I'm using a protected li-ion 1800 mah flat top battery, haven't had any issues so far. It fits just fine.
Gripper Discussion
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...found some hosted pictures of the Gripper innards.
http://img.tapatalk.com/7cb95cb4-841b-a5b6.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/7cb95cb4-8430-dc8d.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/7cb95cb4-8444-ab26.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/7cb95cb4-8455-9e46.jpg
It seems that someone found a non-clicky button...
http://jaycar.com.au/products_uploaded/productLarge_8846.jpg
...and has prepared the innards to move to another enclosure.
http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/l580/kpstrips/5ea84bba.jpg
http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/l580/kpstrips/592316b3.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/7cb95cb4-841b-a5b6.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/7cb95cb4-8430-dc8d.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/7cb95cb4-8444-ab26.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/7cb95cb4-8455-9e46.jpg
It seems that someone found a non-clicky button...
http://jaycar.com.au/products_uploaded/productLarge_8846.jpg
...and has prepared the innards to move to another enclosure.
http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/l580/kpstrips/5ea84bba.jpg
http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/l580/kpstrips/592316b3.jpg
Couldn't be unhappier with this thing. I knew it when I saw it that the battery door would be trouble, and it is.
When it's closed, it's held down along the back end by a slight edge of plastic on both sides, which broke incredibly easily. Tape is currently the only thing keeping mine closed. Didn't even last me a week.
The electronics are pretty solid, though. I'm not nearly good enough with my hands to transplant the guts into another box and make it look nice, though.
Anyone have any ideas on how I can keep the battery door closed while making it look good? I'm thinking of a screw, as there's enough room to be able to tap through the door into the body of the device, but threading into plastic won't last long before the threads go dead, considering the battery has to be replaced every other day.
When it's closed, it's held down along the back end by a slight edge of plastic on both sides, which broke incredibly easily. Tape is currently the only thing keeping mine closed. Didn't even last me a week.
The electronics are pretty solid, though. I'm not nearly good enough with my hands to transplant the guts into another box and make it look nice, though.
Anyone have any ideas on how I can keep the battery door closed while making it look good? I'm thinking of a screw, as there's enough room to be able to tap through the door into the body of the device, but threading into plastic won't last long before the threads go dead, considering the battery has to be replaced every other day.
That is too bad Dirgon. I was using some modified Panny batteries that didn't allow the door to close good and I was afraid it was going to break mine. I'm only using the regular Panny's and Aw IMR's now and it closes good and doesn't put any stress on it. The door definately is the weak point though.
What type of batteries are you using with it? Bummer for me because I just bought six of the modified Panny's in a Co-op and I cant use them as is. Rader has come up with a way of modifying the batteries so I might be able to use them eventually.
What type of batteries are you using with it? Bummer for me because I just bought six of the modified Panny's in a Co-op and I cant use them as is. Rader has come up with a way of modifying the batteries so I might be able to use them eventually.
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AW 2000 mAh IMR. They fit, but they're snug, didn't seem to be putting much stress on the battery door. The door broke from a tumble, but still. I knew it would be a weak point, I didn't expect it to be THAT weak.
I think I might transplant the guts into a smaller altoids box, big enough for an 18650 battery and get a battery box, rewire the battery connector, and put the circuit board in with the buttons/LCD facing up, inside the box. Then all I have to do is replace the box every couple months and it'll only require drilling an atty connector hole. Edit: and button hole. I'd rewire the button too, probably using a horn style.
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That is one of the types of batteries I use too. Shame a badly designed door would shut down the PV. Let us know if you come up with a fix.
I was really peeved when it happened, but I've calmed down now. If anything, it's probably a good thing because I'm not thrilled with the button placement anyhow.
It's a shame, though. The feel of the mod is really nice. I like the gripper part of it, and the rubberized coating feels nice.
It's a shame, though. The feel of the mod is really nice. I like the gripper part of it, and the rubberized coating feels nice.
dirgon,
I agree with all the points you made: the battery door should be stronger, the size/form factor and rubberized coating are nice, but the top-firing button placement is a deal-breaker for me.
I agree with all the points you made: the battery door should be stronger, the size/form factor and rubberized coating are nice, but the top-firing button placement is a deal-breaker for me.
I didn't think I would like the top fire button but I really like it for several different reasons. It just shows how we are all different on our likes and dislikes.
I didn't think I would like the top fire button but I really like it for several different reasons. It just shows how we are all different on our likes and dislikes.
My homebrewed mod has its button in that position. I can't imagine it elsewhere. We do have opposable thumbs.
I think there's definitely some QC issues on these. I ordered two of them, each from a separate vendor, and one is great the other has many issues including the wonky battery door you describe. Try this though. Take the battery out of the Gripper and keep the batt door open. Get a flashlight or just hold it in the light in a way that you can see down inside the battery compartment. Do you see the spring? Is it twisted up or not facing down like it should? I was able to get my pinky finger in there and re position the spring so it seated correctly. Then my button top AW IMR 18650 fit much better putting a lot less stress on the door. This VV also has a slightly loose female 510 connection which the vendor suggested putting super glue on so it won't shake around when I have something heavy like a tank on there. Not really wanting to put glue right there but not really a big deal. But the other unit is perfect. Spring is perfect. The batt door closes perfectly with both flat and button top batts. I really wish Smok could get the QC down because they make some great products. It just sucks when we buy one based on a review or something and our unit is different or slightly defective.
It's not so much that it's a quality control problem, in my case. The battery door is literally held in place by sliding into two little slits on both sides, and the top end of the plastic of that slit broke extremely easily. That's not quality control, that's piss poor design.
I've given up on trying to fix it. Ordered some 18650 battery holders and getting ready to place an order for a horn-style button from madvapes and I'm going to rebuild it in a smaller altoids box.
I've given up on trying to fix it. Ordered some 18650 battery holders and getting ready to place an order for a horn-style button from madvapes and I'm going to rebuild it in a smaller altoids box.
I've got no complaints from mine. Battery door closes fine with the 1800 mah protected flat top battery, button works, connector is slightly loose as mentioned, but I figure with a plastic box and a heavy tank, that's just physics. Weird how the on/off button rotates, so that the power design is never pointing the same way, but not a deal breaker for me. I love it
Cigtechs Deal of the Day is/was a silver Gripper VV for $37.00 shipped.
That was cheap enough to change my mind and seduce me into getting one. Luckily for me, however, when I went to the Cigtechs site, they were already sold out of 'em. I say 'luckily' because---really, now---I need another APV like I need a new hole in my head (or yet another hole in my wallet). Only a wealthy collector "needs" more than 23 variable-voltage mods, and I'm not wealthy.
That was cheap enough to change my mind and seduce me into getting one. Luckily for me, however, when I went to the Cigtechs site, they were already sold out of 'em. I say 'luckily' because---really, now---I need another APV like I need a new hole in my head (or yet another hole in my wallet). Only a wealthy collector "needs" more than 23 variable-voltage mods, and I'm not wealthy.
Wow at that price I would have been forced to buy another and I surely don't need another
VV PV either.
VV PV either.
That sounds cool. I hope you post some pics. I've torn apart one of my Grippers and would love to put the hardware into another box. I just have no idea what I'm doing. And I agree with you on the slits/door closing feature being a design flaw. I think everyone that's gotten one and sees those tiny little pieces of plastic that are to last and hold your door closed said the same thing, "shiz".
Another Gripper sale. 35.00 shipped with 10off code. Best buy I've seen on them. I had to buy another at that price just in case mine breaks. https://www.cigtechs.com/18650-VV-Gripper-Black_p_198.html
Looks like the sale is over.
Looks like the sale is over.
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Well, I've now become a victim of the battery door. Set mine down on the desk a little too rough while gaming and wasn't really paying attention, and now one of the latches on the side is cracked, and is only being held on the other side. We need to find a better way to hold the battery in place, or somebody should post a "anybody can do this with these instructions" video on how to move the electronics to something more solid Better yet, if somebody could make some better boxes already pre-setup for the gripper electronics (holes for the LCD and buttons, quieter switch pre-installed, tighter 510 connector already in place), I'd happily buy one.
Better yet, if somebody could make some better boxes already pre-setup for the gripper electronics (holes for the LCD and buttons, quieter switch pre-installed, tighter 510 connector already in place), I'd happily buy one.
I'd like to see Smoktech come out with a revision featuring
- 3 finger grooves intead of 4
- non-clicky button
- better battery door
Is there some way we can in numbers get Smoktech's attention?
- 3 finger grooves intead of 4
- non-clicky button
- better battery door
Is there some way we can in numbers get Smoktech's attention?
Yeah, I think we need a recall for this cheap battery door setup
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