Stupid USB charging question

[LuckyCharm]

Originally Posted by yvilla

So when you look at a store, just make sure to get one that lists its output similarly, so you know you are getting one with at least 1A or 1000mA.

Thanks much! I will look for this, and try it, before complaining to, or about, the company!

Cheers,

~~Cheryl

[LuckyCharm]

Well, I bought another USB 2.0 hub, since my original hub was older, I believe (although my computer itself has USB 2.0, since the motherboard is newer, and I've plugged the new hub into the computer's own USB 2.0 port). It has its own power source. And it's still not working. I haven't been able to find this other USB power adapter locally -- is it worth ordering one to try it, or should it be working with my USB 2.0 hub?

Any help appreciated!

Cheers,

~~Cheryl

[yvilla]

Gosh Cheryl, I was so hoping to read that you were up and happily vaping with your passthrough!

I'm not sure what to say. It is now sounding like it may be a problem with the passthrough itself, or maybe the atomizer to USB battery connection issue I mentioned before, but I just don't know for sure.

Again, the diagnostic problem is that not knowing 100% for sure if the problem might somehow be with your computer/USB hub, you also cannot know for sure if the problem is the ecig itself. The only way to know that for sure would be if you were plugged into a USB power source absolutely known to work with a passthrough. The Coby one I showed you does work fine for wv2win.

Want to try gently prying up the center pole of the atomizer to rule out a possible atomizer to battery connection issue? It's the little round part with the hole in the middle of the atomizer at the thread end. The technique is described more fully here:

How to fix penstyle atomizers which don't work on some batteries. Oh and ignore the thread bagging Ruyan Direct, the issue is solved here

[LuckyCharm]

Originally Posted by yvilla

Want to try gently prying up the center pole of the atomizer to rule out a possible atomizer to battery connection issue?

Hmm, well I just tried that, and now it seems I get vape with about 3 out of 5 draws. It's pretty light, though, even after I topped off the nicquid (and this time I got high-strength!)

I don't have a bamboo skewer, only bamboo toothpicks, and they tend to want to splinter off and leave tiny fragments behind. So I tried banging the battery end of the atomizer on a wooden tabletop, like I had read in a different thread. Since it seems to work intermittently, it probably is just a connection issue. Maybe I can look for a bamboo skewer somewhere and try again, if it doesn't start working reliably.

Thanks for your help! I'm so glad we have a forum like this, to keep each other on the vaping bandwagon! There's strength in numbers, so the more of us there are, the better for the rest of us.

Cheers,

~~Cheryl

[yvilla]

Some progress, then, at least, although certainly not very satisfactory. Because you should be getting better performance from a passthrough, not worse.

But, now that you know it's apparently not the power source, you can look forward to the fact that other atomizers could work pefectly well with the passthrough.

[LuckyCharm]

But I ordered 5 spare atomizers with this unit, and one of the first things I tried was switching the atomizer. No luck. Would a thin coating of Vaseline or something enhance conductivity?

~~Cheryl

[yvilla]

No, if anything, grease would hamper it.

You tried all the atomizers? And with the new hub? I would be surprised if none of them worked, unless the center pole connector on the passthough battery itself is simply pushed in way too far. If none of them are working, I think Beci owes you a replacement unit!

[LuckyCharm]

Originally Posted by yvilla

You tried all the atomizers? And with the new hub?

I've tried three of the atomizers so far, with the new hub.

I would be surprised if none of them worked, unless the center pole connector on the passthough battery itself is simply pushed in way too far.

Is it worth risking damaging the battery by poking at it with a bamboo skewer, and possibly voiding the warranty? (Where would I even find a bamboo skewer, anyway?)

If none of them are working, I think Beci owes you a replacement unit!

How much of a PITA is it to do returns to China? Is this company pretty good about returns?

Thanks,

~~Cheryl

[yvilla]

I've never had to return anything from there, although I did buy 2 passthoughs from there (but not the whole ecig with atomizer and passthrough). I had the good fortune of them working fine. So unfortunately, I can't give you any feedback on returns.

I would send them an email right away though and find out their response.

In the meantime, since it's not working for you anyway, why not try prying up the center pole of the battery? You really could use anything, even a tweezer or mini pliers, so long as it's not plugged in.

[LuckyCharm]

Originally Posted by yvilla

In the meantime, since it's not working for you anyway, why not try prying up the center pole of the battery? You really could use anything, even a tweezer or mini pliers, so long as it's not plugged in.

I thought about that, but with one of my units came a warning not to let the battery come into contact with metal. I was afraid that if I wound up having to return it to the manufacturer, they wouldn't honor the warranty due to "tampering."

~~Cheryl