Is my protege a lemon?

[Thatdamncat]

It was a complete joy to find my puresmoker package waiting for me when I arrived home today. I was one of the first to order and I have been eagerly awaiting its arrival. First thing I did was put the batteries in the charger.
I had a few errands to run after that, and was back home in about 1.5 hours. I threw in a batt., I put a couple of drops of delicious Riskee juice and take about 10 heavenly puffs. I put it down to make/eat/clean up supper, and 1.5 hours later I picked it up again.

Since the one other batt. had now been charging for 3+ hours, I decided to put that one in the protege and let the other charge up. I switch the batteries and...nothing. Hmm...a bad battery? I switch batteries and...nothing. Hmm, that's weird. So, I took the atomizer off the protege and screwed it onto my regular 510 battery, and...nothing. What!?! I have never had a 510 atty last less than a month and this one is dead already?

Okay, I've got it! I'll put my old working 510 kit atty on my new protege. I take off my working old atty off my 510 battery, put it on the protege and...nothing. I put it back on the 510 battery and it works great. What is going on here? I have been so waiting for my protege, and right now it is worthless. It seems to me like it must be a bad connection problem. But if it's just a bad connection; why is the new atty not working on my old 510 batt? I am so frustrated right now, can anyone help me.

 

[j4g3rb0mb3d]

try the staple mod in the protege and report back

 

[kardjunkie]

Can you do the staple mod with the 510 since it's a male atty connection? I don't know, just asking. Thought the staple mod was for female attys, maybe and probably don't know what I'm talking about.

 

[Walrus]

It seems to me that the 510 adapters are the most sensitive to the position of the center post. I've only ever used them with the attys that Puresmoker sells (true Joye 510) and never had a problem, but it seems that other 510 attys need the post to be adjusted. The 801 adapters seem to need it only with the BSE112's. My solution: stock up on Joye 510 attys

 

[Casey@PS]

Hey Cat, first try wiping down all of the threads on the adapter, as well as the bottom of the atomizer and try it again. If that doesn't do it, the next thing to check is the switch. It's different than the Prodigy, so take note. Unscrew the adapter, and see if the contact on the switch has dropped below flush with the tube. Remove the battery, and use a pen to gently push the switch back up a bit. Then you can reinsert the battery and reattach the adapter, and this should work. As a last resort (since your Protege was working already, I doubt this is the problem) check out this thread to adjust the center post on the adapter:

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/puresmoker/41263-got-my-protege-but-question.html

 

[j4g3rb0mb3d]

Yeah, the staple mod does work, but you have to cut the staple down so that it is no bigger than the 510's center ring. You can use wire, or anything that conducts electricity, but it can't be bigger than that center post of the 510.

Cleaning the threads is a great idea, too. I got my USBpass back from the shop two weeks ago and it didn't want to fire up until i cleaned the threads with nail polish.

 

[kardjunkie]

Yeah, the staple mod does work, but you have to cut the staple down so that it is no bigger than the 510's center ring. You can use wire, or anything that conducts electricity, but it can't be bigger than that center post of the 510.

Cleaning the threads is a great idea, too. I got my USBpass back from the shop two weeks ago and it didn't want to fire up until i cleaned the threads with nail polish.

Cool thanks, now I see what you mean just really small pieces. Thanks.

 

[Thatdamncat]

Thanks for the suggestions guys.
I checked out the contact on the switch as Casey suggested, and that seems fine. I also cleaned the threads and connections, but no luck.
I then tried to tap the center post up as described on the other threads. It was actually a very tight fit and took quite a bit to knock it up. After several attempts, I was able to get my old 510 atty to kind-of work on the protege. Unfortunately, when I screw it on far enough it starts up by itself, without hitting the switch, and doesn't turn off. I wonder now if that's how the brand new atty got burnt out in the first place. I'm going to try to adjust it a bit more and see I can fix it. Wish me luck, I love to be able to get this going be football starts up!

 

[lotus14]

Thanks for the suggestions guys.
I checked out the contact on the switch as Casey suggested, and that seems fine. I also cleaned the threads and connections, but no luck.
I then tried to tap the center post up as described on the other threads. It was actually a very tight fit and took quite a bit to knock it up. After several attempts, I was able to get my old 510 atty to kind-of work on the protege. Unfortunately, when I screw it on far enough it starts up by itself, without hitting the switch, and doesn't turn off. I wonder now if that's how the brand new atty got burnt out in the first place. I'm going to try to adjust it a bit more and see I can fix it. Wish me luck, I love to be able to get this going be football starts up!

That sounds like when you're screwing the atty on you're also tightening the adapter. Too tight and the switch won't release. Might wanna tap that post a bit more so you don't risk over tightening anything.

 

[a2dcovert]

I keep q-tips and alcohol handy. The juice gets down into the atty connector through the air holes in the atty. This is unavoidable situation.

Also if it is similar to the Prodigy you can take the atty adapter off of the unit, remove the end cap and push the battery from the bottom until you see the switch unit move upward slightly. Reinstall the bottom cap, then screw the atty adapter back on. This will insure a good mechanical connection through the switch.

I hope this helps.

Kevin

 

[Casey@PS]

Loosen the adapter- that should fix the sticking.

 

[Thatdamncat]

Still no luck. It seems like I've tried all possible combinations of adapter tightness and center post height with no results. I'm kind-of at my wit's end, so I'm just going to put it down for now and enjoy some football action.

 

[vapn]

Sounds like a slice in the delron.

 

[keyzygirl]

Im kinda glad I ordered the 801.I thought about the 510,but I already had alot of 801 attys.I hope my protege works okay.It should be here today.

 

[Thatdamncat]

After having an experience similar to Jager's, I've decided to send it back for repair. For those of you reading my thread who been turned off to Protege, I would give them the benefit of the doubt here - I am. After all, a first-run production of 500 with only 2-3 people having issues on the boards is probably a pretty good start. From what I've read elsewhere, I'm sure Steve and Casey will have a working model in hands in no time .

 

[vapn]

That's for sure... They are fast to help out.. Very good customer service. I can vouch for that. The one and only problem I had they fixed as fast as humanly possible.