Did My Atty Just Kill Two Batteries?

[Knowone]

The other night I was vaping with a 510 atty which I've been using for less than a month on an eGo-T battery that I have had for less than a week.

The combination worked fine for about two hours of consistent vaping. Then, just after I took a puff, I looked down about 15 seconds later to see vapor spouting from the atty. I thought the button was stuck, but the light was not on, and pressing it did nothing to stop it. It just kept on firing. The battery never cut off the electricity after a few seconds like it is supposed to either, so I quickly unscrewed the cone and then the atty. It was so hot that I badly burnt two of my fingers.

Once the atty was out, I tried hitting the button on the battery, but the light would not light up. If I hit the button 5 times, it did blink three times to indicate that I have either turned it on or off, but, no matter what, it does not light up when I press and hold the button.

I figured that the battery had had some short in its circuitry, so I picked the (now cool) atty up and tried it in the other battery I had with me. This was an eGo USB passthrough battery. It instantly began firing as well, and I had to unscrew the atty again, further burning my fingers. Same exact symptoms. No light from the button. The USB passthrough battery doesn't have the on/off ability, so now I can't get its button to light up whatsoever.

It looks like it was the atty that screwed the batteries up. Both batteries were brand new. Only charged fully maybe two times each. Neither of them work with any atomizer now. They both charge on the charger but neither will discharge when I press the button.

Info on the gear I was using:
The atty I was using.
The first battery that died. (The 1000mAh version)
The second battery. (The 650mAh version)


Has this been heard of before?
Did the atty lose resistance or short and mess with the circuitry of the batteries?
If so, do you think MadVapes would reimburse me for the $50 of batteries that their atty just killed?
Are the batteries somehow fixable?

Ow! My fingers!

EDIT: Linked to the wrong atty. Link now fixed.

 

[AttyPops]

What it says on that site at the link you posted for the atty:

These are not recommended for use on devices with a voltage higher than 3.7 volts and are not recommended for use with eGo, 016 batteries, regular e-cig batteries or any mosfet driven style battery. Use with larger battery capacity mods.

Also, the button controls the current normally (asuming the circuit board inside is working correctly) so that a shorted atty in and of itself won't cause the unit to fire. But when it does fire, it's a dead short and can then cause harm to the circuits.

So putting the atty on the 2nd unit and having it fire doesn't make any sense to me, unless the unit is bad already.

EDIT:
Now you changed the atty from 1.7 ohms to 2.5 ohms. Those atties work on eGo units all the time just fine. If it is a shorted atty, it can fry the unit. However, IDK if that is it. Change atties. The atty, if shorted, wouldn't get hot.

Now it could be a "real low resistance" thing of some sort that I've never heard of where the atty fires, but is so low on resistance (partial short via semi-conductive juice????) that it fries. Still wouldn't make a manual battery auto-on tho.

 

[Knowone]

My bad. I linked to the wrong atty. The link has now been fixed.

The atty was this one.

EDIT in response to your edit:
Well, both batteries were just fine. I had been using the 1000mAh eGo-T for a couple hours that night, and had been using it consistently for about a week before that. The USB pass-through eGo-T had been used as recently as earlier that afternoon. Both had been used with that atty before this instance.

It began firing on one, I switched it over, and it caused the other to fire in exactly the same fashion. It seems to point to the atty.

I understand that the button usually completes a circuit which cannot be completed unless the button is depressed. But, I know that this isn't true for all buttons and circuits. Possibly even for the eGo-T.

 

[AttyPops]

Dude, I can take a screwdriver and short an atty connector on an e-cig without pressing the button, and nothing will happen. There is no active circuit until the mosfet is activated. If I put a meter on it, it would read zero volts, zero amps, unless it's already failed due to frying or other issue. So IDK... Ask MV about it. If you had been using it before with that atty, maybe there's an issue with the atty.

How old did you say the atty was??? 2.5 ohms is not very low resistance. Shouldn't give it trouble.

Do you drip? Any chance there is juice in the button?

 

[Knowone]

I completely understand that. So, what could have happened? Other than the batteries being bad, I mean. Because they weren't.

 

[AttyPops]

I edited. See above.

The problem points to the button or the mosfet as being failed. But as to cause..... IDK. A shorted atty could cause it, but you had been using the atty just fine before. Maybe juice could short it. I know it can cause button failure.

 

[AttyPops]

P.S.

I've heard that atties, when they fail, can act like a short too.

I can't speak for MV tho. Also, IDK if you got the batteries from them, or just the atty, so even if I was them I'd want to know that one since someone else could have sold you bad batteries too. Who knows.

Do you have a multi-meter? If so, what does the resistance read on the atty?

P.S. Also I'm not sure we can rule out charger failure cause an issue with the mosfet either. I'd really want a multi-meter reading on that atty (for ohms).

 

[JTman]

Man that really sucks. I haven't heard of a situation like that before, but I haven't been on the scene as long as many here on ECF.

 

[six]

Without pushing the button on an ego-t battery, there's no complete circuit. Were you vaping in the shower, a rainstorm, swimming pool, hot tub? Somewhere insanely or unusually humid? Did you go from dry and hot outside to a climate controlled building with your batteries?

That last one is my best guess. Your location indicates you live where it's dry and hot. If you went from dry and hot to climate controlled with added humidity, condensation in the switch could have shorted the switch and then when you put an atty on it, you completed the circuit and because the switch was shorted, there was no way to break the circuit without removing the atty.

 

[Knowone]

OK, so I went and checked my order again, and I was wrong. I did order this LR atty that says not to be used with eGo devices. I am absolutely positive that they did not have any of those disclaimers on the product when I ordered it. I am a notoriously meticulous purchaser, and I would not have bought this atty with those disclaimers. I most always read every bit of every description before I place an order. It would be uncharacteristic for me to buy that product with that disclaimer on it as I only use eGo batteries. My lesson here should be to avoid MadVapes as this is the third time that they've burnt me.

Off to buy some more attys and batteries...

By the way, can someone suggest some really good LR attys for eGos or other 3.7v devices? I haven't been lurking around these forums for a while, and the models are so numerous that it's tedious to try them all. Any suggestions?

I can take a screwdriver and short an atty connector on an e-cig without pressing the button, and nothing will happen. There is no active circuit until the mosfet is activated. If I put a meter on it, it would read zero volts, zero amps

Yeah, I know. I didn't think about it hard enough. I figured there may be some weird phenomenon that someone else had experienced here.

How old did you say the atty was??? 2.5 ohms is not very low resistance. Shouldn't give it trouble.

The atty was probably a month old, and well cleaned in 91% isopropyl alcohol every three or four days.

Do you drip? Any chance there is juice in the button?

I do drip, but I keep a folded paper towel in my back pocket to clean any leakage that occasionally occurs.

I've heard that atties, when they fail, can act like a short too.

This is the type of thing I thought may be happening, but as you said, unless there is also a short in the circuit, this wouldn't cause the atty to misfire. Plus, would a failed atty even be able to fire?

Do you have a multi-meter? If so, what does the resistance read on the atty?

I do have a multi-meter. Unfortunately, I was out with friends at a show and had been drinking. I was highly irritated that I had brought two batteries and two attys, and I still managed to not have anything to vape. So, I tossed the atty in anger. Had I not been slightly intoxicated, I may have thought to save it to test it. It's a good thing that everyone I know vapes now else I would have been hurting that night.

Without pushing the button on an ego-t battery, there's no complete circuit. Were you vaping in the shower, a rainstorm, swimming pool, hot tub? Somewhere insanely or unusually humid? Did you go from dry and hot outside to a climate controlled building with your batteries?

That last one is my best guess. Your location indicates you live where it's dry and hot. If you went from dry and hot to climate controlled with added humidity, condensation in the switch could have shorted the switch and then when you put an atty on it, you completed the circuit and because the switch was shorted, there was no way to break the circuit without removing the atty.

That is a very good guess. And, while it is very arid here, AC is actually pretty uncommon as it doesn't get all that hot. Our highs are rarely over 95 on the hottest summer days. In fact, when it happened I was in a very hot train car with no AC.

Man that really sucks. I haven't heard of a situation like that before, but I haven't been on the scene as long as many here on ECF.

It certainly does suck. Having $50 worth of batteries get fried due to an atty that I never should have bought is incredibly frustrating. Now, I'll also have to toss the rest of those attys as well.

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In addition to the question about high-quality attys up above, does anyone have any idea about whether or not I can do anything to try and fix these batteries?

Thanks a lot for the help, guys. I'm sorry about the confusion above. But, I'm sure that disclaimer had not been there when I purchased the attys.

 

[WiηgC¤mmαηdεя]

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In addition to the question about high-quality attys up above, does anyone have any idea about whether or not I can do anything to try and fix these batteries?

Thanks a lot for the help, guys. I'm sorry about the confusion above. But, I'm sure that disclaimer had not been there when I purchased the attys.

If you want to try soldering you could get these eGo-T electronics set, had a eGo-T battery do the same thing when a T atomizer went out and I am thinking of replacing the electronics this way.

 

[six]

By the way, can someone suggest some really good LR attys for eGos or other 3.7v devices?

Nothing below 2.0 ohms is recommended for eGo batteries - not even the below 2.0 ohm stuff made specifically for eGo batteries by joye and others. And, you're wrong about the disclaimer not being there. It was there and has been for months. I have a couple of those same attys right here on my desk awaiting primer removal and another couple in an altoids tin with a bunch of other used attys awaiting a thorough cleaning. - madvapes atty sale a few weeks ago prompted me to purchase these and a few others.

I'm sticking with wet batteries. The circuit can not complete without the button being pressed or the button being shorted. Did you run them through the washing machine? Did you participate in a water fight? Did someone throw a drink in your face? Did you get baptized in a river that day?

You sound like you're dead set on blaming the vendor, but your description of what you experienced doesn't add up to the atty being the cause. The atty can not cause the button to fire. Without the circuit being closed at the button, the atty can not fire. The circuit was closed or shorted at the button so the atty fired. It would not stop firing because the circuit did not go back to an open state at the mofset. Overcurrent from a sudden drop in resistance could damage a mofset, but if the atty started to burn out, it would have only happened to the first battery. There would have been no sudden drop in ohms the second time because it would have started out that way. And, since you never pressed the button the second time, the circuit could have never completed to experience anything from the resistance of the atty.

The second eGo is the one that says you got your batteries wet. Having a mofset blow out or otherwise malfunction during use is not entirely uncommon. Having one blow out just from spinning on an atty (bad or good) just isn't possible. The circuit had to be complete to send electricity to the atty. If you did not physically complete it, something else did.

 

[AttyPops]

OK. So now we're back to LR 1.5 ohms. My understanding is that LR 1.5 ohm atties can cause failure ON SOME DEVICES. However, MV has no idea what you put the atty on. They work for many vv mods, for example.

Sorry about your misfortune. However, MV is one of the vendors that has been warning people about the whole LR issue with mosfets for the last 6 moths or more. There are numerous posts and debates about it.

Sounds like you have some axe to grind or something... IDK. I'm sorry to be a bit offensive, but it sounds like you're looking for a problem or rationalization. I understand you're being ticked that two of your $25.00 batteries died. I'm just not sure it's MV's fault. If I was a business selling atomizers, I wouldn't know what you were using them on. I've never found MV to be a problem. I can't speak for them, so you'll have to ask them. Some users use LR 1.5 stuff on e-go units and swear by it, some don't use anything under 2.0 ohms.

You won't find that disclaimer on many websites at all. MV has it. Not to be a fanboy or anything, but they seem to be pretty up front about it.

Plus... you were out drinking, dripping, and using e-cigs by your own post. You'd have to do a postmortem on that e-cig to figure this one out. 50/50 chance there's juice in the button. 50/50 chance LR fried the mosfet over time with too many amps.

By the way, can someone suggest some really good LR attys for eGos or other 3.7v devices? I haven't been lurking around these forums for a while, and the models are so numerous that it's tedious to try them all. Any suggestions?

Just FYI - eGo units are 3.2 - 3.4 ish volts. True 3.7 volt stuff, you'd want higher ohms anyway.

So, you could try 2.0 ohms or higher stuff for whatever you select. The all mechanical 3.7v stuff can handle the 1.5 LR's but it's too hot IMO (9.13 watts)

Good luck.

 

[Carmiol]

That is a very good guess. And, while it is very arid here, AC is actually pretty uncommon as it doesn't get all that hot. Our highs are rarely over 95 on the hottest summer days. In fact, when it happened I was in a very hot train car with no AC.

Ok, sweat is a conductive liquid. Any chance you could've gotten some sweat in the button. That could close the circuit, right?

It will also explain why both batteries suffered from the same problem.

 

[Knowone]

Again, guys. Thank you for your responses.

Nothing below 2.0 ohms is recommended for eGo batteries - not even the below 2.0 ohm stuff made specifically for eGo batteries by joye and others.

I guess I should have been lurking more. I think I've been satisfied for the time with my setup and had no need to do more research. I've been using 1.5 ohm attys for the better part of the year. No problems until now, though.

And, you're wrong about the disclaimer not being there. It was there and has been for months.

It's just uncharacteristic for me to miss that type of disclaimer. That's why it's a surprise for me to see it now. Doesn't mean I'm not human. I believe you that it was there.

I'm sticking with wet batteries. ... Did you run them through the washing machine?

Nope. They were not wet in any way. They were in my pocket next to my phone, which worked all night.

Did you participate in a water fight?

I wish!

Did someone throw a drink in your face?

No. I'm generally polite and a little shy. No one had any reason to do so.

Did you get baptized in a river that day?

No river action either.

You sound like you're dead set on blaming the vendor

I'm not. Like I said above, it is a surprise to see that disclaimer there. I had figured that they added the disclaimer later, but I see now that I obviously made a mistake. I have had a couple other bad experiences with MadVapes. I'm not dead-set on blaming anyone. I just wanted to know what happened and what I can do about it.

My understanding is that LR 1.5 ohm atties can cause failure ON SOME DEVICES.

But, without the button being pressed? six has a point about that.

MV is one of the vendors that has been warning people about the whole LR issue with mosfets for the last 6 moths or more. There are numerous posts and debates about it.

Like I said above, I should have been following these forums more closely. I haven't been here in a while. So, the MV disclaimer isn't for this particular atty, but for any atty below 2.0 ohm on a 3.7(ish)v device. I see.

Sounds like you have some axe to grind or something...

I really don't. I just wanted to know what happened. I figured that this may not be an isolated incident. I was curious to find out what happened and what I could do about it.

it sounds like you're looking for a problem or rationalization.

I am looking for a problem. I'm trying to find out what the problem was.

I understand you're being ticked that two of your $25.00 batteries died. I'm just not sure it's MV's fault. If I was a business selling atomizers, I wouldn't know what you were using them on. I've never found MV to be a problem.

Well, if the disclaimer's been there for months and I've missed all the threads about the issue here, then of course it wasn't their fault. Assuming it was the atty, it was my fault. It looks like it would be impossible for it to be the atty, but I can guarantee that the batteries were dry. So, I'm stumped.

Some users use LR 1.5 stuff on e-go units and swear by it, some don't use anything under 2.0 ohms.

Like I said above, I have been using 1.5 - 1.7 ohm attys on my eGo for most of the year. No problems until now.

Plus... you were out drinking, dripping, and using e-cigs by your own post.

Not totally sure what this has to do with it. I'd had a single beer when this occurred. I'd had maybe three when I decided to toss the atty. I'm 6' 2" and weigh about 210. Any intoxication would have been a trivial matter in regards to dripping.

You'd have to do a postmortem on that e-cig to figure this one out. 50/50 chance there's juice in the button. 50/50 chance LR fried the mosfet over time with too many amps.

I think I will when I get home this afternoon. Although, even if there was any moisture within the battery, it would most likely be gone now. We'll see what I turn up.

eGo units are 3.2 - 3.4 ish volts.

I'd forgotten about that. Thank you.

So, you could try 2.0 ohms or higher stuff

Any suggestions for a particular atty at 2.0 ohm? It seems like every site I go to either doesn't list resistance or is out of stock. I'm so done with searching for a good atty that I'd pay $15 a piece if I knew they'd last and would produce good vapor.

 

[Knowone]

Ok, sweat is a conductive liquid. Any chance you could've gotten some sweat in the button. That could close the circuit, right?

It will also explain why both batteries suffered from the same problem.

This may be possible. However, I really don't think this is the case. I had just entered the car from the outside, and I'm not an excessively sweaty person. Also, two of the people with me were vaping eGos in the car as well. In my opinion, the circumstances of the environment were not such that enough moisture would have gotten onto the switch inside the device to short it. My guess would be that very near no moisture was within the device. At least, not much more than was in the surrounding atmosphere.

But, if this is an isolated instance of this issue, then my question has been answered well enough. I thought there may be some easy explanation and/or fix.

Since there isn't, I'm no longer very concerned with figuring out how it happened. The batteries are dead.

 

[AttyPops]

What happens is that either:

1) Juice/moisture gets into the button and either makes it malfunction immediately, aids in shorting out the circuits on every press gradually frying them via the short(s). This often shows as an always-on thing from my experience.

- and/or -

2) The LR atty draws too many amps. This overheats the circuitry. Can vary depending on vaping habits. It's all about heat, and heat dissipation for the circuitry. The mosfet fails OVER TIME... but all of a sudden it could finally give up the last of it's ghost and it failed in the on state (I think it 99% of the time fails in the off/dead state tho).

I'm not saying, BTW, that you were totally trashed or anything. It's just that dripping get harder to keep juice out of the button with each beer.

Hmmm. Also, how old did you say the batteries where?

What did MV say?

Other possible issues can include the charger. However, since one unit is a PT, I'm assuming that is unlikely.

And I retract/apologize for the "looking for a problem" comment. This is what I keyed off:

OK, so I went and checked my order again, and I was wrong. I did order this LR atty that says not to be used with eGo devices. I am absolutely positive that they did not have any of those disclaimers on the product when I ordered it. I am a notoriously meticulous purchaser, and I would not have bought this atty with those disclaimers. I most always read every bit of every description before I place an order. It would be uncharacteristic for me to buy that product with that disclaimer on it as I only use eGo batteries. My lesson here should be to avoid MadVapes as this is the third time that they've burnt me.

Just sounded kinda "ticked off" and not finding the issue. You have the right as a customer to shop where you wish. I just haven't had any bad experiences with them, but YMMV. You'll have to take the issue up with them.

I'd wonder what would happen if you let the buttons dry out for a few days (assuming that they still sizzle an atty).

 

[Knowone]

The batteries were about a week old. I'd used the PT maybe twice. The eGo-T battery maybe 3 or 4 times. Never had I used either of them with that atty.

I did not speak with MadVapes. At this point it's pretty obvious that it wasn't their fault.

The PT had only been charged via USB mini cable.

No worries at all on any of your comments. I understand that I came off sounding angry. It wasn't my intention to come off that way, though.

I still have the batteries, and there has been no change in them. I charged them both, and they both seemed to charge fine. But, they do not fire, and the lights on the buttons do not light. When I press the button on the eGo-T five times, it will still flash its light three times to indicate that I am either turning it off or on. But, either way, after that, it does not light.