HELP! Can I use my flat-top 18650 batts in my proVari V2??

[HolmanGT]

BTW: I don't agree with the paperclip scraping of brass (or any other metal) contact points like shown in the vids. After cleaning with alcohol, I just use a pencil eraser, followed by alcohol if necessary..

I have used the eraser trick for years to clean contacts. That paperclip thing made my hair stand up. Not only do you stand a good chance of damaging the contact but also of getting very fine metallic scrapings in places you really don't want them.

Also if any contacts have been plated with some corrosion resistant material i.e. gold or nickel, a paper clip will just destroy the exotic coating in very short order. Actually the very first time I saw that video I was going to ask ProVape if they approved of that procedure... but like a lot of other "I am going to do things" I never got around to it and then forgot about it until now.

 

[Technonut]

I have used the eraser trick for years to clean contacts. That paperclip thing made my hair stand up. Not only do you stand a good chance of damaging the contact but also of getting very fine metallic scrapings in places you really don't want them.

Also if any contacts have been plated with some corrosion resistant material i.e. gold or nickel, a paper clip will just destroy the exotic coating in very short order. Actually the very first time I saw that video I was going to ask ProVape if they approved of that procedure... but like a lot of other "I am going to do things" I never got around to it and then forgot about it until now.

No, not a good practice at all.. I'm no electronics expert. I have a lowly A+ certification, and repair / upgrade computers for my daily crust. I do have the luxury of living in a small rural town, where I never seem to lack in business, and am zoned to work from my home. Lot's of user-error issues, crashed drives, memory / processor upgrades, etc...

Anyhow, I also learned the eraser trick in my trade years ago....

 

[HolmanGT]

Technonut,

You sound pretty Electronic savvy to me.

And as far as years back there was a time (and I won't tell you how far back) things like circuit board edge connectors only had the copper contacts (the days before gold plating). If it had not been for the eraser trick we would never have been able to keep half our equipment working.

It was such a problem that when ever a piece of equipment came in one of the first things on the to do list was pull all the cards and clean them with an eraser. This process usually fixed more than half the failed units and saved my bacon on a lot of the early computers.

PS - as sophisticated as home electronics and computers are becoming I am absolutely sure you will never run out of business.

 

[EddardinWinter]

Totally amazing! I wouldn't have the guts to do that. How is that possible without stripping the threads or messing up the board (which after a drop like that, well guess that part wouldn't be a concern).

Only on a ProVari.

It was funny, right after the drop, I was not even fazed a bit. I knew one way or the other, my ProVari was gonna be just fine. That is just the way of it. You will see.

 

[EddardinWinter]

BTW: I don't agree with the paperclip scraping of brass (or any other metal) contact points like shown in the vids. After cleaning with alcohol, I just use a pencil eraser, followed by alcohol if necessary..

YES! Never scrape brass connector with a harder metal. No need for it! The 99% with a Q-tip and an eraser afterwards if there is stubborn residue. Usually the Q-tip with the 99% does the trick, though. I forgot the eraser part....duh...

At least you had that laying around, Mo, right?

 

[EddardinWinter]

ED,

Well that is a surprise on the 91% not working very well. I wouldn't have thought there would be that much difference but good to know you have compared the two.

The ethanol suggestion I made reference to was from the old days when I worked for the DOD. We used 99.9% medical grade ethanol for cleaning because it left the least amount of residue - at least that was what I was told was the reasoning for using it. The only problem I had with the ethanol was when my buddy discovered you could mix it with Orange Crush and well you know the rest of that story.

But I won't suggest anything that is not specifically called out by ProVape. Between ProVape and your experience... well far be it from a newbie to suggest anything less than what the pros and experienced users suggest. (Hmmm... that sounds a little snippy - but is not intended to be).

Did not sound snippy at all.

Very kind of you, but my leonine bearing gives me an air of expertise I do not deserve.

But for the patience of Baditude, The Ocelot, Technonut, and Thrasher (and a few others I am sure I am leaving out) I would know much, much less. I did not mean to disparage your suggestion, I simply do not know anything of it. I suspect it would be just fine. I just stick with manufacturer's instructions (habit of my trade) until proven otherwise.

 

[moishesmom]

YES! Never scrape brass connector with a harder metal. No need for it! The 99% with a Q-tip and an eraser afterwards if there is stubborn residue. Usually the Q-tip with the 99% does the trick, though. I forgot the eraser part....duh...
At least you had that laying around, Mo, right?

Right - that I'm sure I've got. I've received quite an education here, a great bit unexpected but definately needed & appreciated.

I am going to start draining most of my IMR Panasonics & store them. My batts shipped today from Randy & if they don't go via Puerto Rico, I hopefully will receive all the goodies about the same time. It would be very painful to get the ProVari & just have to stare & fondle it until the batts arrive...

 

[EddardinWinter]

Right - that I'm sure I've got. I've received quite an education here, a great bit unexpected but definately needed & appreciated.

I am going to start draining most of my IMR Panasonics & store them. My batts shipped today from Randy & if they don't go via Puerto Rico, I hopefully will receive all the goodies about the same time. It would be very painful to get the ProVari & just have to stare & fondle it until the batts arrive...

You simply MUST post some pics when you get it. Happy vaping, Mo.

 

[HolmanGT]

moishesmom,

Just don't go to low with the drain. If you take them down to 75 to 80 percent (that would be great) and will give you a fairly long storage time before you have to worry about jacking them up a little.

I would suggest rotating thru your other APVs which is what I thought I would do to keep my "Flat Tops" active but once you get the Provari in your hand it takes a pretty strong willed person to use one of the inferior MODs. "just saying"

I feel for you... 32 Flat Tops and all the instructions you have received in this thread and you still don't even have the Provari in hand. Oh the trials and tribulations one must endure during the climb to the top.

 

[moishesmom]

You simply MUST post some pics when you get it. Happy vaping, Mo.

Thanks Edd..The USPS stalking begins....

 

[moishesmom]

moishesmom,

Just don't go to low with the drain. If you take them down to 75 to 80 percent (that would be great) and will give you a fairly long storage time before you have to worry about jacking them up a little.

I would suggest rotating thru your other APVs which is what I thought I would do to keep my "Flat Tops" active but once you get the Provari in your hand it takes a pretty strong willed person to use one of the inferior MODs. "just saying"

I feel for you... 32 Flat Tops and all the instructions you have received in this thread and you still don't even have the Provari in hand. Oh the trials and tribulations one must endure during the climb to the top.

Thanks Holman - Your so right - the pain is unbearable. I don't have a meter so I figure a few hours on a mod should do the trick. I'll still keep a mod going & that will be the one that goes out with me (yeh right ) I have a horrible fear of losing the ONE. That's why everyone should have at least 2, right?

 

[HolmanGT]

Mom,

Yuppers - I would think a couple of hours use will work just fine. You just really need to pull them off of full charge.

My Provaris still has not left the house. When I go out I usually carry my ego-twist. My other APV with batter are a little on the heavy side and I have to keep pulling up my pants.

The Twister can go in my shirt pocket. I used to carry it in my pants pocket but the first time you sit down... well it can be a little uncomfortable and once I had it in my back pocket and sat down. Yup - you guessed it, juice everywhere and I got to replace my ego tank due to a crack.

But then women that carry a purse don't have to endure those indignities.

PS - I have come to hate I mean really hate stocking the Postal Person. It doesn't expedite anything it only makes you crazy.

 

[moishesmom]

I agree but ask anyone I know & they'll tell you I'm nuts already. That's OK, we nutty ones have more fun. My 'pacifiers' never leave my hand so no worry about sitting on it or burning it in my purse.

I'll put each Panny on the charger to check if it's fully loaded & do a few hours on it before I put it away. What do you think of that idea as some have been sitting for approx. 1 month without being used.

P.S. I have a Joyetech 18650 mod that I favor over any of my others & that will go shopping or just out with me. I do have some Twists & Spinners, but I don't trust them as much as the mod. I don't ever carry extra anythings with me (except paper towel).

 

[HolmanGT]

Mom,

I don't thing a month is anything to worry about. I believe the most and fastest harm is done while an L-ion is completely drained.

By the way if you are interested this site will tell you everything you wanted to know about batteries and were afraid to ask:

Basic to Advanced Battery Information from Battery University

Just in case ECF removes the link above the site is www batteryuniversity dot com.

 

[Technonut]

Mom,

I don't thing a month is anything to worry about. I believe the most and fastest harm is done while an L-ion is completely drained.

By the way if you are interested this site will tell you everything you wanted to know about batteries and were afraid to ask:

Basic to Advanced Battery Information from Battery University

Just in case ECF removes the link above the site is www batteryuniversity dot com.

Nah, they won't remove it.. I have it in my Sub-Ohm Safety sticky in the RBA forum..

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...-discussion-safety-battery-info-warnings.html

 

[HolmanGT]

Technonut,

Glad to here they won't pull it. The other day someone was trying to give me a link and ECF kept deleting it. It was a link to a vendor, maybe that was the problem.

Actually I notice they changed the link I posted to a hyperlink to the same place so it's all OK.

If I had known about your **Sub-Ohm Vaping** page I would have offered that for sure.

 

[moishesmom]

Do you guys actually believe that I can comprehend that chart? Would you believe that in my past life I was in real estate? Yes, I calculated mortgages & land contracts without charts or PCs. I have total brain fog + CRS + ProVari Syndrome these days so it's much easier & fun to hang with all of you. Look what I've learned in just a day.....BTW, I received an email from Randy letting me know he has the AW IMR18490 back in stock. Thought I'd pass it on....gee, does that mean I gave you some info?

 

[Mowgli]

I have a can of denatured alcohol I use for woodworking and cleaning stuff.

Will that work as well as 99% iso?

thanks

Just glad it's a happy ending.

One other thing, you need a couple of cheap items for maintaining your ProVari:
99% Isopropyl alcohol. Get the 99%, not a lower concentrate. You use this with a q-tip weekly to clean the negative and positive terminals where the battery connects. I can only find this online (amazon).

Noalox. 4 oz bottle. Use this monthly on your threads. You can find it at home depot for 5 bucks.

Details for using these are in the user manual that you can download for free from the website. Maintain your investment. It will last you a long, long time!



Tapped out

 

[HolmanGT]

I have a can of denatured alcohol I use for woodworking and cleaning stuff.

Will that work as well as 99% iso?

thanks

Mowgli,

Generally I would say no at the start because it is "Denatured" which implies that chemicals have been added (Denatured) to prevent personal consumption. I don't know with newer laws what they have added to denature it but generally the things they add to denatured alcohol are not good for people or electronics.

If the bottle/can that you have says DENATURED I would not recommend using it.

Do you just intend to clean the threads atomizer contacts and battery contacts? If that is the intended use then IMHO 91% isopropyl alcohol will work just not quite as quite as good as the 99% stuff. Also if you clean the internal batter post (the one up on the circuit board inside the tube be careful to only use the least amount necessary to clean the battery post and don't drip it down on the circuit board.

The problem with the 91% that you can buy at most Rx and Wal-Mart has a little more water in it and if it gets on the circuit board you will have to allow a little extra time for the water to dry out prior to use. You can expedite the drying process by carefully blowing out the tube with a hair dryer set on low warm or cold.

As I remember in the manual they talk about flushing the circuit board if it has become really dirty from use or an accidental spill of e-juice that ends up on the circuit board. If you decide for whatever reason to flush the circuit board then 99% isopropyl alcohol is the only way to go. But to repeat myself that is some thing you should never really have to do. And here again if you do flush the circuit board you will have to make sure that the board has been completely dried i.e. "Time and/or warm (lo-temp) air blow out from a hair dryer" prior to use.

The bottom line; to be on the safe side just drop a not to ProVape support and ask then for an opinion on what you want to use. They will not steer you wrong and you don't want to do anything to void your warranty.

 

[Mowgli]

Righty right. So no denatured. I wasn't sure what it meant.
The guy that googles definitions of everything and uses it as a spellchecker didn't think of googling.

Thanks for helping. I'll get the right stuff then