Log Vape Battery Packs

[CentiZen]

Hi there everyone,

We've been having an interesting conversation over in the Hot Pod thread about creating a battery pack that can be used to run a log vape while on the go. I was always under the impression that while it would be a cool thing to have, that nobody would really need one, and therefore didn't pursue it as a project. The thing is, it seems there is a group of users amongst the Hot Pod community that do want this to be a thing.

The purpose of this thread is to get an idea of just how many people among the log vape community are interested in having a battery pack for their log vaporizer, and provide updates on the progress of my design. Please leave a post in this thread indicating your interest if you would sincerely like to have one of these. There is no obligation of purchase for doing so, I would just like to get an idea as to the number of people interested in this project.

This unit will consist of four Lithium Ion batteries which will be connected to a protection circuit and a step down transformer. This step down transformer will be set to a precise voltage of your choosing during assembly, depending on what vape you have and your personal preferences for temperature. The range it can be set to is anywhere in between 8 to 12.5 volts, and while it can be changed after being set it requires some electronics knowledge to do so.

Currently my estimated price point is about 80 dollars, which would include four high capacity 18650 cells, the device itself and a smart charger. Those who already have lots of 18650's or a smart charger for them will be able to buy only the parts they need at reduced cost.

The following vapes would be supported by this pack:

• Underdog and Twigs
• Heat Islands and Toasty Tops
• Rockzaps and Aromazaps
• Hot Pods
• Arizer Solo (Charge or Run only, not both)
• Purple Days
• Woodeez
• Wychwood

Unfortunately, this will not work on the Epicvapes or the Old City Diffusers as they plug into a wall outlet directly.

Let me know if you are interested in this project, I'm really interested in seeing how many people would like one.

 

[vaporonly]

wouldn't the woodeez need a 12V AC? i suppose it could use dc too

neat idea, prob a little too expensive for me personally (no disrespect or anything) but I'll monitor this thread for progress

 

[CentiZen]

I have it on good authority that it will work with a DC power source, but I'll look into it a bit further.

And I'm hoping I can get that price down a bit by finding better suppliers and buying stuff in bulk, but that will take a little while to sort out.

Also, if anyone can think of other 8 - 12 DC vaporizers out there, let me know - they will likely work as well.

 

[placetime]

That's awesome that you're looking into this. It's an idea that I've seen bounced around multiple times over the years. I would guess that there's a reasonable amount of interest in such a product. HI/ToastyTop Alan built a log battery-pack that he mentioned on the HI thread. I don't recall the details on that off the top of my head, but I believe he said his attempt was successful.

My two cents:

- logs can work with AC or DC--doesn't make much (if any) difference

- being able to (relatively easily) adjust the voltage is a *huge* advantage on a log. Even if you need to use a small screwdriver to turn a tiny potentiometer for adjusting, it would be great, and imho it's nearly essential.

- an upper limit of 12.5V is too low. *many* users would be uninterested if it can't go higher than that.

- LED readout would also give a *huge* benefit for logs

- if you could get one of those step down converters with LED and potentiometer to work as a stand-alone unit that would connect inline with "standard" wall-warts (preferably 13V or higher) using the standard 2.1x5.5mm plug/jack`, I think you'd have a *great* accessory for log vapes that would sell well. The biggest drawback to log vapes (imho) is the challenges in making the voltage/temp adjustable

- if using one of those "buck" step down converters, would minimum voltage restriction actually work to your advantage by functionally providing a low-voltage-cutoff for those lithium batteries so that they're not over-discharged, which can be a safety issue? (but I may be wrong cuz I really don't know much about how those step down converters work)

- I know lithium batteries are better than nimh batteries for a number of reasons--but, aren't nimh batteries easier to deal with in situations like these, especially in terms of safety? (which is one of the reasons why the MFLB uses nimh batteries, or at least that's my guess)

- you can find more info/discusssion about log vape power supplies in this thread: http://fuckcombustion.com/threads/regulated-vs-unregulated-power-supplies-for-log-vapes.4918/

 

[Deadhead101]

I agree that having the capability to go over 12.5V is crucial. On my PD, I set my VVPS to around 13.25V. My friends who aren't that into vaping hands-down prefer using my PD over my friend's because of the extra couple volts. It's the difference between 'I think I just got a hit' vs 'Cough Cough'

 

[stickstones]

I'm down. Any chance to get it a little easier to change the voltage for those of us with multiple log vapes? Also, are you thinking of something loosely attached or something that would stick to the bottom and make it a longer log (my preference).

 

[kingofnull]

I'm down. Any chance to get it a little easier to change the voltage for those of us with multiple log vapes? Also, are you thinking of something loosely attached or something that would stick to the bottom and make it a longer log (my preference).

I don't want to speak for CentiZen, but it's probably too much work to create a solution that will fit both the batteries and the log vapes.

 

[CentiZen]

Alan built a log battery-pack that he mentioned on the HI thread. I don't recall the details on that off the top of my head, but I believe he said his attempt was successful.

His attempt was successful, but is a little different in approach from mine.

being able to (relatively easily) adjust the voltage is a *huge* advantage on a log. Even if you need to use a small screwdriver to turn a tiny potentiometer for adjusting, it would be great, and imho it's nearly essential.

This is what I have been hearing from pretty much everyone I've talked to about this. A flat heat screwdriver is what you will need to adjust the voltage. I'm going to see if I can either find or make a decent but cheap board that has a built in display to show you what your output voltage is so you don't need a multimeter every time you want to change your voltage.

an upper limit of 12.5V is too low. *many* users would be uninterested if it can't go higher than that.

I'm going to look into this, this is another thing I've heard across the board. The issue however is that I will either need to add an extra cell to the design, or greatly reduce the battery life.

- if you could get one of those step down converters with LED and potentiometer to work as a stand-alone unit that would connect inline with "standard" wall-warts (preferably 13V or higher) using the standard 2.1x5.5mm plug/jack`, I think you'd have a *great* accessory for log vapes that would sell well. The biggest drawback to log vapes (imho) is the challenges in making the voltage/temp adjustable

Okay, that is a really good idea. I'll also be looking into that - thanks.

- if using one of those "buck" step down converters, would minimum voltage restriction actually work to your advantage by functionally providing a low-voltage-cutoff for those lithium batteries so that they're not over-discharged, which can be a safety issue? (but I may be wrong cuz I really don't know much about how those step down converters work)

Ostensibly, yes - if it was set to exactly the right voltage. But that's not what I will be using to protect the batteries from over discharge. I'll have dedicated protection circuits to stop that from happening.

- I know lithium batteries are better than nimh batteries for a number of reasons--but, aren't nimh batteries easier to deal with in situations like these, especially in terms of safety? (which is one of the reasons why the MFLB uses nimh batteries, or at least that's my guess)

This certainly was the case with Lithium batteries in the past. However, the batteries that I use are extremely safe.

At one point during my testing of the Arizer Solo battery, I short circuited the battery with a piece of copper sheeting to see what would happen in a worst case scenario. I was expecting it to blow up, or at least get a little fire, but it did not. All it did was pop it's top vents and left it at that.

That being said, Lithium Polymer batteries are still very volatile and can blow up with fire if used improperly, so don't take that as a sign that all Lithium batteries are totally safe. The ones I use however, and pretty much any other Lithium Ion battery is totally safe. Lithium has got a bit of a bad rap with all of the problems Boeing has had with their new Lithium batteries, but their usage scenario is far different from this since they have huge discharge requirements and are constantly being charged by the engines, leading to a lot of excess heat.

I agree that having the capability to go over 12.5V is crucial. On my PD, I set my VVPS to around 13.25V. My friends who aren't that into vaping hands-down prefer using my PD over my friend's because of the extra couple volts. It's the difference between 'I think I just got a hit' vs 'Cough Cough'

Thanks for the feedback, I'm going to see what I can do, but the extra voltage will have to come at either a not-so-trivial loss of battery life or an increase in size/cost

I'm down. Any chance to get it a little easier to change the voltage for those of us with multiple log vapes? Also, are you thinking of something loosely attached or something that would stick to the bottom and make it a longer log (my preference).

I think I will be able to work out a simple solution to allow people to change the voltage, but you will need a screwdriver to do it.

I don't think it is feasible to make it in such a way that it is just a natural extension of the log, because all of the logs have different diameters and they plug is on the side of it. I'm planning on a box with a long cord.[/quote]

 

[hazy]

I'll have dedicated protection circuits to stop that from happening.

I was under the impression that "protected" batteries already have the protection circuit built in.

 

[CentiZen]

They do, but as I said in your Hot Pod thread, it's better to have one four cell protection circuit than to have four one cell protection circuits. Multiple independent protection circuits can the batteries to become unbalanced.

I have a good supplier of unprotected NCR18650B's from my Arizer Solo battery as well, so I'd like to reuse them in this design as I am most familiar with their characteristics.

Also, I am thinking it should not be too difficult to support higher voltages than 12.5 even with just four cells. The only problem is that once the cells drop to 3.7 (about 15%) the highest voltage you can run the batteries at is 12.8. But from 100 - 20% of the battery life you can support top voltages from 14.4 - 13.2 or so. How long that capacity lasts is to be determined.

 

[thesoloman]

I think all 4 of my friends with solos would be down to get packs that charged the solo. IMO the charge would be better than heat, as i don't think the solo would work with heat externally if the battery in the solo didn't have power to control the electronics?
Im not sure if this is possible but i would like a big battery pack at 9 volts(ish) for heating with a mini pack attached to it at 12v for charging, that make sense?

 

[CentiZen]

I run a solo without a battery inside of it all the time. I'm not sure why the battery discharges while it is connected to a PA.

Still, with the new design I've got going you will be able to set the pack to either 12 volts for charging or 9 volts for heating. It's your choice.

 

[thesoloman]

so it can do either or or both settings with me adjusting it?

 

[Bvapst]

Could be in! That's a great idea as I soon I was planing to purchase my log (WW) I wanted to find a portable solution. The car adapter was one part solution but the fact you must plug on and off considering if you are driving or not...isn't really good for the log. So finally I dedicated it for plug-in walls only.

For me the battery life is really important... Don't have any idea how long it could last? Logs are made for being on 24/7 and take a relative time to heat up. And I'm not sure if it is good for the log lifetime to be on/off consecutively because of the battery pack?

Good luck with your project, could be interested!

 

[delta 9]

I am interested in the battery pack have a wychwood and a woodeez, the wychwood heats up in about 5 min so would be more practical for a battery , have used it in the car while camping and with the engine running the vape got too hot and started to blacken the herb.

 

[treeman]

I'm way interested, especially if it can charge a solo but having variable voltage for a log vape would be very appreciated as mine has no means to change temp at the moment.
I've no clue about electronics so this may not be feasible but frankly with 4 cells its gonna' need a bag anyway so I'd be happy with a unit that took more like 6 or so but provided more power. Again no idea if this is doable or would cause extra complications I've just been let down by batteries before.

 

[Hippie Dickie]

Also, I am thinking it should not be too difficult to support higher voltages than 12.5 even with just four cells. The only problem is that once the cells drop to 3.7 (about 15%) the highest voltage you can run the batteries at is 12.8. But from 100 - 20% of the battery life you can support top voltages from 14.4 - 13.2 or so. How long that capacity lasts is to be determined.

i found a cheap digital voltmeter on eBay that measures 3.3 to 17 vdc :
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mini-Lithiu...305?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f1abd7041

cost is $2.41 each, with free shipping. i got 10. works a treat.

you know my vape is basically a digitally controlled power supply. i use a temperature sensor as a feedback to set the output, but you could use a potentiometer. you would need to change the code. probably overkill for just a variable dc power supply.