Battery and clearomizer not making contact

[tamborine]

I have two iTaste MVP 2's, and suddenly one of them won't work with my iClear 30-s tanks. I think that the contact point of the MVP got pushed down somehow (?), and recall reading somewhere about pulling it up somehow (?). Is this possible? And if so, what would I use to do it? It still works with other clearomizers and cartomizers. I'm not really good with electronics (obviously!), and I'm afraid of breaking it or electrocuting myself by just messing around with it. Can somebody tell me how I can try to fix this? Thanks!

 

[Xaiver]

The center post of the 510 connector is sort of floating, and it can move a bit. It's not really supposed to, but if it gets pushed down too hard, it certainly can get out of position. My Silver Bullet was notorious for the center pin getting pushed around. Keep in mind that we're talking about millimeters here.

If one of your clearos or cartos has a center post that's extended farther than the others, it could certainly be the culprit. Take a moment to examine them before you screw them on. The center post should be within a mm of the screw portion. It shouldn't stick down more than the thickness of your fingernail, or vice versa. If they do, sometimes you can gently push them back to flush. I had a batch of Cartos that I bought once that the center post was sticking out quite a bit...gave them a gentle push back up and they worked fine.

Anyhow, don't push the button and you won't be electrocuted... The voltage that we're dealing with you probably wouldn't even notice though. Ever stick your tongue on a 9v battery? Most of our PVs max out at 6 volts ish. (I'm not advocating chewwing on your batteries, that'd be a bad idea.)

I'm rambling though, usually someone stops me when I start rambling...

Pulling the center pin back up a little is fairly simple. Take a precision screwdriver, or a small knife, or a paring knife, put it in the 510 connector on your mod, against the side of the center post. Very gently work your way around and pry lightly against the side. The key here is gentle. You may not even feel it moving at all. You want to lift it just a hair. Once you've made your way around once, try screwing your clearo in and seeing if it works. If it doesn't repeat the process.

Don't Force It. The solder on the center post should be firm underneath, but why risk it if you don't need to. It is moving, even if it doesn't look like it.

Best of luck!
-X

 

[Stosh]

Quick tip I've used, once the center pin is pulled up slightly using your implement of choice, is a way of keeping it there.

If you take a piece of dental floss and get it under the center pin with tweezers, wrap it twice around (2 is usually enough) and tie it off with a surgeon's knot. This will help to keep the center pin from being pushed down too far when you screw in your toppers.