IPro draining batteries when not in use

[billherbst]

I've encountered a problem with my IPro.

I own a large number of PVs, so the IPro doesn't get much use, but I keep it loaded and at my bedside, along with 25 other PVs loaded with different juices.

I reached for my IPro this morning for a quick vape, but the batteries (the blue 14430s from NotCig) were dead. No interior LED, no vape. This was strange, because I hadn't vaped the IPro for more than ten minutes over the two weeks since my last battery swap. And not only were the batteries drained, but they were drained far below the safe shut-off level---all the way down to 1.3 volts (I checked with a VOM). I've read that 3.7 volt batteries shouldn't be recharged if drained below 1.5 volts.

Even more troubling is that this was the second time this has happened in a month. Same thing happened then---batteries were drained below safe recharge levels without having been used. I did try recharging that first set of badly drained batteries, but no go. They wouldn't take a charge.

Thinking that a short in the carto I was using might be the culprit, I swapped out that carto for another and tested it for a short on my ProVari (no short), then put it on a different PV. It's been fine for the past month. Vapes well and doesn't drain the batteries on one of my VAMOs. Since the problem has now recurred and killed a second set of batteries (I'm now down to my last of three sets), I doubt that the cartos/clearos I'm using are the problem.

I fear that the PCB in the IPro has gone wonky. Either that or two sets of batteries have failed consecutively, which I very much doubt.

At 13 months old and having seen only light use, my IPro is out of warranty. Is it worth the time, hassle, and money to send it back to NotCigs for bench-testing and repair, then buy two more sets of batteries? I mean, the IPro is a nice PV (although I like my BuzzPro a bit more), but if it's going to cost $36 dollars to fix, I can get a brand-new VAMO v2 shipped for that from VaporBreak in China.

If the IPro were my primary PV, I'd get it repaired in a heartbeat. But with 95 other PVs, it's not in my Top Ten faves, so I don't know.

 

[5cardstud]

Do you have the cap that turns it off when not it use?

 

[billherbst]

Do you have the cap that turns it off when not it use?

Yes, the bottom cap does the quarter-turn shutoff. I guess using that might be a workable solution. Certainly cheap. I just have to remember to do it every time, which is simple in theory but more challenging in practice. Forget once, and it's dead battery time later.

I have a small number of APVs (two Young-June Vtubes and a couple of box mods) that have developed this problem of draining batteries when not in use. They can all be turned off, but the Young-Junes are kind of a pain, because every time they're turned off then on again, I have to reset the voltage with 10-15 clicks. The 3AA box mods are simpler with their front switches. Anyway, that method should work nicely on the IPro---just a quarter-turn of the bottom cap until the interior LED goes off, and no resetting the voltage after turning it back on.

Thanks, I'll try that.

 

[Bovinia]

The red led that stays on (unless you unscrew the bottom cap a bit) Will drain your batts a bit, but I wouldn't think it would do so in two weeks. Best advice is to turn any APV off when not in use. Could be that the batts are old enough that they aren't holding a good charge anymore. I've not had any experience like yours come in through tech support. It's entirely up to you whether or not you decide to send it in to be looked at.

Did your second set of 14430's recharge? If so, try leaving your IPro off an see if it still drains them.

ETA: Bill, you were typing at the same time I was

 

[billherbst]

Bovinia,

The first pair of 14430s that got severely drained wouldn't recharge on any of my various chargers. A couple of the chargers tried (with the light turning red), but the batts wouldn't take a charge, so I had to pitch them.

The second pair from this morning charged right back to 4.22V, so I still have two sets.

The third set, which I put into the Ipro this morning, were fully charged when installed, but four hours later (and with no vaping use) had drained from 4.2V down to 4.16V, so something is awry in the circuitry beyond the tiny drain of the red LED.

It's OK, though. I swapped them out again, putting the second set of now recharged batts back in, and then simply did the quarter-turn bottom cap shutoff. I think that's going to work perfectly well.

I have some ridiculous number of rechargeables---in just about every common size, chemistry, and configuration (ICR, IMR, LiMN, protected or not, etc.). What's amazing to me is that I've been vaping for 2 1/2 years, and most of the batteries I bought early on are still working. The ones that are two years old probably don't hold a charge as well and may drain faster, but I've had generally very good luck with batts.

Perhaps the blue NotCigs 14430s are an exception. The three sets I own have probably been through about 5-10 charge cycles each over 13 months, so one would think they'd still be good, but you never know. I bought them all at once, so they're from the same batch, and there's always a chance of varying quality control issues within a certain production run.

At any rate, I'm back in business. Now that the IPro has been discontinued, mine will have more sentimental value to me as an historical relic from the evolution of vaping, added to my growing list of museum PVs. LOL. I think I'll order a couple more sets of batteries for it just on that basis alone.

Thanks for your help!

 

[Bovinia]

You're very welcome! When I next talk to Mike, I'll ask him what other possibilities could be causing the drain. We did hold back a decent number of IPro pcbs just for repairs.

I used to have an Infinity but never did get one of the IPro's because like you, I prefer the Buzz Pro. I don't have much personal experience with the 14430 batts.

 

[5cardstud]

One thing I noticed and discussed on another thread is if I charge my batteries and let them sit for 5 min. (outside the pv) then put them back in the charger they will begin charging again. Even new batteries.

 

[tidegirl]

I am interested in hearing Mike's thoughts on this as well, Bovinia. My I pro seems to be going through batteries faster lately. I haven't nailed down if it is a specific set or sets yet to know if it may be them. I am going to mark them and track the life spans.

 

[Bovinia]

Tide and Bill, I just emailed Mike about this...I'll let you know what he says.

My guess is that your batts are aging. Even if they haven't been thru that many recharge cycles, age alone will degrade batteries somewhat.

 

[5cardstud]

I have a couple new sets that quit taking a charge after the first use. It was the protection circuit on both sets so I just 86ed the protection circuit. I figure using them in a series leaves one that has the protection plus the ecig has protection built in too. They charge fine now too. Even the ones I built have protection built in.

 

[Bovinia]

I just heard back from Mike and he said the same thing I said above. And thanks for your input 5c

 

[tidegirl]

What the French toast??? I just put a set in and they lasted exactly 3 minutes!?!? They were both were 4.18 v going in. They are 4.12 and 3.99 3 minutes later with red and blue lights.

My other set that I just took out were 3.57 and 3.33 v after use. Normal or bad?

Sorry in advance, but I will need a lot of help figuring out which batts are good and which are trash. All this volts, amps, ohms stuff goes straight from ear to ear without even pausing. But I can keep you alive in a respiratory emergency.

 

[Bovinia]

Tide, the one measuring 3.99 sounds like it's toast. The 4.1 reading is within normal range. As cheap as batts are I would order some new ones and toss that set. How old is that set do you think? If it's near a year, then that's to be expected.

The set that you took out and measured 3.5 and 3.3 are normal readings after use. When charged, they should be around 4.2 give or take a decimal point. Don't measure them fresh off the charger, let them rest for a few minutes.

 

[tidegirl]

Thanks Bovinia. I have some more info if you could please take a look (or anyone who know more about this battery stuff than me- which would be everyone LOL). I think I have the setting right on this google doc that you can view it via the link, never tried it before.:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Avl-kPVoDYUedF9PdFBjQmdxdVhJTW5MOG1CZV9kQlE&usp=sharing

The B set is no longer with us, but I am wondering if A and C look OK to continue to use until new ones arrive. I am also a bit concerned about the drop in life on the D set, since they have only been in rotation a few months. Do the numbers look OK on them?

Thanks again. I would be lost without you.

 

[Bovinia]

8.5 hours on set D is a bit short if they are fairly new. What voltage are you using, and what resistance carto/atty?

And yes, I can see your doc

 

[tidegirl]

My rebuilt Vivi heads are testing at 2.6 ohms, usually just around the yellow line, sometimes lower, never higher. Clearos don't like it above the yellow line.

I am usually vaping constantly when awake, but they used to last about a full day. The 8.5 hours was removing time in bed, when the I pro was turned off.

 

[tidegirl]

One more stupid battery question- Sometimes I have to leave my batteries in mid charge, so I will unplug them and continue charging later. Is this bad for them?

 

[5cardstud]

I don't believe it is. The thing that's bad for li-ion batteries is they deteriorate faster in an uncharged state so don't leave them uncharged.

 

[tidegirl]

I think I am killing my batteries. I usually dry burn my clearos on my old ego. Last night neither of them would fire on the ego. Apparently it was reading a short in them. So apparently I am not cutting the coil wire close enough when I build them.

So my new question... do you think these batteries will come back to normal life when I get better stuff on them, or are they permanently damaged?

 

[Bovinia]

Your resistance and voltage are fine, not over stressing the batts...altho I have no idea about the dry burning. I honestly don't think that the batts will recover, but I could be wrong.

I sent a link to your doc to Mike last night, along with more questions about the problems. Still waiting to hear his opinion.