The Lavatube electronic cigarette uses a type of threading for attachments called “510.” You’ll frequently see this number when you browse online for atomizers and cartomizers to try with the Lavatube, because it is the most common threading used today for electronic cigarette attachments. The Lavatube is also compatible with “306” threading, which is slightly less common. With all of the atomizers and cartomizers to try with your Lavatube, you may be curious as to what the best voltage settings are for various types of attachments so you can get the most vapor and flavor possible without tripping the Lavatube’s self-protection circuit or vaporizing e-liquid faster than the atomizer or cartomizer can deliver it to the heating coil. I have tried just about every atomizer and cartomizer that you could name, and I have found these to be the most reliable voltage settings when using these attachments with the Lavatube electronic cigarette.
Low-Resistance Atomizer or Cartomizer
A low-resistance atomizer or cartomizer is roughly defined as any attachment with a resistance of about 1.5 ohms. Using any low-resistance attachment with the Lavatube electronic cigarette, your options are limited because if you raise the voltage too high, you risk tripping the Lavatube’s self-protection circuit, which reduces the voltage to a minimum level to avoid damage to the hardware. Because of the lack of flexibility with low-resistance attachments, I find that the Lavatube electronic cigarette works far better with atomizers or cartomizers measured at 2.5 ohms and above because they allow you to raise the voltage and reach a far higher power level in watts than you could with a low-resistance attachment. If you prefer low-resistance atomizers and cartomizers, I recommend a setting of 4.0 volts with the Lavatube electronic cigarette.
Boge 510 Cartomizer (Atomized Cartridge)
The regular resistance Boge 510 cartomizer generally measures between 2.7 and 3.0 ohms, making it a perfect companion for the Lavatube electronic cigarette. Even when the resistance of the Boge 510 measures a little on the low side, I have no problem operating it at 6.0 volts with the Lavatube. Note that this only applies to the regular resistance Boge 510 cartomizer; the low-resistance version needs to be limited to around 4.0 volts with the Lavatube to avoid tripping the protection circuit.
The link above leads to the best deal I have found on the Boge 510 cartomizer. This deal gives you 15 Boge cartomizers and a free bottle of organic e-liquid for $21.99. Purchased separately, three five-packs of Boge 510 cartomizers typically cost $27-30.
Top-Feeding Cartomizer (CE2 Clearomizer) With Wick
A top-feeding cartomizer — often sold under the name Clearomizer with a clear plastic outer shell — has its heating coil positioned at the top, close to where you would position your lips or a drip tip. Inside this type of cartomizer is a wick that carries e-liquid from the bottom of the cartomizer to a small hole in the side of the heating coil. This type of cartomizer often has a resistance of around 2.5 ohms, so it has the ability to operate at or near 6.0 volts without tripping the Lavatube electronic cigarette’s protection circuit. However, I find that this type of cartomizer design is often unable to wick e-liquid to the heating coil quickly enough to keep up with the high power level generated at 6.0 volts with the Lavatube, and as a result I frequently end up lowering the voltage to avoid getting an unpalatable burned taste. The maximum power level with the Lavatube for a top-feeding cartomizer or clearomizer is typically 4.0 volts or lower.
Bottom-Feeding Cartomizer (CE3, Smokymizer, G4, Bud Sapphire)
The primary problem with a top-feeding cartomizer or clearomizer is that the wick constantly has to compete against gravity. While the cartomizer wants to wick the e-liquid up, gravity wants to push it back down. I feel that bottom-feeding cartomizers such as the CE3 Smokymizer, G4 and Bud Sapphire are far more reliable because they work with gravity rather than against it. You fill these cartomizers simply by removing the tip and adding e-liquid to the tank. As you use the Lavatube electronic cigarette, e-liquid drips through a hole at the bottom of the cartomizer where it is vaporized by the heating coil. These cartomizers tend to measure around 2.4 ohms, but they have no problem operating at higher voltage levels. However, they can’t feed e-liquid quite fast enough to operate at 6.0 volts with the Lavatube electronic cigarette. I feel that the best voltage level to use with bottom-feeding cartomizers is about 4.5 volts.
Dual-Coil Cartomizer
Adding a second heating coil to a cartomizer is a common trick that some manufacturers use to get extra vapor out of a regular 3.7 volt electronic cigarette battery. With two heating coils operating in parallel to vaporize e-liquid, you can theoretically get double the vapor. However, this only works with electronic cigarettes that don’t have protective self-limiting circuitry. With the Lavatube electronic cigarette and other variable-voltage e-cigs, a dual-coil cartomizer is essentially seen as two separate cartomizers and trips the protective circuit almost immediately. You’ll have trouble using a dual-coil cartomizer with the Lavatube at any setting above 3.7 volts.
Tube Tank
The Tube Tank is an accessory that allows the Lavatube electronic cigarette to store up to 7 ml of e-liquid at a time and can keep you vaping for days between cartomizer refills. The problem, however, is that the Lavatube includes a dual-coil low resistance cartomizer — great for other electronic cigarettes, but wrong for the Lavatube. You’ll want to run the Tube Tank at 3.7 volts to avoid problems. However, an even better solution is available: pick up a replacement cartomizer when you buy the Tube Tank. Remove the original cartomizer before you fill the Tube Tank, replace it with the single-coil high resistance cartomizer and you’ll be free to use the Tube Tank at up to 6.0 volts with the Lavatube electronic cigarette. At the time of writing, Volcano sells the high resistance Tube Tank cartomizer only as a replacement. Before you buy the Tube Tank, check to see if Volcano has added a high resistance option — it is almost certainly coming soon.
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