Well, after doing the Altoid box 5V mod, I just had to make a Nicostick inspired 5V mod using the UCC283TDKTTT-5G3 Texas Instruments regulators I just got as free samples. Since these regulators are a TO-263 package (which is smaller than the TO-220 package I used in the Altoid box), I thought they would be a great candidate for the smaller 3XAA battery box.
In the pics you can't actually see the regulator, it was small enough to be hidden under the switch cover at the bottom of the 3XAA box. My eyesight isn't as good as it used to be (nor are my hands quite as steady as they used to be), so it was kind of a challenge to get the wires soldered on those small leads of the TO-263 package, but with the help of a magnifying glass, it made it much easier to see what I was doing.
One thing that is a challenge on this particular style of 3XAA box is the 14500 protected batteries are really too long to fit in the cell holder, so if you try this, plan on cutting the negative terminal springs in the box to shorten them up, along with breaking off the plastic tabs at the negative terminal ends so the battery will fit the holder without breaking the plastic box or damaging the battery. Since I had to break off the holder tabs for the negative terminals, I just applied a bit of epoxy to the back of the terminals to keep them in place. I also had to apply a small dab of solder on the positive terminals so they would make proper contact with the small button on the protected 14500 batteries.
All parts for this build were purchased from MadVapes LLC except for the TI voltage regulator, which I ordered directly from Texas Instruments as free samples.
Another fun box to build, and the 5V output to the 510 atty makes for a great vape as compared to 3.7V!
In the pics you can't actually see the regulator, it was small enough to be hidden under the switch cover at the bottom of the 3XAA box. My eyesight isn't as good as it used to be (nor are my hands quite as steady as they used to be), so it was kind of a challenge to get the wires soldered on those small leads of the TO-263 package, but with the help of a magnifying glass, it made it much easier to see what I was doing.
One thing that is a challenge on this particular style of 3XAA box is the 14500 protected batteries are really too long to fit in the cell holder, so if you try this, plan on cutting the negative terminal springs in the box to shorten them up, along with breaking off the plastic tabs at the negative terminal ends so the battery will fit the holder without breaking the plastic box or damaging the battery. Since I had to break off the holder tabs for the negative terminals, I just applied a bit of epoxy to the back of the terminals to keep them in place. I also had to apply a small dab of solder on the positive terminals so they would make proper contact with the small button on the protected 14500 batteries.
All parts for this build were purchased from MadVapes LLC except for the TI voltage regulator, which I ordered directly from Texas Instruments as free samples.
Another fun box to build, and the 5V output to the 510 atty makes for a great vape as compared to 3.7V!
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