Discussing the NicoStick

[timomo]

Made my mod today! Gives a great hit. What I used for the connection was an RCA jack bent to fit my Atty (501). wanted to post some pictures but can't find my cable to download to the computer.

[opuscroakus]

What I used for the connection was an RCA jack bent to fit my Atty (501).

Would really like to see this part! Hope you find your camera cable soon!

[boondongle]

Will this battery mod give me a stronger hit that the 901 that I have been buying/using?

Not really. It will give you a hit similar to the first hit off a freshly charged 901 battery, but it will do it for hours.

I'd prefer a hit more like my passthrough... Do I need to try a 9volt battery mod?

A 9v battery will fry your atomizer almost instantly. The highest voltage people have used consistently is around 6v. If you want a hit similar to your passthrough, you're looking at 5v. You can do that a variety of ways -- use an inline resistor to drop the voltage, use a voltage regulator to either drop the voltage down from 7.4v (two batteries) or up from 3.7v (one battery), or you can use a switching regulator. I'm not really the guy to explain all those, since I've only ever used one of those methods, but I'm sure you can find explanations with a bit of searching. Or, you could try building a mod using 1.2v nimh rechargeable batteries -- three will get you to 3.6v, or four will get you to 4.8v (almost what your passthrough does).

The atomizer connector is confusing to me. I'll have to read more on that, because I'm not even sure what to buy there. To start with we will probably use an old battery. I get how to do that. I think...

You can get a 901 connector from a dead battery, or use Nerf's connector service, or use a size M or N panel mount coaxial jack (available at RadioShack), or buy them from AltSmoke.

Hope that's helpful.

[rfun6]

Guess what my hubby made me, yes my first NicoStick ! Its so pretty. I have to thank all who posted pictures and instructions, that helped us get it done. It works great ! Thanks Nerf for the parts, I ordered! I used the wired one you sent, and it's wonderful.
Folks keep posting pictures and instructions. It makes it go so much easier when you have help.
Thanks

[seadooman]

Just made my first Nicostick,my question is, I would like to charge from the OEM charger threaded right onto the nicostick.I'm useing a protected AA Ultra-fire battery, and have 1 main on-off switch and 1 pshbutton.Can I use a diode from the battery connector to the switched side of the battery and have it charge?

[gropeforluna]

This is a great-looking mod, and I'm very eager to try it out. I've decided to use the threaded end from a 401 atomizer to use for my 510 atomizer connection (since I had one around). Can anyone suggest a good way to remove the center connector without ruining the little grommet separating it from the outer ring? Thanks for any help!

[boondongle]

Just made my first Nicostick,my question is, I would like to charge from the OEM charger threaded right onto the nicostick.I'm useing a protected AA Ultra-fire battery, and have 1 main on-off switch and 1 pshbutton.Can I use a diode from the battery connector to the switched side of the battery and have it charge?

If I'm understanding you correctly, you want to use the charger that came with your device to charge your nicostick. I don't know, but your basic concept seems sound. Have an unbroken negative wire from the battery to the atomizer, have the positive wire from the battery to the atomizer broken by the kill switch and activation switch, then have a second positive wire with a diode to prevent it from firing the atomizer. I don't have any experience with diodes, but this makes sense. Two problems come to mind with this setup, though. First, the charger that came with your device will take forever to charge a 14500 battery. Well, not forever, but several hours, I'd imagine. Second, unless you keep a length of the battery shell attached to the connector, you won't be able to screw it into the charger, since it's made for a long tube, not a flat box.

Can anyone suggest a good way to remove the center connector without ruining the little grommet separating it from the outer ring? Thanks for any help!

I've never had a problem with the insulator being damaged, and I'm not exactly gentle. Others have reported this happening, but I have no idea how common it is. I think if you're careful, you'll do fine.

[nick76]

I have one question and won't feel comfortable attempting this untill I get a clearer picture. I have a dead 510 battery i would like to use as the connector for this NicoStick. But how am I supposed to disassemble the battery? When i look into the connector of the battery the positive part and the negative part seemed to go connected, are they? Do I just rip it out w/ pliars? I don't want to cut this thing because i don't want to melt my hand off with battery acid!

Let me know how I should go about doing this, I am generally optimistic, thank you!

You can use a coper tube cutter, at Sears sale for $6-12.


Nick

[seadooman]

If I'm understanding you correctly, you want to use the charger that came with your device to charge your nicostick. I don't know, but your basic concept seems sound. Have an unbroken negative wire from the battery to the atomizer, have the positive wire from the battery to the atomizer broken by the kill switch and activation switch, then have a second positive wire with a diode to prevent it from firing the atomizer. I don't have any experience with diodes, but this makes sense. Two problems come to mind with this setup, though. First, the charger that came with your device will take forever to charge a 14500 battery. Well, not forever, but several hours, I'd imagine. Second, unless you keep a length of the battery shell attached to the connector, you won't be able to screw it into the charger, since it's made for a long tube, not a flat box.



I've never had a problem with the insulator being damaged, and I'm not exactly gentle. Others have reported this happening, but I have no idea how common it is. I think if you're careful, you'll do fine.

Well I made one w/ a M201 battery connector and had to leave it sticking out far enough for the atty to thread over it,tried charger already and it makes contact w/ room to spare,and already just use my e-cigar charger,yeah w/ a dead battery takes about 3 1/2 hrs to charge,just wondering if charger would work properly thru a diode?? I guess I'll pick one up this weekend and give it a try..
Thanks

[seadooman]

Has anyone used this switch in there Nicostick?? Just would rather not waste the money if it won't fit in a AA battery box.
Mini SPDT 3-Amp Momentary Pushbutton Switch - RadioShack.com
Thanks