Can 5v passthroughs ruin USB ports??????

[buGG]

use a usb wall adapter, most surge protected ports don't supply sufficient amp/ current flow for the device to work optimally.

this one here is used by many, many people in the forums. used to be much cheaper, but is no longer available through the original seller. still a good price considering though: FRYS.com | RHINO PST-15U

it provides 2A (2Amps) or 2000mA for the USB 5V device. most USB ports only supply 500 mA, or .5Amps. fine for a cell phone, webcam, etc., but not for an atomizer like a 510 or KR808 that wants to pull 2.17 and 1.67Amps respectively. most aftermarket wall warts, for iPods and such, only supply 1A, which again is just not enough. sometimes the devices won't work at all, and when they do, they are draining too much power from them, dangerously so, and still underperforming. 10 bucks for the wall wart linked above is cheap compared to a new motherboard, other device failure, or simply not getting the performance out of your 5V passthrough that you should be.

 

[SgtDGun]

Stylish USB 2.0 Hub Bar 4-Port (Black) - US$ 8.42

Individual port over-current / surge protection

 

[MitchellBeans]

-- stuff ,and then this --

because i definitely do NOT want to mess up my macbook.... so please e-cigarette forum, shed some light on my question

ahahaha ...

You should get an actual computer next time, and use the $1400 you saved on it buying ecig stuff or a vacation or something!

Seriously, my passthru has an inline battery, and I have hooked it to an Xbox 360 and a laptop with no problems for months. However, since it is an inline battery, that means the USB charges the battery and the battery powers the atomizer, so the USB port is not overworked. I have no experience with a straight 5V connection...

 

[lujin4]

I have a Radio Shack regulated power supply with a cig lighter port. 13.2 volt, 3 amp capacity. Plug the car to usb adapter in and good to go. This power supply was just laying around, so what the heck.

 

[WillieB69]

Stylish USB 2.0 Hub Bar 4-Port (Black) - US$ 8.42

Individual port over-current / surge protection

I am using a Targus 4 port hub but I can't find anywhere that says it includes surge protection. Seems to me like that would be a given if you're using multiple devices with one? Perhaps not. Either way, I'm paranoid to use my passthrough now even after two weeks of no problems.

 

[MitchellBeans]

I am using a Targus 4 port hub but I can't find anywhere that says it includes surge protection. Seems to me like that would be a given if you're using multiple devices with one? Perhaps not. Either way, I'm paranoid to use my passthrough now even after two weeks of no problems.

Maybe I missed it earlier, what are you using for a passthru, as in what model of ecig? Its good to be careful, but if it is an inline battery, there is nothing you can do really to harm the computer, and if not, or you are really being extra safe, get an AC adapter...

 

[WillieB69]

Maybe I missed it earlier, what are you using for a passthru, as in what model of ecig? Its good to be careful, but if it is an inline battery, there is nothing you can do really to harm the computer, and if not, or you are really being extra safe, get an AC adapter...

No battery. Just a straight passthrough. 5V model from Mad Vapes. Their site says it draws 1.5A and my USB ports are only 500mA. I didn't know enough to even think about that being a problem until I stumbled into this thread. I've ordered AC adapters to remedy the situation and told my wife to lay off her passthrough until we get them.

 

[MitchellBeans]

With no battery, and at your level or worrying, I would go for an wall outlet. Even surge protection fails sometimes...

 

[buGG]

the amp draw from your atomizer is a simple formula: voltage/resistance. in your case you're interested in the 510, which, at standard resistance, is rated at approximately 2.3 ohms. the voltage you are using this atomizer at is 5V, therefore the formula for the amp draw that your atomizer is pulling would be =5v/2.3, or 2.17A, not 1.5A, and certainly not the .5A that your USB port in your PC is supplying. a standard 510 atomizer with a 3.7V battery, in-line passthrough or regular 3.7V battery mod, is pulling 1.61A, itself a bit more than the 1.5A USB/AC wall warts out there.

remember, it's not the amps required to make the thing work, but required for it to work effectively, optimally, and without undue strain to the parts, i.e. your computer's motherboard, that it is dependent upon.

i'm primarily a penstyle vaper, preferring to drip with the joye 302 over most other atomizers. penstyle atomizers have a higher resistance than 510s, and when i put it on my passthrough it's drawing 1.43A which is within the range of my 2Amp USB AC Adapter (wall wart). i do believe this is in large part why the 510 in particular was initially used with the in-line battery, to keep the voltage at 3.7V, constantly charged through your USB port. it's a fairly high drain atomizer as even in it's standard resistance, it is rather low. lower resistance = higher drain, and vice-versa.

if you want to use the 510 without the in-line battery, meaning you want to power it directly at 5V, do not put it in your computer and no surge protector will give you that kind of amperage, so really you need to either grab the USB wall wart and maybe consider using a higher resistance atomizer to stay clearly within your range, or finding a wall wart that has 2.5A or more. i'm not sure if these exist, but if so that would fit the bill and you should feel a lot better about using it.

 

[SgtDGun]

I agree with all that except... it's only a simple element like a light bulb. so it won't demand more amps than what are offered. like a light bulb on a rheostat it will just be dimmer and will just max out the available power. where you run into problems is if the USB can't keep up with the power that it's rated for and receiving from the power supply. or if the PT shorts out or something.