4.2V to 6V, 1800mAh, USB rechargeable Nicostick

[caesar]

Features:
- 1800mAh (2 x 14500 900mAh Li-Ion)
- constant voltage throughout battery life
- settable between 4,2V (as a freshly charged Li-Ion) or 6,5V (maximum recommended)
- 510 connector and adapters
- USB recharging at 500mA per hour (around 4,5hours for a full recharge)




First step - prepare the box!
Put a USB charging PCB, a PCB to support the 510 connector, route the wires.

Second step: throw in batts and TI regulator + switch.

And 3rd step: vape!

YouTube - 1800mAh 5V rechargeable Nicostick with 510 & cartomizer

 

[peaceoffcake]

Respect.
Where did you buy USB charging PCB and TI regulator?

 

[Guitarslinger]

Same question-just for the recharging PCB-I got a bunch of the TI samples just waiting to be used--Thanks btw..

 

[Pendarus]

How does it switch between 4.2v and 5v?

 

[Charged]

Nice job.
I have the same box on it's way.
Batts are in parallel so you must be using TI step-up reg PTN04050C.

I'm tempted to try Vreg with pwm and FET instead of the switch regulator to give a wider range of adjustment. I like the carto at the end of the vid. Vapor looks great. Thanks for sharing.

 

[dray]

where do you get these pcb's?
willing to sell a completed one?

 

[caesar]

Respect.
Where did you buy USB charging PCB and TI regulator?

USB charging PCB is the same old one I used in all my mods, self-made.
TI regulator was bought from farnell.com

Same question-just for the recharging PCB-I got a bunch of the TI samples just waiting to be used--Thanks btw..

As I told peaceoffcake, homemade. Just like in the classic nicosticks I did.

How does it switch between 4.2v and 5v?

TI voltage regulators can be set to different voltages using a resistor (from 5V to 18V). For 4,2V you have to leave the resistor out and mount a diode from it's output to atty connector. A 1N4007 works a treat lowering the voltage precisely 0,8V (you have to try and measure a few, usually it varies from 0,7 to 1V).

I'm tempted to try Vreg with pwm and FET instead of the switch regulator to give a wider range of adjustment. I like the carto at the end of the vid. Vapor looks great. Thanks for sharing.

That's what I'm doing next too. Extending my charging PCB to incorporate the step-up regulator.

Although stepping it down is easier with two series batts, charging from USB allows just parallel setups at most and calls for step-up boost regulation. A little more complicated.
Still it will be better with a step-up. I plan to have a computer program that can adjust the settings in the nicostick and monitor the battery.

 

[WillyB]

A 1N4007 works a treat lowering the voltage precisely 0,8V (you have to try and measure a few, usually it varies from 0,7 to 1V).

The 1N4007's I see are always rated at 1A... is that what you are using? Seems a little low for a 510 atty.

 

[caesar]

Exactly that!

If you look only at the first page of the datasheet, it states 1A max recommended forward current and you are very correct!

At 4,2V a 510 draws about 1,5A, the diode is safe! Not on spec, but not endangered either.

 

[peaceoffcake]

Nice job

 

[caesar]

Wait till you see my next move!

It's a user settable 4,0 to 6V, constant vapor machine. The same amount of vapor you like throughout the whole battery charge.