Help! I think my i2 charger is killing batteries.

[chadmo]

I have a Sigelei mod that uses 18350 batteries and I use a Intellicharger i2 to charge them.

Today I pulled out a charged battery and put it in the mod, but the opening message would blink unusually and I could not turn on the mod. Then I tried putting in a almost fully discharged battery and the mod worked fine.

I then put the problem battery on the charger to see if it was fully charged and it was, and I also put another battery on the charger. And after both batteries were charged neither one of them would work in the mod. But still my batteries that were almost fully discharged worked fine. And I don't know if its a coincidence or not but I have 4 batteries, and my 2 button tops are working fine, but my 2 flat tops are not working.

Does anyone know what could be happening here?

Thank you in advance for your replies,
Chad.

 

[suprtrkr]

I don't know offhand, and I suppose a bad charger is possible. Seems unlikely though, that i2 is a good one. It could be the flat tops don't make contact in that mod; you don't say if they used to work. If you have a voltmeter, check the batteries to make sure the charger is telling the truth when it says they're charged. And charge the button tops and see if the mod thinks they're charged up.

 

[chadmo]

I don't know offhand, and I suppose a bad charger is possible. Seems unlikely though, that i2 is a good one. It could be the flat tops don't make contact in that mod; you don't say if they used to work. If you have a voltmeter, check the batteries to make sure the charger is telling the truth when it says they're charged. And charge the button tops and see if the mod thinks they're charged up.

I just used a Q-Tip and cleaned the mods inner contact, and then I cleaned the 2 flat tops contact points with alcohol and a paper towel. But they are still not working. I don't have a voltmeter but I'm thinking it would be something good to have.

Thanks for the reply suprtrkr,
Chad.

 

[chadmo]

It could be the flat tops don't make contact in that mod; you don't say if they used to work.

The flat tops have worked excellent for many months. Looks like I'm back to using eGo batteries for a while.

 

[Ryedan]

I then put the problem battery on the charger to see if it was fully charged and it was, and I also put another battery on the charger. And after both batteries were charged neither one of them would work in the mod. But still my batteries that were almost fully discharged worked fine. And I don't know if its a coincidence or not but I have 4 batteries, and my 2 button tops are working fine, but my 2 flat tops are not working.

Button top batteries are a bit longer than flat tops which could mean the button tops are putting more pressure on the mod's battery contacts.

If you charge the button tops do they work?

I bought a cheap digital multimeter for around $15 when I started charging removable batteries. I would not vape for long without one. Having one to check batt voltage off the charger is a very good way to know if there is a problem with the charger.

 

[chadmo]

If you charge the button tops do they work?

I'm scared to put them on the charger.

But I just put one on the charger for 1 minute and the battery is still working in the mod (so I know the charger does not kill a battery instantly.)

I'm thinking I need a digital multimeter to find out whats going on here, plus the multimeter might be a good tool to have in the tool box anyway.

Chad.

 

[chadmo]

Button top batteries are a bit longer than flat tops which could mean the button tops are putting more pressure on the mod's battery contacts.

I just stretched out the mods spring (a bit) to put extra pressure on the contact points. Before that the flat tops did nothing in the mod, but after stretching the spring the mods initial screen came on, but the mod still will not turn on.

 

[Ryedan]

I just stretched out the mods spring (a bit) to put extra pressure on the contact points. Before that the flat tops did nothing in the mod, but after stretching the spring the mods initial screen came on, but the mod still will not turn on.

I have some 600 grit sandpaper I sometimes use on my battery, mod and charger contacts when I feel the need to do that. If you have something like that at hand I would use it gently and just a few swipes, on both the mod and battery contacts and see if that helps. A pencil eraser is also a good way to clean contact surfaces.

 

[speedy_r6]

Go to your local harbor freight. They normally have multimeters that are dirt cheap(like 4 or 5 bucks...sometimes even free with any purchase). They aren't great quality or anything, but I use them all the time for basic little stuff. They will at least let you know if you batteries are charged or not.

 

[suprtrkr]

Yeah, if the flat tops used to work, there's a problem. I'd guess in the mod or a contact problem rather than the batteries or charger. When a charger goes, it usually just stops working, and batteries normally just lose capacity. Get a voltmeter, and check your charger is actually charging the batteries. That will narrow it down.

 

[Hans Wermhat]

Button top batteries are a lil longer than flat tops. Is it possible that using them has pushed the mod's cotacts out of whack a lil bit so that they no longer make contact with the flat top batteries?

 

[cindycated]

That would be my guess too. Also, make sure your build resistance is high enough for your battery. Too low could kill it prematurely.

 

[Darth Omerta]

Definitely +1 on the multimeter. I didnt perform my first build until I had one in the tool box! I use it for everything, checking batteries, double checking what my ohm meter says(how much can you really trust the ohm meter on its own, turns out...fairly alright but not perfect). Hope your charger isnt fried. I love the Nitecore D2!

 

[chadmo]

PROBLEM FOUND, AND FIXED.

First I tried really stretching the spring good, after that the lights improved on the display, but still the mod would not turn on.

Then I thought it must be the contact point inside the mod. The contact is quite recessed, so I thought about trying to pull/move out the contact, or push down the material around the contact. I used a toothpick to explore the inside of the mod, I pushed down on the plastic around the contact and I heard a click (as if the plastic went back into place.) I then installed the flat top and the mod turned on normally.

It appears the plastic ring around the inner contact came out some way. The button tops were still able to reach the contacts, but the flat tops did not make full contact (they made enough contact to turn on the mods screen, but not enough contact for some safety feature to allow the mod to turn on.)

Thank you very much for all of your replies,
Chad.