Did I just ruin my brand new battery???

[The Iceman]

I just got in my new Vapor King from V4L - a shorty starter kit with just the single battery and a PCC. I hooked the PCC up to my computer to charge and figured "Hell, might as well charge the battery too while I'm at it, right? So I hook the thing up and it starts smoking. I immediately unhooked the battery and now it seems it's completely dead...

I really wish there would've been some warning against doing this. Now I guess I'm .... out of luck.

 

[The Iceman]

Anyone? Was this my fault or was it a fudged up charger? The now non-functional battery will blink every few seconds now when I try to charge it... I'm writing V4L to see if there's anything they can do about it. The sad thing is I have more carts and juices on the way and now I have no battery. I only got to use the thing for 5 minutes!

 

[Hellen A. Handbasket]

Ice, sorry to hear about this! Email V4L and see what they say (Don't expect them to warranty it though). Sounds like it is the computer. Here is a great info. thread on a computer's USB ports:
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/vaporstix/9461-regarding-usb-passthroughs.html

There are loads of threads on ECF about this issue... all basically stating to not hook e-cig USB stuff up to your computer. I could have been worse, you could have fried the 'puter like this person!! http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/ecigarette-technical-issues/9213-fried-my-work-computer.html

USB hubs that plug into the wall and USB wall plugs can be bought pretty cheaply. I use the wall wart one that came with the iPhone for passthroughs, PCC's and battery chargers. Nothing goes on my computer that is e-cig related.

Do you have a regular charger to try to charge the battery? Give it a shot at charging. The PCC (if it was smoking) is probably a gonner. I hope your computer's USB port is ok!

 

[The Iceman]

Thanks, Hellen. The PCC seems like it's doing fine. It was still showing like it was taking a charge. Thankfully, my computer is okay, as well. I've got the battery in my PCC (unhooked from the computer) right now and the charging light is on.

... They really do need a manual or something with these things or at least a small letter stating the risks of hooking the PCC and a battery up to your computer.

 

[pen-user]

I don't personally use a pcc, but have experience in electronics. I find in delicate elcronic instruments, that once you let out the magic smoke, it won't work any more. Most of these batteries have built in circuitry that cuts out at low voltage and cuts out on long draws to prevent overheating the atty. These cutouts are usually accompanied by a blinking led. If your led is blinking, then something is working in there, but I wouldn't risk fiddling with it since it was smoking on you. If the company you bought it from is reputable, they will probably replace it without any issues.

I have to ask though, the pcc plugs into the usb and charges an internal battery that then charges the pv battery when plugged into it? If so, was the smoke from the pcc or the battery. If the battery is blinking, it may be because it didn't get enough charge from the pcc to do anything, thus maybe the pcc is what is not working right. Also want to be careful not to overload your usb port by powering too many things on it.

 

[The Iceman]

The battery was smoking, coming out of the led end. It definitely smells burnt, too. The led on it only blinks when it's in the charger hooked up, though. Once every 20 seconds or so. I don't believe the PCC is damaged. What a way to start out with e-cigs. I guess back to the snus for me...

 

[zoiDman]

... I find in delicate elcronic instruments, that once you let out the magic smoke, it won't work any more. ...

Sounds like it was a bad unit to start with. Or at least that is what I would tell them.

 

[pen-user]

Sounds like a bad situation, my condolences. You'll have to forgive, my shot term memory is awful. Forgot what you said about the blinking while charging, thought it was while trying to vape. Don't be discouraged though. I'm certain once you get going on it you'll be happy with it. Many happy vapers out there.

 

[pen-user]

Sounds like it was a bad unit to start with. Or at least that is what I would tell them.

I agree, bad parts are sent out from time to time. My screwdriver PVcame with a battery that had a backwards label, + on the - side and - on the plus side. It didn't fare to well when plugged into the charger backwards. Didn't smoke, but won't take a charge now.

Should have known, it didn't look right, but I didn't question it, just plugged it in.

 

[The Iceman]

Well if I get the battery replaced and the issue turns out to be the PCC won't I be in the same situation again?

There's no way I'm taking a risk again hooking this thing up to my computer. And the cheapest wall to usb charger at my Wal-Mart is $19. Really would be silly to spend that much for an adapter. That's almost as much as the PCC costs.

 

[zoiDman]

Just me...

But if that happened to me I would pack up the entire setup and send it ALL back for a replacement.

 

[pen-user]

Maybe see if they'll give you credit/ exchange on the whole kit for something that comes with a wall charger? The pcc sounds like a novel idea, but the wall chargers are relatively simple and fool proof.

 

[The Iceman]

Maybe see if they'll give you credit/ exchange on the whole kit for something that comes with a wall charger? The pcc sounds like a novel idea, but the wall chargers are relatively simple and fool proof.

Eh, I sent an e-mail about it to Vapor 4 Life customer service and the Steve, VP of customer relations or whatnot. I'll wait for a reply but this is really what I want to do. I got a shorty batt and a PCC, but I want to replace it with another batt, a wall charger, and a regular carrying case which is actually cheaper than the PCC but I'll cut my losses here. I don't think I want another PCC. I'm fairly upset. I had been waiting 4 days for this stuff only to have it blow up on me in 5 minutes.

 

[lookin2quit]

I know it's very frustration to have waited for something like that and to end up getting bum parts. But the good side is that Steve is always ready to make things right. I've had great service from V4L so far and I'm sure that he'll resolve your problems as quickly as he can. Do remember, though, that it's a holiday weekend so you might not get a response right away.

 

[The Iceman]

I know it's very frustration to have waited for something like that and to end up getting bum parts. But the good side is that Steve is always ready to make things right. I've had great service from V4L so far and I'm sure that he'll resolve your problems as quickly as he can. Do remember, though, that it's a holiday weekend so you might not get a response right away.

Thanks, man. That makes me feel better about the situation. One of the reasons I chose to do business with V4L is all the good things I've heard about how they treat their customers. I just hate that this happened to me.

 

[Kent C]

Well if I get the battery replaced and the issue turns out to be the PCC won't I be in the same situation again?

There's no way I'm taking a risk again hooking this thing up to my computer. And the cheapest wall to usb charger at my Wal-Mart is $19. Really would be silly to spend that much for an adapter. That's almost as much as the PCC costs.

Because, as you say, it might be the PCC, I'd send everything back to Vapor4Life - let them know you're sending it and why. They'll likely do the right thing. Snus will help ;-)

 

[The Iceman]

Because, as you say, it might be the PCC, I'd send everything back to Vapor4Life - let them know you're sending it and why. They'll likely do the right thing. Snus will help ;-)

I've packaged it back up with a letter that says: "PCC fried battery. Replacement requested. I would like a wall charger and carrying case instead of another PCC. Do not want to take another risk."

I'm just going to go ahead and send it off. Like you said, hopefully they'll do the right thing. The more I read into it the more I think it was the PCC. My computer is not ancient and it has USB 2.0 ports. I also have nothing else aside from my wireless mouse plugged into my USB so I couldn't have been overloading the motherboard or anything.

Steve and the V4L team seem like good people. I'm not too worried.

 

[Kent C]

I've packaged it back up with a letter that says: "PCC fried battery. Replacement requested. I would like a wall charger and carrying case instead of another PCC. Do not want to take another risk."

I'm just going to go ahead and send it off. Like you said, hopefully they'll do the right thing. The more I read into it the more I think it was the PCC. My computer is not ancient and it has USB 2.0 ports. I also have nothing else aside from my wireless mouse plugged into my USB so I couldn't have been overloading the motherboard or anything.

Steve and the V4L team seem like good people. I'm not too worried.

You should be good. Thanks for the fill in.....

 

[MX5]

Iceman, according to your post with V4L, sounds like Steve and the gang took care of your bad mishap. As Always, V4L stand behind their products!

Why smoke when You Can VAPE!!