Eleaf iStick mod with custom top cap, spring loaded 510, 3200mah battery

[david4500]

Top cap is a laser laser cut acrylic from https://www.ponoko.com/

Fat Daddy Vapes spring loaded connector http://fatdaddyvapes.com/shop.html

2200mah round lipo replaced with an 18650 3200mah Panasonic NCR18650BD (didn't take pictures, but it's in there)

[david4500]

The top cap is 4 layers (1.5mm top, 3X3mm) of acrylic bonded with weld-on #4. The acrylic was then wet sanded 320-2000 grit. Polished with blue compound using a dremel and mini cloth wheel.

[Jasen]

I'm still waiting on USPS to bring mine and here you are already modding one 

[timesarerough]

Nice idea, but you should replace the NCR/BD and use a higher output cell.

The BC is a low-voltage, very low-output flashlight battery....so any kind of high drain on that thing and it's just gonna crap out on ya.

The BD hits 3.6V's at 1200mah with a mere 3A drain.

The lipo that you removed is FAR superior and would give you almost double the vape time at the same 3A output.

(The BD = Blue Trace Below)



Realistically, you're not gonna get anything remotely close to 1200mah from this cell because the boost circuit in the iStick is gonna be using the battery's stored power to kick-up the voltage and maintain it there.

So the lower your battery's voltage, the more stored power will be used.

You want a cell that's going to maintain a higher voltage during it's discharge so the boost circuit won't have to work as hard and it won't drain your cell as fast.

Your battery capacity means very little when using a boost circuit; your voltage sag is much more important and will dictate your actual usage times.

This is exactly why peeps are reporting or experiencing very long vape times from the iStick's internal lipo as compared to an 18650 replaceable battery mod.

Cuz the iStick has a high-quality lipo that maintains a very high voltage during it's discharge = much longer vape times.

[wa9w00d]

I love the look of that top!  Congrats on the mod 

So David, if you find that Time's advice sways you, how hard would it be to switch back to the li-po, or maybe a vtc5?

Wayne

[timesarerough]

.....or maybe a vtc5?

There's a much better choice!

Vape times would significantly increase over the BD.

But the lipo would probably still beat it....but it would be close.

[Jackson]

Nice idea, but you should replace the NCR/BD and use a higher output cell.

The BC is a low-voltage, very low-output flashlight battery....so any kind of high drain on that thing and it's just gonna crap out on ya.

The BD hits 3.6V's at 1200mah with a mere 3A drain.

The lipo that you removed is FAR superior and would give you almost double the vape time at the same 3A output.

(The BD = Blue Trace Below)

That's not the same battery in your pic, you are showing a test with the the older, NCR18650B 3400mA a typical 2C rated cell.

He said he chose the new HD Panasonic 18650BD a 3200mAh 10A rated cell.

[timesarerough]

The red trace is an NCR/B (3400mah) [2 discharge lines, red and brownish-red]

The blue trace is an NCR/BD (3200mah) [2 discharge lines, blue and black]

The second discharge for the NCR/BD (black line) is very close to the performance of the NCR/B.

Both cells are low-voltage flashlight batteries and are absolutely horrible for vaping.

The B is even worse than the BD, but it shows very clearly why capacity means almost nothing when choosing the correct battery for your application.

These two cells were made for low-voltage power applications like a tactical flashlight, so unless you plan on using them at 2A or less, your vape times are gonna be abysmal.

If you were to fire this BD cell at 10A...it would go from 4.2V to 3.6V the moment you pressed the fire button.

Which if using it on a mechanical...would equate to a DEAD battery.

Added...

Here's the NCR/BD at 10A



(1st discharge) Red trace = 4.2V drop to 3.6V @ 50mah

(2nd discharge) Brown trace = 4.2V drop to 3.6V @ 0mah

Dead battery

The NCR/B won't even fire at 10A, but the BD will....for about 5 seconds.

Here's the Sony VTC5 at 10A....



VTC5 goes from 4.2V to 3.6V @ 750mah

[david4500]

Two more. Kept the stock battery this time. Thank you for the battery info. I have not experienced any issues as of now from using the Panasonic NCR18650BD in the previous mod.

[camber]

Did you notice better vaping time with the Panasonic?

[david4500]

I only test fired it several times. Quit vaping. I'll have to let a friend borrow it to find out.

[camber]

Thanks for the reply David. Very nice modding indeed.