I normally vape RBA's in the 2 to 3 ohm range and have a collection of batteries both IMR and protected, both button and flat top, and both 18650 and 18350. One collects all kinds of batteries over time. It seems that the 18350's button tops, IMR or protected, work all of the time. The 18650's are giving me grief, regardless of the type. I have stretched the spring and coated the threads with Noalox with no improvement. I can get my flat top 18350's to work if I use a magnetic spacer. One thing I have noticed is that there is a flat, brownish colored washer/spacer around the center post of the head. It does not seem to be centered, and the center post seems almost flush with the washer which would explain some of the contact difficulties. BUT, there is a little black "thingy" sticking out about a mm or two along the wall of the tube but jutting out from the head. I am wondering what function it serves. It certainly is sticking out far enough to prevent the battery from making contact with the center post. Since there is so much variation in both size and form in batteries from one manufacturer and type, are that little "thingy" sticking out and the non centered washer preventing contact with the battery? I like the Vamo, but it is a royal PITA to have to play with batteries by inserting and removing them-even the same exact one-to get it to work.
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Just looked at my VAMO, all I see is the brownish washer (not centered very well,) and the brass pin sticks out maybe 1mm, no black thingy? Is the thingy attached to anything?
My washer isn't exactly centered either, but I have no idea what the black thing is that you are referring to. I did have battery rattle until I replaced my spring with this, AltSmoke.com | Personal Vaporizers | Electronic Cigarette | Ecigs | Silver Bullet/Omega - Replacement Hot Spring - Silver Bullet - Starter Kits, I don't know if that would help in your case.
If you do replace the spring with the one listed above, you need to stretch the bottom out to fit snugly in the cap. Sorry I can't be of more help.
If you do replace the spring with the one listed above, you need to stretch the bottom out to fit snugly in the cap. Sorry I can't be of more help.
I got lucky and mine came with the large spring, and 2 18350 flat tops work just fine in mine. I think you should look into what TheSteve said. It's worth giving a try.
Amazing what my droid phone can do as far as taking pictures is concerned.
. That "thingy" can be seen just above the washer. You can also see that the washer is not centered. It seems to be epoxy, so I am guessing that it could be broken/ground off. It is definitely not something I put in there and is probably high enough to prevent some batteries from making contact with the center post. At first, I thought it was some sort of sensing element. Now I am beginning to think that it may be the result of some frustrated worker in China-like the kind that would throw stuff into car doors so they would give you an annoying rattle. But before I break anything off, I thought I would check.
. That "thingy" can be seen just above the washer. You can also see that the washer is not centered. It seems to be epoxy, so I am guessing that it could be broken/ground off. It is definitely not something I put in there and is probably high enough to prevent some batteries from making contact with the center post. At first, I thought it was some sort of sensing element. Now I am beginning to think that it may be the result of some frustrated worker in China-like the kind that would throw stuff into car doors so they would give you an annoying rattle. But before I break anything off, I thought I would check.
I just looked and the ring inside mine looks exactly the same. I can post a picture if you like.
Looks to me like some debris that got glued in place when they glued the insulator ring in there.
That looks like an arc caused by shorting. The arc may have formed a ball of metal. I would check all your batteries to see if you see any black marks on the positive ends. Next, you should dig out that ball "thingy" or it may cause more shorts to happen.
Also, examine all of your batteries and look for the one with a burn mark or melted metal on top. Get rid of it! I think Best Buy's have battery recycling boxes in the stores.
Looks to me like something that doesn't belong got in there from manufacturing, can you get it out maybe with a thin screwdriver without disturbing the washer or pos post? Keep us posted plz
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Right now, I am awaiting a reply from the vendor (Free-Cig). It is still under the 30 day warranty. The arcing seems like a bit of a stretch. If there were a short, one of my batteries would have shown some sign of burning-they don't. Arcs caused by shorts normally leave an area around the short point that is blackened. Besides, it is highly unlikely that any electronic circuit would have survived that kind of power surge. This is like a nice shiny tag. The Vamo works when I use a flat top with a magnetic spacer works fine. I have not used the Vamo other than to unpack it since I have been travelling a lot. I take twists with Erternity's set up with the tank when on the road and leave my big battery mods at home. Although I am really starting to like the Kanger Evod's.
From the photo, the "blackened" area certainly looks like an arc to me. It doesn't mean it happened when the Vamo was in your possession... it could have happened at any time before you even got it. I have to disagree about electronics surviving high power surges. If it is really an arc inside your tube, then all power probably went to ground and bypassed the Vamo electronics completely. In any case, good luck with your vendor. I hope they replace it soon!
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While it is hard to tell from the picture provided, it doesn't look like an arc to me. All of the arc marks I have seen (there have been quite a few, I have worked in the electronics industry for better than 20 years) normally have a lighter color in the center with a darker circular ring around them, with a tell tale rainbow look like motor oil floating on water, especially when on a lighter colored surface.
Well thanks for all your inputs, and although there is some disagreement as to the cause or what it is, it is definitely something that should not be there. This 'thingy" is about the size and shape of a skin tag, is shiny, smooth, and dark in color.
Just to clarify, that "brownish-red washer" is an insulator ring that allows you to use flat top batteries in the VAMO. It is not exactly centered on any of my 4 VAMOs, so that shouldn't be a problem. If it wasnt there and you popped in a flat top, you would have an immediate dead short
Also, I saw the OP mentioning using both protected and unprotected batteries? Also, to be clear, the VAMO is intended for use ONLY with UNPROTECTED Hi-Drain 3.7v IMR batteries
Also, I saw the OP mentioning using both protected and unprotected batteries? Also, to be clear, the VAMO is intended for use ONLY with UNPROTECTED Hi-Drain 3.7v IMR batteries
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