Eleaf Istick

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TrollDragon

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I know this won't stop the electrical pulse being noticed, but since I got the istick 20W I have been keeping a piece of scotch tape over the mini USB port as a preventative to keep the dang FL sand out. With my luck I'd put it down and somehow fill that tiny port with sand and not be able to remove it. Covering that port as someone else mentioned would most likely stop the shocking feeling, but it would not solve the root of the problem.

Wonder if I might ask this question which I am sure has already been asked -- I just couldn't find it...... What happens when the batteries in the "sticks" give up the ghost eventually? Are these devices considered to be "throw away"? I'd hate to just junk it because the battery died but on the other hand don't think sending it back to China or even somewhere in the States would be very cost effective. Has anyone been able to take one apart without destroying it? Are these batteries a different "breed" of 18650's? I have bought several of these devices in different colors and watts and I look at them wondering "what's gonna happen?"..... TIA

The battery could be changed if you wanted to you would need one with solder tabs on it. But in all honesty, by the time the battery finally dies in the iStick, there will be much nicer devices on the market from Sigelei and IPV etc... Right now the IPV Mini 2 is a nice little piece of kit that uses a regular 18650.

We had a local vaper's Cloupor mini short out and vent a battery, so I am still leary of the device even though Cloupor probably fixed that problem... I always worry about buying one and ending up with old stock that has the issue.
 

horton

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The battery could be changed if you wanted to you would need one with solder tabs on it. But in all honesty, by the time the battery finally dies in the iStick, there will be much nicer devices on the market from Sigelei and IPV etc... Right now the IPV Mini 2 is a nice little piece of kit that uses a regular 18650.

Good point.... never thought about it that way.
I'm sort of a pack rat -- heck, I AM a pack rat. I'm still using one of the first Provari V1's that came out. I understand there is a huge difference between the 'Vari and iStick but my point is I just hate to throw something away. Guess I'll have a box of "sticks" for a rainy day to fiddle with.....lol
 

TrollDragon

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Good point.... never thought about it that way.
I'm sort of a pack rat -- heck, I AM a pack rat. I'm still using one of the first Provari V1's that came out. I understand there is a huge difference between the 'Vari and iStick but my point is I just hate to throw something away. Guess I'll have a box of "sticks" for a rainy day to fiddle with.....lol

I don't like to throw out things either, I paid to much for it at the start and due to poor design the threads stripped and pin shorted out on my 20W.
So with a 510 V4 connector from FDV, a piece of Lexan and a little time my 20W works better than it ever did.
xps7xAc.jpg
 

horton

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I don't like to throw out things either, I paid to much for it at the start and due to poor design the threads stripped and pin shorted out on my 20W.
So with a 510 V4 connector from FDV, a piece of Lexan and a little time my 20W works better than it ever did.

That is one slick fix. I am a little 3D impaired -- would you mind telling me how you accomplished your very nice looking fix? I am curious about the wires and the piece of Lexan especially. Did you have to turn the Lexan on a lathe to size or is a stock piece easily obtained?
Thanks for the valuable info.....
 

TrollDragon

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That is one slick fix. I am a little 3D impaired -- would you mind telling me how you accomplished your very nice looking fix? I am curious about the wires and the piece of Lexan especially. Did you have to turn the Lexan on a lathe to size or is a stock piece easily obtained?
Thanks for the valuable info.....
Thanks!
The Lexan is just a little off cut from a sign shop, cut to the size I needed and the corners rounded by hand. I only have a Dremel with it's drill press attachment so the curves are a little rough. Here is the build album with a few of the steps involved.
iStick 20W FDV Repair.

The positive wire solders onto the FDV floating 510 pin and I attached the ground wire to the brass locking nut. The 510 replacement is a little large to go flush inside the case using the original top plate, so you need to raise it up a bit. The thickness of the Lexan is perfect and the original top plate is just a chromed type of white metal.
 

horton

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Thanks!
The Lexan is just a little off cut from a sign shop, cut to the size I needed and the corners rounded by hand. I only have a Dremel with it's drill press attachment so the curves are a little rough. Here is the build album with a few of the steps involved.
The positive wire solders onto the FDV floating 510 pin and I attached the ground wire to the brass locking nut. The 510 replacement is a little large to go flush inside the case using the original top plate, so you need to raise it up a bit. The thickness of the Lexan is perfect and the original top plate is just a chromed type of white metal.

Thank you very much..... as an old song says "I can see clearly now" (think of a little Reggae music in the background). I've printed off the info and pic you posted for later reference. I haven't had my 510 fitting go bad on me but at times I do get wacky readings in terms of the Ω's showing on the screen. For example, if I use my Fluke 83 to check the atty and it shows 1.7Ω and then put it on the stick, it may or may not show 1.7Ω. It usually shows much higher and then the corresponding voltage reading is higher as well. I don't have the necessary equipment anymore to get in there and check to see what is going on, but it is sort of like my Provari battery reading never being accurate.
Sorry for the long winded post. Again, thanks for the great information..... I truly appreciate it ........:toast:
 

chopdoc

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I know this won't stop the electrical pulse being noticed, but since I got the iStick 20W I have been keeping a piece of scotch tape over the mini USB port as a preventative to keep the dang FL sand out. With my luck I'd put it down and somehow fill that tiny port with sand and not be able to remove it. Covering that port as someone else mentioned would most likely stop the shocking feeling, but it would not solve the root of the problem.

Wonder if I might ask this question which I am sure has already been asked -- I just couldn't find it...... What happens when the batteries in the "sticks" give up the ghost eventually? Are these devices considered to be "throw away"? I'd hate to just junk it because the battery died but on the other hand don't think sending it back to China or even somewhere in the States would be very cost effective. Has anyone been able to take one apart without destroying it? Are these batteries a different "breed" of 18650's? I have bought several of these devices in different colors and watts and I look at them wondering "what's gonna happen?"..... TIA

Scotch tape might work but your right, the root cause still hasnt been identified. Duct tape isnt an option. I work occasionally with some good ol boys from southern Alabama and the "Alabama chrome" duct tape has been discussed a few times. If i ran into them at work, casually pulled out my Istick with duct tape on it, I would never live it down!
The Istick has some micro torx screws holding the top cap on, might pick up a set of micro torx screw drivers and pop the top off to see if it is saturated with juice or has a nicked wire that could be causing the problem. Will keep everyone informed when I get a chance to tackle it.
 

horton

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Scotch tape might work but your right, the root cause still hasnt been identified. Duct tape isnt an option. I work occasionally with some good ol boys from southern Alabama and the "Alabama chrome" duct tape has been discussed a few times. If i ran into them at work, casually pulled out my Istick with duct tape on it, I would never live it down!
The Istick has some micro torx screws holding the top cap on, might pick up a set of micro torx screw drivers and pop the top off to see if it is saturated with juice or has a nicked wire that could be causing the problem. Will keep everyone informed when I get a chance to tackle it.

Hey..... if duct tape is good enough for Red Green then by George it's good by me.....lol. The nice thing about the scotch tape is it's just about invisible.... sometimes it's somewhat difficult to remove, but I'd rather "fight" with a piece of tape than deal with a USB port full of sand.
Something else I now do thanks to my nosy hounds is use an old condom from the carto days (I told you I was a pack rat -- I have a zip loc bag full of them) to cover the drip tip of my Lemo. Now when they decide to taste what flavor I'm currently vaping, all they get is a taste of silicon and manage to knock over the iStick/Lemo combo.....lol. Just happened to realize -- my one dog has a "back pack" she likes to take with her on walks to carry her portable water bowl and a container of water for when she wants to take a break for a "slurp of water".... I suppose I can have her carry some of my vape supplies if we go on an extended jaunt ..... I think I've finally gone over the edge....lol
 

horton

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and with that in mind, let me go outside and see what's wrong with the pump in my goldfish pond! :D

Send me a diagram of your pump and piping setup and I'll send you back a precise "duct tape application procedure" (DTAP).. Do you have a certain color you prefer? I prefer the white because it matches so well with the PVC piping......
 

mudram99

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Send me a diagram of your pump and piping setup and I'll send you back a precise "duct tape application procedure" (DTAP).. Do you have a certain color you prefer? I prefer the white because it matches so well with the PVC piping......

Usually black ABS is used in fountains and ponds to disappear into the background, but GORILLA tape is black and it's the waterproof MACDaddy of duct tapes ;)
 

tiburonfirst

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Send me a diagram of your pump and piping setup and I'll send you back a precise "duct tape application procedure" (DTAP).. Do you have a certain color you prefer? I prefer the white because it matches so well with the PVC piping......

thanks, horton! but not necessary - the thing is fixed and i've earned a nap! :laugh:
 

mudram99

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Btw mud...have you received the isticks yet? No rush just wondering if they went on vacation with the M tanks? Lol

I had you send it to my office address, and I have not been there all day. Will run by after dinner and grab it and see. Come to think of it I didn't check it yesterday either. Sorry but I don't have any incoming vape goodies expected til possibly Sat at the earliest. Otherwise it's usually just bills, no hurry to get them :)
 
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