Ba Gua firing problems

[Aal_]

Hi Guys,

I recently acquired a Ba Gua mod by Yellow Kiss and I am using it with the spring soft switch. I realized that if you don't hit it on an angle, it misfires or fires with very low voltage < 2.8V. Did someone experience this or knows what might be causing the issue? I am using the spring that is bought with the device. Thanks.

 

[cowfood]

Mine came with magnets. Had to buy the spring assembly after wards.. Just clean your contacts after that no issue. I have both SS and brass no difference. Then again I am not testing under load to see if I get a 2.8 volt drop but - no I would notice that weak of a "toot" So clean your threads too, they come dirty btw.

-CF

 

[Aal_]

with no load i have no problem. Only with load that happens! I think it is because when you have a problem it only appears when you have a relatively big load (the voltage meter is very low resistance load i would assume). Please try with a load and let me know. Just press it dead center. Thanks.

 

[Chikenbok]

No problems here on either version - one is setup with a spring, the other, stock magnets,

 

[Wa J]

I have the same problem like op...but, I have the stock magnets....I'll try cleaning the pins...

 

[Turbo]

I should have my Ba Gua in a couple weeks. I'll take note of this. Will def clean the button/contacts upon arrival. Are the contacts plated w/ this mod?

 

[Aal_]

I should have my Ba Gua in a couple weeks. I'll take note of this. Will def clean the button/contacts upon arrival. Are the contacts plated w/ this mod?

Contacts are brass not plated. I think the firing problem is caused by wobbly switch. the axis coming down the button to the battery has a lot of play in the opening, hopefully everyone understands what i mean. But again this is when you use the spring. The spring seems to be bad in conducting current which makes it essential to make sure the axis touches the body. I have yet to find a better spring that fits there. With the magnets for me it was unusable. Too hard.

 

[Aal_]

Mine came with magnets. Had to buy the spring assembly after wards.. Just clean your contacts after that no issue. I have both SS and brass no difference. Then again I am not testing under load to see if I get a 2.8 volt drop but - no I would notice that weak of a "toot" So clean your threads too, they come dirty btw.

-CF

how are you cleaning the contacts and threads?

 

[Turbo]

Contacts are brass not plated. I think the firing problem is caused by wobbly switch. the axis coming down the button to the battery has a lot of play in the opening, hopefully everyone understands what i mean. But again this is when you use the spring. The spring seems to be bad in conducting current which makes it essential to make sure the axis touches the body. I have yet to find a better spring that fits there. With the magnets for me it was unusable. Too hard.

Thanks, in that case I may get a fiberglass pen to clean the contacts as suggested on another forum. Also suggested was to shorten the throw on the Ba Gua by making a cardboard/heavy paper template. One user found that to help with the spring or even stock magnets.

 

[Aal_]

Thanks, in that case I may get a fiberglass pen to clean the contacts as suggested on another forum. Also suggested was to shorten the throw on the Ba Gua by making a cardboard/heavy paper template. One user found that to help with the spring or even stock magnets.

How do you do that? Do you have a link?

 

[Turbo]

How do you do that? Do you have a link?

Link for the fiberglass pen? If so, here's what I mean. It's good to clean non plated contacts. As for the template fix, it's on another forum. Basically he cut out a circle to fit under the neg. screw, on top of the white plastic piece already there, to shorten the throw.

**the link is supposed to be fiberglass but a reviewer says it's not, but just Google 'fiberglass pen' and you'll get lots of hits.

 

[Aal_]

Yeah I meant the template fix. I don't see how that would shorten the throw. Can u post the link from the other forum? I know you could unscrew a little the screw and that would shorten it I guess.

 

[Turbo]

Yeah I meant the template fix. I don't see how that would shorten the throw. Can u post the link from the other forum? I know you could unscrew a little the screw and that would shorten it I guess.

It would shorten it by the thickness of the cardboard stock I reckon. Not sure if linking other forums is kosher or I would.

 

[MattyB1503]

Ahhh, the ol Pro-Grades. They are fiberglass. I use them on the regular, pretty much a necessity for mech mods and RBA's. A word of caution, they can scratch polished suffices, so internal use only.

Traded for a SS Ba Gua, arrived today.

I pretty much guessed this but yeah, way too stiff of a bottom push for my liking. So I'm on the hunt for weaker magnets. I have no idea why neodymium magnets come stock in it, kinda baffling. But it's a sexy little thing, there's no denying that.

I'll post if I find a magnet that feels nice.

Soo, did anyone see a thread for trading switches and caps? Would be rad to mix it up.

 

[Turbo]

Ahhh, the ol Pro-Grades. They are fiberglass. I use them on the regular, pretty much a necessity for mech mods and RBA's. A word of caution, they can scratch polished suffices, so internal use only.

Traded for a SS Ba Gua, arrived today.

I pretty much guessed this but yeah, way too stiff of a bottom push for my liking. So I'm on the hunt for weaker magnets. I have no idea why neodymium magnets come stock in it, kinda baffling. But it's a sexy little thing, there's no denying that.

I'll post if I find a magnet that feels nice.

Soo, did anyone see a thread for trading switches and caps? Would be rad to mix it up.

My Ba Gua/Arrow arrived in Chicago from Canada yesterday, so i should have mine soon. I"m sure I'll find the button too stiff as well. I'll probably try the template fix, but if you find 'softer' magnets do share.

I'm not aware of such a thread, maybe start one?! That would be a nice option vs. buying two. FYI, I got a 'list mod' from Spain called 'mod Leo'. It's a 14500 mod and has a spring button. Not having much time to mess w/ it and being new to mech mods, the button on it feels pretty good. I'll be curious to test it against the Ba Gua and may let the least favorite go.

 

[Aal_]

Guys please pm me the link for the template fix or show me a pic. I still fail to understand

 

[MattyB1503]

@ OP, not familiar with the template fix but I imagine it is to use paper as a shim between the brass contact and insulator in the button; which would raise that brass contact closer to the battery.


As far as replacement magnets, I'm striking out locally: Harbor Freight, Home Dept, Orvac, McFadden-Dales. Seems I my have to turn to the interwebs...

The clearance envelope for the magnet is:

11.25mm OD x 5.13mmm ID x 1.95mm Depth

So I'm guessing any ceramic magnet that fits would work nicely.


What batteries are guys running?? Mine came with two free IMR 14500's, but they're nipple top Efest and there's some gape-age there..

 

[Aal_]

I am not understanding it because the contact screw can be raised by unscrewing it a little, i don't see the need for the template. As for batteries I am using AW IMR 14500 no gap. Have you tried adjusting the positive contact to its smallest size? Efest IMR's are known to be longer than AW's. Keep us posted on the magnets!

 

[MattyB1503]

No forward movement on the magnets; I do have a day job and this is like near the top but not at the top of my vape to do list, hahahaha.

In regards to the template, sorry, my comment was just a guess as I have never see the aforementioned thread; and due to my background in engineering I can be somewhat terse.

Unscrewing the contact from the switch will increase the length the button protrudes or sticks out of the bottom, and the throw to close the switch will remain the same.

If you add a shim (paper/cardboard or whatever) between the plastic insulator and the contact, the shim will raise the contact closer to the battery by the thickness of that shim; effectively moving the contact closer to the battery in the opened position. Hence requiring less distance for the contact to come up to meet that battery, hence shorting the throw. A shim too thick will create a short within the mod tho, so keep an eye out for that..

I know that's a mouth full but trust me it should work.

Yeah, just FYI (for anyone else) Efest 14500's are too long the this device. Got um for free so no worries on that, I'm off to RTD... oooohh they have those 10A high drain Panasonic 650's too


I will post on the magnets whether I find some or give up and throw a spring in there.

 

[MattyB1503]

Just watched this video on operating temp of neodymium magnets:

SuperMagnetMan Custom Magnets

Under "Temperature Issues".


Seem if you were to bring up the temperature past 250F it would take some strength out of the stock magnets.

Kinda a crap shoot as the exact specs of the managements YellowKiss used are unknown, to me at least; but trust and believe if I had a second set I would have already broken out the torch.

I'm somewhat entertaining a quote request for custom plated DN magnets (rhodium). The whole trick of it would be for the magnets to make contact within the switch while still maintaining contact with the battery and increasing the ID to reduces magnet strength. Easier said than done as my switch contact only protrudes ~ 16 thousandths past the insulator in the closed position...