Huge Effort

[quovadis]

Ok guys ..
After considerable effort. I have my 2 prodigy sticks working 100%.

One problem was that one of the switches, sometimes worked and sometimes not when depressed.
It's rare something works 50% ...normally either it works or does not.

The other prodigy had a "center brass" post issue.
Now i have removed the post and replaced it correctly.

One thing i did notice is that the Tenergy blue batteries 900mAH , may be very risky to use with the prodigy.
I have six of these here, and they all read 3.7 volts or more. (although 3volts is printed on the battery)

I also noticed that these blue batteries may all of a sudden read 0.00 volts.
I do not know if the protection trips them?
When this happens, the atty instantly dies.

Having said all this, the prodigy has a steep learning curve...it is not for people who do not want to fiddle with stuff.

Anyway, now they are working and maybe i can start enjoying the sticks.
The pt's are amazing ...never had a bad puff with those!!!

 

[markarich159]

Hey Quovadis, sorry to hear about your prodigy issues, but I think I know why you are having problems with these 900mAh Tenergy(by the way I just had the kit of these same batteries delivered from batteryjunction.com today). Read what batteryjunction.com says about these batteries.

Tenergy RCR123A 3.0V 900mAh Rechargeable Li-Ion Battery

Features:

• Rechargeable CR123A Li-Ion Batteries with 3.0V working voltage and 900mAh capacity.
• Tenergy RCR123A can be recharged up to 1000 times.
• 1 RCR123A Li-ion = 1000 CR123A Primary Cells
• Replace the most of CR123A primary Lithium battery for a digital cameras and most flashlights.
• Internal voltage regulators. Initial cell voltage of 3.6V switches to 3-3.2V within 12ms.
• Full PCB protection against: Over-Discharge, Over-Charge, Short Circuit & Over-Current along with voltage regulation.

Apparently, for the 1st 12 months of operation the voltage is a nominal 3.6V, then it drops to the usual 3-3.2V. That's why your probably getting such a high reading. Don't ask me why they do this, I have no idea. I'm just going to be careful and make sure I don't fully charge, or if I do, I'll be very aware that I'm getting a much higher voltage and adjust my prodigy usage accordingly.

Even the ones that come with the Prodigy Kit(the 750mAh LiFePO4) charge initially, for me, to about 3.6 V. I just make sure I don't hold the button down for long periods until they cool off after a while.

 

[Nuck]

Hey Quovadis, sorry to hear about tour prodigy issues, but I think I know why you are having problems with these 900mAh Tenergy(by the way I just had the kit of these same batteries delivered from batteryjunction.com today). Read what batteryjunction.com says about these batteries.

Tenergy RCR123A 3.0V 900mAh Rechargeable Li-Ion Battery

Features:

• Rechargeable CR123A Li-Ion Batteries with 3.0V working voltage and 900mAh capacity.
• Tenergy RCR123A can be recharged up to 1000 times.
• 1 RCR123A Li-ion = 1000 CR123A Primary Cells
• Replace the most of CR123A primary Lithium battery for a digital cameras and most flashlights.
• Internal voltage regulators. Initial cell voltage of 3.6V switches to 3-3.2V within 12ms.
• Full PCB protection against: Over-Discharge, Over-Charge, Short Circuit & Over-Current along with voltage regulation.

Apparently, for the 1st 12 months of operation the voltage is a nominal 3.6V, then it drops to the usual 3-3.2V. That's why your probably getting such a high reading. Don't ask me why they do this, I have no idea. I'm just going to be careful and make sure I don't fully charge, or if I do, I'll be very aware that I'm getting a much higher voltage and adjust my prodigy usage accordingly.

Its for 12 milliseconds..not 12 months

As for the issue Quo was having, neither a switch nor voltage can cause a hard draw. A poorly inserted centre post can on some 801 atomizers (they have the holes at the bottom of the connector) because the threads will screw right down and cover the holes.

Glad you got it worked out either way.

 

[Zofryer]

I've had no problems with my Tenergy RCR123a's 750mAH yet. By comparison, I've already had to replace two sets of the green ultrafire cr2's and I haven't had them nearly as long, yet I have other Ultrafire's that are flawless. Battery quality seems to differ dramatically even from the same brand.

 

[quovadis]

Thanks for the info.

If anyone pops these into a prodigy with a 5 volt resistor ...they can watch their resistor go up in flames.

My two batteries read higher than 3.6 volts...

Anyway these are too strong for the prodigy.
and they do have a trip protection because all of a sudden the prodigy stops working, i then pull the batteries out and one or both read 0.00 v.

As soon as you recharge them they trip BACK to 3.7 volts...

I have thrown mine away ...
Would have liked to torture them first !!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[quovadis]

I've had no problems with my Tenergy RCR123a's 750mAH yet. By comparison, I've already had to replace two sets of the green ultrafire cr2's and I haven't had them nearly as long, yet I have other Ultrafire's that are flawless. Battery quality seems to differ dramatically even from the same brand.

Very few problems,
you are correct.
Some did not hold a charge , but apart from that they work well.

I need to catch that guy who told us to buy the blue ones...
I think these even buggered up my switch.

 

[Nuck]

Thanks for the info.

If anyone pops these into a prodigy with a 5 volt resistor ...they can watch their resistor go up in flames.

My two batteries read higher than 3.6 volts...

Anyway these are too strong for the prodigy.
and they do have a trip protection because all of a sudden the prodigy stops working, i then pull the batteries out and one or both read 0.00 v.

As soon as you recharge them they trip BACK to 3.7 volts...

I have thrown mine away ...
Would have liked to torture them first !!!!!!!!!!!!

The reading was correct and doesn't indicate anything is wrong with the batteries. If they read 0.0 then there are 2 possibilities. Either the protection pcb is faulty or you have a random short in the mod. Use other batteries for testing and if they work fine, then its the pcb. If not, then you likely have a short.

 

[markarich159]

Its for 12 milliseconds..not 12 months

As for the issue Quo was having, neither a switch nor voltage can cause a hard draw. A poorly inserted centre post can on some 801 atomizers (they have the holes at the bottom of the connector) because the threads will screw right down and cover the holes.

Glad you got it worked out either way.

Boy don't I feel stupid, thanks for the clarification Nuck. I've purchased these 900mAh Tenergy batteries specifically for use in the 6V configuration on the silver Bullet, but I've heard other people have had success with using them in the prodigy. I'm going to try them(I have the 5V resistored Prodigy V1) and I'll report back if I have any issues.

 

[quovadis]

The reading was correct and doesn't indicate anything is wrong with the batteries. If they read 0.0 then there are 2 possibilities. Either the protection pcb is faulty or you have a random short in the mod. Use other batteries for testing and if they work fine, then its the pcb. If not, then you likely have a short.

Other yellow and grey tenergy work well.
It's these blue ones that keep shorting themselves.

By the way thanks for the info on the HARD DRAW.
yes it was a centerpost issue ...
What a nightmare to find the cause though.

HAS PURESMOKER WARNED PEOPLE ABOUT THIS??????

 

[Nuck]

Other yellow and grey tenergy work well.
It's these blue ones that keep shorting themselves.

By the way thanks for the info on the HARD DRAW.
yes it was a centerpost issue ...
What a nightmare to find the cause though.

HAS PURESMOKER WARNED PEOPLE ABOUT THIS??????

It's not really a PS issue. It has happened on regular ecigs and different connectors on the mods I've made. It's why I tend to get true 801 atties which never have the problem (the holes are hidden at the end of the casing so threads can't affect the draw)

Glad you got it worked out though. It can be frustrating.

 

[quovadis]

It's not really a PS issue. It has happened on regular ecigs and different connectors on the mods I've made. It's why I tend to get true 801 atties which never have the problem (the holes are hidden at the end of the casing so threads can't affect the draw)

Glad you got it worked out though. It can be frustrating.

so what are the true 801 atty's ????????

Oh dear !!! Here we go again!!!

I'm using BE112 ...

 

[Nuck]

so what are the true 801 atty's ????????

Oh dear !!! Here we go again!!!

I'm using BE112 ...

They always have SLB on the atty. I get mine from a supplier in Canada but East mall carry them in China and so does Health Cabin. There are probably 20 suppliers in the US that carry them. Just ask them if they carry real 801's when you talk them.

I personally didn't like the BE112's but I'm sure it's just a preference thing.

 

[kardjunkie]

What's the difference between a 801 and a 112?

 

[quovadis]

When i received my adapters from Puresmoker, they were deeply recessed in the aluminum.

I even returned my first prodigy that was not working.

Now i have recessed the brass less and i get an easier draw.
Does this make sense to you guys?

 

[quovadis]

They always have SLB on the atty. I get mine from a supplier in Canada but East mall carry them in China and so does Health Cabin. There are probably 20 suppliers in the US that carry them. Just ask them if they carry real 801's when you talk them.

I personally didn't like the BE112's but I'm sure it's just a preference thing.

I have just tested SLB atty's directly from the manufacturer.
They cost $2 each.
do not like them at all compared to BE112.

I'm now confused as to whether the center post needs to be recessed or flush ...

 

[quovadis]

What's the difference between a 801 and a 112?

The BE112 is made in Xiamen china.
sold by Best-ecig a guy in xiamen china.

Most other atty's are made by SLB in shenzen. (also south china Dongguan district)

 

[Nuck]

I have just tested SLB atty's directly from the manufacturer.
They cost $2 each.
do not like them at all compared to BE112.

I'm now confused as to whether the center post needs to be recessed or flush ...

The connector stops when the centre posts meet so if the centre post on the mod is recessed too far then the outer thread goes all the way down and will cover any holes in the bottom of the atty connection. The SLB attys have all 4 holes under the lip at the end of the atty so they don't get affected (which is why I like them, but again..purely personal preference).

If you find a hard draw in the future, just have a look to make sure the centre post isn't recessed too far. If you screw the atty on too tight it can push the centre post down so be careful when you put on atties. This applies to pretty much all mods and standard ecigs.

 

[markarich159]

Quovadis and Nuck I just poted this in a nother thread: could this have anything to do with the problem with the Tenegy 900mAh 3.0V batteries.

I just think i figured out why people are having problems with these 900mAh tenergy batteries(I just ordered the whole kit). I couldn't for the life of me figure out a reason WHY a higher mAh(900) rated battery would not last as long or perform as well as a lower one(750) even witht he different chemistry. I have figured it out and it's listed right on the back of the 900mAh kit. I will type it word for word:

IMPORTANT NOTES:
1.It is normal that the new battery cannot be charged to its rated capacity when it is being used for the 1st time. To reach full capacity, new batteries have to be charged and discharged 3 to 5 cycles.

So, in essence, what they're telling you is your not going to get anywhere near the 900mAh capacity until 3-5 charge cycles have been completed.

 

[quovadis]

How do you discharge them?

I would stay away from these blue ones ....they have made my vaping life a nightmare.

It still a mystery why fully charged the Multimeter shows nearly 4 volts per battery.
Anyway they are gone ....gone for ever !!!

 

[a2dcovert]

You discharge them by running them in your prodigy.

Another thing important about the 900 mAh batteries is:

Internal voltage regulators. Initial cell voltage of 3.6V switches to 3-3.2V within 12ms.

You can't get a true voltage reading on these batteries simply by putting them on a multimeter. They have to be under load for 12ms before they drop to the 3.0 operating voltage.

Kevin