Cloupor mini caught fire

[crxess]

To satisfy the huge market , we worked hard for the large production .
And we actually didn’t control the whole quality system very well at that time.

I read this as: New Product, High Demand, High Production, Q.C. sampling to low for Volume.
i.e. maybe they pull 50 units per batch, but the Batchs Quadrupled to meet Demand and the Q.C. pulls did not.

Not making an excuse fort them. If Batches increase beyond normal capability, Samples should increase by more than an equal volume.

1000 units - 50 pulls
5000 units - 400 pulls

Any excessive increase in production will see an exponential increase in defects/damages.
____________________________________________________________________________

I like the Mini and will not change my mind - even if one fails. The idea and design are a near perfect idea for a serviceable mini.(battery)
However the company has some growing up to do to become a trustworthy competitor.

I reference Tobeco - They are still struggling with Reputation, but their products are Much Much better than a few years ago - when almost everything was Garbage or vapor ware.

 

[Eric Auer]

I read this as: New Product, High Demand, High Production, Q.C. sampling to low for Volume.
i.e. maybe they pull 50 units per batch, but the Batchs Quadrupled to meet Demand and the Q.C. pulls did not.

Not making an excuse fort them. If Batches increase beyond normal capability, Samples should increase by more than an equal volume.

1000 units - 50 pulls
5000 units - 400 pulls

Any excessive increase in production will see an exponential increase in defects/damages.
____________________________________________________________________________

I like the Mini and will not change my mind - even if one fails. The idea and design are a near perfect idea for a serviceable mini.(battery)
However the company has some growing up to do to become a trustworthy competitor.

I reference Tobeco - They are still struggling with Reputation, but their products are Much Much better than a few years ago - when almost everything was Garbage or vapor ware.

Curious, how long do you expect a mod to last?

And what type of mod, If done right will last longer?
Built in battery or one where you replace it when needed?

If I can get a year out of a $30 mod with a built in battery I pretty much consider that a sucess.
Especially if it has pass trough vaping and otherwise is quality built.

$30 or so price point.

Eric

 

[Croak]

Curious, how long do you expect a mod to last?

And what type of mod, If done right will last longer?
Built in battery or one where you replace it when needed?

If I can get a year out of a $30 mod with a built in battery I pretty much consider that a sucess.
Especially if it has pass trough vaping and otherwise is quality built.

$30 or so price point.

Eric

Thing is Eric, many of us don't care about lifespan, we care about usability on a daily basis. Being able to swap batteries isn't to add years of continued use of the device, it's to add more HOURS of use out of the device. Without being tied to a cord (not everyone sits at a desk or in a vehicle all day). And without being at the mercy of a five cent USB connector.

Add to the fact that many of us already own several 18650 batteries makes easy swapping capability an even more attractive proposition.

I think the iStick units were fantastic little devices for the money. But I'd need to carry around at least two of them to get me through a day. Much rather just carry a spare battery, more compact, more flexible, more affordable, and I already own the batteries. The iStick 50w, when it finally releases, is on my short list thanks to being a dual battery setup by default (and cheap), but still not liking the fact that it will still need to spend 5 hours a day on the wire at my usage levels.

 

[crxess]

Curious, how long do you expect a mod to last?

And what type of mod, If done right will last longer?
Built in battery or one where you replace it when needed?

If I can get a year out of a $30 mod with a built in battery I pretty much consider that a sucess.
Especially if it has pass trough vaping and otherwise is quality built.

$30 or so price point.

Eric

Thing is Eric, many of us don't care about lifespan, we care about usability on a daily basis. Being able to swap batteries isn't to add years of continued use of the device, it's to add more HOURS of use out of the device. Without being tied to a cord (not everyone sits at a desk or in a vehicle all day). And without being at the mercy of a five cent USB connector.

Add to the fact that many of us already own several 18650 batteries makes easy swapping capability an even more attractive proposition.

I think the iStick units were fantastic little devices for the money. But I'd need to carry around at least two of them to get me through a day. Much rather just carry a spare battery, more compact, more flexible, more affordable, and I already own the batteries. The iStick 50w, when it finally releases, is on my short list thanks to being a dual battery setup by default (and cheap), but still not liking the fact that it will still need to spend 5 hours a day on the wire at my usage levels.

Pretty much nailed it.
How long a product will last cannot be predicted. There are expectations dependent on product past reputation, materials used, etc. However each individual product may exceed that expectation or fail on receipt.

As to longevity of $30 devices - This is changing rapidly with advancements and experience.(Thankfully)
Vamo was the first Great(in comparisons) Chinese Regulated mod IMO. It Brought to market new advancements in useability with VV/VW and offered both Mean(useless) and RMS modes. It was the first to offer 15w and actually reach the power(stacked)
Build was simple yet rugged.
Much of what China has to offer in Regulated mods is based off of Vamo's format. Still, over all the Vamo has seen more than its share of Failures. #1 being the Cheap 510 and poor user understanding.<my original is still working fine>
The one Key Feature Vamo introduced was - LOW PRICING - often coming in at 1/2 the cost of similar devices.

In my opinion - 2 years ago the to two top Regulated Production mods were:
US Made - Provari
China - eVic< by the way, I took heat from Provari owners for a year - My eVics are now 2yr. and counting>

Today the offerings are like walking into a Shoe store. A little of anything for anyone. After all, it is all about personal taste/choice.

Now Manufacturers need to step up their game and offer their Competitively priced devices with higher Quality standards. I would pay $5 more for a better build. Unfortunately many would only see saving $5........until they get a Dud.

Wow, Typing to much

Later

 

[Fictitious Character]

This is from Kidney Puncher

Just a heads up, we (Kidney Puncher) found in testing our shipment of Cloupor Mini 30W that the only way to get them to fail the 'Too Hot' test is to use a somewhat high ohm load. Boards that would not fail at .5 ohm would fail at 1.3 ohm @ 30 watts. This is because when you are running at a low resistance you aren't asking the voltage boost circuit to do much work. Also, you can't just do a single 15 second test, you need to run back to back tests. Our test protocol is: 1.3ohm load, 30 watts, 3 back to back 15 second runs with Zero wait period between the runs. Using this, we had a 2% failure rate on a relatively large batch.

 

[Cotay]

This is from Kidney Puncher

If your Mini doesn't catch fire, your coil just might.

 

[crxess]

This is from Kidney Puncher

Just a heads up, we (Kidney Puncher) found in testing our shipment of Cloupor Mini 30W that the only way to get them to fail the 'Too Hot' test is to use a somewhat high ohm load. Boards that would not fail at .5 ohm would fail at 1.3 ohm @ 30 watts. This is because when you are running at a low resistance you aren't asking the voltage boost circuit to do much work. Also, you can't just do a single 15 second test, you need to run back to back tests. Our test protocol is: 1.3ohm load, 30 watts, 3 back to back 15 second runs with Zero wait period between the runs. Using this, we had a 2% failure rate on a relatively large batch.

3x15 second firing @ -0-Wait is basically 45 seconds straight power @ 6.75 volts. This SHOULD likely produce a TO HOT warning.
I'd say 2% tripping the to hot sensor is likely very low.
How many, if any fried after testing? No comment on that which only leaves one to speculate.
Their statement reads as a Force to Fail To Hot Test

Sorry but the numbers just don't add up for me.

I do not advocate force overloading a mod to this extent unless one is deliberately attempting to damage the unit.

 

[Fictitious Character]

3x15 second firing @ -0-Wait is basically 45 seconds straight power @ 6.75 volts. This SHOULD likely produce a TO HOT warning.
I'd say 2% tripping the to hot sensor is likely very low.
How many, if any fried after testing? No comment on that which only leaves one to speculate.
Their statement reads as a Force to Fail To Hot Test

Sorry but the numbers just don't add up for me.

I do not advocate force overloading a mod to this extent unless one is deliberately attempting to damage the unit.

Yeah I read the thread and can see you are not easily swayed on this Cloupor topic.

I got no dog in this fight as I do not own a Mini, nor do I own any Cloupor product. I was just passing on the info that KP released. I agree that 45 seconds of power is a bit extreme condition, but I took it as KP was conducting their own tests to determine at what point and under what conditions the mods they have were failing.

 

[crxess]

Yeah I read the thread and can see you are not easily swayed on this Cloupor topic.

I got no dog in this fight as I do not own a Mini, nor do I own any Cloupor product. I was just passing on the info that KP released. I agree that 45 seconds of power is a bit extreme condition, but I took it as KP was conducting their own tests to determine at what point and under what conditions the mods they have were failing.

See, I am not sure that is what they were reporting - Unless 2% Melted down. It sounds like they were saying even at higher ohm loads it was taking 45 seconds to trip the to hot warning.
In that case all they were proving is the TO HOT warning is functional and at what point 2% tripped the function.
It is a function, not a failure.

Oh, and don't think it is the Cloupor that keeps me from being swayed. I have many brands of Mods.
It is the 40+ years involved in DC electronics.

 

[Croak]

Just for giggles folks, try that same 1.3 ohm/30w 45 second test on a genuine DNA device, or Yihi device, etc.

I'm with crxess, it's just demonstrating that the temp protect circuitry is working under that abusive usage.

 

[Eric Auer]

See, I am not sure that is what they were reporting - Unless 2% Melted down. It sounds like they were saying even at higher ohm loads it was taking 45 seconds to trip the to hot warning.
In that case all they were proving is the TO HOT warning is functional and at what point 2% tripped the function.
It is a function, not a failure.

Oh, and don't think it is the Cloupor that keeps me from being swayed. I have many brands of Mods.


It is the 40+ years involved in DC electronics.

Outstanding.

So what should we do
I mean the rest of us that do not have your experience?

Eric

 

[Croak]

Outstanding.

So what should we do
I mean the rest of us that do not have your experience?

Eric

Just sayin'.

 

[gigetto]

Hello vapers from Italy. I've bought a cheap one in october, not cloupor, i've had it because my necessity of vaping all the day long out of home preferring a 20w eleaf instead of a box BF, that i've. I thought a alot about before spending 40€ in a batterybox complete when i pay 10€ for a good quality battery 18650......and 30€ for a good circuit.....Until today it works well and it seems to be safe, but i don't buy the better eleaf30w or similiar in price smoke because for me too cheap....not good. An SX 350 has all the requisite for a longer lasting in BB if you spent more money starting you save a lot of money for the future. Fortunately my BBox is still alive but i know a lot of people that has bought all the market chinese products in BBox and they spent a lot of money for a lot of discharge materials.....

 

[SS stingray]

Great Mini Sale

I posted this 2 days ago in the other mini thread. GearBest is having a sale . They are selling the mini's at $28.99 . I love mine so yes I did order another. I have had my first mini since Jan. 10 and no problems.

 

[Fictitious Character]

See, I am not sure that is what they were reporting - Unless 2% Melted down. It sounds like they were saying even at higher ohm loads it was taking 45 seconds to trip the to hot warning.
In that case all they were proving is the TO HOT warning is functional and at what point 2% tripped the function.
It is a function, not a failure.

Oh, and don't think it is the Cloupor that keeps me from being swayed. I have many brands of Mods.
It is the 40+ years involved in DC electronics.

That is a possibility, I suppose the small announcement is open to interpretation.

 

[crxess]

Outstanding.

So what should we do
I mean the rest of us that do not have your experience?

Eric

I cannot speak for others, but I can speak for myself and make a few reasonable recommendations.
If comfortable with your testing of the unit, enjoy it but be vigilant for a time. Turn off when mot in use for extended periods or leaving unattended. Remove Battery at night.
If you are concerned or reliability of your unit and it falls in the 0002 batch, contact your vender about a solution.

No one can predict the When that a Defective unit will fail. This is going to depend on the individuals use and Failure trigger point. So, toss the 3-4 days theory out.

* For me -
I have looked at all the posted failure pics available.
I have worked with heat forming Plastics.
I have dealt with repairs/replacement of thousands of failed electronics including a multitude of shorted components.

I have examined the layout of an undamaged Mini board compared to the Worst Damaged board posted so far.
There is little to nothing that will be able to cause open flame/fire.

The most severely damaged chip set posted so far looks to be heavily covered in liquified Black plastic, not Burnt as others have commented.

Could I be wrong? yes, but people keep passing the single photo around without the original post. The owner has not included a pic of the battery side by side with the unit.(this would clear things up a bit)

In closing - Threads like this with so so much unproven theory, Radical statements from the inexperienced, deliberate Bashing, and just plain passed on misunderstood information is how URBAN TALES START.
There IS a problem.
There needs to be a swift solution(already late)
Facts lead to Solutions.
Chaos leads to confusion, miss direction and delays.

 

[UncLeJunkLe]

Outstanding.

So what should we do
I mean the rest of us that do not have your experience?

Eric

Go back to analogs. Their low tech...lol J/K, of course.

In closing - Threads like this with so so much unproven theory, Radical statements from the inexperienced, deliberate Bashing, and just plain passed on misunderstood information is how URBAN TALES START....

Chaos leads to confusion, miss direction and delays.

{deep sigh}

 

[speed4mee]

I remove all hot glue and now you can see the clean build.
All connections are flawlessly and the big wires are Silicon wires.

 

[crxess]

Go back to analogs. Their low tech...lol J/K, of course.



{deep sigh}

To Clarify - I mean panic filled threads in groups all over the Web. Riddit/FB/here/etc. Good people scared into thinking they are carrying a time bomb of sorts.
People should be logically warned of potential problems, not scared into fearing them.

________________________________________________________________________

ETA: Black mini arrived. 006xx Breaking it in now.

___________________________________________________

ETA2: I have left my thoughts at KidneyPuncher FB posting. I would also like to know if any Real World Customer Failures met or were near their test specifications.

 

[UncLeJunkLe]

I remove all hot glue and now you can see the clean build.
All connections are flawlessly and the big wires are Silicon wires.

View attachment 409663

Thanks for the pic. But now I have a question. What do you do after you remove the glue. I mean don't you have to replace it with something else. What is the use for the glue in the first place?