That's true, but if they could achieve 4x the current capacity utilizing an 18650 without even making the device 1.5x larger, IMO that's a major win-win compared to toting extra cells.
When you consider the form factor of a typical 18650 ecig set-up, I'm pretty confident the Grasshopper650 would still be easily pocketable. Although I'm one of the dudes that voted long ago to just release the heating assembly as a 510 attachment during the midst of battery troubles.
Keeping cells small and quick to charge is an admirable point, but on the contrary this also puts wear and tear on a cell significantly faster, approaching X amount of discharge cycles in less time than other formats. There's definitely pros and cons to both approaches. Would be kinda cool to have both options, ala Crafty/Mighty
Well it is definitely not a stretch to have the hopper heater tech on higher capacity power storage, but the voltage dip and larger size and charge times will make it more cumbersome IMO. 510 firmware means a dedicated device would be just as simple given HLs core are hardware devs. I don’t think it’s worth their time to supersize the GH. They’d be better off making a universal mains power adapter, no? Or a double barrel battery stackable caddy that fits inbetween body and back-end?
From what I’ve seen, the GHB1 was measured at an inconsistent 6A 570mAh cell. I don’t see how increasing the volume by roughly double would yield 4x the capacity without some wild chemistry change, when that chemistry is already delivering a spectrum of energy tuned for the device. An 18650 would do the same thing as the hopper we know already but last some small percentage longer, cost more, take longer to charge, offer on average less performance per hit due to available peak voltage and current draw, retain more heat, cause the device to be much greater in size and not ultra portable but “are you happy to see me” spec. I don’t know, I’ve never liked the idea. I’m not into thinning phones to a point where they are all meant to be charged daily and replaced ideally annually. But I do consider that there is a right size for the design task, and the GH is that, for what it is, a 100% convection heat exchanger invented to volatise phytochemicals for inhalation, it does it very well. A 510 mod might be a big success, but I’d prefer the GH to fill that void and I think it’s capable to do it. It’s a genius design, and part of that genius is how it’s not a fat marker but subliminal.
If a fat hopper really had 4x the herb processing capability, which is what roughly 2.4g of roasting, I think I’d still opt for the ordinary GH.
Honestly, I don't see how carrying three spare batteries makes for a more compact setup than a single GH650 with a doob tube of herb though. I just don't!
Because it doesn’t require all that extra capacity to comfortably do it’s thing.
The GH is ultra portable, it’s the size of my Dynavap M with 10mm-14mm glass adapter stuck on.
You would want to have spare cells even if they were 18650, and so then it becomes a hassle to have three cells. It’s not a hassle handling 3 GHB2s, they’re thinner than AA cells and shorter than 18650s.
Once I’m charging 3 in 15 mins I won’t be able to keep up. I already can’t with my 4yo battery bank, 3yo Xtar MC2 and 4 old GHB2s.
If I take the GH on a scenic short walk or ride I’d take either just a loaded hopper, or maybe a small stash jar, glass dome, and a spare cell if I was planning on getting ripped. If I’m on a day walk, I’ll have a backpack, so that’s buds, grinder, 4+ cells, loaded charged GH, stoker. If I’m hiking or camping I can pack a bubbler, battery banks, Xtar MC2, 4+ cells, multiple hoppers, multiple claisen adapters, glass dome for mid walk tokes, GH feeder for rapid clean refills in the dark next to the fire, and be set for weeks and with a good amount of herb. I’m not wanting much more than that.
If I’m at home, I’ve got charged cells on the ready around the clock, it takes all of ten seconds to have 4.2V 6A on tap. Charging an 18650 3000mAh takes 4 to 6 hours. I don’t mind it for my dive torch which can last for months because it’s a few times a year I’m taking up my GHB2 bays in the MC2. I flatten hopper cells multiple times every day. I absolutely hate charging my 4-bay box mod, it takes all day basically. With 4x batteries as a heavy user, it’s hard to manage. Having 8x 18650s is like carrying around a laptop, and that’s just for a single spare set. 4x GHB2s = perpetual energy for even my ridiculous Sub level tolerance.
