USB Passthrough Dead?

[BrewCityVaporess]

They are friendly but if they can help me if..that I don't know yet. It's a long shot but I will know this afternoon. Anyone in the Milwaukee area know how to do this? I have cash!

[Brooks]

It seems that the 801 weak point is the darn battery switch. The stupid thing sticks. How do I dismantle the battery without destroying it? I would like to mod it to a manual switch....or.... can I get a battery+threaded charger connector+tiny button to make one?

[RazorNribbonz]

I am so technically challenged.. Hell, I didnt even know what a USB port was till I got to this forum lol...And most of the modders directions are still way over my head ( I don't know why they cant talk to my like I'm 5 eesh lol) So far my technical contribution has been > gorilla glue surrounding the wire/LED lol

I spent 30 bucks on my 401 PT..It was so sturdy feeling, cord twice as thick as the 901.. I had such high hopes .. It died after 2 and a half weeks...I was going to print of the directions for my electrician neighbor and barter some art with him..but then I heard about Puresmokers PT with guarantee... I can't wait

[Yirabeth]

I didn't know USB passthroughs needed reinforcing, and mine is starting to do this...I'm ordering another, but is there anything I can do to keep this one going until it comes in?

Just how exactly should I be reinforcing it -- tape over the entire end or ?? Also, is there a 'tutorial' on making them into USB manuals? I'm fairly handy but not having done it before would prefer directions (with pictures if at all possible?? LOL)

[sibelius]

Some background (I'm a n00b!):

• Received a 901 starter kit from e-Smokey Treats June 5th. (2 batteries, 2 attys, plus ordered a 3rd atty as back-up)
• Received a USB passthrough (automatic) from Electronic Ash June 16, and have used it for just about a week. Also ordered an extra 901 battery from them, as one of the batteries that came in my kit was DOA, and is currently being replaced.
• So: I have 2 batteries (one from e-Smokey Treats, one from Electronic Ash, with a third battery in the process of being replaced), 3 attys, and a passthrough

I've had *no* problems at all with the exception of the DOA battery which is currently, (and courteously! ) being replaced.

This week, the weather here in the Chicago area went from pleasant (nothing higher than the low 80s) to HOTTTT (mid-90s to near 100, with heavy humidity and I have no A/C). Amost immediately after the weather changed, everything went south with my vaping hardware.

On the first day of heavy heat/humidity (yesterday), both batteries went completely dead for no reason. No blinking LED - just completely stopped working from one draw to the next. Swapped to second battery (which is only about a week old) and it also was completely dead, even though it was fully charged. When I put either battery in the charger, the light turns green almost immediately, but neither will heat the atty or light the LED. (Tried the gentle 'banging' thing to try to activate the switch, but no response)

This morning (day two of heat/humidity), my USB passthrough is acting up (blinking after a couple of draws - it's not done that since I began using it a week ago). I'm getting little/no vapor unless the atty is freshly topped off, and then I get a semi-decent hit (but not like before) for only a couple of draws.

I'm not sure if the attys are working (all three get warm to the touch when I draw using the USB passthrough, but little or no vapor), or if the USB passthrough is the issue.

Sooooooo... HELP! I've been vaping for about 2 1/2 weeks and within one day, everything went south and I have no idea what might be "broken"! I don't have anything "new" to swap out and test where the problem might be, although I ordered 2 new batteries and 2 new attys from Electronic Ash today (because their shipping is exceptionally fast - didn't mean to go behind your back, e-Smokey Treats!).

I cleaned my attys by soaking for 2 hrs in 50/50 boiling water and vinegar, then rinsing and drying completely by blowing out water and using hair dryer, and adding 2 drops of e-liquid onto the mesh element in the atty. One atty works better as a result, but the other two didn't seem to make any difference. USB passthrough still blinks after a couple of draws using any of the three.

Here are my questions:

1. What does it mean when my USB passthrough blinks? It can't mean "dead battery", or "cleaning".... can it? Is it dying?
2. How can I tell if my attys are dead/dying? (Does the fact that they get warm when I draw mean that they're OK?)
3. Should hardware be expected to last more than two weeks?
4. Is it expected that weather like excessive heat/humidity would effect hardware performance? (Any Floridians who could comment, I'd be very grateful!) If weather is a factor, can I expect things to work again when the heat/humidity let up?

I've been reading quite a bit from this forum and I see so many contradictions. I have no idea what I should expect, and only have a faint idea regarding how to take care of hardware, especially attys, because of the contradictions... (Never clean - just blow; Definitely boil; Soak in Coca Cola; on and on...)

I also see comments that indicate people have batteries/attys that have lasted for months, but in nearly every case, the poster has offered no explanation regarding how/why their hardware is doing so well.

So, Very Respectfully, I'd like to let you know that if your goods are doing well and have lasted forever - I'm very happy for you! (...but I'm more interested in knowing the hows and whys of what made it last... I'm a n00b!)

Any input from the very good folks at e-Smokey Treats or Electronic Ash (I've had great luck with both customer service and delivery from both!) would be much appreciated!

Thanks so much!

[kddowning]

I know this is an old post, but my questions exactly mirror that of sibelius and I see no reply. Did you get answers elsewhere?

I have a USB PT that blinked randomly yesterday and now there is little heating up of the atomizer. I still get vapor, but not warm. Bizarre. I tried with a different atomizer - same thing. This is re: 510 USB PT.

[Dubs58]

I want a PT sooooo bad but I always hear the same thing...great when they are new but a few weeks/months they are junk !

Ive got to make one !

KD, Ive read about problems with cords (connection inside not making good contact) to batteries (inline not charging right) and everything in between ! Why not try calling the vendor where you bought your and ask them about it as well ?

[kddowning]

I used mine hard!!! for 4 weeks... so if it is now junk, I don't consider it a waste of money since I was a vaping fiend and thoroughly enjoyed it and it was not expensive.

Funny thing is it still works, but the vapor isn't warm - that is the part that boggles my mind.

Where is there info to make them?

[deftdrummer1]

I had been using a DSE-510, which is a cheap Chinese passthrough I got from Value Vapor. It had been working fine for about a month with no issues. The cable seemed stout and I was extra careful not to jostle it too much.

Then, after getting a brand new OEM Joye 510 atomizer from Cignot the PT started acting up, but I don't think its related to the atomizer. I am getting the same blinking light after a few puffs and it goes inactive. I have tried many different computers (which previously worked) and I get the same result on all.

Nothing is worse than craving a 28mg morning puff with coffee and having the stupid thing blink back at you. This is supposed to work 100% of the time, that's why we bought it no?

[solaar]

I hope I won't be frowned upon reheating (pun?) such an old thread. I thought it doesn't make sense to create a new one on this old issue.

I'm having the same blinking-but-not-heating problem on a M401 PT after 3 weeks of fairly occasional use. What I can't get my head around is how those things can break out of the blue without any physical damage, bending or tearing etc. There are no moving parts, no battery or other parts that can wear out inside. It's just a cable that transmits USB power to the atty. What am I missing?

Otherwise I can only suspect that there is some sort of timed "expiry" programmed on the microchip that makes them pass out so you buy a new one (?)

A USB PT should last way longer than a battery I suppose.