Help! My Nicostick is acting squirrely

[warpedone]

I've had a 3xAA with two 14500's in series Nicostick for several months and this week it started acting weird. I can turn on the main switch and take a nice drag but then it's dead. Put a voltmeter on the batteries and they're dropping to near 0V. If I try to hit it again - nothing. BUT - if I turn off the main switch for just a couple of seconds, they recharge and I can hit it again.

With that, I discounted the possibility that it's the batteries (plus they're pretty new) and, in lieu of troubleshooting the whole thing, I built a brand new Nicostick.

SAME PROBLEM. So now I'm guessing it has to be the batteries? HELP!

 

[Connman]

Try charging them. How old are they and what make? Do they show charged off the charger?

A couple months sounds like a battery replacement could be needed.

Could be only one bad battery be sure to check them both off the charger.

 

[warpedone]

I had four - 2 real old and 2 newer ones so I've only used the newer ones about 30 times in 2 months. One of the old ones is dead so I tossed it. All three that I have left charge completely (measure at 4.2 fully charged). They're all Ultrafires. Never had a prob before but almost sure that's what it has to be. I've ordered 4 more so I'll be sure in a few days.

 

[WillyB]

Are you using a regulator?

 

[Connman]

Yes That is strange. Hmm all I can think is check your circuit and go from there.

Best of luck. Maybe another member has some ideas.

Ut-Oh
Think WillyB is on to the trouble. I miss read the post in my brain and assumed it was parallel. Atomizer trouble?

 

[misterD]

i heard people saying that its not good to mix batteries (old/new ones). but it seams to me that something is activating the protection on the batts. it happend to me the other day. it was reading 0 than i stuck on the charger and they went from red to green quite quickly. checked again with the voltmeter and it was fully charged...

 

[warpedone]

I have a 5V regulator and have tried several different atomizers.
What misterD says makes sense as far as what's probably going on - I just can't figure out WHY - particularly when they do the same thing in completely different Nicosticks. Oh well...I'll report back in a few days when I get the new batteries. Thanks!

 

[Switched]

My 5V box mod bit the dust as well. It was the box's power switch that was the culprit. I ran a continuity check throughout the box, and bingo!

I replace the switch with one capable of 3A (from Radio Shack) and no more problems. The switch was never designed to handle the current we are putting through it.