande™ is housed in a Simple Modern™ 16 oz. Classic Tumbler. These come w/two lids (the "center straw" model used in my device, and a side-sip, coffee mug style lid). They're available from Amazon in a variety of colors:

https://www.amazon.com/Simple-Moder...-2-spons&keywords=simple+living+tumbler&psc=1

Please choose a color that's in stock, and let me know your choice prior to ordering a heater.

Fun Fact: The Fluxer Grande heater insert is doesn't damage the cup in any way. If you want to use it as a mug, go ahead, just pull out the heater first. (To use the center-straw lid for beverages, you will need to reinstall its rubber seal.)

DV has a cup-based IH in the works, and I'm sure it will be available at some point. It isn't available yet, however.

I will build a few more of these now if there's interest; anticipated build time for the first batch is 1-2 weeks. Price for heaters in the first batch will be $175; subsequent batches could have different prices. This price includes the travel mug and heater insert but does NOT include batteries, a charging cable, or shipping. Payment will be due prior to shipment.

Please send me a PM if you'd like me add you to the list for one of these.

Thanks for your support and comments! I'll post more updates as I have news to share.

 

[mr_cfromcali]

Hi, I wanted to share a few product updates:

Fluxer Grande (aka, "the IH in a cup"): I've started making my first batch of these. The build time will probably be about two weeks, as I have a day job (unrelated to making induction heaters), and I'm also still waiting on a few components to arrive. I'll make a few extra heaters, so some extras may be available if they aren't reserved during the build process. I'm continuing to look for ways to simplify the build and hopefully lower the price a bit without compromising quality or reliability. I'm going to learn a lot building this first batch, so we'll see what comes from that.

I've ordered some fresh batteries so I can determine how long a Grande will work on a full charge. I'll post results when I have them.

Shipping and international shipping info coming soon.

Hammond 1590B / 2x 18650 portable: Thanks for the encouragement and enthusiasm for this one! The revised PCBs should get to me by Saturday or Monday, and I'm very hopeful these will work. I'm trying to finish up the design ASAP, and nothing would make me happier than a working, stable IH PCB . I'll post another update on this one when I have more news.

Fluxer Desktop IH with PWM Control:

I know the main interest is in the portable heaters, but my desktop units w/PWM control can do a few tricks of their own. I still use mine every night, and although its PWM design is unorthodox, it continues to work flawlessly for me at the extremely low frequency and duty cycles I recommend, so... My PWM control may not be good for anything other than heating a Dynavap to temp, but that's all I'm asking it to do. You might like it, too.

This update is because I made a breakthrough the other night and discovered a simple but extremely effective recipe for maximizing flavor. It's also very, very effective at generating huge clouds, if you like that sort of thing. My "secret": maximize the time between the clicks, something easy to do w/PWM control!

1. Heat the DV @ 16 Hz at a 50% duty cycle until you hear its first click.
2. Immediately reduce the duty cycle to ~25%-30% (@ 16 Hz frequency). Goal: a 10-30 second gap between the first and second clicks.
3. Wait for second click, them remove and enjoy.

That "time between the clicks" is a sweet spot in a Dynavap session, and maximizing it for each toke pays some tremendous flavor and vapor dividends. The Duty Cycle buttons on my heaters give you a degree of control over this temp zone that's very hard to achieve with a torch. This suggested temp profile will maximize the time between the clicks, and seems to work better (and leads to relatively louder clicks) than heating continuously at a lower duty cycle.

I think most people will find an extra 10-20 seconds in this zone yields some pretty remarkable results; with the the right duty cycle you can actually stretch out the "between the clicks" time to as long as 20-30 seconds, which seems to be the point of diminishing returns. Home power supplies vary, so it will take some trial and error to determine the correct duty cycle to use for your situation. It's still an experimental unit, after all.

That's it for now. Cheers

 

[Monsoon]

You mentioned before about the complexity of using PWM for portable units, I'm wondering if you could maybe adapt existing PWM tech for e-cig mods to an induction heater? Would something like this work?

 

[mr_cfromcali]

You mentioned before about the complexity of using PWM for portable units, I'm wondering if you could maybe adapt existing PWM tech for e-cig mods to an induction heater? Would something like this work?

Thanks for linking to that! I had not seen those particular boards before. Those are very interesting, although I don't think they'll work for my/our needs.

The challenge of adapting PWM control to portable induction heating is that any temp control that heats more slowly also uses more power, as you are powering the IH over a longer period of time. Even if you are pulsing it or giving it a low duty cycle per pulse, slower heating uses more power. When I'm heating a DV on my desktop PWM unit, each time I heat the vapcap during a sesh I'm heating it for 20-30 seconds of induction heating (that's been reduced to 16 Hz and ~30% duty cycle). That sort of power usage will kill your batteries pretty quickly, unfortunately.

I see some other challenges in the technical specs - they seem to use a 25KHz switching frequency, and that's much higher than my own preference - but the battery drain problem is the real blocker here. I'll take a longer look at that board and ask the maker as few questions, though, as I wasn't previously familiar with it, and maybe it could be made to work.

 

[Fat Freddy]

Message received - I'll move forward with the smaller one with all due speed, and put aside the mug for now*.

EXCELLENT IDEA!

I could see that form factor easily dominating the IH market!

.

 

[Squiby]

@mr_cfromcali do you know what you will be charging for your portable mini IH?

 

[mr_cfromcali]

@mr_cfromcali do you know what you will be charging for your portable mini IH?

Hi @Squiby ,

When these are ready, I expect them to be priced in the $115 - $140 range. I will have more information about the price, their longevity, what's going to be included or not included, etc., once I have a working prototype. Until then, however, I really DON'T know, as they aren't finished. Keep in mind that at the moment the only things I have are mock-ups. The power requirements and expected power consumption are best estimates, but to date I haven't heated a single bowl with this thing. A working unit will go a long ways towards moving this project from a picture to a thing you can buy.

Speaking of which, the latest info I have from DHL is that the revised circuit boards should be delivered on Monday. Consequently, I will know a lot more about the status of this device late Monday evening, Pacific time. Keep your fingers crossed.

BTW, I have several versions of this circuit in the works, so once the circuit is stable I expect to bring out one or two even smaller devices, utilizing smaller batteries. I haven't started developing those in earnest yet, but my intent has always been to produce a very small IH - pocket-sized, if possible. The "1590B unit" - it has a name, which I'll share soon - is hopefully just the first of several new IHs.

Thanks for your interest, feedback, and support! I'll continue to post updates as I have info to share.

 

[stark1]

A picture of your mini portable IH, please!

@mr_cfromcali while the altoid tins are cute, these may be of interest as they are
Industrial Strength:

https://countycomm.com/products/industrial-strength-survival-food-grade-tins

& please, please put me on your waiting list for one of your micromini Induct-heaters.

 

[Dubmonkey]

The mini design with 2x18650 cells would be awesome if done in wood and a vapcap stash box was part of the overall wood box. So the induction heater is one half of the wooden box and the other half is the stash. Or a side compartment to,stash the vapcap.

Very interested in your 2x18650 portable. Any ETA on release?

 

[Prophecy]

I'm also very interested on the mini IH can not wait of more details and hopefully a demo video to see.

 

[mr_cfromcali]

A picture of your mini portable IH, please!

Very interested in your 2x18650 portable. Any ETA on release?

I'm also very interested on the mini IH can not wait of more details and hopefully a demo video to see.

Hi all,

I appreciate your enthusiasm - this is what's happening:

2x 18650 Mini IH:

This is a summary of current info. Upthread, I've shared pics of a 2x 18650 heater design I am currently working on. The PCB for that heater is still in development, as it isn't working yet. I have made some revisions and am expecting a fresh batch of boards to arrive tomorrow, September 10. Tomorrow night - Monday night, ~10PM Pacific time - will be the first chance I'll have to build one out and see if it even works. If it works I can move on to testing it - reliability, performance, safety, etc., and then, hopefully, on to selling them. I'll be happy to start selling these just as soon as I'm satisfied they work, and function safely.

Of course, if the circuit doesn't work I'll have to figure out why, make the fix, order new boards (takes a week or so), and the process repeats itself. It might not work, so temper your expectations.

I expect to have an update on the success or failure of the new PCB tomorrow night, probably late. I'll post an update either way.

As for other mini induction heaters - I do have other ideas in the pipeline, but none of my other mini IH ideas are even mocked up yet. I'll begin development on those ideas once I have a working circuit board, as they depend on my smaller board to work.


Portable with PWM Temp Control

I had an epiphany the other night about an optimal "recipe" for heating a DV bowl, a set of instructions to "heat at X temp until Y happens, then switch to Z temp until done." Call it a heating profile: I'm trying to find an optimal heating profile for the DV. It may not be the ultimate, but I think it's possible to improve over just heating it until it clicks.

I've been using this new profile with my desktop PWM IH heater and really liking the results. (Nope, still not giving up on this PWM stuff... ) Anyway, I like it and want to use it when I'm on the go, so I figured I'd try making a portable PWM IH unit.

I had some doubts about this working at all, which I've voiced previously, but TBH it seems to work pretty well.

I started this while making the parts for the Grande production run (which is coming along), and it took shape pretty quickly. It's a "proof of concept" and something I wanted personally: A small-ish portable unit with PWM temp control. It's housed in a CNC'd Alpintech Hammond 1590 N1 enclosure (4.77" x 2.6" x 1.39", noticeably bigger than the 1590B mentioned above), powered by 3x 18650; the battery tray faces down, and the controls are built on the back of the battery tray. It's push-to-activate, and allows both a regular "full" heat mode and a custom PWM heat setting, which you can adjust and/or switch modes on the fly. The brick (batteries + controls) is removable. It isn't quite done - I'll add a charge port and battery meter when I get time.

As I said, it's a proof of concept and something I personally wanted, so it's very likely a one-off. It was a pretty tight build and took some time to complete, so I'm not sure this "pencils out" to become a production unit. Nonetheless, I'll put it through its paces and see how well it works. If it works well I may offer it in the future.

That's all for now - cheers!

 

[stark1]

Thank you for your update. Looks like you are progressing by leaps and bounds!

Would it prove more ergonomic to place the coil parallel, instead of perpendicular,
to the length of the casing.

It would make it easier to use while on the go.....

Insert. Click. Draw.

PS I know you are in the developmental stages of your research into making a
Small portable IH, is there a healthier alternative to a plastic casing.

Heat venting might be prudent?

 

[mr_cfromcali]

Thank you for your update. Looks like you are progressing by leaps and bounds!

Would it prove more ergonomic to place the coil parallel, instead of perpendicular,
to the length of the casing.

It would make it easier to use while on the go.....

Insert. Click. Draw.

Hi,

Thanks for the notes, which I assume are in reference to the 2x 18650/1590B unit I'm at work on? I did consider orientation when I was drawing it up, and this was the orientation I preferred - it seemed too tall and a bit unstable when used on end. That was my decision, and you may feel differently. I can foresee a future version/variation with the opening on top, but I'm too far along in this design to change it that radically at this point. Also, it's worth mentioning that I need to balance ergonomics against both "ease of production" and "within my abilities to produce cleanly." I'm trying to keep the 2x 18650 unit fairly simple and not too difficult to make, so I can keep the price down while still making stuff that looks good. Its current design should allow me to do this. Finally, keep in mind I'm just a guy with a shop in his garage, and this is a hobby. They say "it's a poor craftsman that blames his tools," but some things may be beyond my capabilities.

BTW and FWIW, I do sell a unit with the parallel push-to-use action you describe: My Fluxer Grande (the IH-in-a-cup) has a vertical insertion and action.

 

[stark1]

Thanks for your response! It’s all good.

Glad to see someone like yourself pushing the boundaries of the possible.

An IH which is portable, lightweight, and ergonomic will be an instant hit with the
*OUTSIDE* VapCap afficienados. The young, and the restless.

The coffee mugs will certainly suit another crowd of VapCap owners.

 

[mr_cfromcali]

PS I know you are in the developmental stages of your research into making a
Small portable IH, is there a healthier alternative to a plastic casing.

Heat venting might be prudent?

FWIW, there's no plastic in any of these (apart from the lid of the Grande, but that's protected w/a heat shield).

The Hammond cases are all aluminum - typically CNC machined aluminum.
The internal support pieces you see in some units are made from garolite , a non-conductive fiberglass-reinforced epoxy resin with some excellent heat shielding properties.
The battery trays are plastic - but if they burn, I have bigger issues, lol.
Finally, the need for venting is still being evaluated. I am not yet convinced it's necessary when these are used as intended, but we'll see how the new PCB behaves once it gets here. It has to work in order to generate "too much heat"

 

[stark1]

Best Wishes in your ventures, Sir, success alone is the best outcome.

I for one am grateful for your industry.

 

[Fat Freddy]

Would it prove more ergonomic to place the coil parallel, instead of perpendicular,
to the length of the casing.

Maybe the answer might be a pocket protector for your IH, that would hang on the outside of your shirt pocket attached by a flap magnet, and then a hole strategically placed in the pocket protector coinciding with the hole in the IH unit? Hey, I've suggested some crazier things on this forum!

.

 

[stark1]

Perhaps you can depict your concept graphically, @Fat Freddy, I find it hard to visualize
your protector, or its function.....

Or are you just yanking my chain.

 

[Fat Freddy]

Perhaps you can depict your concept graphically, @Fat Freddy, I find it hard to visualize
your protector, or its function.....

Or are you just yanking my chain.

Hmmmm...depict it graphically?

Probably could do a much better job depicting me yanking your chain graphically!

Just kidding!

Seriously, let me see if I can find some images to post that might "hint" at what I was describing. Maybe that might help the more creative types around these parts riff off the idea and come up with something better?



EDIT: The basic concept is this.

Ultimate sizing dimensions required yet TBD.

EDIT: And, if you're like me and mostly wear tee shirts day to day then probably something like this might work for belt carry, particularly if modified slightly for quick VC insertion.

 

[stark1]

mr_cfromcali have you considered a mini VCIH with a belt loop-detachable battery, with
the mVCIH (cxt+coil) tethered with a coiled supply cord, leading to the (battery) port.

The two components can be housed in a bi-compartment holster, with a spring loaded,
or coiled, connector cord.

It would make the form factor smaller, as compared to having both the cxt+coil, and battery,
housed in a large single casing.

Just bobbing ideas for you to tinker/think about.

 

[mr_cfromcali]

mr_cfromcali have you considered a mini VCIH with a belt loop-detachable battery, with
the mVCIH (cxt+coil) tethered with a coiled supply cord, leading to the (battery) port.

The two components can be housed in a bi-compartment holster, with a spring loaded,
or coiled, connector cord.

It would make the form factor smaller, as compared to having both the cxt coil and battery
housed in a larger single casing.

Just bobbing ideas for you to tinker/think about.

Hi @stark1 ,

I'll think it over, but on the whole I prefer the all-in-one form factor, as it has few exposed points of failure, which is important to me. I'm not a big fan of detached power supplies unless they are needed to solve a specific problem. Sorry. You may have a good idea, but I may not be the person to make it.

 

[stark1]

Just exploring possibilities. It’s all good.

 

[mr_cfromcali]

The circuit board works!

This is a very quick demo of my new portable induction heating circuit board. This is actually bowl #2

I've been working on shrinking this circuit for a few months, so it's very exciting to finally have a board that works! I don't have much time on it yet, obviously, but the circuit seems to be running extremely well - no issues, not too hot, everything's good. In this demo the circuit is running at 8.2V (2x 18650). At this voltage the first bowl of a sesh takes about 20 seconds to reach temp, but that time drops to ~12 seconds once the Dynavap is up to temp. (I ran it @ 12VDC initially, and 12VDC heating times are similar to other 12VDC portable Dynavap induction heaters.)

Battery capacity and longevity testing will start as soon as I get it into an enclosure, which should be another day or two. I have some other general testing I need to do to make sure this is safe and stable, but I expect to have some devices ready for sale soon!

I have more versions of this circuit coming, so it will see its way into several small, Dynavap-specific portable IH devices.

Thanks for your support. More to come!

 

[mr_cfromcali]

It was a late night last night, lol. Back with a few updates.

Turns out I couldn't wait to put a prototype together, as I was just too eager to see how it would work. This is the result. Please keep in mind that I started this effort at 2am and knocked off at 4am. There's still some work to be done - that charging cable is probably just temporary, for example, and I still have some switches to place, too. That said:

It works!

IMPORTANT: The batteries in the following clip are NOT fresh - in fact, they are the same batteries I used all evening, and by the time I shot this they were almost done. It was late, and battery life wasn't first on my mind. So...I'll post some better clips with shorter heating times soon.

Thanks for the support! I'll do some more work on it tonight and try to finish it up.

More to come

 

[Fat Freddy]

It was a late night last night, lol. Back with a few updates.

Turns out I couldn't wait to put a prototype together, as I was just too eager to see how it would work. This is the result. Please keep in mind that I started this effort at 2am and knocked off at 4am. There's still some work to be done, as well as some switches, etc. to place. That said:

It works!

IMPORTANT: The batteries in the following clip are NOT fresh - in fact, they are the same batteries I used all evening, and by the time I shot this they were almost done. It was late, and battery life wasn't first on my mind. So...I post some better clips with shorter heating times soon.

Thanks for the support! I'll do some more work on it tonight and try to finish it up.

More to come

CONGRATS!

.