You know, guys, there is a very easy solution to safety concerns with this pup: a fuse. There are several places where you can get one for mods. I ordered it, and I intend to use it. I'll also get a Kick when it's available again.
But, I am a safety fanatic. Danno, Chris, you know I love you guys, but I feel like I have to speak how I feel about this one... I think there should be vents in this mod, and a hot spring. It's not that difficult to put four decent-sized holes in the tube (I am trying to figure out how to do it myself without screwing up the threading - I've never drilled in metal before), and I am sure folks would be willing to pay 10 bucks more for a hot spring if that's what it takes.
I read everything available on venting etc. I am not an engineer, but just from comparing what was recommended as ECF "official" criteria for venting with what we have here, the venting through the threads is not sufficient. Not even close. Not a precise analysis, no, but, I bet, accurate nonetheless.
The manufacturer's comments about many American mods not having vent holes, etc, are not to the point - the fact that some American mods aren't up to ideal safety standards doesn't excuse the manufacturer from following them. And I don't see any good reasons for them
not to follow them.
Nor is it a reasonable argument that these things only happen rarely. One is too many if it can be easily prevented - as I said, I don't think that drilling four largish holes on the bottom sides of the mod is all that difficult for a factory to do. I would think that from the manufacturer's perspective, the safety issue would be a fantastic selling point, and would go a long way towards dispelling preconceptions regarding Chinese products - wouldn't that be a great thing for a relatively minimal investment? On the other hand, imagine what would happen if one of these, unlikely though it admittedly is (unlikely, but
possible), actually blew up and injured someone. Aside from cost in human suffering - can we really afford this kind of publicity, and does the manufacturer really need that kind of stigma? I would think that at this point the market is competitive enough for that to be a real concern, no?
To be fair, all mods but two that I know of do not follow those safety recommendations, unfortunately - God only knows why - and those that do are quite expensive. A small hole on the bottom, arguably, can make the situation more dangerous rather than less, depending on circumstances.
If it was me, I would sit on the manufacturer
hard to implement the above mentioned safety features: four vent holes on the sides and a hot spring. I am sorry if I sound critical - but I honestly feel that making it safer is both doable and best for everyone in the long run...
All that said, I love my Telescope. Just got it in the mail today, and it's very comfortable, very satisfying to hold somehow, and looks great with my Stardust - sort of like a shiny missile.
The finish is really nice. I love the fact that I don't need an adapter for eGo stuff, and I really look forward to using the Kick with it. It is just the right weight for me to hold comfortably with the battery in it. I think I won't be using the 18650 in it. It's a little too big for my hand with it. 18490 will do fine, and I have some of those from my ProVari. I expected the switch to be harder and more "clicky", but it's really easy to activate, while still not activating when standing up. Ordinarily I like clicky switches, but this is quite perfect for me without clickiness. Any harder, and my finger would get tired, I think. I really, really like this thing - to the point that I keep reaching for it all the time, even though my fuse hasn't been delivered yet.
Currently, safety-wise, I feel that the fuse, and/or the Kick, will be sufficient for me not to be concerned - in addition to all the normal safety precautions applicable to the batteries. Most (maybe all) battery problems are caused either by faulty batteries, or by hard shorts. The first can be guarded against by proper battery care and buying good batteries in the first place, and the second can (and should, especially with a PV like this) be guarded against by checking the resistance of the cartomizer before using it... Given all that, I am not worried for myself. I am wondering, however, about the less-than-paranoid.
Sorry for the dissertations, but this is a fairly important subject. I want to emphasize, that I am not being negative about this product - not at all. I love it. I would, in fact, recommend it - but not without an add-on safety feature like the fuse. It is possible that I am wrong, of course - wouldn't be the first time.
But I honestly do not understand why such simple and ultimately inexpensive safety features were not incorporated into the product in the first place, and I'd like to see them in the next release, if there is one. Chris, Dan - you guys work so hard to help improve products, and you have a great success rate - maybe you can influence them in that direction?
Also, in that vein, it would be good if GV sold that fuse - and recommended buying it along with this PV. And a short reference about battery safety on the web site would be nice...
OK, I'm really, really, really done now. Go ahead and throw tomatoes if you want.
