Flashing Auto Battery

[Sherrick]

I've asked a similar question in the Tech Forum, but haven't found the answer yet, so I thought I'd ask here, too.

I have a V4L Vapor King (KR808D-1) and the LED on one of my auto batteries will periodically start flashing and will flash a total of 15 times before stopping. If I try to vape, I get no vapor at all, and the 15 flashes occurs again. What does this series of 15 flashes / blinks mean??

I can get the battery to work again, but ultimately always end up back at this series of flashes. I have another battery from a different distributor that is also doing the same thing. Insights anyone?

Thanks for the help.

Sherrick

 

[bornagainst]

When mine flashes like that, it means it's dead and needs to be recharged.

I put it on the charger, it flashes 5 times, and starts charging.

 

[Kimmy]

Yup, deff means the batt is dead. Sometimes its so dead it doesn't even flash when you throw it on the charger, the light just turns red on the charger so you know its charging.

 

[Sherrick]

Mine flashes 3 times to indicate that recharging is needed. The 15 flashes...? I dunno yet.

 

[msroulette]

15 flashes means the battery is dead. The instruction booklet that comes with the hardware states that, also.

 

[Sherrick]

I guess I should have added that sometimes this happens immediately after it comes off the charger and other times it occurs when I've been using it for 5 minutes, 10 minutes, or even 2 hours. It doesn't seem to have rhyme or reason at this point. I asked the other vendor and they said it was because I was using a non-protected / automatic battery on refilled cartos instead of a "protected / manual battery." Not sure that is the answer though.

 

[Sherrick]

Okay, so why would it then flash 3 times when it needs recharging and then 15 times other times? I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm simply saying that it is very inconsistent.

 

[bornagainst]

With auto batteries, anything is possible. They are totally vulnerable to the juice flooding flash of death.

Try taking a a cap full of rubbing alcohol and an old toothbrush, and scrub the heck out of the threads for 1/2 a minute. May cure what ails ya.

Good luck!

 

[Sherrick]

Yep, born, just did that, actually. That was recommended in the Tech area, so I tried that and when there was no joy, I started this thread. Very curious, this is.

 

[bornagainst]

Could just be that the battery has had the biscuit.

If the battery just randomly fails, I would have to assume such.



Welcome to the club of batteries dying an untimely death.

 

[Kimmy]

this is why I don't use autos, I feel that the manuals have far less room for error. Probably a tiny bit of juice got in there that doesn't want to come out.

 

[Sherrick]

So, it is accurate to say that if I'm going to refill my own cartos, I would face fewer hardware issues if I invested in some manual batteries? If so, I will make the switch. I just don't want to buy new batteries unnecessarily.

 

[bornagainst]

OH yeah!

Whenever I speak to a new vapor or answer questions regarding batteries, that is the advice I give.

I love to use Auto batteries on fresh cartos sometimes, but just with experience, I know that if I am going to refill, manuals are the way to go. Definitely.

 

[Sherrick]

Well, at the risk of sidetracking my own thread, do you far more knowledgeable folks have any suggestions on manual batteries? I don't know much about them other than the obvious push-button feature. I think there are at least 3 sizes available from V4L. I'm not sure what I should be looking for, in all honesty.

 

[bornagainst]

I use the manual shorties most of the time. They are just very portable and discreet. I always keep two on me. One with a carto, and one in the PCC. The drawback is they don't last with crazy heavy vaping (battery life wise). With my vaping style though, I am never left out in the dust.

When I am at home, I love the XL manual since it lasts forever.

The manuals are the same size as the autos, so if you like the size you are using now, then just make the switch.

The push button takes a couple days of getting used to. But once you get the hang of it, then using auto batteries feel strange. The lack of the primer puff with manuals is also a bonus point.

 

[jdvorr]

all the manuals work the same way. They differ from autos in that they are sealed and can't get juice in them & they give better control. When you press the button they are on. There's no airflow concerns and you never have to worry about inhaling hard enough to activate them. It comes down to personal preference. I go with the XL's because they last longer and give a little bit more oooomph when they're freshly charged. I have regular and a shorty as well. I have 3 XL's and 4 more on the way. I use the shorty for stealth vaping. Some people like a shorty because it's about the size of a regular analog. Hope this helps.

 

[jamvector]

I echo previous sentiments of Born and Kimmy; manuals are definitely less prone to moisture and contamination failure. The switch itself can fail however, and you still need to keep it dry even though the rubber switch cover / button is "less permeable". As with any mechanical electrical device, there have been problems posted for manuals with switch misalignment, damage from impact, switch failure over time, and general manufacturing defects that show up across the board for all the different batteries. So, are the manuals better? In general, statistically speaking, yes. Will some people prefer only autos and hate manuals? Yes again.

I prefer the XL Manuals above all other options, including the Pass Throughs. I have had very consistent and excellent performance across a very wide range of old carts, new carts, regular and premiums, blank, prefilled, and multiple refilled versions. I have also had good luck with the regular manuals, but cannot speak to the shorties - although I may buy one just to try. In my case, I don't care if it is too long, or doesn't look right, or fit in a certain pocket - I just want the best battery available, which happens to be the XL Manual.

Just my $0.02, keep us posted as you acquire more gear; look forward to your opinions as well!

 

[Sherrick]

Wow, you folks are on the ball! Thanks for all of the very helpful information. I considered buying an XL battery previously, and one reason I didn't is because I tend to hang cigs - electronic or analog - out of my mouth, and I would think those XL models must weigh about a pound-and-a-half. Don't know if I have the jaw strength for that...

 

[Kimmy]

Any battery can fail, but for the most part autos fail way more than manuals. The most common problem I hear about with manuals is the switch, but I never hear it that often. If you drop an auto, your probably screwed, but I've dropped my manuals and none of failed. Of my 20 something manual batteries, 1 has failed in six months of vaping I like reg size and XL. Shorties don't last long enough for me

 

[Darrigaaz]

The 3-5 flashes mean the battery is at the point it needs to be recharged. The 15 flashes means it's past the point where it needed to be recharged... Recently I've had a couple times while gaming that I didn't notice that the battery was completely dead, and kept on sucking on it (auto). When I finally noticed, I stuck it on the charger, and within 2 minutes the light turned green, indicating it was done charging. I then took the battery off the charger, let it sit for an hour or so, and then stuck it back on the charger. It then charged back to full.

My few original batteries I got 5 months ago are still working, but I've noticed they need charging much more often than they used to. It's just that they aren't able to hold as long a charge and soon I'll probably need to retire them and move on to fresher batts.

My father in law just killed an auto batt a couple days ago because he overfilled a carto. This time around he's going to order manuals to help prevent it from happening again.