Automatic battery disappointment

[qwertylesh]

Hi everyone,
So I have been vaping for a little over 2 months now, and my first purchase was a M401 Kit with two Auto batteries and a PCC.

About a month in I wasn't too fond of the poor battery life (charge) and got myself a joye ego.

Just before my ego arrived, I found one of my two auto batteries had the automatic switch go bad, and lost all sensitivity to the extent where it was not usable.

Today I was disappointed to discover that storing the last working auto battery in my PCC for 4 weeks has somehow managed to wreck the auto switch on this one too.
Just to be clear, the pcc was holding nothing with juice, not even atomizers, and the battery was in the spare slot not the charging slot.

I am really not happy with this and I am aware that some members warned me that getting juice into the battery could kill the switch, which I took into account and yet still one of the two went bad without doing anything wrong to it.

I love the concept of the auto batteries, using them was a true pleasure, it was actually a bit of an adjustment using a manual and I still found even up until now that I would forget to press the manual button on my ego, and really due to convenience I miss the autos, but the trade off for batteries that last less then 4 - 8 weeks is not worth it IMHO.

I could RMA these batts, but really why bother, for the effort I may get back 2 new autos I wouldn't use all that often which would eventually see the same fate since I don't seem to be able to store these things properly.

thanks for taking the time to read my ranty explanation of what is a bad experience of mine. Its a shame that the auto mechanism is so flimsy. I certainly wont be getting them again (waste of $)

 

[Automaton]

Yup, that's the trade-off of autos.

All my batteries are manual, but I do have an auto pass-thru. I normally just drip right into an atomizer or a cartomizer, without taking it off the battery. But with my auto pass-thru... I'm inclined to remove it every time, so if it leaks, I won't kill the switch.

I suspect I may have an auto battery at some point in time - a 510, that I use with cartomizers, because it's short and cig-like. Very convincing for certain situations for me.

But overall... I prefer my manuals. I can soak the threads in alcohol for cleaning without worrying about it. I can leave the atomizer or cartomizer on for topping off. And I have better control over what kinds of drags I take.

 

[qwertylesh]

you do get into the habit of pressing the button when taking a drag, which is why im happy with manuals now.

I really was just expressing that the switches are far more sensitive then I had believed they would be. juice would be a big auto switch killer, but also just leaving them idle seems to also be able to ruin them.

 

[leannebug]

I'm a big fan of the auto (purely for convienence!) I drip too ... not the best combination, obviously! I do use an adapter, which helps keep a little of the extra juice out of my auto, but i've learned a few tricks to extend the life.

I only drip 3 drops at a time.
If I do not see a teeny puff of smoke (vapor) during those 3 drops, I immediately remove the battery and wipe off the liquid from the threads.
I occasionally turn it horizontally, to keep the liquid evenly spaced.
If the battery dies too early, or is wet, or blinks funky when I plug it in... I immediately try and suck the juice out, then put it in a separate jar, hole end down, and let drain for about 3 to 4 days, then suck on the end, and try again.

So far I don't kill too many batteries, though definitely more than Mistress probably does!

It's all a trade off. I like the auto, and I like to drip, so I do what I have to do!

YMMV!

 

[qwertylesh]

True, mileage may vary indeed!

I realized after using ecigs for a few weeks that I would rather the safety and sacrificed the convenience of Auto for manual, initially getting my first ecig was where I overconfidently thought I would rather the convenience.

Maybe I could get lucky and fix my two bad auto batts. I think whats more likely going to happen is if i remember to, I'll get a few manual 401's and give my old PCC + all my atomizers and manuals I order to someone who could make good use of them prior to moving onto a different ecig model.

Im certainly sold on the 510 series, it took me a while to adjust from the 401 to the 510, but forcing myself onto manual has worked out quite well for me

 

[Big Chiefer]

I agree with you qwerty. I really enjoyed the auto battery on my first ecig (an 801 with the soft whistle tip). I liked having it hang from the corner of my mouth while my hands were busy and just pulling a drag when I wanted one. I'm now using a eGo with a manual batt. I still miss the auto batt but the advantages outweigh the inconvenience of pushing the button.

 

[CtryBoy]

In theory I can see why some love the auto, but given the intricacies of making a PV work for each individual user, I went manual from the git go. Although even some manuals dont have sealed batteries much to my initial dismay (both batteries eventually failed due to what I assume are liquid based issues since I was/am a newbie fortunately the replacements the vendor happily provided were sealed). So if you are getting a manual, make sure the battery is sealed if not listed specifically to avoid similar surprises.

That learning experience has me squarely in the manual camp, although buttons can be a pain as well either literally (my mod's button is a tad sharp) or as a possible failure point. Just cant see an unsealed battery as a good idea generally speaking. One less thing to worry about while trying to keep the analogs at bay.

 

[Automaton]

I'm a big fan of the auto (purely for convienence!) I drip too ... not the best combination, obviously! I do use an adapter, which helps keep a little of the extra juice out of my auto, but i've learned a few tricks to extend the life.

I only drip 3 drops at a time.
If I do not see a teeny puff of smoke (vapor) during those 3 drops, I immediately remove the battery and wipe off the liquid from the threads.
I occasionally turn it horizontally, to keep the liquid evenly spaced.
If the battery dies too early, or is wet, or blinks funky when I plug it in... I immediately try and suck the juice out, then put it in a separate jar, hole end down, and let drain for about 3 to 4 days, then suck on the end, and try again.

So far I don't kill too many batteries, though definitely more than Mistress probably does!

It's all a trade off. I like the auto, and I like to drip, so I do what I have to do!

YMMV!

I've never killed a battery! I only have 5, including my pass-thru.

I'm just *really* careful with everything... not having the money to replace stuff will do that.

I did have a Kr8 battery that stopped charging properly, but after soaking the threaded end in alcohol it's good as new. I do that every 2 weeks now as part of my maintenance. With an auto, maybe you could stick a toothpick stub in the hole and scrub it with alcohol...? I don't know. Kind of afraid to try. Hoping I never have to!

 

[Sgt.Taz]

I have one auto battery from the first kit I was suckered into at the mall. My though is that when it finally goes I can use the connectors for some type of box mod. From what I've seen in the last couple of weeks once your into this your going to want some form of battery mod. It looks like you have two prospects for modding so if you look at it that way it's not a total loss

 

[Big Chiefer]

Does anyone know if they make an auto batt. for the eGo?

 

[DawnH]

My disappointment with the auto battery is the 5 second cut off. You don't get as much vapor from them, so I am a "manual" girl from now on.........

 

[jj2]

I have autos that I've never used. After using the manual mods, I just don't have the patience for them.

-------------------------------------------
UK Vapefest
UKVapefest 2010 is heading your way !! – 23rd October 2010 « UK Vapefest
-------------------------------------------
Stalking the mailperson support group
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...121112-stalking-mailperson-support-group.html
----------------------------------------------
Support CASAA
CASAA | The Consumer Advocates for Smoke-Free Alternatives Association
Don’t forget to donate to IVAQS research
CASAA.org

 

[Warped3k]

Thread moved to General sub-forum.

 

[googled]

Does anyone know if they make an auto batt. for the eGo?

Yes, but I've personally only seen the 1000mah versions first hand. I'm pretty sure Janty used to have them on their USA site.

 

[qwertylesh]

yeah maintenance is high enough already for ecigs I find (i do clean mine quite frequently though)

Using at's, cbf quoting, heh;

@MistressNomad, poking anything into an auto would likely only serve to damage the auto switch. Ive read about 1 person fixing their auto switch and that is it.
So I've reached the conclusion that they're just lucky and that once the switch goes, forget it, its too much hassle.

@Chris Tobin
I see the upside of still having them for spare parts for use when making or altering mods. I dont have any plans to do this though, and dont have any intention to start, so i'll prolly offer them to a local vaper who does if i come across any.

@Big Chiefer, ctryboy & jjr2
As like you guys, once you realize the trade off is far worth it, its manual all the way, sucks the auto switches are so flimsy, when new or 'calibrated' so to speak, they're awesome, but mine went to .... in 1 - 2 weeks, for me thats a too ridiculously short lifespan for an ecig battery to be worth continuing to buy.

Now Ive got like 5 decent M401 attys I have absolutely no use for (since going an ego) so Im fairly sure ill get two manuals and gift my first starter kit to a smoker who is thinking of changing to vaping

@Warped3k, Cheers.

 

[PoliticallyIncorrect]

I didn't mind the auto battery on my first e-cig (a disposable pile of ). At the time, I was trying to get it to encroach on my analog's territory, and I was of the mind that everything being cigarette-like was an important part of the equasion. Pushing a button on the shafts of my Malboro Menthol 100s was something I didn't generally do.

Now that vaping has taken hold and the Marlboro Man is homeless, I go the other way as much as possible--part of the reason I moved on to mods. I'm a firm believer in working with my psychology, instead of against it.