ARC 240 by USV

Commercial characteristics

• Sponsor having loaned the product for the magazine: The Little Vapoteur
• Price of the tested product: 80 Euros
• Product category according to its selling price: Mid-range (from 41 to 80 euros)
• Mod type: Variable power electronics and temperature control
• Is the mod telescopic? No
• Maximum power: 250 W
• Maximum voltage: 8.5 V
• Minimum value in Ohms resistance for a start: 0.1

Reviewer comments on business characteristics

United Society of Vape is a Californian moderator who works in collaboration with Novium Product. I did not know this brand which seems to have been created by passionate about vaping and design (at least that's what we find on the brand's website).

It is with the Arc 240 W that I am going to begin this new “relationship”. As you will certainly have guessed, it is an electronic box capable of reaching… .240 watts. Double 18650, color screen, we will see that this box embeds all the usual vaping modes, but it is above all its shape and design that allow it to stand out from other similar products on the market.

80 euros the box, it seems a reasonable price given the proposed menu, remains to be seen what the chef has prepared for us.

Physical characteristics and felt quality

• Width or Diameter of the product in mm: 30
• Product Length or Height in mm: 86.5
• Product weight in grams: 145
• Material composing the product: PMMA
• Form Factor Type: Flange
• Decorative style: Classic
• Quality of decoration: Good
• Is the coating of the mod sensitive to fingerprints? No
• All components of this mod seem well assembled? Yes
• Fire button position: Lateral to 1 / 2 of the tube relative to the top cap
• Fire button type: Mechanical plastic on contact rubber
• Number of buttons making up the interface, including touch zones if they are present: 2
• Type of user interface buttons: Mechanical plastic on contact rubber
• Quality of the interface button (s): Good, the button is very responsive
• Number of parts in the product: 2
• Number of threads: 1
• Quality of the threads: Very good
• Overall, do you appreciate the quality of manufacture of this product with regard to its price? Yes

Rating of the vapelier as to feelings quality: 4.1 / 5

Reviewer's comments on physical characteristics and perceived quality

As I told you in the introduction, our box stands out from the rest of the world by its original shape. In fact, this aspect is announced to you by its surname, “Arc”, because indeed our box has a slightly curved shape. The front and back of the box both follow the same curvature.

The main block is in ABS, but the box is “split” in two by a metal strip (zinc). On one side, this band follows the curvature of the face and features a “light” logo engraving with the name of the box. On the other, it is flat and it accommodates the fire button which is placed in the center of the metal part.

The color OLED screen finds its place on this same strip on one of the small sides. This same side also houses the [+] and [-] - buttons and the micro USB port.

Indeed, the style is interesting, it is design and uncluttered. It inspires a certain ergonomics, but it is slightly upset by the size of an imposing pile of the box. Most of the box being ABS, the weight of the beautiful is reasonable.

Below, we traditionally find the battery hatch which slides a little more than a millimeter, then tilts on an axis to give us access to the compartment.

Finally, the top cap accommodates a spring loaded 510 pin in a 25 mm diameter plate, enough to accommodate atomizers of good diameter without protruding, especially since there is a good millimeter left on each side.

Overall, the quality seems correct and, my faith, we position ourselves in the standards of finish of the level of the range that the price indicates to us.

Functional features

• Type of chipset used: Owner
• Connection type: 510, Ego - via adapter
• Adjustable positive stud? Yes, through a spring.
• Lock system ? Electronic
• Quality of the locking system: Good, the function does what it is for
• Features offered by the mod: Switching to mechanical mode, Battery charge display, Resistance value display, Protection against short circuits from the atomizer, Protection against reverse polarity of batteries, Display of the Current vape voltage, Display of the power of the current vape, Variable protection against overheating of the atomizer resistors, Temperature control of the atomizer resistors, Support the update of its firmware, Diagnostic messages clear
• Accusability: 18650
• Does the mod support stacking? No
• Number of batteries supported: 2
• Does the mod retain its configuration without batteries? No
• Does the mod offer a recharge feature? Charging function possible via Micro-USB
• Is the recharge function pass-through? No
• Does the mode offer a Power Bank function? No power bank function offered by the mod
• Does the mode offer other functions? No other function offered by the mod
• Presence of air flow regulation? Yes
• Maximum diameter in mms of compatibility with an atomizer: 27
• Accuracy of the output power at full charge of the battery: Good, there is a tiny difference between the requested power and the real power
• Accuracy of the output voltage at full charge of the battery: Good, there is a tiny difference between the requested voltage and the actual voltage

Vapelier's note regarding functional characteristics: 3.3 / 5

Reviewer's comments on functional features

The Arc is equipped with the main functions usually present on the electronic boxes of the moment. The VO240 chipset is equipped with a 32-bit ARM processor, capable of generating 240W with a resistance of a value between 0.1 and 2Ω, whatever the chosen mode.

As for the modes, precisely, we find the inevitable variable power, the Bypass and, finally, a TC mode compatible with titanium, Ni 200 and SS316.

The box is of course ensured thanks to the protections: anti-short circuits, reversal of polarity of the batteries and limit of discharge.

There is also a kind of booster (only working in “power” mode), adjustable in the automotive style with three modes: Eco, Normal and finally Sport.

The oled color screen displays the usual constants: power or temperature (depending on the mode), the level of the booster, the intensity of the current in amperes, the voltage in volts, the value of the resistance, the puff counter and the load batteries.

We regret that the box does not keep the configuration in memory when changing batteries and some will undoubtedly regret the absence of the TCR.

Evaluation of the packaging

• Presence of a box accompanying the product: Yes
• Would you say that the packaging is up to the price of the product? Yes
• Presence of a user manual? Yes
• Is the manual understandable for a non-English speaker? No
• Does the manual explain ALL features? No

Vapelier's note on packaging: 3 / 5

Reviewer's comments on conditioning

Our box arrives in a large rather classy black box which adopts a very stripped down style. The box is a beautiful matt black which is interrupted by a shiny black band which takes up in its center the logo of the box, registered thanks to the use of a slight relief.

Inside we find the box, a USB cable and a metal dice which just brings an aesthetic interest since it is of no use in terms of the vape. But the attention is pretty cool.

There is a manual, it is a bit short and unfortunately it is not translated.

A very correct presentation, which is in line with the level of product range.

Appreciations in use

• Transport facilities with the test atomizer: Ok for an external jacket pocket (no deformations)
• Disassembly and cleaning facilities: Easy, even standing on the street, with a simple Kleenex
• Easy to change the batteries: Easy, even standing in the street
• Did the mod heat up? weakly
• Has there been any erratic behavior after a day of use? No
• Description of situations in which the product has experienced erratic behavior

Vapelier's rating in terms of ease of use: 3.8/5

Reviewer's comments on the use of the product

The Arc does not shine for its compactness but it is rather light, which still allows it to find a place in a coat pocket without worry.

The ergonomics resulting from the original design are quite correct but a little upset by the thickness of the box. In addition, it has been designed more for right-handers and may interfere with left-handers.

The navigation in the different settings is quite easy: five clicks to turn the box on and three clicks to switch from power mode to bypass or TC.

The power or temperature setting is made with the [+] and [-] buttons. Simultaneous support on both also makes it possible to change resistive wire in TC mode or to change the booster mode in variable power mode.

Overall, the controls are rather easy to learn, the only big flaw is the speed of the power or the temperature, it will take reflexes worthy of a Ninja to manage to stop on the desired value and the fineness adjustment is done in increments of 0.1 and this, over the entire power or temperature scale ... a bit tedious.

Another potential fault is that the automatic standby is not adjustable, some may find it too fast.

The change of batteries is done without any harm, but my VTC4 batteries tend to wander in the accommodation, so I tried with purple Efest and the same observation. This is really annoying because it causes power cuts and, therefore, resets of the settings. To stay in this item, I noticed an overheating of the Usb port during the test of the recharging function, this confirms that it is better to use an external charger.

An efficient box, which offers good feelings of vape, but which is unfortunately not free from defects.

Recommendations for use

• Type of batteries used during the tests: 18650
• Number of batteries used during the tests: 2
• With what type of atomizer is it advisable to use this product? Dripper, Classic fiber, Sub-ohm assembly, Genesis-type rebuildable
• With which model of atomizer is it advisable to use this product? whatever you like the box is versatile
• Description of the test configuration used: Associated with my Govad RTA equipped with a resistance at 0.5 ohm for the power mode and 0.15 ohm for the TC mode
• Description of the ideal configuration with this product: It's up to you because it really can adapt to all styles of vape.

was the product liked by the reviewer: Bof, it's not the craze

Overall average of the Vapelier for this product: 3.4 / 5

The mood ticket of the reviewer

The score obtained may seem severe but it can nevertheless be explained.

Okay, there is real research in terms of form, even if we had already had this kind of form factor with flaccid type boxes. The realization is well made and the chipset does a good job in terms of the sensations of vape.

Unfortunately, some basic technical choices, such as the lack of memory when changing batteries, give the impression of going back two years when, in fact, the boxes did not have this type of possibility. And frankly it's a bit restrictive ... Especially if we add to that the fact that my batteries roam around in their housing, which causes untimely resets and, therefore, very, very restrictive for the comfort of vape.

The design offers correct ergonomics, but which is hampered by its relative size. In addition, comfort has been further worked on for right-handed people. Lefties will find themselves with the screen and interface buttons in the palm of their hand. Unheard of!

Finally, if we add the speed of scrolling values ​​too excessive, we have an interesting model but that deserves some fixes to stick to the standards of the moment.

It is therefore with a slight restraint that I invite you to consider this box, because it will really be necessary to have a real visual crush to accept all these small defects.

Good Vape

Vince

(c) Copyright Le Vapelier SAS 2014 - Only full reproduction of this article is authorized - Any modification of any kind is totally prohibited and infringes the rights of this copyright.