iStick -- Bad quality or bad luck?

[SmokinRabbit]

Okay, so I bought istick #1 and after a few days of use started to have a problem. When I attached a cheap 510 clearomizer it wouldn't recognize it -- said "no atomizer" and after that, nothing seemed to work when attached… like it had shorted out. These were standard e-Smart 510 bottom coil clearomizers. Nothing fancy. Just cheap.

Before that problem though, I had ordered two more iSticks.

So when those arrived, I realized that istick #1 hadn't come the way it should have. It hadn't been shrink wrapped, didn't have instructions and didn't have the 510/Ego screw adaptor thing that were all included with istick #2 and #3. Obviously iStick #1 had been opened by someone else… maybe returned? Dunno…

So, I've been using #2… and now after a few days it won't charge. It recognizes that the USB cable is being plugged in, but doesn't show the flashing lightning bolt. I've tried different cables. I've tried this USB cable on other devices and it's fine. I even tried it on iStick #3 and it's fine. It seems iStick #2 is now a problem. It works, but it won't for long if it can't take a charge.

iStick #3 has barely been used.

The vendor I bought from (a well known vendor), well they didn't seem too thrilled about having to replace iStick #1, so I'm not sure they are going to be happy with replacing #2. LOL

Also, let me add… I'm attaching nothing crazy to the iStick. All standard type clearomizers. With iStick #2 I was using the Aerotank Mini with 1.8 ohm coil exclusively. With #1 I had been using dual coil 1.8 ohm mega cartomizers mostly. I don't even own any sub-ohm devices. Most of my stuff is pretty darn vanilla.

Anyone else have any problems or do I just have the worst luck in the world?
I LOVE the iStick… If I could rely on it, it would be my go-to device for vamping, especially away from home, at this point...

 

[Iowa Gal]

I've ordered 5 so far and no issues with any of them.

 

[classwife]

Moved to Variable Voltage APV Discussion from APV Discussion


You might want to follow this thread discussing the iStick, lots of great info ! :
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/variable-voltage-apv-discussion/601111-eleaf-istick.html

 

[DaveOno]

Anyone else have any problems or do I just have the worst luck in the world?
I LOVE the iStick… If I could rely on it, it would be my go-to device for vamping, especially away from home, at this point...

My iStick has been working great, near flawlessly.

So one of us has luck.

I have no problem leaving the house with just the iStick. First time since vaping for a year. A battery meter is a nice thing. So is the huge capacity, 2,200mAh. The only little issue is the phanthom hit, where you feel and hear the button click, but no power to the topper. It only happens less than once a day.

Rabbit, I hope #3 is the charm. I hope this is the first production run glitches and the rest will be better.

 

[SmokinRabbit]

My iStick has been working great, near flawlessly.

So one of us has luck.

I have no problem leaving the house with just the iStick. First time since vaping for a year. A battery meter is a nice thing. So is the huge capacity, 2,200mAh. The only little issue is the phanthom hit, where you feel and hear the button click, but no power to the topper. It only happens less than once a day.

Rabbit, I hope #3 is the charm. I hope this is the first production run glitches and the rest will be better.

Yes! Phantom hit! I've had that happen two... usually once or twice per day. I was wondering if that was just me not hitting the button fully or something... as least I know I"m not crazy now

I've followed the eLeaf iStick thread a bit... it's gotten quite large and hard to keep up with though...

I'll use iStick #2 (the one that doesn't seem to want to take a charge) for now and contact the vendor about another exchange... think I'll call them this time around... I feel bad that I somehow was unlucky enough to get two bad ones...

 

[Thunderball]

No issues here with two of them.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[emmsma]

There was talk on the huge thread about a couple of ways to deal with the no atomizer thing. Seems the pin can get pushed in a bit by the toppers being used. Not a problem I've had with the two I have. Some have gotten a spacer from madvapes:
Circuit Board Spacer

They just sit this on top of the pin and things connect just fine.

Another fix talked about was gently pulling up the pin on the iStick and tying dental floss around it, or fitting it with an oring.
Check around here:
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...sion/601111-eleaf-istick-64.html#post14314860

Hope that helps.

 

[SmokinRabbit]

Emmsma - I actually got and tried the spacer and it didn't do anything to fix the problem unfortunately

As for other fixes, I've already mailed it off for a replacement now... but good to know if the problem crops up with the other iStick I have, or with the replacement... Though if this is happening to people and if I have it happen again, I'm going to have to say it's possibly bad quality -- or just cheap -- no?

 

[spartanstew]

I've followed the eLeaf iStick thread a bit... it's gotten quite large and hard to keep up with though...

But easier to keep up with then multiple threads about the same device, no?

 

[SmokinRabbit]

But easier to keep up with then multiple threads about the same device, no?

Not if the threads are about specific and different issues. Finding a reply to a question inside one thread with hundreds and hundreds of replies about a variety of topics can get a bit daunting, IMO.


Got three iSticks now... Two from a different company than the first I bought from... and they were packaged COMPLETELY differently. Interesting.

So far they have had no issues, but it's early on. Phantom button still occasionally happens on all of them. No signs of short, not recognizing atomizer or not taking a charge on any of these three so far...

 

[kkay59]

I just got my iStick today. It seems to work fine, but I haven't had it but a few hours. When I first attached my Nautilus Mini to it, it didn't seem to thread smoothly. Looked it up on You Tube, now I'm concerned. It seems some of them may have faulty threading. It can strip your tank threads over time. I cleaned the threads as good as I could, and screwed the tank back on. I think I may use the adapter, with the Nautilus Mini beauty ring from now on. My other two tanks worked fine on the iStick too. As far as firing, it has been wonderful. I don't know about battery life yet, or charging. I am sorry to hear you got some lemons. I hate that when that happens. My sympathies! I ordered 3 K1 tanks, and I will see how they are on the iStick.

 

[SmokinRabbit]

It's funny... I recently got the eGrip and it makes the iStick feel big. LOL

There are quality problems with the iStick, but I supposed that isn't unexpected with an inexpensive device like this.

 

[TXBiker]

Ya the 510 on the wifes s#!t the bed yesterday. I gave her mine and told her not to snug her tank down just make contact and stop. Hopefully it'll last her till I can get that one replaced. I've got the mvp2 at work today. Sure do miss the little stick at work so much easier to haul around and use. The mvp is bulky and heavy but works great wished I could get more than 11w out of it. Oh well the weekend is almost here and I have my ipv2.

 

[SmokinRabbit]

I have an MVP and just never liked it for some reason. The iStick form factor is amazing,but the unreliability has been the pits. So far, I'm digging the eGrip I got.

 

[TXBiker]

This mvp is a brick in my pocket at the moment. The only reason the ipv stayed home is I thought it would be way too bulky, but it would have fired my igo l with the 1.1 build at least.

 

[Nuclear Cowboy]

Okay, so I bought iStick #1 and after a few days of use started to have a problem. When I attached a cheap 510 clearomizer it wouldn't recognize it -- said "no atomizer" and after that, nothing seemed to work when attached… like it had shorted out. These were standard e-Smart 510 bottom coil clearomizers. Nothing fancy. Just cheap.

Before that problem though, I had ordered two more iSticks.

So when those arrived, I realized that iStick #1 hadn't come the way it should have. It hadn't been shrink wrapped, didn't have instructions and didn't have the 510/Ego screw adaptor thing that were all included with iStick #2 and #3. Obviously iStick #1 had been opened by someone else… maybe returned? Dunno…

So, I've been using #2… and now after a few days it won't charge. It recognizes that the USB cable is being plugged in, but doesn't show the flashing lightning bolt. I've tried different cables. I've tried this USB cable on other devices and it's fine. I even tried it on iStick #3 and it's fine. It seems iStick #2 is now a problem. It works, but it won't for long if it can't take a charge.

iStick #3 has barely been used.

The vendor I bought from (a well known vendor), well they didn't seem too thrilled about having to replace iStick #1, so I'm not sure they are going to be happy with replacing #2. LOL

Also, let me add… I'm attaching nothing crazy to the iStick. All standard type clearomizers. With iStick #2 I was using the Aerotank Mini with 1.8 ohm coil exclusively. With #1 I had been using dual coil 1.8 ohm mega cartomizers mostly. I don't even own any sub-ohm devices. Most of my stuff is pretty darn vanilla.

Anyone else have any problems or do I just have the worst luck in the world?
I LOVE the iStick… If I could rely on it, it would be my go-to device for vamping, especially away from home, at this point...

It sounds like the same thing that happened to mine. One of my atty's has a 510 that hangs too low. When I screw it in it pushes the the center pin on the mod 510 way down into the connection. When I remove this atty and try in run another one I get a " NO ATOMIZER" warning.

There is a simple fix for this. Get a small flathead screw driver and simply pry the mod center 510 pin back up. you'll have to pry a little both sides to get it to come up but it will and will fire the atty again. When I say pry, I mean that in the gentlest way.

I hope this helps.

 

[Woofer]

The best part of mine is the 510 to eGo adaptor. YMMV