Tempest 200W by Council Of Vapor

Commercial characteristics

• Sponsor who has loaned the product for the magazine: Do not wish to be named.
• Price of the tested product: 79.90 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: 200 watts
• Maximum voltage: Not applicable
• Minimum value in Ohms resistance for a start: Less than 0.1

Reviewer comments on business characteristics

If the name of Council Of Vapor resonates in all heads of vapogeeks, it is largely thanks to the genius idea that consisted in releasing the first real mini-box with comfortable power. The Mini Volt had its heyday and paved the way for many manufacturers by creating a special category. A brilliant idea!

Of course, connoisseurs will retort to me that reducing VOCs with just this one box is completely limiting and that many other products have done a lot for the brand's image. They are absolutely right because we are talking about a manufacturer who has reinvented itself and laid solid foundations throughout its short existence.

Today, COV is back to us with the Tempest 200W, a box located on the opposite side of the board. Three batteries, 200W maximum power, a bodybuilder physique, the object impresses. It comes to sweep in a category where the Reuleaux RX200 and some other powerful and bulky electrical boxes have warmly installed, category where more expensive boxes motorized by Evolv are also flourishing, the only category finally where a box can drive a dripper mounted in 0.1Ω without complaining but also ensure a cushy and autonomous vape with less demanding atomizers. 

The Tempest is presented to us at a rate of 79.90 €, which is relatively modest and seductive assets that we will detail below. Really thought to thwart the leadership of the Reuleaux RX200 because wanting to be powerful, autonomous but also user-friendly, it could well make its white or black voice, depending on the color you choose, in the concert of large powerful divas.

Physical characteristics and felt quality

• Width or Diameter of the product in mm: 37
• Product Length or Height in mm: 85
• Product weight in grams: 294
• Material composing the product: Zinc alloy, carbon fiber
• Form Factor Type: Classic Box - VaporShark type
• Decorative style: Classic
• Quality of decoration: Excellent, it is a work of art
• 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 metal on contact rubber
• Number of buttons making up the interface, including touch zones if they are present: 2
• Type of user interface buttons: Mechanical metal on rubber contact
• Quality of the interface button (s): Good, not 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: 4.5 / 5

Reviewer's comments on physical characteristics and perceived quality

What a cannon! It is difficult, in my opinion, not to fall under the spell of the callipyge beauty of Tempest. All in sensual curves and presenting a truly innovative aesthetic, the box displays in all shamelessness its certainly tormented but perfect forms. 

We understand perfectly what the manufacturer wanted to do in view of the result. It is a box that is made to fit the shape of the hand. Each indentation suggests it and it is clear that the grip is really pleasant, on two conditions, however: have a large hand and use your index finger and not your thumb to activate the switch.

Indeed, the size of the Tempest is imposing. Much deeper than a Reuleaux for example and what is a blessing for those who are lucky enough to have generous palmar assets will be a sore for those with small and delicate hands. Ditto, the shape of the Tempest is really made for those who switch with the index finger. If you operate with your thumb, it's a bit like driving your car in the passenger seat… The shape will therefore appeal to you but the grip will either be a revelation, or will generate a firm and definitive “niet”! Difficult to achieve unanimity with such a bias which, personally, pleases me because it is far removed from the usual ergonomic facilities.

But we can largely console ourselves with the display of very elaborate materials that dress the body of the beautiful. The main material is a zinc alloy, obtained by casting, which allows an almost endless variety of different shapes. The rubber paint affixed to the mod has a very voluptuous feel and accentuates the perceived quality. The top-cap and bottom-cap display, in this black livery, a gun metal finish of very good quality. But the picture wouldn't be complete if it weren't for the touch that made the manufacturer famous. This is how we find with pleasure a carbon fiber insert on one side of the box, a sympathetic attention for the fans and an additional seductive asset which accentuates the “sporty” aspect of the beautiful.

The screen is quite clear in the display of information and is spread over a large part of the length of the frontage dedicated to it with a nice mirror finish. However, we can blame it for lacking a little brightness.

The switch is really powerful, simple in its round shape and its metallic appearance, it falls perfectly well under the index finger and is triggered with flexibility. It just has the strength it needs and not one iota more. We find the same principle, in smaller on the buttons [+] and [-], also pleasant. The buttons click a little in their respective places but their operation is in no way altered. On the other hand, I note a downside to underline: there is no silkscreen indicating [+] and [-] beside or on the buttons. This is not really a problem, the [+] button being the one that is traditionally located closest to the screen in this configuration but, in use, when you have to operate quickly, it can be confusing.

The top-cap, on its own, is a work of art. Equipped with an 510 connection whose positive pin is spring loaded, it is provided with substantial air inlets which have been worked to give even more aesthetic meaning to this location. It's as pretty as a beautiful scar and perfectly functional for the rare atos which still take their air by the 510 stud.

The bottom-cap is in the same artistic vein and has a button that allows easy extraction of the battery cradle. This then leaves its housing quickly and presents a battery carousel allowing easy insertion of your batteries. Be careful though! The clues making it possible to know in which direction to insert the batteries are well hidden but they exist. It's up to you to find them, 😉! I add, in order not to frighten you that, the box being equipped with a polarity control, you do not risk anything if you make a mistake in the direction, the Tempest will simply not start. 

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: 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, Clear diagnostic messages
• Accusability: 18650
• Does the mod support stacking? No
• Number of batteries supported: 3
• Does the mod retain its configuration without batteries? Yes
• Does the mod offer a recharge feature? No recharge function offered by the mod
• Is the recharge function pass-through? No recharge function offered by the mod
• 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: 25
• Accuracy of the output power at full charge of the battery: Excellent, there is no difference between the requested power and the real power
• Accuracy of the output voltage at full charge of the battery: Excellent, there is no difference between the requested voltage and the actual voltage

Vapelier's note regarding functional characteristics: 4.8 / 5

Reviewer's comments on functional features

The wall is best seen at the foot of the wall! Council Of Vapor made a difficult choice, but one that seems to work, that of moving away from the functional ergonomics of its competitors and developing its own conception of the use of functions.

First of all, you should know that the Tempest will operate in two modes: variable power or temperature control in Ni200, SS or titanium. No TCR here, COV having focused on the most basic functions so as not to overload the menus unnecessarily. In addition, it is true, quite between us, that the TCR is probably not the most used mode at the moment and that, behind the commercial argument, there is more prosaically a functionality which is hardly prized only by rare geeks. 

In return, the manufacturer offers us three smoothing modes for the signal input, like some Yihie chipsets. Thus, it will be easy to choose between Soft, Standanrd and Powerful to draw the first moments of your puff. For example, if you use a particularly diesel assembly, you will be well advised to position this function on Powerful in order to give a boost to your claptons! Conversely, if you are on a wise assembly in kanthal 0.30, you could choose the Soft mode which will determine a gradual rise in the voltage sent so as not to risk a dry-hit. This feature, whose outlines can be identified very quickly when rendered, is a real plus.

In terms of handling, the modus operandi is different but quickly enters, after a few tries, in your head, proof that the ergonomics were not the poor relation of this box:

5 clicks on the switch turn on the device. 

5 new clicks allow you to enter the menu. Once there, the switch allows you to change the categories and the other two buttons to refine the settings or to confirm them. It is through the POWER OFF menu, for example, that you can turn off the box.

You do not change the power or the temperature using the [+] and [-] buttons and that is probably why COV has avoided naming them thus. In fact, it is by entering the menu that these parameters are modified.

When you are vaping, the [+] and [-] buttons therefore have other functions. The [+] allows you on the fly to recall one of the three memory locations that you can program. The [-] is used to call the Soft (SO) Standard (ST) and Powerfull (PO) functions, which is very convenient.

You will have to read the manual, which is in French among others, to tame the beast but I reassure you, it comes very quickly, all this was well thought out.

In the category of absences that are noticeable: no micro-USB port here. So, no native battery charging, which is reassuring because, we can never say it enough, nothing beats a real charger to take care of your batteries. But no upgrade possible either, which is more of a shame ...

The protections are complete and the Tempest is safe! 

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? No

Vapelier's note on packaging: 4 / 5

Reviewer's comments on conditioning

A nicely decorated black cardboard box, a beautiful box inside, a notice in French, this should be enough for your happiness. But, there is nothing infamous about it. No USB cable, this is normal since, if you have followed correctly, you will know that there is no USB port on the Tempest. This therefore explains it!

A small downside on the instructions. If it is well done and perfectly explains the various manipulations to be done, we can regret that no technical characteristics are specified there, some of which could be useful, minimum and maximum resistances for example ... 

Appreciations in use

• Transport facilities with the test atomizer: Nothing helps, requires a shoulder bag
• Disassembly and cleaning facilities: Super simple, even blind in the dark!
• Easy to change the batteries: Difficult because requires several manipulations
• Did the mod heat up? No
• 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: 3.3/5

Reviewer's comments on the use of the product

Well, don't even think about walking around with the Tempest in your Hawaiian shirt pocket this summer, it won't. Its size and weight will lead you inexorably forward and the harder the fall! 

On the other hand, if the box is made for your big hands, you will take great pleasure in using it. Once you have acquired the few ergonomic novelties, it is only happiness! Reliability and smoothing of the signal, possibility of influencing the start of the curve, power is available whatever the demand, possibility of driver of very large drippers mounted very low and a very sharp and precise final rendering , it is a dream !

The Tempest therefore performs admirably and combines its special beauty with amazing performance at this price point. Joining and even exceeding, in my opinion, the RX200 in terms of rendering, it flirts with the DNA200 or the best Yihie chipsets by the quality of its rendering and its ability to go from a quiet vape to a furious vape with the same enthusiasm, which is quite rare.

I also noticed a rather flattering autonomy, including vaping between 75 and 90W for long periods. You will say to me: with three batteries, would miss more than that… It is exact but the delivered autonomy is, in comparison, much more important than a Reuleaux DNA200 equipped, it also, of three batteries. It even exceeds, in my opinion, the already fairly significant autonomy of the Reuleaux RX200 S. Typically the box style we like to have when we go for the weekend!

In terms of reliability, even if a few days are not enough to get a concrete idea, I note that there was no malfunction throughout the test and that the quality of vape does not vary depending on the discharge of the batteries.

Recommendations for use

• Type of batteries used during the tests: 18650
• Number of batteries used during the tests: 3
• 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? All
• Description of the test configuration used: OBS Engine, Vapor GIant Mini V3, Vaponaute Zephyr, Narda
• Description of the ideal configuration with this product: The choice of weapons is yours ...

was the product liked by the reviewer: Yes

Overall average of the Vapelier for this product: 4.4 / 5

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

The mood ticket of the reviewer

In all sincerity, I loved testing this box.

The ergonomics different from our habits which had scared me a little at the start, ended up convincing me. There is therefore a wide range of possibilities in the matter to be discovered still in the vape and I find it gratifying that a manufacturer may want to shake up the alleged gains, as effective as they are.

The vape is superb, almost as much as the advantageous plastic of the Tempest and adapts perfectly to all styles of vape. 

Of course, this box will not go to all hands, it is its only truly disqualifying flaw. In this area, Wismec did better with a Reuleaux which is certainly imposing but less sensitive to the size of your hand. But, for those who are lucky (or unlucky) to have big paws or spider fingers, it's ergonomics heaven, the box will almost be part of you.

A very good success that comes with a very good deserved note. The Top Mod was not far away, it just lacked the possibility of an upgrade to achieve it. In any case, Council Of Vapor has decided to go on the attack and, if the manufacturer continues in this way, it could reshuffle the cards shortly. Well done !

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