Discussing the NicoStick

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Guitarslinger

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ECF Veteran
Oct 3, 2009
76
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Central Illinois
FYI I found the problem. The battery had apparently discharged enough through a couple minutes of testing that when hooked up to a large load like the atty, it couldn't maintain enough current to power it and the voltage would drop from about 3.8-4.0v without load down to about 1.4v.

Glad you found the problem-I looked at your schematic and it appeared good, so was gonna suggest you checked your battery level-actually this was kinda the same as my mod-but I used the dual color Led to indicate power on-then it changes when activating the switch/atty-I figured that way it would draw less power than running both LEDs at once-granted not a lot.
 

thana

Full Member
Sep 10, 2009
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So I have been on these forums rarely, but I stumbled upon your mod nico wolf, it looks awesome. I have no soldering experience but it looks like you don't need any to do this mod. My local radio shak seems to have a batter case and a button so I am going to try this out tomorrow!

I have one question and won't feel comfortable attempting this untill I get a clearer picture. I have a dead 510 battery i would like to use as the connector for this NicoStick. But how am I supposed to disassemble the battery? When i look into the connector of the battery the positive part and the negative part seemed to go connected, are they? Do I just rip it out w/ pliars? I don't want to cut this thing because i don't want to melt my hand off with battery acid!

Let me know how I should go about doing this, I am generally optimistic, thank you!
 

Brazilleon

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Aug 11, 2009
376
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Los Angeles, California
So I have been on these forums rarely, but I stumbled upon your mod nico wolf, it looks awesome. I have no soldering experience but it looks like you don't need any to do this mod. My local radio shak seems to have a batter case and a button so I am going to try this out tomorrow!

I have one question and won't feel comfortable attempting this untill I get a clearer picture. I have a dead 510 battery i would like to use as the connector for this NicoStick. But how am I supposed to disassemble the battery? When i look into the connector of the battery the positive part and the negative part seemed to go connected, are they? Do I just rip it out w/ pliars? I don't want to cut this thing because i don't want to melt my hand off with battery acid!

Let me know how I should go about doing this, I am generally optimistic, thank you!

I recomend just ordering some of Nerfs awesome connectors. Fast delivery and saves the hassle of battery dismantling.

I have to say, I love my nicosticks, vaping feels so low maintanence now.
I just carry one spare battery just in case and get through the whole day without worry. No more switching over to passthroughs, USB charging, switching batteries etc. So very cool and simple.
 

boondongle

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Aug 15, 2009
516
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Doylestown, Pa
I'm sure there's a good way to get the connector off the battery, but I basically just tear them open with pliers. You can try taking off the LED, then ripping out the battery, then peeling the metal off like a banana (that's generally what I do). Others have suggested using pliers to crimp the metal about an inch down from the connector, then crimp it at 90 degrees to the first, then soak it in hot water, attach an atomizer, and gently rock it back and forth until it comes loose. Never done that one, though, so I can't say how well it works. At the end of the day, just find a way to get the connector off without scratching the threads or puncturing the battery. :)

As to you other question about the positive and negative battery connections, they are not connected. If you look closely, you will see the positive connection in the center is separated from the negative connection on the outside by a thin piece of non-conductive, rubbery material.
 

thana

Full Member
Sep 10, 2009
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I'm sure there's a good way to get the connector off the battery, but I basically just tear them open with pliers. You can try taking off the LED, then ripping out the battery, then peeling the metal off like a banana (that's generally what I do). Others have suggested using pliers to crimp the metal about an inch down from the connector, then crimp it at 90 degrees to the first, then soak it in hot water, attach an atomizer, and gently rock it back and forth until it comes loose. Never done that one, though, so I can't say how well it works. At the end of the day, just find a way to get the connector off without scratching the threads or puncturing the battery. :)

As to you other question about the positive and negative battery connections, they are not connected. If you look closely, you will see the positive connection in the center is separated from the negative connection on the outside by a thin piece of non-conductive, rubbery material.

Thank you for the feedback there. I tried this on one of my dead batters but I bent the entire connector. I will try again with the info you provided.
 

DreamVapor

Full Member
ECF Veteran
May 1, 2009
57
6
Bowling Green Ohio
We've been wanting to try a mod battery, mostly worrying over the future availability.This is explained so simply that I feel like we might actually be able to pull it off.
Couple of questions that are probably covered somewhere. I apologize for that. The information shared here seems limitless and sometimes a little overwhelming, lol.

Will this battery mod give me a stronger hit that the 901 that I have been buying/using? I'd prefer a hit more like my passthrough... Do I need to try a 9volt battery mod?
The atomizer connector is confusing to me. I'll have to read more on that, because I'm not even sure what to buy there. To start with we will probably use an old battery. I get how to do that. I think...

Even if I do try a 9volt mod. I think this explanation will help me get through it. Thanks for sharing.
 

boondongle

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Aug 15, 2009
516
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Doylestown, Pa
Will this battery mod give me a stronger hit that the 901 that I have been buying/using?
Not really. It will give you a hit similar to the first hit off a freshly charged 901 battery, but it will do it for hours.

I'd prefer a hit more like my passthrough... Do I need to try a 9volt battery mod?
A 9v battery will fry your atomizer almost instantly. The highest voltage people have used consistently is around 6v. If you want a hit similar to your passthrough, you're looking at 5v. You can do that a variety of ways -- use an inline resistor to drop the voltage, use a voltage regulator to either drop the voltage down from 7.4v (two batteries) or up from 3.7v (one battery), or you can use a switching regulator. I'm not really the guy to explain all those, since I've only ever used one of those methods, but I'm sure you can find explanations with a bit of searching. Or, you could try building a mod using 1.2v nimh rechargeable batteries -- three will get you to 3.6v, or four will get you to 4.8v (almost what your passthrough does).

The atomizer connector is confusing to me. I'll have to read more on that, because I'm not even sure what to buy there. To start with we will probably use an old battery. I get how to do that. I think...
You can get a 901 connector from a dead battery, or use Nerf's connector service, or use a size M or N panel mount coaxial jack (available at RadioShack), or buy them from AltSmoke.

Hope that's helpful.
 

rfun6

Ultra Member
ECF Veteran
Jun 17, 2009
1,031
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Tennessee ....
Guess what my hubby made me, yes my first NicoStick ! Its so pretty. I have to thank all who posted pictures and instructions, that helped us get it done. It works great ! Thanks Nerf for the parts, I ordered! I used the wired one you sent, and it's wonderful.
Folks keep posting pictures and instructions. It makes it go so much easier when you have help.
Thanks
 
This is a great-looking mod, and I'm very eager to try it out. I've decided to use the threaded end from a 401 atomizer to use for my 510 atomizer connection (since I had one around). Can anyone suggest a good way to remove the center connector without ruining the little grommet separating it from the outer ring? Thanks for any help!
 

boondongle

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Aug 15, 2009
516
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Doylestown, Pa
Just made my first Nicostick,my question is, I would like to charge from the OEM charger threaded right onto the nicostick.I'm useing a protected AA Ultra-fire battery, and have 1 main on-off switch and 1 pshbutton.Can I use a diode from the battery connector to the switched side of the battery and have it charge?:confused:
If I'm understanding you correctly, you want to use the charger that came with your device to charge your nicostick. I don't know, but your basic concept seems sound. Have an unbroken negative wire from the battery to the atomizer, have the positive wire from the battery to the atomizer broken by the kill switch and activation switch, then have a second positive wire with a diode to prevent it from firing the atomizer. I don't have any experience with diodes, but this makes sense. Two problems come to mind with this setup, though. First, the charger that came with your device will take forever to charge a 14500 battery. Well, not forever, but several hours, I'd imagine. Second, unless you keep a length of the battery shell attached to the connector, you won't be able to screw it into the charger, since it's made for a long tube, not a flat box.


Can anyone suggest a good way to remove the center connector without ruining the little grommet separating it from the outer ring? Thanks for any help!
I've never had a problem with the insulator being damaged, and I'm not exactly gentle. Others have reported this happening, but I have no idea how common it is. I think if you're careful, you'll do fine.
 

nick76

Senior Member
ECF Veteran
Jul 30, 2009
157
1
Salinas, CA
I have one question and won't feel comfortable attempting this untill I get a clearer picture. I have a dead 510 battery i would like to use as the connector for this NicoStick. But how am I supposed to disassemble the battery? When i look into the connector of the battery the positive part and the negative part seemed to go connected, are they? Do I just rip it out w/ pliars? I don't want to cut this thing because i don't want to melt my hand off with battery acid!

Let me know how I should go about doing this, I am generally optimistic, thank you!

You can use a coper tube cutter, at Sears sale for $6-12.
DSC01457.jpg


Nick
 

seadooman

Senior Member
ECF Veteran
May 14, 2009
281
6
socal
If I'm understanding you correctly, you want to use the charger that came with your device to charge your nicostick. I don't know, but your basic concept seems sound. Have an unbroken negative wire from the battery to the atomizer, have the positive wire from the battery to the atomizer broken by the kill switch and activation switch, then have a second positive wire with a diode to prevent it from firing the atomizer. I don't have any experience with diodes, but this makes sense. Two problems come to mind with this setup, though. First, the charger that came with your device will take forever to charge a 14500 battery. Well, not forever, but several hours, I'd imagine. Second, unless you keep a length of the battery shell attached to the connector, you won't be able to screw it into the charger, since it's made for a long tube, not a flat box.



I've never had a problem with the insulator being damaged, and I'm not exactly gentle. Others have reported this happening, but I have no idea how common it is. I think if you're careful, you'll do fine.

Well I made one w/ a M201 battery connector and had to leave it sticking out far enough for the atty to thread over it,tried charger already and it makes contact w/ room to spare,and already just use my e-cigar charger,yeah w/ a dead battery takes about 3 1/2 hrs to charge,just wondering if charger would work properly thru a diode?? I guess I'll pick one up this weekend and give it a try..
Thanks
 
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