This post may be a little controversial, but I’ll always give you my honest opinions on things.
So there has been a lot of talk in the community about PWM and reviewers “doing it wrong”.
I’ve said numerous times that I’m not an EE, but I “get by”. I do my very best to give you my exact opinion and experience on a device or product, and try to show you the tech side as well.
When I put out reviews of PWM devices, many time I get “scolded” behind the scenes by people far more intelligent than myself. I try to learn from these people and put the information I’ve learned to good use and in future reviews moving forward.
When I review devices that have PWM output and put these devices on the scope, I do show you and chart in average voltage, but I also try to explain to you why it doesn’t “feel” like the voltage I’m showing. I’ve mentioned things like “too much power”, “doesn’t feel like the setting”, “hits the coil with a large voltage”, “needs better tuning”, “duty cycles”, “vmax”, etc. So I think I’ve always known what’s going on, I think I’ve tried to explain what’s going on, but didn’t have the knowledge to express it in a real voltage number. It now sounds like we’ll have a device that will do just that. That’s a very good thing and I hope to be using one soon to more accurately show you what’s going on.
I’m always willing to learn and once learned, I’ll always be willing to share that with you in the reviews and in all my other correspondence.
My biggest gripe with these PWM devices all along is that they have a “voltage setting”, but they’re not really delivering the voltage you are setting it for. They don’t even come close to the accuracy of what I consider to be my reference, The ProVari. I personally feel that if a device is going to have a voltage setting, it should accurately deliver that voltage setting. I think some of these devices would be far better off having some kind of “power bar” that lights up and down as you increase and decrease the settings. A design like that would have prevented much of this hoopla, but hey, everyone is trying to be a… well… you know.
So that is the technical side of all this and one side of the coin, but I always say, “Whatever works to keep you off a traditional tobacco cigarette is the best device out there”. So if you can buy a less expensive device and you can get a satisfying vape out of that device, and it keeps you off of an analog cigarette do you really care? Does the average vaper really care? If you set a device for 3V and it feels like 4.2V on another device does that warrant a thumbs down? Perhaps, but I’m not convinced of that. This is why I put the experience side along with the tech side in my reviews.
A portion of the vaping community will say they’re doing it wrong and will have their own personal beliefs, knowledge, formulas, and equipment to prove that, YET… you push the button and it delivers a satisfying vape. The only difference is that you may need to use a different resistance carto or atty, or set your device to a bit of a different setting. So why discredit a device that is working to keep you off an analog, saved you a bit of money, and could potentially be the favorite device in your arsenal, or the only device in your arsenal.
Now, of course, if this is dangerous to you or harmful in some way, I will instantly change my tune!
Some say that these devices “hit harder”. Well, IMHO they’re actually just pushing more volts but you don’t know that because you think you’re getting what it’s set for. Yet… YOU LOVE IT. So do you care?
What’s the right way and what’s the wrong way? Is there a right way and a wrong way? If all this talk leads to a more accurate setting, then I think overall it’s a good thing, yet I can’t help but think of those people who like how hard their PWMs hit.
Two sides of the coin. Much room for debate. And potentially more vaping drama (which I hate by the way). OYE!
It will be interesting to see how all this plays out.
I’ll continue to do what I do and hopefully… soon… with some equipment that will allow me to do it more accurately.
Bottom line… VAPE ON!!
Off to the KISS concert I go. Wish me luck 🙂
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