About a month after getting the Atomo clone from 101Vape.com, I started having problems. The switch would sometimes get very hot, or I would get a shock. It seemed to be worse when I used the knuckle of my pinky to fire, rather than the tip of my middle finger. At first I thought it might be the battery rattle screw that went into the 510 connection. It was always just a few threads away from coming out completely, and was always a little wobbly. I thought that the screw might not be connecting as well is it should, which would cause a short. I switched to a button top battery, hoping the extra length would stabilize the screw, but it didn't make any difference. Then I tried putting some tin foil into the connector - again, hoping to add some stability - but that didn't work either. I tried adjusting the plastic insulator in the switch, loosening it to raise it up, hoping to shorten the length of the screw. Again, no change. I would still get the occasional ZAP while firing the mod.
I found that whenever I changed the battery or made any of these adjustments, it would seem to work for a little while, but eventually I would get shocked or burned again. It wasn't so bad that it made me stop using it, but it was getting increasingly annoying having to readjust everything to stop the problem for a while, only to have it return.
A few days ago I went back to the vendor's site and looked at the reviews, wondering if I might find some clue that would help me fix the problem. Bingo! One review said they were having the exact same issue, and that they were able to fix the problem by taking a switch spring out of an old Vamo and, after cutting it to fit, using it in place of the magnets in the Atomo switch.
When a switch gets hot or discharges electricity, it's because somewhere in the circuit there is a weak link and the electricity will take the easiest path, which in this case was straight into my finger. If the battery wasn't being grounded correctly, that would explain the problem and why a spring would work better than the magnets.
Unfortunately, I didn't have a spare spring. So I sent an email describing the problem to the vendor, hoping they would be able to suggest a solution I could McGuyver on my own. I mentioned the review in which the person said they fixed it with a spring, but said I didn't have a spare spring so I was hopeful they knew of another way.
Rather than dismiss my request (which would have been perfectly acceptable as there was no warranty on the mod), the fine folks at 101Vape replied 'We're sorry to hear you're having problems. We've sent you a spring to put into the switch'.
I've blogged before about the amazing customer service that I've been experiencing with the e-cig industry, and here is yet another example. The Atomo clone was only 19 bucks. The vendor had no obligation to even try to help me or bother with my inquiry at all, and yet they immediately responded and put a spring in the mail, which I received in two days.
I got the spring this morning, and I've been vaping all day on the Atomo and haven't been shocked or had the button heat up once. It worked like a charm. I went back to the vendor's site and sent them a message thanking them again and letting them know that the spring fixed the problem. They instantly replied, thanking *me* for letting them know how it worked out. How cool is that? Talk about going the extra mile. Not just sending me a free spring, but then taking the time to thank me for the feedback about it.
I am truly impressed.
I found that whenever I changed the battery or made any of these adjustments, it would seem to work for a little while, but eventually I would get shocked or burned again. It wasn't so bad that it made me stop using it, but it was getting increasingly annoying having to readjust everything to stop the problem for a while, only to have it return.
A few days ago I went back to the vendor's site and looked at the reviews, wondering if I might find some clue that would help me fix the problem. Bingo! One review said they were having the exact same issue, and that they were able to fix the problem by taking a switch spring out of an old Vamo and, after cutting it to fit, using it in place of the magnets in the Atomo switch.
When a switch gets hot or discharges electricity, it's because somewhere in the circuit there is a weak link and the electricity will take the easiest path, which in this case was straight into my finger. If the battery wasn't being grounded correctly, that would explain the problem and why a spring would work better than the magnets.
Unfortunately, I didn't have a spare spring. So I sent an email describing the problem to the vendor, hoping they would be able to suggest a solution I could McGuyver on my own. I mentioned the review in which the person said they fixed it with a spring, but said I didn't have a spare spring so I was hopeful they knew of another way.
Rather than dismiss my request (which would have been perfectly acceptable as there was no warranty on the mod), the fine folks at 101Vape replied 'We're sorry to hear you're having problems. We've sent you a spring to put into the switch'.
I've blogged before about the amazing customer service that I've been experiencing with the e-cig industry, and here is yet another example. The Atomo clone was only 19 bucks. The vendor had no obligation to even try to help me or bother with my inquiry at all, and yet they immediately responded and put a spring in the mail, which I received in two days.
I got the spring this morning, and I've been vaping all day on the Atomo and haven't been shocked or had the button heat up once. It worked like a charm. I went back to the vendor's site and sent them a message thanking them again and letting them know that the spring fixed the problem. They instantly replied, thanking *me* for letting them know how it worked out. How cool is that? Talk about going the extra mile. Not just sending me a free spring, but then taking the time to thank me for the feedback about it.
I am truly impressed.
