Tests and Reviews: Dripbox 2 Starter Kit by Kangertech ~ The Vapelier

Commercial characteristics

Sponsor who has loaned the product for the magazine: Do not wish to be named.
Price of the tested product: 64.90 Euros
Product category according to its selling price: Mid-range (from 41 to 80 euros)
Mod Type: Electronic Bottom Feeder + Dripper BF
Is the mod telescopic? No
Maximum power: 80 watts
Maximum voltage: Not applicable
Minimum value in Ohms resistance for a start: 0.1

Reviewer comments on business characteristics

Kangertech, historical generalist manufacturer, has a very nice range touching more or less all the equipment to seduce each vapoteur. We recently owe him the rediscovery or rather the democratization of bottom-feeding, a technique which consists of assembling a mod and a dripper specially equipped to supply the atomizer with liquid by the support of a plastic reservoir located in the box.

This technique is interesting because it allows you to vape continuously on a dripper without worrying about the autonomy in liquid and thus, in theory, to benefit from this quality of restitution of the flavors of an RDA in daily vape, sedentary or nomadic.

After a first Dripbox kit which consisted of the association of a mecha mod and a dripper, Kanger offered us a Dripbox 160 kit which, as its name indicated, associated a 160W electronic box with a BF dripper. Opinions were divided between the renewed interest in this method of vaping inducing a very positive reaction from the consumers and the relative weakness of the supplied dripper which, although offering an ingenious proprietary resistance system, did not quite keep its promises. at the rendering level.

Kanger presents today his Dripbox 2 kit consisting of an electro box derived from the Dripbox 160 but offering 80W instead of 160 while offering the same Subdrip dripper. The pairing of a new less powerful box and a dripper that has not marked the spirits will it be more successful in the rendering of vape this time? We will do our best to verify it.

Offered at a price of 64.90 € and delivered in a complete packaging, the kit assumes its status of all-in-one solution for beginners in bottom-feeding. Available in three colors: white, black and silver, the set-up is ready to seduce you!

Physical characteristics and felt quality

Width or Diameter of the product in mm: 23 for the box, 22 for the dripper
Length or Height of the product in mm: 84 for the box, 26 for the dripper
Product Weight in grams: 274 All inclusive
Material composing the product: Stainless steel, Zinc alloy, PET for the tank
Form Factor Type: Classic Box - VaporShark type
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 near 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 composing the product: 4 for the box, 4 for the dripper
Number of threads: 2 for the box, 3 for the dripper
Quality of the threads: 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: 3.6 / 5

Reviewer's comments on physical characteristics and perceived quality

Since we were talking about seduction, we might as well recognize that the set-up is aesthetically successful. Far from the imposing size of the Dripbox 160, the Dripbox 2 kit is presented as a parallelepiped box with, however, sufficient rounding on the edges to ensure a plastic beauty that is certainly traditional but real. The bevels, on the facade with the screen and the control buttons in particular, are quite successful and energize the silhouette. The back follows the shape of the bottle in a very flattering vertical curve. The designers have worked well and the object is sexy.

Of course, do not expect an hourglass figure here, it is all the same to fit an 18650 battery and a 7ml reservoir bottle. Likewise, the weight is quite substantial, the object is heavy in the hand but its shape still makes it pleasant.

The Subdrip, a known dripper that already fitted the Dripbox 160, sits gracefully on the whole and its size is normal.

The finishes are correct for the requested price and the zinc alloy frame for the box and stainless steel for the dripper do not differ from each other.

Under the box, there is a screw cap to access the battery. I am not a fan of this type of hatch in general but here, it must be admitted that it is successful and that the screw thread is taken naturally, without forcing. Next to it, a simple plate held by two small magnets provides the passage to the bottle in order to take it out and fill it. The hold is quite low but, in use, we do not encounter any particular problems. 18 degassing and / or cooling vents complete the picture.

Inside, Kanger reuses the same system already implemented in previous games to ensure the bottom-fedding of the dripper. A long metal rod plunges to the bottom of the bottle and the hermeticity of the whole is operated by a well thought out stopper. This makes the system leak proof and easy to use.

The control facade is traditional. The efficient switch provides a pleasing click when pressing and falls naturally under the finger. The [+] and [-] buttons are just as responsive. The screen displays and that's good because that's what we ask! But the visibility is good, the strong contrast allows good visibility even in full natural light. At the bottom, we find the micro-USB port which will allow a triple action: the possible upgrade of the firmware, the customization of certain functions which we will detail below and the recharging of the battery.

In this chapter, Kanger is showing a great success.

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: Excellent, the chosen approach is very practical
Features offered by the mod: Display of the battery charge, Display of the resistance value, 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, Temperature control of the atomizer coils, Support the update of its firmware, Support the customization of its behavior by external software, Clear diagnostic messages
Accusability: 18650
Does the mod support stacking? No
Number of batteries supported: 1
Does the mod retain its configuration without batteries? Yes
Does the mod offer a recharge feature? Charging function possible via Micro-USB
Is the recharge function pass-through? Yes
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? No, nothing is planned to feed an atomizer from the bottom
Maximum diameter in mms of compatibility with an atomizer: 23
Accuracy of the output power at full charge of the battery: Average, there is a noticeable difference between the requested power and the real power
Accuracy of the output voltage at full charge of the battery: Average, there is a noticeable difference between the requested voltage and the actual voltage

Vapelier's note regarding functional characteristics: 2.5 / 5

Reviewer's comments on functional features

We have two elements to detail.

Let's start with the simplest: the dripper. This RDA is quite complete and offers a fairly unique possibility since it can work with proprietary resistors but also in pure rebuildable. To do this, it offers a removable tray, initially equipped with double clapton coil and organic cotton for a total resistance of 0.3Ω. It is therefore this plateau that you change in its entirety when you decide to juggle only with the proprietary Kanger resistors.

If you want to mount your own resistors, nothing could be simpler, just unscrew the stud screws, remove the coils present and install yours. It's simple, very smart, and really versatile.

The dripper is equipped with four airholes. Two small holes of about 2mm in diameter will allow you to vape in MTL, as indicated above, namely in “indirect” vape. Two large 12x2mm slots will give you access to a large “direct” vape. To make your choice and adjust the opening of the slits, you will need to turn the entire delrin top-cap, judiciously notched.

The bottom cap or more exactly the base of the dripper, therefore allows you, in addition to the 510 connection, to pass the juice through a positive pin pierced in its center and will receive, by screwing, the mounting plates.

Regarding the box, it offers multiple features that we will check.

First of all, it will operate either in variable power or in temperature control. In variable power, it allows to choose between 5 and 80W from 0.1Ω up to 2.5Ω resistance. An additional functionality, unfortunately externalized by the use of downloadable software here, allows you to sculpt the power curve in order to adapt it to your vape and the reactivity of your coils. It is a pity that this function is not directly implemented on the box because it happens that we may want to redraw this “pre-heat” on the fly without having a computer available to do so. Fortunately, the software allows you to store your personalizations on memories directly accessible on the device. But this is probably not the most practical.

The box also works in temperature control mode with the use of SS316L, Ni200 and titanium on the same resistance scale. You can also implement other resistives, still using the software ... This mode works between 100 ° and 315 ° C.

Five clicks on the switch allow the box to be switched on or off. Three clicks on the switch change the different modes. Simultaneous pressing of the [+] button and the switch allows the screen to be rotated. Pressing [+] and [-] allows, in variable power mode, to call up the memories pre-programmed in the software and transferred to the box. Simultaneously pressing the [-] button and the switch will prevent or allow to increment or decrement the values in W or C.

Standard protections are present and allow to vape safely.

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? Yes
Does the manual explain ALL features? Yes

Vapelier's note on packaging: 5 / 5

Reviewer's comments on conditioning

Here, for once, we are on a cheerful faultless!

Indeed, the packaging is perfectly complete, rare at this price level. We have a black rigid cardboard, on two floors which contains:

The box
The dripper
A spare bottle-tank
A pouch containing organic cotton
A pouch containing two pre-formed spare clapton coils
Spare and mounted tray / resistance
A USB / micro-USB cable
A warranty card
A warning card for the use of consistent batteries
A notice in English and in French

It's Christmas downright and as much to say that the consovapor does not have the impression of being taken for a cash cow! Some European or American manufacturers, who may have been looted by Chinese manufacturers some time ago, should do the same to them by providing such complete packs themselves today 😉!

Just for fun, I can't resist the pleasure of giving you an extract from the manual in French which shows that there is still a “slight” translation effort to be made:

“DRIPBOX 2 packaging came with SUBDRIP and DRIPBOX 2 integral battery and tank with a capacity of 7.0ml. The user can take out the reservoir and pump the suitable liquid very simply from DRIPBOX 2 to SUBDRIP. With temperature control and high power output, the user is left with the pleasure of dripping. Plus, the water drop's replaceable spool will simplify spool change. ”

Well, I am a bad friend but, to be forgiven, I give you a more literal translation: ”Pull the peg and the bobbin will cherra"...

Appreciations in use

Transport facilities with the test atomizer: Ok for a Jean side pocket (no discomfort)
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? No
Has there been any erratic behavior after a day of use? Yes
Description of situations in which the product has experienced erratic behavior

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

Reviewer's comments on the use of the product

As much the bottom-feeding part and liquid supply of the dripper does not pose any problem and does not raise any reproach, as much the rest leaves a taste of unfinished which suggests that Kangertech did not take into account the criticisms which could have been emitted on the two previous opus.

First of all, there will be no miracles, alas, with the Subdrip dripper. Notwithstanding its exceptional system of changing coils by unscrewing the plate and the relative ease of assembly if you choose to make your own coils, it is totally sluggish and categorically reluctant to develop even correct flavors. Here is a dripper delivered as standard with a resistance in 0.33Ω so typical of a sub-ohm cut to create clouds and increase in power. At 80W, the limit power of the associated box, nothing happens. Neither in terms of taste, nor in terms of steam. Of course, we get a relatively large cloud but devoid of density and whose ageusia borders on nonsense. You might as well vape a kettle ...

Curious by nature, I installed it on a more powerful box and I mounted it to 120W. Not much is happening. At 150W, it wakes up a little and spreads a more textured vapor but, in terms of taste, we are far, very far, from the usual drippers, even entry-level, gaping or tight airflow. I pushed the investigation further by making an SS316L 0.32mm assembly to obtain a resistance of 0.6Ω and attempt to use the “MTL” airholes for indirect inhalation but, if the power of the box becomes suitable again, the result is still hopelessly devoid of interest.

The test becomes even more complex by using the Dripbox 2 with a Tsunami equipped with a bottom-feeder pin. With a resistance in 0.30Ω, I still expect to find taste sensations that I know well. And this is the case, the juice is transfigured and finds colors and flavors. But another point bothers me, I then compare the power delivered from the Dripbox with another box calibrated on the same power (80W) and the same atomizer. And the answer is obvious: the dripbox 2 does not send the voltage required to reach the displayed power ... Quick little calculation: set to 80W with a 0.30Ω dripper (the Subdrip), the voltage indicator given gives me : 4.5V maximum! This therefore gives 67.5W of actual power reached instead of the 80W displayed.

I push the test even further. I install a Conqueror Mini mounted in 0.3Ω and I ask for 60W from the Dripbox. She just sends me 45.6W. I install a GT3 mounted in 0.56Ω, the box diagnoses it for me at 0.3Ω. Ditto for the Nautilus mini in 1.5Ω which did not ask for so much !!! If we summarize, the chipset does not send what it promises and simply displays it! In addition, the depth of the 510 connection makes it impractical for most atomizers and when you find one that hits the bottom, the box fires but displays the wrong resistance. If the goal was to make it so that one can only use the dripbox with the subdrip, why then make the two parts removable at the risk of reducing the conductivity?

I drink a coffee, hesitate for a long time, then I go to bed ...

Recommendations for use

Type of batteries used during the tests: 18650
Number of batteries used during the tests: 1
With what type of atomizer is it advisable to use this product? Dripper, Dripper Bottom Feeder, Classic fiber, In sub-ohm assembly, Genesis-type rebuildable
With which model of atomizer is it advisable to use this product? The one provided
Description of the test configuration used: Subdrip, Tsunami, GT3, Vapor Giant Mini V3, Staturn
Description of the ideal configuration with this product: None

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

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

Link to a video review or blog maintained by the reviewer author of the review

The mood ticket of the reviewer

We have here a starter-kit supposed to promote initiation to the joys of bottom-feeding for beginners in the field. In this sense, with the supplied dripper and the proprietary resistors and on condition that the box is set to 80W, we obtain the desired effect but without the flavors. So, if the goal is to vape bland by generating pretty clouds, it is perfectly achieved, but over a very short period of time because the autonomy, with a 2500mAh battery at this power, does not exceed 1 hour of vape.

For those confirmed in this method, turn to other kits more likely to suit you.

Given the mediocrity of the Subdrip and the very facetious algorithm for calculating the box's chipset, given that this same chipset is visibly incapable of correctly detecting resistance, I only have two choices left: that of declaring that “blah, it's not the craze” or that the kit didn't appeal to me at all. I choose the measure by imagining that my copy may be altered and that I had no luck and therefore, I say blah.

I would like, after this disappointing experience that, if you use this set-up, you can post your comments below, just to let me know if you have the same problems, in which case it is the chipset that is involved or if you are happy with your purchase, in which case that would mean that it is the copy I have in hand that is not doing its job properly.

As it stands and with no feedback other than my own experience, I cannot decently recommend this set-up and urge you to do your own testing if you are considering purchasing it.

(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.