I don't use batteries anymore!

[parapo]

I'm not sure how long the passthrough or the APC battery actually lasts (if you mean before they die permanently...?), but I'm pretty sure they last much, much longer than regular e-cig batteries. I don't think you'll need to replace either one of them "regularly".

well,my findings are different.
i have a 901 and a penstyle passthrough for 4 weeks.
the penstyle gave up already,it was impossible to drag anymore.(to light it up)
and the 901 passthrough started to have a difficult drag since yesterday,but still works.....

the passthrough device is really not much different than a battery,
it is just without the actual battery but with the usb cable instead.

all other parts are still in the passthough,like the switch and the chip,even the led.

since all my batteries (and passthrough), died due to a failing switch or chip,i don't see how the passthrough should last any longer than a battery.....

but....
if you are comfortable with a soldering iron, you could remove the switch and chip,and add a manual switch, something like the screwdriver has.
...i have some switches on order to fix my passthroughs....

 

[Zach]

Almost any external power source, whether it's a usb battery pack or one you've soldered yourself out of some battery holders and AA batteries, will last you much, much longer than a typical l-ion e-cig battery. I'm talking like a day of heavy vaping +.
There is absolutely NO COMPARISON. If you like e-smoking, you owe it to yourself to get a passthrough battery, screwdriver, anything but regular e-cig batteries. Regular l-ion e-cig batteries are fine and everything but i don't like having to charge one all the time in order to get a good hit. Sometimes i'm not near an outlet and i hate it when my battery runs out at these times.

 

[parapo]

Here's a bargain for UK members:

USB BATTERY PACK iPOD iPHONE Touch UNIVERSAL CHARGER GB on eBay, also Other Apple iPod Accessories, Apple iPod Accessories, MP3 Player Accessories, Consumer Electronics (end time 07-Jan-09 21:30:00 GMT)

I ordered mine a couple of days ago, it arrived this AM & is now charging from PC USB socket.

Output is 5.3 volts @ 1250 milliamps.

The good news is that it's 'Buy it now' at £9.99 plus postage.

The even better news is that the vendor accepted my Offer of £7.99 - if you're cheeky enough you may even get it cheaper!

Cheers
Barry

PS - takes 9 hours to charge from the USB socket so I'll let you know later how it works........

is it working as expected?

 

[mrmagic]

that is a cool accessory. I need to get me one!

 

[iudog]

Thanks peachette for the thread. Recived the on sale bat pack today and its charging. Also got my passthru and new 901 today from steve(thanks steve) and have it hook now to my puter. Beats the heck outa my npro

 

[equazcion]

Just comin' back with a slightly longer-term review of the APC device ---

The battery capacity seems to be outstanding. To test it out I've been vaping constantly for the past two days without plugging it in, and the thing still reads as half-full.

My only technical complaint is that the automatic sleep mode seems to kick in at odd times. It doesn't always wait the stated 15 minutes -- there are times when I'll just wait a minute after a vape and try to take another one and need to wake it up again. A tiny inconvenience at best, since waking is very simple.

The thing is light and small, so I don't mind carrying it around, at least in my house or car. In public? That's another story. Walking around inhaling from some strange device with a cord attached that disappears into your jacket pocket makes you look like an old person with some kind of lung disease who needs a constant supply of some inhalant lest he pass out. Sort of turns the look of e-cigs from curious mystique to embarrassment.

Still, it was well worth the money (especially since I caught the Fry's deal), cause luckily I can last a while without a puff if I need to, long enough to make the required public appearances. And if I do need it, I can do it discreetly.

You might say why not just use regular e-cig batteries during those public times -- and sometimes I do. However I find I've gotten completely addicted to the better hits I get off the battery pack. Normal e-cig batteries just don't quite do it for me anymore.

 

[BarryK]

is it working as expected?

Yepp, it took about 6 hours to fully charge - but when I plugged my usb lead (with inline battery, al la Janty & David Yang ) into it, I realised that my PC USB port was only of the 500milliamp variety and hadn't had enough poke to charge the inline battery.

I disconnected the fully charged Battech USB battery from the PC and allowed it to charge up the in-line battery overnight.

When I tried it out this morning it works OK - but I'm not too happy with the actual passthrough device, the auto cut off is a PIIA.

What I need to do is to make an new lead up so I can use the Battech to drive my 'ugly' device.

Later this morning I'm gonna measure the voltage and current output of the Battech, I'm sure that it'll be fine - if not you'll know almost as soon as I do.

The big snag for me is that, at the moment it's STILL too bl00dy cold to stay in the workshop for long.

 

[parapo]

...
...
When I tried it out this morning it works OK - but I'm not too happy with the actual passthrough device, the auto cut off is a PIIA.
...
...

hmmm, is there a possibility the auto cut off is due to insufficient power?

i tested some mains to usb adapters,and the passthrough started blinking,
as if the battery was empty.
in my pc it's blinking only after a 5 second draw.

 

[BarryK]

Having some problems with this Battech thing this morning - it may be faulty, not sure what the problem is yet.

I'll get back later after I've re-charged the thing again but, in the meantime, If anyone's thinking about buying one of these I'd suggest that you hold back until I can find out what's wrong ...............

Barry


PS - the 1st led has just changed from red to green - according to the blurb this means it is now fully charged, I think this may be a mistake and ALL the green lights need to be on if it's fully charged - hope so anyway, fingers crossed........

 

[Frankie]

Heh, a very cheap mains-usb adapter to vape without a comp and/or power pack can be found here: DealExtreme: $17.50 Electronic Cigarettes with Chargers and 10-Refills Set (110V~240V AC)
It is 17.50 and you will get a free supermini with it

 

[parked]

Posted a video review of the APC Unit

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...kers-usb-passthrough-e-cigarette-battery.html

Thanks

Parked

 

[TxTrouble]

I bought the USB passthrough from puresmoker and the APC Mobile Power Pack from the local computer store, but you can get it on the internet.
I charge the APC Mobile Power Pack overnight.

Peachette I just wanted to say thanks for posting this. I did get mine from Fry while it was on sale. I wouldnt have known about it if I didnt see your post.
Thanks again.
D

 

[Alain_JANTY]

Hi
Can we find something like this from DealExtrem or bestofferbuy ?
Thank You !

 

[pinto575]

www dot atbatt dot com/product/20809.asp Do you think this will work

 

[SuperStack]

^^ Amstron - SOL-10-BLU Compact Solar Charger

 

[SuperStack]

BTW, here's the equation for converting Wh to mAh...

mAh = (Wh / V) * 1000

So for the APC device...

mAh = (10 / 5) *1000
mAh = 2000

 

[SuperStack]

www dot atbatt dot com/product/20809.asp Do you think this will work

Let's examine the specs of each...

Amstron Compact Solar Charger
Rating: 5.5V 1350mAh

APC Mobile Power Pack
Rating: 5.0V 2000mAh

It is readily apparent that the APC is superior in both voltage and mAH. Going higher than 5V is probably a really bad idea since this amount already heats up the atomizer quite a lot! They're designed for 3.6V so a full 1.9 more than that is pushing it way too much IMO.

And now look at the storage capacity (mAh), only 67.5% that of the APC. Meaning it won't last as long before a recharge is needed.

So...not the best choice.

 

[ZambucaLu]

^^ Amstron - SOL-10-BLU Compact Solar Charger

That's a pretty cool looking thing there Stack. Unfortunately, in Central NY, we rarely get 10-15 hours of sunlight...LOL

But I like the fact it charges in 5 hours AC. I wouldn't like one that takes longer than that.

BTW....do you think this matters? I was looking at a device one time but it was for a mini usb...and that wouldn't work:

The SOL-10 is designed for use with Nokia, Samsung, Motorola, Sony Ericsson, or any Mini USB cell phones; additionally it charges your Digital Camera's PDA, MP3/MP4 players.

 

[ZambucaLu]

Hmmm....I thought it was the output rating that mattered and that's why the 500 mah didn't work...not enough output to power the thing.

Lu

 

[equazcion]

Hmmm....I thought it was the output rating that mattered and that's why the 500 mah didn't work...not enough output to power the thing.

Lu

I could be wrong but from my limited understanding of how electricity works, I'm pretty sure you're right -- it's the amps, not the volts, that determines how hot the coils get.