Is USB wall adapter killing my PTs?

[GrannyM]

I hope someone with a whole lot more electrical knowledge than me can help me out here.

About a month ago, I purchased a USB wall adapter from Wally world Walmart.com: iQ-Power Dual USB AC Power Adapter: Audio

In that time I've had 2 pass-throughs die on me. My first PT lasted me 10 months and was used from my computer's usb port and also a Kensington power pak. And so is it just coincidence that these last 2 died since switching to the wall adapter? I'm a little scared to plug into it again fearing that I'll lose another one.

By the way, these are all manual PTs - the old style without the flexible cords. I've put a voltmeter on all 3. The 1st one that lasted 10 months gives me no reading at all - suspect the switch is non-functional. The next one gives a reading of just above 5 volts without pressing the pt button, and the one that died today reads at just above 5 volts only when I press the button which is as it should be but it won't fire a carto anymore. This last one was working for about 2 weeks with all cartos, but now won't work with any carto. Also, I don't use the premium WOW cartos on the PT, only the old regular style or the coolcarts.

And now I don't know if this is related or not, but I also had a (regular) prefilled carto just up & die on me today. Put that on the meter too to verify and it is truly dead. Just started it yesterday, topped off with maybe 1 ml juice during that time. Unusual for me...I've vaped hundreds of cartos in the last year and that's only happened once before.

Any thoughts?

 

[Teach]

Thats a real run of bad luck Granny. I checked out the link and the adapter appears to be fine for PTs, both 5v and 2amp. That being said, it would be hard to guess whether there might be a flaw in the adpater or was it just the PT's time. I had a PT die in 3 weeks so I know it's frustrating.

I understand that some cartos don't quite make good electrical contact and it can be resolved by gently pushing down the insides of the carto to have it make better contact. Take a look over at the technical issues forum - there is a lot of info there. I haven't used the coolcarts so I'm not familiar with them.

good luck!

 

[Tasselhoff]

Hi Granny M; I use have 4 of these usb adapter's they have worked great for over 10 mo.. They have never been the reason for a PT failure. I have had alot of the old style PT's go bad some right out of the box, others over time. The newer style PT's are designed better.I would try the new style PT's. The one I have now has lasted over 6 mo. with out fail. Hope this helps.

 

[GrannyM]

Thanks for the replies, Teach & Tasselhoff!

The timing was probably entirely coincidental when those last 2 died. I guess I was lucky & surprised that the 1st one lasted as long as it did. Yes, Tasselhoff, I do have some of the newer style PT's. In fact, 1 is in my car. I just try to use the old stuff first - you know, if it ain't broke....lol.

So maybe in a week, when the memory dims, I'll try the adapter again & see what happens.