Do I have a dud '901 battery?

[jimmy2pax]

Hi,

New to the forum and started 'vaping' today when my DSE901 arrived.

Haven't smoked a real cig in 12 hours.

I think I have a dud battery though. The LED continues to glow for a second or two after puffing, and then blinks 10 times. (I can hear the atomizer sizzling a bit too!). Then I can't smoke it for a while.

It's intermittent, though. Sometimes it works fine.

I assume it's a duff battery. I tried giving it a charge for a few hours, but that didn't make a difference.

Guess there's nothing to do but get a new one. Might just try 'smoking through' it, see if it improves. I do get a great hit when it 'sticks' like that though!

Anyway, I'm quite happy with vaping after almost 12 hours of use. Just need to get some spare reliable atomizers, batteries and carts/liquid.

Then experiment with different liquids.

I'm using e-juice from e-cigs.co.uk

Seems okay, but it's the medium strength, which is probably a bit too mild for me, as I normally smoke hand mades, (with filters). Should have ordered the high strength. I read on the forum that there's a big difference between the different strengths.

I'll certainly stick with this for a while.

Great forum.

 

[shawnp1]

sounds like u might have a batttery with a bad switch. i would get ahold of the supplier an see about getting it covered under warranty.

 

[madog]

sounds like u might have a batttery with a bad switch. i would get ahold of the supplier an see about getting it covered under warranty.

I agree - sounds like maybe some priming juice got down into the pressure switch - It is somewhat sticky and can cause a slow reacting batt. or one that stays on - But the blinking suggests that the battery is stating that it is low on charge - Hmmmm ! - All the way around try to get an exchange.

 

[Weegie Burd]

Jimmy, it sounds like the exact same problem I was having with a new 901 battery.

I contacted Simon to see if it was something as I was doing wrong (I wouldn't be surprised if it was me ) but he said it was a faulty battery and sent a new one out to me.

New battery was sent on Monday and arrived Tuesday, even included a pre-paid envelope to return the duff battery - can't ask for better service than that. I got it charged overnight and used it yesterday and it's working like a dream.

I would do as the others say, contact the supplier about getting it replaced.

p.s. Simon, if you're reading this, I'll be posting the old battery back today.

 

[PeteMcArthur]

Simon's customer service simply can't be beat, it's perfect.

 

[dodomark]

Mate, take the atomizer off and blow hard from the Led end of the batt for a sec or two, do it two times and put the atomizer back on and try it then.

Mark

 

[Chrissie]

I had a new 901 battery behaving in the same way. If what dodomark suggests doesn't work, try a short sharpish tap on the side of the battery towards the end near the led.

 

[jimmy2pax]

Thanks everyone.

Blowing through the LED end seems to work.

When this '901 gets going, it's great. Shame it's a bit temperamental, but I suppose it's just a learning curve.

Will see how things go over the next day or two.



Haven't had a real cig now since I got the thing...36 hours. Fairly painless too.

Have been topping up with e-Juice, just a couple or three drops every hour or so seems best.

 

[shawnp1]

good to hear u are catching on to the ecig. 36 hours is a good start it should only get better from here on out for u.

 

[Misty]

Mate, take the atomizer off and blow hard from the Led end of the batt for a sec or two, do it two times and put the atomizer back on and try it then.

Mark

what does this do, Matt? I've read about it before although can't remember what it was about! Is it only for when the LED light stays on or can I do it to a battery that after every 3-4 inhalations the LED stops lighting up like it gets stuck - then I have to draw really hard to get it going again..

Also, I know I'm filling often with too much liquid as get some liquid right away in my mouth but from what I read I also run the risk of fluid going into my batteries (mini or pen) so are these intermittent no lights on LED the signs of battery getting fluid ...and then I would do what you suggest?
Thanks for your help!

 

[OREGATO]

The blowing into the battery is to try and get it unsticky, it can come from the factory a bit sticky and blowing into it is just trying to loosen it afaik...

I heard the risk of fluid going into the battery only happens to some models, but i think it doesnt happen with the 901..

i could be wrong on the two things..

 

[jimmy2pax]

About the battery/switch thats stick in the ON mode.

Well, gave it a day of taking off the battery and blowing through the LED end, but the conclusion is it doesn't work. But I find that just blowing through the mouthpiece when it sticks at least stops it going into overheat mode, (when the LED flashes 10 times), and switches it off again. Have to be quick though!

Bit of a pain, but there you go. Might ask for a replacement when I make my next order of spares.

The good news, though, is I've found a way to fix the other battery. (That one had the opposite problem of just not working intermittently.)

This trick/tip has been working for me:

I cover the hole and puff. As soon as the LED glows, I take my finger off the hole and continue the puff.

An 'advanced' variation is similar, but with a 'primer' puff:

Cover the hole and take a short puff, uncovering the hole as soon as the LED glows.

Immediately repeat this, but take a longer puff, ie. once the LED starts to glow, uncover the hole and continue to puff for as long as you like.

This method seems to give a better hit too!

Try it!

 

[Misty]

Oregato, Hope you're right cause it gives me one less thing to worry about with the 901 battery..that already is tempermental!

Jimmy, tried it - works ! but have to do it again when I put it down for a while & start vaping again..
Any tricks for that fluid in the mouth though?? Driving me nuts! I'm making sure the sides of the cart are not wet when I put it back in after I add drops..then have to worry about dragging too hard or too little.. never know when I'll get that liquid *yuck*

 

[jimmy2pax]

Jimmy, tried it - works ! but have to do it again when I put it down for a while & start vaping again..

I'm using this method now for all puffs, not just when the battery gives problems, and it's great. One primer puff covering the hole, uncover as soon as the LED lights. Quickly followed by another puff with the hole covered. Again, uncover the hole as soon as the LED lights up and continue the puff as long as you like. Gives a much better hit.

Unless you're happy with the way your '901 performs, of course. I just like the extra kick it gives.

Any tricks for that fluid in the mouth though?? Driving me nuts! I'm making sure the sides of the cart are not wet when I put it back in after I add drops..then have to worry about dragging too hard or too little.. never know when I'll get that liquid *yuck*

About getting liquid in your mouth. I had that problem at the start too. Now I just top up with 2 or 3 drops of liquid when vapour runs low. That usually lasts for an hour or so, or just repeat when the vapour runs low. Sounds like your overdoing it with the liquid, Misty, or drawing too hard?

 

[jimmy2pax]

So this is my 3rd '901 battery and it doesn't seem to be performing well.

But as I'm new to the '901 and e-smoking in general, is it the battery or me?

I have had 3 batteries now. One performs brilliantly: easy draw, lots of vapour and taste, etc.

Number two, I have to draw extremely hard to get it to work and when it does, it produces little vapour and flavour. I ordered a replacement from the supplier.

Number 3, which is the replacement from my supplier for number two, seems to be more difficult to draw on, and produces less vapour and flavour than number one, but slightly better than number 2.

So how should a proper funtioning '901 battery perform?

I'm hoping it's like my number 1, and that I have 2 duds.

:-(

 

[Grumpysanta]

One performs brilliantly: easy draw, lots of vapour and taste, etc.

That is how your 901 battery should perform. The problems are fairly typical of what most people find and that is why so may have looked at using an alternative battery source. I'm using 3 AA rechargeable batteries as an alternative source, they perform better for longer and using them I never get backwash (liquid in the mouth) because the atomiser is working immediately I press a button. You are getting backwash because you are relying on the autoswitch so the atomiser has not warmed up on the first part of the draw. Think Kissbox with the manual switch.

 

[jimmy2pax]

Well, 6 months later and I've had to go back to analogues several times due to the '901 batteries. How I managed to stay off them for 4 months is a mystery. Maybe things just got worse battery wise.

Mind you, I still have the same chargers.

Does charger performance drop off after a few months?

It's not the duration of charge that bothers me so much, it's the inconsistency of performance. Some work well for a while, others don't.

When they work, everything's fine.

Since I prefer to vape than to smoke analogues, I've ordered a Screwdriver. That should hopefully sort out my battery issues.