iQuit

All good points, guys.
I would probably not use and announce comp's business model post 8/8, for privacy/security reasons. Not being a nanny or telling y'all hat to do.  
Just looking out for fellow vapors' well-being and their means of earning a living.
Cheers guys. 

I loved my E-Mechs!! They are solidly built. I had 3 when they first came out, and I have long ago pif'd them away. 2 of the 3 are still working great I'm told. The other one was lost. RDAs great on this mod, but keep in mind it is only 30W so it is dependent on coil build. IIRC, I used mainly magma and vulcan RDAs, and orrchid RTA on this one when I had it.

@earthling It's a dual cell series, not parallel. Thisis why Emech never had the chance to take off. They came in very late with the 30W. By the time this was released,  the wattage war has already started. 
For 15 bucks, call yourselves a bandit. It's a steal.

I loved my E-Mechs!! They are solidly built. I had 3 when they first came out, and I have long ago pif'd them away. 2 of the 3 are still working great I'm told. The other one was lost. RDAs great on this mod, but keep in mind it is only 30W so it is dependent on coil build. IIRC, I used mainly magma and vulcan RDAs, and orrchid RTA on this one when I had it.

@earthling It's a dual cell series, not parallel. Thisis why Emech never had the chance to take off. They came in very late with the 30W. By the time this was released,  the wattage war has already started. 
For 15 bucks, call yourselves a bandit. It's a steal.

http://www.fda.gov/TobaccoProducts/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/Retail/ucm228914.htm
Surprised to see CA gets the lion share (monetarily speaking) by a lot compared to all other states. 

Whaat? I did not know that. But glad you took the reins back.  Of course now that I have mellowed out on my shopping binges, now I can actually request stuff through you . Better late than never.

Well in all fairness I hadn't actually owned Vapor Talk since 2012 (though many weren't aware) But then the door knock came "uh...so yea we screwed the whole thing up. Can back?"  Me as if I'd walked into a bedroom with 17 5 years old: "what....the hell have you done" 
No but this is actually a great thread. We carry both the Nautilus Coils & the Hercules but if it's not the right ohms etc let me know and I'll get them in my tomorrow evening. Also, customer notes say "chris you're awesome how bout' some free swag" always result in free stuff if I see it in time  If that doesn't work perhaps I can lure you with some Werther's Original. It works wonder on kids and adults alike. 

Wish you started this thread a year or two ago.  

Wish you started this thread a year or two ago.  

I struggled with with this quite a while.  I was originally taught to calculate everything like a mechanical mod, but it didn't make sense.  How could a battery at 4.2 - 3.5 Volts supply 6+ Volts to the coil.  It took an "old timer", from another board, quite a few posts to get it beat into my thick skull...lol
The battery can't supply a constant voltage, but it will supply a constant power (watts).  You are exactly correct, as voltage drops, your Amps go up.  The difference at 75 watts goes from 19.84A with a fully charged battery (4.2V) to 23.81A with a battery at 3.5V.
I am like you, I really enjoy the nerd discussions.  Poor @Edna gets caught up in my OCD, Nerd Rant when she is just asking about how to extend battery life...lol
Bottom line for you @Edna is that if you are using a regulated mod and running 25 - 30 watts, a HG2 or Samsung 30Q batteries would be a great investment for you.  You will notice a difference.  I run a NEBOX at 25 watts.  With the HE2/HE4 batteries, I change them before I leave work (5:00) but with the HG2 or 30Q, I normally change them late in the evening around 9:00 - 10:00.  I personally keep 6 (or more) charged at one time, but I never know when I am going to have to jump and run out of town for work.

I agree the data needs to be updated.
One thing to think of with the configuration of the batteries is that with a regulated mod it really doesn't matter.  As you know, on a series mod your amp value is the that of the single battery (2-20A batteries in a series has approximately 20A capacity @ 7.4V) with a parallel mod you spread the load between the batteries (2-20A batteries have a 40A capacity at 3.7V)  The funny thing is the math works out the same for both - 75W/7V*1.1=11.79A pulled from the batteries in a series mod & 75W/3.5V*1.1=23.57/2 cells = 11.79A in a parallel mod.
Now something I really need to figure out is how a triple 18650 mod works.  Are these regulated only?  I checked the RX200 the other day and they are wired in a series, so you have 11.1V available.  The DNA 200 is the same way with a lipo pack or.  How would one correctly calculate the battery draw on it.  I have always calculated it like the normal Variable Wattage mods, but am not 100% sure this is correct.   It does have a 2 completely different circuits, but, I don't know...
TC does add a layer of safty and complexity to a mod.  In preheat you might exceed you max amperage draw for a split second, but with all of mine it quickly regulates the power (watts) quickly down to maintain temp.  So your amp draw should be much less, but this has never resulted in a longer lasting battery, for me anyway.
Sorry, I go all nerdy at the drop of a hat!
I really can't explain why your batteries would degrade that fast.  I have not had many batteries that have "gone bad" on me.  In fact most of the time, they just die.
I feel like you will like the HG2s much better than what you have. The 30Q is exactly the same as the HG2 in my opinion.  (there are differences, but  I have found that due to the popularity of the HG2, I could pick up the 30Qs cheaper

Glad I started this Thread It seems to have put a Fire under Christopher's *** to get the V/T store back on track

I usually rotate 2 set-ups, 3 at the most... and always at home as I no longer vape when out (personal preference)... don't  need to anymore.

There has been a lot of talk about having 2 more years before things can get better or worse. I have been hearing that manufactures have until Dec 31st of 2016 to register their companies. This will involve a cost. Unsure of what that amount will be. Then there is a Feb date in 2017 that manufactures need to submit a list of every product sold, Ingredient of each product, where you buy the ingredients and testing results on each ingredient yada yada.
Start watching this video at around 1:11:00 They do talk about what is coming in August before this, this is where Demitri and Phil start talking about the other upcoming dates.
 
I'm in no way inciting a panic. Please understand we are all trying to understand what is coming down the pike so to speak. You may or may not see a large drop in stores because of this alone. When things affect suppliers they affect consumers. Please take the time to learn what is ahead. Most of all support the fight as best you can.
 

Majority of vapers' concern is running out of juice, or vaping gear malfunctioning  inopportunely, and not having back-ups on hand as it could drive one back to analogs, if it were to happen.  If you already have reliable back ups, you can pick up supplies on your own terms, or when disposable funds are more readily available.  Within 2 years, you will be surprised how much "back-ups" you can have.

I am a prepper. Not just in vaping but as a lifestyle. So I have a lot more than an average vaper have. I have not purchased any vape supplies and gear in 4 mos, and really do not need anything else (35+ mods, and lost count on how many atomizers I currently own lol)  unless something shiny catches my eye, or it is on sale. Building my own coils and making my own juice helps a lot too, and makes hoarding supplies  more manageable. I still buy premium juice just to try something new, and lots of great deals come 4th of July (if you are in the US). 

For right now not much, I have ordered another liter of 100mg Base for my DIY, which means I will probably have a 20 year supply since I use 4mg juice. I rebuild my coils so there isn't much to do there. I currently am using 5 mods that use 18650 batteries, also have 3 mods that are unopened, so I'm OK there. I also have 11 tanks that I use in rotation, and 6 more that are still in the box. Awhile back I got 10 extra RBAs for my subtanks, so OK on tanks too. The people that will be hit the hardest after 2 years are the ones that are just starting to vape. Keeping juice in the freezer will help on the shelf life, I have some nic base in the freezer that has been there for at least 2 years, and is just as clear as the day I put it in there. In my opinion you can either stock up or wait to see what happens, I'm kind of doing both. I can't see big companies like Kanger, and joytech throwing in the towel, they will fight back. I think the juice will be higher priced, and maybe the hardware, but the industry will survive this FDA mess.

This came in yesterday. Council of Vapor Mini Volt mod and a Royal Hunter Mini rda.
This little mod hits like a beast for only 40 watts, and the flavor i get from the rh mini rda is phenominal.

I just think it's wrong to fall in to the trap of attacking ourselves.  This is an age old trick, my friends.  The. enemy thrives on turning us against ourselves. It's all they have. They don't have the truth or the science behind them so they have to generate propodanda in an effort to create I'll will towards us and if they can turn our sight on ourselves then guess what? They get to sit back and watch us squabble amongst ourselves.  These anti-Rip YouTube vlogs by twisted420 and others are NOT HELPING.  They are backyard gossip over the fence distractions that only serve the anti-vaping enemy. 
 
The correct thing to do is IGNORE it all.  Ignore Rip's video and stop the infighting. It's ridiculous.  Rip should take responsibility himself for his own contribution to the mess but this pointing fingers at Rip thing only hurts us.  Vapor Joe and Twisted420  et al just look bad for the vamping community too.
That wasn't aimed at anybody personally. We all know Rip blew it.  He should fix it himself.  

Ouch.  
It's a blow but not a knock out punch. The Cal Dept of Pub Health isn't fooling anyone. They can keep cutting there own throats as far as I'm concerned. These big propaganda machines eventually crash.  Maybe it'll lead to some truth and reform in California.  One can hope, I guess. 

Im no RT fan particularly.  But what exactly did he do that was shady?  And I watched the video. He doesn't make any claim that vaping caused hypothyroidism.  Is it somewhere else? 
He used his mass appeal and wide fan base to plug a product.  So what?  Is that the controversy?  We have known for a long time that vaping causes dehydration. All of his symptoms are symptoms of dehydration.  He plugged an electrolyte.  My gawd. Round up the boys. Let's go lynch RT. 

I have not got a Herakles Plus yet.  I do like the way it looks, and the new design features.  My top 2 tanks, that I own, at this time are the Crown, and the TFV4 mini.  So far the Crown gets more use, but that may be just because I run a more preferred flavor in the Crown.  I am also very interested in the Aromamizer.  @iQuit has given it a thumbs up, and our vaping styles are very similar.  I think @cany has a Herakles Plus, hopefully he will chime in.

I have the Herk plus paired with my realoux Rx200   Im diddin the Herk a lot its got flavor/clouds Im still using the stock coil that came pre installed and its still going strong. It has 2 airflow options both wide open is a bit much for me I use the bottom one wide open only .  Fot the price of this tank Im going to be getting a second

First, I operate between 25% and 50% of the design capacity and I figure that operating there is putting less stress on the mod ever would result in it lasting longer. Second, with 3 batteries, although they be in series, will last longer and give you more vape time. This is a result of a bucking circuit in the mod that bucks the voltage town so that way you get a little bit longer life out of the battery.

Great topic! It is a little hard for me to classify "best", as my favorite changes from week to week... and I am both mouth-to-lung and direct-lung vaper. 

My best for the past couple of weeks so far are:
Best Battery - LG HG2 and Samsung 25R (I vape from 18W to 90W and everythng in between) for reliability,  performance and price point.
Best Mods
Kangertech KBOX(1st version)for my out and about mod. Wismec Realeaux RX200 for battery life, power range, and TC function - used mainly at home and in the office. Best Tank
Tube RTA (Limelight) deck with Kayfun V4 tank and chimney for a slighlty airier MTL experience, and one of my top flavor tanks. Steam Crave Aromamizer RTDA for my lung hitter. Great in both flavor and vapor production. Best Starter Kit - I cannot recommend what I used. haha But if it were available when I started, or now just starting vaping I'd go with a Kangertech Subtank mini, and Joyetech evic  VTC mini combo for it's versatility, affordability, and proven track record.
 

We frequently get asked, "What's the best..." from new members / new vapers on this forum. "Best" is a very subjective thing in the world of vaping. What's best for one person will not work for another. Yet, despite us saying this over and over and over again... we still get asked the same questions.
What's the best battery?
What's the best mod?
What's the best tank?
What's the best beginner's kit?
Let's have a discussion. What's the best for YOU and why is it the best?
Okay... go! 

Vape gear can be very confusing to new vapers. I was when I first started. Even though I did some research online (not on any forums, just googled starter kits), I felt that I could have made a better choice. For anyone looking into vaping, I would recommend going into a vape shop and see which ones feel right to you.

Below is just an abridged version of different types of mods and atomzers. Pros and cons on each are not covered, and neither is safety nor battery info. I think we have stickies for that, if it is a tad dated just ask as plenty of helpful and knowledgeable folks here.

Cigalikes - These are the ones commonly found in gas stations and convenience stores. As the name implies, this mimics a cigarrette in appearance and size. They come in both disposable and rechargeable variety. These are closed-end systems which means you have to buy pre-filled carto for juice.

Vape Pens -  These are the bigger cousin of cigalikes and commonly called ego batteries. Some have variable voltage although limited. It is paired with disposable clearomizers with ego threading just like CE4, CE5, etc. There are also clearomizers where you only replace the coils just like Evods, Aerotank, protank, etc

Mechanical Mods - These are simple devices that gives you a more customizable experience compared those mentioned above, but requires good knowledge of Ohms Law and battery safety. In short, the atomizer resistance you use dicates how much power you draw from your battery cell. They also come in tube or box configuration. Usually used by intermediate vapers.

APV (advanced personal vaporizer) Mods -  These have at least one or more of the following features - Variable Voltage (VV), Variable Wattage (VW), and Temperature Control (TC), and they also come in both tube and box type mods. Some have built-in batteries, and others have replaceable Li-ion/Li-Po batteries.
Variable Voltage - Just like a mech mod where the resistance dictates the power draw on your battery cell but now you can set the voltage to fine tune how much power you are drawing consistently. The range of voltage you can choose from depends on the circuitry of your mod. For example, if using 1.8 ohm atomizer @ 3.7 gives you 6.8 W. The same resistance @ 4.2 gives you almost 10W

Variable Wattage - The circuity allows you to choose from a range of wattage rgardless of what resistance you are using. The mod circuitry adjusts the voltage accordingly for you to reach the desired wattage.
Temperature Control - This is the newest evolution in vaping. As the name implies, the mod controls the power draw once the set temperature is reached. This is achieved by using special reisitance wires like Ni200 (Nickel), Titanium (T101), and Stainless Steel wires.
Atomizers - come in both open-end and closed systems, and can be very confusing.
Cartomizers  - I will only refer to the ones used in cigalikes. These are pre-filled with usually 1-2ml of e-liquid, and disposable when it runs out. 
Clearomizers - You have disposable and replaceable stock coil and wick variety. CE4, CE5, etc are disposable kind. These are ego threaded and meant for ego mods but can be used with 510 threaded mods with an adapter. Nautilus and Kanger aerotank, protank, etc  have replaceable stock coils. However, some categorize sub-ohm tanks as clearomizers also. I do not know why. But I think anything that has a replaceable stock coils is a clearomizer (and the disposable too). All else can be can be categorized in RBA (Rebuildable Atomizers).
RBA - Anything that does not use a stock coil. You build and wick it yourself. Under this category you will hear/read about RDA, RTA, Genisys and RDTA.
RDA ( Rebuildable Dripping Atomizer) - An atomizer where you drip the liquid onto the coils directly. 
RTA (Rebuildable Tank Atomizer) - Just like an RDA but it has a tank or resevoir that holds e-liquid, and it is refillable either from the top, side or bottom.
RDTA (Rebuildable Dripping Tank atomizer) - In essence, it is RDA with a reservoir. Earlier versions of it has spring mechanism that when pressed feeds tiny amount of liquid onto the coils or the deck where the wick feeds from. Newer generation of RDTA has no need of lever mechanism to release liquid. I do not know how to explain it haha. In short, some sort of gravity/pressure feed.
I am sure I missed a few things so please feel free to add or correct any mistakes.