LED removal? - e-cigarette-forum.com • The place for electronic cigarette reviews, news and chat

vapnewb · 09-20-2009, 10:18 PM

I have just a few questions regarding the removal of the LED from my m401.

Would removing it have much impact on my battery life? (this is the main reason why I'm wondering about it.)

How difficult would it be to remove it, and does that run the risk of shorting out my battery?

I assume it would be easiest to remove the whole circuit board. I'm not sure on the mechanics of these things, and I'm not sure if the circuit board only controls the led, or if it also controls the air sensor that operates the atomizer.

Any and all advice or insight is greatly appreciated.

tdstrike · 09-20-2009, 10:26 PM

it's an led, and a tiny one @ that, it doesn't draw enuff power to warrant risking a batt imo, but that's just me, it's your property and you can do with it what you want.

vapnewb · 09-20-2009, 10:57 PM

Thanks man, that's kinda what I was getting at. Before I pulled the ash cap off, I thought the LED was much larger. After seeing how small it was, I began to wonder how much battery life it might actually be eating up.

Well, that's pretty much all I needed to know.

tdstrike · 09-21-2009, 01:53 AM

no problem, it's best to look at the parts to these as expendable, and not get emotionally attached, you can get another color the next time you order replacements. After awhile, it gets to the point of "so long as it works, who cares what color the light is".

buttercrunch · 09-22-2009, 08:39 PM

I have a 510 battery that must have shorted out or something??, anyway, it will take a charge but it won't heat an atty. the funny thing is, the led light is permanently lit up bright as can be, and has been for 5 days now. I'm watching it to see how many days it takes for the led to drain the battery!! so far it looks like I'm in for a LONG wait!!

Ralph Hilton · 09-23-2009, 05:57 PM

I see a 360 ohm resistor in series with the LED so its taking under 2mA and would drain a small ecig battery in around 4 days depending on the color.

Static-Inferno · 10-03-2009, 01:46 AM

actually.... this could IN THEORY stop the battery from working.
In terms of electronics an LED is sort of like a 1 way valve.
LED is short for light emitting diode and before that they were simply indicator diodes.
They only allow current to flow one way and not the other.....kinda like a trap door.... or a bridge with a light in the center.
My thoughts are if you remove it then there will be no current flowing because you have broken the connection.
I suppose you could go to the trouble but.... it's not as simple as snipping wires, matching voltages, and soldering a bulb in. it's printed on a very tiny piece of bread board.

Best of luck if you dive into this.

Scottbee · 10-03-2009, 02:05 AM

The LED is not in series with the atty element. IN other words, the current for the atty does not pass through the LED. It's on its own (semi parallel) circuit.

Just pulled a 510 battery apart and put a white LED in it for giggles. Hadn't realized how bad my eyesight and how shaky my hands had gotten since the last time I did any micro-soldering!

09-20-2009, 10:18 PM	#1
vapnewb Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 3	LED removal? I have just a few questions regarding the removal of the LED from my m401. Would removing it have much impact on my battery life? (this is the main reason why I'm wondering about it.) How difficult would it be to remove it, and does that run the risk of shorting out my battery? I assume it would be easiest to remove the whole circuit board. I'm not sure on the mechanics of these things, and I'm not sure if the circuit board only controls the led, or if it also controls the air sensor that operates the atomizer. Any and all advice or insight is greatly appreciated.

09-23-2009, 05:57 PM	#6
Ralph Hilton Full Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Semmering, Austria Posts: 92	I see a 360 ohm resistor in series with the LED so its taking under 2mA and would drain a small ecig battery in around 4 days depending on the color. __________________ Enter code RAL89P at checkout for a 7.5% discount at Totally Wicked sites.

10-03-2009, 02:05 AM	#8
Scottbee Super Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Okauchee Lake, WI Posts: 1,115	The LED is not in series with the atty element. IN other words, the current for the atty does not pass through the LED. It's on its own (semi parallel) circuit. Just pulled a 510 battery apart and put a white LED in it for giggles. Hadn't realized how bad my eyesight and how shaky my hands had gotten since the last time I did any micro-soldering! __________________

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09-20-2009, 10:26 PM	#2
tdstrike Super Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: base of the Wasatch, Utah Posts: 475	it's an led, and a tiny one @ that, it doesn't draw enuff power to warrant risking a batt imo, but that's just me, it's your property and you can do with it what you want.

09-20-2009, 10:57 PM	#3
vapnewb Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 3	Thanks man, that's kinda what I was getting at. Before I pulled the ash cap off, I thought the LED was much larger. After seeing how small it was, I began to wonder how much battery life it might actually be eating up. Well, that's pretty much all I needed to know.

09-21-2009, 01:53 AM	#4
tdstrike Super Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: base of the Wasatch, Utah Posts: 475	no problem, it's best to look at the parts to these as expendable, and not get emotionally attached, you can get another color the next time you order replacements. After awhile, it gets to the point of "so long as it works, who cares what color the light is".

09-22-2009, 08:39 PM	#5
buttercrunch Super Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Oregon Posts: 347	I have a 510 battery that must have shorted out or something??, anyway, it will take a charge but it won't heat an atty. the funny thing is, the led light is permanently lit up bright as can be, and has been for 5 days now. I'm watching it to see how many days it takes for the led to drain the battery!! so far it looks like I'm in for a LONG wait!!

10-03-2009, 01:46 AM	#7
Static-Inferno Full Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 10	actually.... this could IN THEORY stop the battery from working. In terms of electronics an LED is sort of like a 1 way valve. LED is short for light emitting diode and before that they were simply indicator diodes. They only allow current to flow one way and not the other.....kinda like a trap door.... or a bridge with a light in the center. My thoughts are if you remove it then there will be no current flowing because you have broken the connection. I suppose you could go to the trouble but.... it's not as simple as snipping wires, matching voltages, and soldering a bulb in. it's printed on a very tiny piece of bread board. Best of luck if you dive into this.