Had a scary thing happen yesterday

[Doomed!]

Yesterday, I was vaping on my P+ 18500 when a kinda scary thing happened. I pushed the switch and the atty didn't fire, the top part of the mod, where the top cap meets the main tube, got real hot and the battery got warm. I quickly unscrewed the top cap so it wasn't making contact and removed the battery. I took everything apart to examine it and I found scorch marks on the switch.

It's the dark spot in the middle.


Harder to see in this one, but it's right along the edge near the threading.


I let everything cool down and tried it again and everything worked fine. I'm not entirely sure what happened. I thought it was the spring grounding against the tube, but looking at it, I don't think that can happen with the precise. I do use a drip shield with a 510-510 adapter and now I'm thinking it's the adapter that's the culprit. Using it without the adapter, I've had no problems. So, am I right in thinking it's the adapter? And is it safe to recharge the battery and use it? It's an AW IMR. Thanks in advance.

 

[forcedfuel50]

Yep, the atomizer/cartomizer or adapter shorted out as a result of the plastic/rubber insulator in the adapter/cartomizer/atomizer compressing and making contact with the wall of the adapter or cartomizer/atomizer. It's easy to overtighten them or sometimes, they just wear out over time and slowly compress down from repeated tightening. The short causes the button to get hot as the electrical path takes it back that way to the bottom of the battery. Sometimes you may have to replace the atomizer/cartomizer/adapter if the center pins of them are pushed too far up in or the plastic insulator in them is disenegrating.

Most times you can recharge the battery with no ill effects.

 

[revolver]

Same thing happened to me once. I have learnt not to over-tighten atties as I would as a result of the experience.

Even though mine are, say, adding some character to the mod, what about the "blackened spots" !? Are they fixable... !?

 

[atavanhalen]

Yup had it happen the other day, some attys have this happen easier than others. It has always been the atty or carto, maybe happened twice.
And yes there is a very good chance it was the adapter, those rubber washers get worn out and ground out.

 

[atavanhalen]

Same thing happened to me once. I have learnt not to over-tighten atties as I would as a result of the experience.

Even though mine are, say, adding some character to the mod, what about the "blackened spots" !? Are they fixable... !?

Try s lil Flitz, just dont get it on the contact points

 

[Browneyedgirl]

Yikes, any repercussions since? Hope nothing harmful, do you have a battery putting out too many watts?

 

[atavanhalen]

Also if you do not have a multimeter, I would suggest getting one, as long as the battery did not discharge too low, then it should be fine to recharge and use, but after an atty or adapter has caused a problem, it is bound to cause a problem again, I would toss the atty or carto and the adapter but thats my opinion. I have had cartos that shorted and then worked and then shorted again, so I learned its not worth it to mess around, especially with a cheap carto or atty.