Hardwired USB Passthrough

[KYBLUE]

Saw a hardwired USB passthrough device on Vapor Kings. It's a multi click to adjust voltage device with a usb cable directly attached.

Would seem to be a good choice to leave in the car attached to a usb power point plug, saving battery time on your regular vape for time spent away from power sources. Shouldn't be hard to fabricate a nice enough holder from a short length of pvc pipe or an old cigar tube.

Anyone have/had one of these or similar devices and used them in their vehicle?

 

[smacuser]

I have one of these ElectronicStix.Com · 5 Volt 510 Passthrough (Requires Sufficient Power Source) Stainless With Blue LED

I don't use it much, but it works. Make sure you have a 2 amp usb adapter.

I don't think I would leave it plugged in. Be cautious with using it on a computer. I read that a lot of computers really don't have the power to drive it and can actually cause computer damage.

That looks nice, but for the price, would it be reliable?

 

[KjAthena]

I have been using one of these on my laptop and in my car with a cigarette lighter adaptor I use to charge my phone...for 5.50 its been working great for over 6 weeks

https://www.fasttech.com/products/0/10004592/1382500-variable-voltage-usb-passthrough-battery-for-e

Use a protank on it and just put it in my purse when I leave the car
works great but I would not suggest leaving it plugged in

 

[KYBLUE]

In my old car there is no power supplied to the 12 volt socket unless the key is in the accessory or run position. I guess technically it's not a power point but rather an old fashioned cigarette lighter. How ironic.

I doubt it if would hurt to keep it plugged in a more modern car as there doesn't appear to be a battery to overcharge and it would draw no power unless the firing button is pushed but better safe than sorry I suppose.

 

[Visus]

Pass thru's are awesome..

 

[ch2468]

I can't reasonably recommend you use a passthrough while driving.

 

[sbc83]

I can't reasonably recommend you use a passthrough while driving.

Hey, it's gotta be safer than talking or texting while driving. God I hate those people.

 

[Flavored]

I have the one you are looking at and it works very well. I got it for the same reason you cited. Just be sure the USB plug you buy will put out 2.1 amps, they're still cheap and you can get one in Walmart or a mini-mart.

 

[retired1]

The only thing I'd be careful of is leaving the device in the vehicle when it's hot outside. Heat and batteries don't mix well. Otherwise, it might be a viable solution.

 

[stillnotsmoking]

The only thing I'd be careful of is leaving the device in the vehicle when it's hot outside. Heat and batteries don't mix well. Otherwise, it might be a viable solution.

If its a hardwired passthrough there wouldnt be a battery....

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk 4

 

[KYBLUE]

Well, I've added it to my wishlist but now I want two so I can tear one apart to see if it has a battery.

 

[AttyPops]

Well, I've added it to my wishlist but now I want two so I can tear one apart to see if it has a battery.

Sigh. That would be a waste!

If it had a battery, it would vape unplugged. The "direct passthroughs" don't have a battery and don't vape unplugged...they need an external power source. Check the amps of the source like many have said. You can get 2.0 or 3.0 amp A/C to USB converters. The standard ones won't work (and many computers won't either) since they are for trickle charge not vaping-power.

 

[Flavored]

It has no battery.

 

[AgentAnia]

I have an old 808 passthru that I use in my old car (that has an old-fashioned cigarette lighter outlet). Bought an adapter from the same vendor. Use it while driving, works fine. Don't leave it in the car when it's parked in the sun, though, and always unplug it when I'm leaving the car for any reason.

 

[josefmistal]

i use a hardwire passthrough at work all day, It works great. Only issues i have had in the car is if the plug doesnt put out at least an amp it doesnt vape well, Outside of that i use it constantly. I wouldnt see any issue with leaveing it in the car as long as its not getting power the whole time

 

[Evi|grin]

When using it on a computer USB port, get a POWERED USB hub FIRST.

Plug the powered hub into you PC's USB port and connect its power source. Plug your pass through into the POWERED HUB. Then you should not draw too much power from a USB port. USB ports produce 5volts but very low amp or watts. Powered hubs don't produce much either but at least you will not easily fry the USB ports in your PC.

 

[bikerbeagle]

Well, my take on these are that they are pretty cool ...IF you spend A LOT of time near an appropriate power source.

However, because it is a variable voltage device, I would suggest that you use a powered usb hub or a USB 3.0 port if using it off of your computer and at least a 2amp adapter if using it from an ac/dc or 12v power source. A single USB 2.0 port on your computer MAY work ...or it MAY not ...depending on your voltage setting, ohms of your coil, and what, if anything, else you have connected to other USB 2.0 ports. USB 2.0 specification is a 5v maximum that is shared among all of the devices on that particular bus. The problem is that, when it doesn't work (you overload the bus power draw), it has the potential to really.not.work.badly for you at the cost of your motherboard.

It's probably better safe than sorry, but I'm not sure how cautious you need to be leaving them plugged in. They have no battery and, therefore, the likelyhood of them exploding into great balls of fire is nill. They are, however, at least partially made from plastic and can technically partially melt, so leaving them in direct sun in a hot car might not be a wise decision.

All in all, I think everyone should have one of these lying around. They are the true backup device for the Zombie Apocalypse. Low-tech for the win!

 

[Evi|grin]

Even a powered USB hub power source is only about 2amps TOTAL and about 500ma per port. Some newer models have a special 2.1amp "charging port". You can read the specs on the AC adapter and very few will every be more than 2amp unless you get a very good one. An AC to USB adapter might be a better choice but ive never read the specs. I would not imagine they would be much higher amperage.

Computer related USB devices simply don't require very many amps.

The model i use is what called a USB docking station. It supports 2 powered ports, a hard drive and card reader. The power source is rated at 12v and 4 or 5 amp. I have no idea how much actually is available to the USB ports but the AC adapter for the unit is far superior to the powered hubs ive seen.

They are more expensive but very useful if you are into computer gadgets like i am.

 

[optsmk]

I can't reasonably recommend you use a passthrough while driving.

Oh PFFFFFT on that label. A passthru is no more dangerous than smoking an analog. Although I suppose you could make a case that touching, using, looking at or talking to anyone while driving could increase the risk of an accident. But that's a whole other debate.

 

[KjAthena]

all I can say is I've used mine with a Protank while driving for quite some time. It sits in my lap and I can feel the raised button and never even have to look away from the road...it is so much safer than smoking while driving. I have never had the "cherry" fall off and burn me or had to pull over quickly to avoid a fire when it falls to the floor and starts to burn the carpet under the seat