Hello everyone,
Great to see all the Inductor Beta units out in the wild! Feel free to share more of your pictures and usage videos. We love to see the Inductor in action!
A gentle reminder, this is the Beta version of the Inductor. Implying that it will still see some revisions on the fly to make sure the unit is functioning optimally and also some future aesthetics and other minor changes before it takes its final form for the first mass production run.
The Inductor lighter head does have a built-in thermal protection switch but it is still important to be conscientious about the coil heat. It is best to avoid tripping the thermal protection switch, so it's advised to stop usage before it trips. The inductor is the most efficient when used for the shortest amount of time to get the desired heating of the target. This might mean a higher voltage setting for 2-3 seconds rather than a lower one for 5-6 seconds. This will reduce thermal stress.
To generate the induction field a large amount of current is driven through a coil. The coil has resistance and therefore generates heat itself which does not aid in the heating performance of your target. Let's say the coil generates 2 units of heat inside itself from 2 units of power. Whenever the button is depressed it will be self-heating with these 2 units, regardless of what is in the field or even if nothing is in the field. Now let's say you place the Convector in the field. Because the convector is designed with materials that will interact strongly with the field let's say it will draw 8 units of power. This higher power draw lets it heat up quickly and reduces the amount of time you need the Inductor on. In total, you have your 2 units in the coil and 8 units in your target.
Now let's look at the example where we heat a larger non-ferrous target. We will still be generating those 2 units of coil heat but now our target can only draw 4 units of power because it is suboptimal for induction heating. It still works but not only is it larger mass but it cannot draw as much power from the Inductor. The total power draw is your 2 coil units + your 4 target units. This leaves you heating the target longer (draws less and is a bigger mass) but still always dissipating that 2 units of heat in the coil. So, it is double the trouble because you're drawing less power to heat a larger part.
Thinner (less than .6mm thick) non-ferrous objects will still interact well with the field. Here is a short list of some metals:
Ferrous:
Most Steel
400 Series Stainless Steel
Iron
Non-Ferrous (a magnet will not stick to, or only weakly):
Most Stainless Steel
Copper
Titanium
Couple quick tips (some reduncy to encourage good usage habits and avoid user errors)
- The Inductor is most powerful from cold start. It is best to put the F-core directly against the item you're heating
first while cold and then press the lighter head button.
- Heating large non-ferrous devices/accessories is not recommended.
- Use
higher voltage settings. We want to heat the device as fast as possible and minimize coil heat/stress.
- The Inductor is designed to be used as an on demand heater and does not require any "warm up" time.
- Turning the power supply off and on is not going to hurt it. It is also fine to leave it on when you are using it, but is best stored off.
- Do not press the lighter head button when no device or accessory is present, that is just wasteful.
- Do not try to heat devices/accessories at a distance. We want the item touching or very close the F-core BEFORE the fire button is pressed.
- If your lighter head does get too hot in any area, housing or fire button, or you trip the overheat switch, stop heating immediately and turn the Inductor power supply off. Make sure to let all the components cool down to room temperature before next use.
- Adhering to all the above will avoid overheating the lighter head coil.
Below is the information sheet included with every Inductor Beta kit. Please make sure to read it in it's entirety before using your device. We're posting it here as a reminder for those who already have their unit and for everyone else who's waiting to receive their unit or getting ready to make their purchase can get familiar with the Ins and Outs of the Inductor. We will also add it to our Camouflet.com website, located in the description of the Inductor product page. We will update it as need be. Edits and suggestions are welcomed, email is best,
contact@camouflet.com
Important Information
Thank you for participating in the Camouflet Inductor Beta Program. The program is intended to give early adopters a chance to try our cutting-edge products while providing us valuable feedback to improve the product before a wider release. We look forward to your comments and hope you enjoy participating in the process of making the Inductor a success for the community.
Your Inductor beta unit has two main parts: The bamboo Base Station (power supply) and the Head, which you use to heat the Convector. The Base Station has a dial that allows you to adjust the output Voltage from about 18.5 to 28v. Higher voltage will result in more power output from the Head. This results in more aggressive heating (faster) but can be harder to control.
The Head features our Patent Pending F-Core technology which allows you to concentrate the induction energy without having to insert the vaporizer into a coil. To use the Inductor simply place the protruding core on or near the Convector, then depress the button. Do not press and hold the button when you are not actively heating the Convector. For optimal heating results, we recommend placing the tip of the Convector directly on the F-Core.
The Inductor allows for a completely new type of heating profile and we encourage our Beta participants to adopt this methodology. Traditionally “Battery-free” devices have you apply a heat source for a substantial period to heat soak the device and then you can take a few draws. This is sub-optimal, allowing for conduction heating and promoting poor flavor profiles. With the Inductor, you can heat your device for a much shorter period (1-3 seconds), take a draw and then heat it again. This keeps the heat load on your device low and leads to a more efficient experience.
Here are some things to consider when using your new Inductor Beta unit.
- The Inductor was designed around and is currently optimized for heating the Camouflet Convector. It will heat other devices but we have not tested it with the many other products available.
- The Inductor is most efficient with higher Voltage and shorter bursts. An ideal use would be a 1-2 second heat-up of the Convector, take a draw, then follow up with subsequent 1-2 second heat cycles as needed.
- Do Not heat any object or depress the button for more than 30 seconds at a time. This will lead to device overheating and shutdown. Always allow a cooling period after extended heat cycles.
- Do not wear any jewelry or metal objects on your hands while operating the Inductor.
- Always turn the power supply off with the switch on the Bamboo Box when you are not using the Inductor.
- The Inductor is a powerful device and should be treated with respect. Do not use it for heating large ferrous objects that will stress it beyond its designed operating parameters.
- It is unlikely you will exceed the Inductor’s thermal limits during normal usage. If you feel the Inductor Head getting uncomfortably hot then it is time for a break. Turn off the Power Supply and let it cool to room temperature.
- Please note these Beta units are Beta Units and should be treated as experimental products. They may have small cosmetic or other imperfections.
Manufacturer has been non existent on here the past two months. Would really be helpful and useful to clear some of this up
We posted in this thread last on August 5th?
Turning the Inductor power supply off between sessions will have no effect on its longevity. In fact, it likely will increase it.
Turning the power supply off between uses in the same session should not be necessary. Leaving it on should not add to the thermal load. Likely what people are experiencing is after a few heat cycles the coil is hot but it takes some time for the heat to dissipate through the housing. In turn, it feels like it is actually getting hotter after your use has paused and you pick it up again.
The lighter head button getting warm is a factor of the close proximity to the coil and radiative heat. With the feedback given we will be implementing a solution for this as we move forward.
Thanks to all for the help.