A noobie's question on USB Passthroughs??

[asen_y2k]

Hi, I just ordered a direct usb passthrough from a supplier listed here. And I have a question, if I am not near a computer which is the best AC-USB adapter I should use??

Here is the Passthrough-5V 510 Manual USB Passthrough in 4 colors(With no Battery) [A-03-1-01] - $10.00 : Healthcabin Electronic Cigarettes - Wholesale and Retail--

Here are the two types of AC-USB adapters I have at home-

The white one is an iPad charger

Specs-Output-5.1V 2.1A

The black one I had received when I bought my first e-cig starter kit

Specs-Output-5V 500mA

Which one is the best to produce max vapor and long life of atomizer I am completely new to the passthrough concept! Please help!

 

[markfm]

The one rated 2A output is fine, the one saying 500mA is too small for a normal PT, you want one rated 2A (2000 mA) output.

Make sure to only use cartomizers or atomizers with 2.5 or greater ohms resistance.

Don't try to run the PT off your computer.

 

[asen_y2k]

Damn it I ordered a 2.2 ohms atomizer
Here- [Joyetech] Joye 510 T(Tank) atomizer with Logo [A-15-3] - $7.50 : Healthcabin Electronic Cigarettes - Wholesale and Retail--
You think it may work??

 

[markfm]

2.2 is too small. I = V/R, 5.1/2.2 = 2.3A. This is beyond what the power supply is rated for, so I would not use it.

 

[asen_y2k]

Damn, I have no other choice, ordered it already

 

[asen_y2k]

Would it atleast produce some vapor so the money did not go to waste??

 

[markfm]

The ipad charger would probably work, though you will be outside of device specifications. It might sag the iloutput voltage, to a little under 5v, to hit a point where the total watts to the atomizer is within what the supply can provide.

I would try contacting the vendor, see if they can switch to a higher ohm atomizer. My training tells me to stay within manufacturer specifications. If you are stuck with the lower ohm atomizer, order a new one, higher ohms, switch to it ad soon as it comes in.

 

[Foxfur]

If you want to play completely within the rules, do as markfm said and switch up to 2.5ohm. You'll still vape like an ape and can still use the 2.2's on a battery (>650mAh).

That being said, I'd personally try it. Check the wall adapter case every few minutes to be sure it's not too warm. Since it is not a constant load, not drawing current continuously, it should work fine. Modern switching power supplies that have UL / CSA endorsement symbols on them are built to allow 10-15% continuous overcurrent. The small magnitude and duration of current excursion with such a device should be safe.
Mud in yer eye!

 

[Foxfur]

It was so nice I posted it twice!
(Double post. Deleted.)

 

[markfm]

The other reason for 2.5 - 3 ohms is to keep the power reasonable. It is personal taste, but more eliquids tend to be good at 8 - 10w than at over 10w, imo.

 

[asen_y2k]

If you want to play completely within the rules, do as markfm said and switch up to 2.5ohm. You'll still vape like an ape and can still use the 2.2's on a battery (>650mAh).

That being said, I'd personally try it. Check the wall adapter case every few minutes to be sure it's not too warm. Since it is not a constant load, not drawing current continuously, it should work fine. Modern switching power supplies that have UL / CSA endorsement symbols on them are built to allow 10-15% continuous overcurrent. The small magnitude and duration of current excursion with such a device should be safe.
Mud in yer eye!

Ah thats reassuring I will test it out and see.

Thanks for all the info guys! Great to be here with so many experts!

 

[Belchfire]

The pass thru's I use are like the ones you ordered. The battery in-line is what you are actually pulling your power from, not the USB. This is easy enough to test since the pass thru will not work without the battery installed.

The USB serves as a low grade charger to your battery. Much the same way many of the fancier cases for the cig sized batteries that utilize a direct USB to charge the case and batteries as well.

While the equation for Ohm's Law is true, just remember your pass thru is placing the current load on the battery in-line and not on the actual power supply itself. On my pass thru, with the supplied battery, I use a low resistance atty and have never damaged a laptop or desktop pc vaping.

 

[Foxfur]

The other reason for 2.5 - 3 ohms is to keep the power reasonable. It is personal taste, but more eliquids tend to be good at 8 - 10w than at over 10w, imo.

That's good info...

 

[wv2win]

DO NOT plug your PT into your computer. There have been quite few reports of people killing their computers by doing that due to the demand from the PT. Always use your adapter and just the 5v/2amp one.

 

[Anthony Kolesa]

I can understand not being near a computer, and I absolutely love my passthrough, but I don't want to be tied to a wall. I just always have a couple 1100mahs ready to go.

 

[Belchfire]

Using the wall adapters would be the safest route but if you intend to use your PT while on your laptop or desktop computer do these simple checks. Does the laptop or pc have USB 1.1 or 2.0? If you have 1.1 you should not use a PT on it. USB 2.0 besides adding a datalink had it's voltage increased to 5V +/- 0.25 volts to power an otherwise un-powered device or charge a battery in a self powered device. So when I hear people disabling their computers from using PT's this is the first thing that comes to my mind. A disclaimer from the manufacturers would be helpful in regards to warning people about this but I am sure there must be legal reasons they do not.

I included the EHCI specs for USB from Intel, as you can see 500mA is the total power available from a 2.0 USB port. So there is no way you could ever run a PT solely on a USB port, it has to be running off the battery in-line. If you are using an older laptop or desktop I would not use the PT via the USB ports. Laptops and desktops made in the last couple of years should be USB 2.0 compliant but as always check first. PT's are generally cheap in construction and the battery is always a potential risk so exercise caution whether being connected to a laptop/desktop or a wall converter and never leave it plugged in unattended.

High power devices = 220 mA
Low power devices = 100 mA or less
500mA total power per port.
USB 2.0=5.0v

USB 1.1=3.33v

 

[wv2win]

Most PT's don't have in-line batteries.