I think my charger is about to explode...

[marclap]

Hi!
I know there's lots of threads about ego chargers, but I really don't know what to do with it.
I received my ego on august 29 (from happyvaper) and since the beginning of october, it started acting weird.
First of all, it always takes me a couple minutes to be able to make it charge my battery. Sometimes the LED stays green so I unplug it and plug it back in.
But yesterday, when I wanted to check if my battery was fully charged, I noticed a strange smell coming out of my charger. Something like a fried electronic component. And this damn thing was hot as hell!
Now i'm still trying to charge my battery. It's been charging for only 20mins but it doesn't seem to overheat (yet).
I tried to clean the threads of the charger and the battery, but it didn't change anything.
Have you ever experienced this?
Is my charger dead?

Thanks so much!
Oh and, I looooove the eGo (when it works, haha).

 

[Mr.Self_Destruct]

Make sure you always clean your battery contacts and contacts on charger. If you clean the batt contacts you won't have to clean the charger contacts. I do this everytime i connect it to charger.

Also I have to connect the batt to the charger then plug the charger in.

You should probably get a new charger, they are only a few bucks.

 

[Switched]

If it was my charger I would toss it. Anything that gives off the expensive electrical smell = dying or kaput. Based on what we know with the associated dangers surrounding LI Ion batts, I personally wouldn't chance it.

 

[marclap]

Thanks for your help!
I removed the screws and opened the charger to clean the threads completely with rubbing alcohol but it still overheats and smells bad so I guess i'll have to order a new one tonight. I'm out of luck, I just received an order from happyvaper this morning, now I need to order again. Grrrrrrr


Edit: My battery seems to have a little bit of charge left in it so I screwed an atty on it to try and it doesn't seem to give power to the atty. Could it be my battery?

 

[foggy1]

Definatly replace the charger and get a new batt. also as the charger may have killed it !
If you've got a volt meter you can check the output of charger and the batt. voltage
good luck, and please use caution.

 

[CooL_SpoT]

Won't take a charge, won't fire an atty = Battery's dead. Let the REALLY hot magic blue stinky smoke out of the electronics = Charger's dead. I just went through this exact same problem. No fear, however as Jack is one HELL of a customer service deity! I've no doubt he'll help you out so you're happy.

 

[Liv2Ski]

This seems to happen occasionally with the eGo chargers. Happened to me. Screwed in batt and light stayed green. Tightened a little more red. After 1/2hr batt and charger seemed hot. Unscrew batt and nice burnt PC board smell. batt electronics dusted! The charger connection at the batt was at fault. It had a small piece of wire or solder flash between the inner and outer contacts where you screw the battery in and when batt is fully seated, the pressure is enough to complete the circuit and create a short. This will take out the batt electronics. Replace the charger

 

[marclap]

Your battery was still fine with a new charger or it was dead too?

 

[Liv2Ski]

Your battery was still fine with a new charger or it was dead too?

No this fault takes out the batt. That is the fried PC board smell. Look closely at the screw in connection on yours. Is the outer ring (seperated by a white o-ring) equally spaced all the around from the inner cylinder. Is there any small metal pieces protruding from either the inner cylinder or the outer ring. Look for any place that these two pieces could make contact with the presence of pressure when seating a battery.

If the unit is new you will very likely get a free replacement. I did. Best of luck

 

[Liv2Ski]

Also note that the button light will still work but the batt is dead and no matter how many times you screw it into the charger is will not take a charge.

 

[viktor]

I feel your pain. I had a bad charger that fried two eGo batteries in a week after I got them. Jack replaced everything and I didn't have any problem since (knock on wood, three months and going).

 

[Liv2Ski]

I feel your pain. I had a bad charger that fried two eGo batteries in a week after I got them. Jack replaced everything and I didn't have any problem since (knock on wood, three months and going).

Was it the connector issue that I descibed earlier in this thread? Or something else.

 

[Jon]

I had that happen too. Killed one of my batteries, but I thought it was the battery at the time. Next day I plugged in another and it killed that one and gave a little puff of smoke too. Mine was still under warranty so Jack exchanged it all for me. With the new one I've been super meticulous making sure I don't have juice all over the battery before I plug it in -- I think some residue on the battery may have made a short.

 

[viktor]

Was it the connector issue that I descibed earlier in this thread? Or something else.

I don't think it was the connector issue. Jack said it was a faulty charger and I believed him. Only empirical knowledge here.

Edit: I didn't pay attention to the charger threads, but I don't remember that green/red light change you describe. So I may have had the same issue as you or not.

 

[marclap]

I contacted him and he gently accepted to replace the defetive battery and charger.
Like I always said, best customer service ever!

 

[Switched]

I love a Happy ending. Jack vapes Happy and wants everyone else to as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-rJ-6hBfSo