Box Mod with Microcontroller

[Ralph]

I'm starting on a mod with a microcontroller to give temperature regulation of the atomizer. If it works out well then I'll probably offer them for sale so I'm wondering what other features people might want. I don't want to go for an automatic switch as initial tests show that even with a decent pressure sensitive switch they are too temperamental. I'll be working with an Atmel ATmega8 microcontroller which has a lot more capabilities than the ones fitted in cigarette size PVs.

[Garrydibley]

All I can say is good luck mate.

I can say is make it drip proof, and offer a good return repair facility.
The drip proof element will make your returns less likely.
Anything other than the normal push to vape will also need a very good instruction manual.
Also pricing will be key.

[iStormUK]

I'm starting on a mod with a microcontroller to give temperature regulation of the atomizer. If it works out well then I'll probably offer them for sale so I'm wondering what other features people might want. I don't want to go for an automatic switch as initial tests show that even with a decent pressure sensitive switch they are too temperamental. I'll be working with an Atmel ATmega8 microcontroller which has a lot more capabilities than the ones fitted in cigarette size PVs.

For me, I would like to see the manual switch somewhere /other/ than they are usually placed.  I picture putting it in my pocket and hitting the thing, and the switches I'd seen thusfar, looked a lil, well, flimsy., too thin with too bulbous a head, I picture it getting caught on something..  But beyond that, I'd be interested merely in the idea of variable heating..

[Ralph]

Here's the progress so far on the test rig - it's a bit spread out at the moment for testing and ease of changing things etc. It'll be much smaller later.

[logandbz]

Looks awesome Ralph! Can't wait to see more...

Is that display going to be part of it?

[iStormUK]

Guess I know why its called a box mod now.   It'll never fit in a tube! ^_^

Love the display though, wondering if, when you use it, it can display approx charge remaining in battery, not for any real purpose, but if adding one I'd be interesting in seeing roughly how much charge, per puff, a person uses to vape.  Could be an interesting thing to watch for, if not in this one, but a future mod, to design better mods in future, by knowing how many volts/amps needed per puff, on average, then multiplied by how long you want it to last.

Looks good so far though, can't wait to see the finished article.

[Ralph]

All I can say is good luck mate.
I can say is make it drip proof, and offer a good return repair facility.
The drip proof element will make your returns less likely.
Anything other than the normal push to vape will also need a very good instruction manual.
Also pricing will be key.

I'm good at the electronics but not so hot on aesthetics of design and machining and I really don't want to spend my time on customer service which I could spend on development. So I'd be more interested in working with a team in creating this rather than going for a one man band.
The Screwdriver is still selling at an incredible price for a torch mod but can't continue to do so given that purpose built machined products are coming into the market at much lower prices. Given that battery technology is rather primitive I expect that the ecig market will move toward larger models which offer the consumer all day vaping with little distraction. So I think the longer term future is a product that has an inbuilt miniature computer to vastly improve and customize the experience.
I've been self employed for many years building custom electronic gear, computer programming and counseling with bio-feedback. I'd be interested in being involved in a business venture on the above lines.

[Ralph]

The display is mainly for testing. It would add quite a bit to the cost of the article but if people wanted custom ones with an LCD then it could be done .
It is not difficult to add a remaining charge indicator to the LCD as a vertical bar display..

[iStormUK]

All I can say is good luck mate.
I can say is make it drip proof, and offer a good return repair facility.
The drip proof element will make your returns less likely.
Anything other than the normal push to vape will also need a very good instruction manual.
Also pricing will be key.

I'm good at the electronics but not so hot on aesthetics of design and machining and I really don't want to spend my time on customer service which I could spend on development. So I'd be more interested in working with a team in creating this rather than going for a one man band.
The Screwdriver is still selling at an incredible price for a torch mod but can't continue to do so given that purpose built machined products are coming into the market at much lower prices. Given that battery technology is rather primitive I expect that the ecig market will move toward larger models which offer the consumer all day vaping with little distraction. So I think the longer term future is a product that has an inbuilt miniature computer to vastly improve and customize the experience.
I've been self employed for many years building custom electronic gear, computer programming and counseling with bio-feedback. I'd be interested in being involved in a business venture on the above lines.

Well, if you're interested, I could write up a user guide if its needed.  I'm told my writing skills are good, though I'd need a model to work with, so by the time I can afford one, it might be quicker to ask someone else, but the offer is here if you want it.

[nickdutch]

How about both power inputs for mains adapters as well as USB passthroughs and 12 volt lighter sockets?

[Ralph]

How about both power inputs for mains adapters as well as USB passthroughs and 12 volt lighter sockets?

That one is already taken care of really - it seems easier to have one pass through/charger that can plug into a mains or 12v to usb converter.

[Malc-P]

Hi Ralph, this sounds a useful idea.

To clarify the atty temp control. I assume this means user definable length of 100% pwm for initial heat-up, followed by user defined pwm % setting thereafter, which can then be set as default.
Would this also include a reduction of the initial heat-up length based on time since last use if less than (say) 30 secs (to avoid frequent use overheating)?
Are you intending to support thermocouple temp control?
Sorry if I sound like the Spanish inquisition.

[Ralph]

What I have been testing is using the atomizer resistance itself to measure the temperature However I find that only half of my atomizers behave as expected and the others have strange temperature resistance changes. The cool down of the coil is very rapid - a few seconds.
There is currently a new design of atomizer being developed with a much more pronounced resistance change with temperature. I was waiting a bit to see if anything came of that before deciding which way to go on temperature control. Thermocouples of any kind that I can imagine have quite a lag in the readings as the actual heater is very small.
I'm building a second test version at the moment with more options and more versatile connection. As I get into it more the complexities appear!
I'll post the next version before long then options can be explored further.