leaky AA Box Mod questions

[b00stzx3]

SO I've made about 15 of these for myself and various friends/family. Ideas and parts got from MadVapes. After 4 months of using mine it has started to become "leaky".... juice coming to the outside of the box from the top seam, same area where the connector is. I slathered JB Qwik Weld over everything including connector, but still seems to be leaking. I've been using unsealed 510 connectors. So is it the unsealed connectors that are letting juice leak through? Or has it eroded the qwik weld to the point that its leaking through? The juice is present around where the connector meets the box on the inside but not on the outside. I'm worried the other ones I made will leak as well. Gets on my hands as I'm holding the box. Totally clueless. Figured when I soldered the positive connector shut with lead-free solder it would seal out all e-juice but might not be the case. Or maybe the qwik weld slathered over everything is leaking juice. What do ya'll think?

 

[ThePuck]

It leaks out the are holes (or in the cause of a 510, air slots). Not much you can do about it except don't overfill your cart. you will want to seal the connector though. That will help some but it will still get leakage. I put an o-ring around the bottom of my atomizer where it screws on (but it's a 901 and screws onto the threads, not into) and that helped a ton but still get some leakage now and then.

 

[des09]

I would guess its coming around the insulator that sits between the threaded outer terminal and the inner post. Its common for juice to sit there, especially if you drip, or top off carts while they are on your mod. My guess is you damaged it while replacing the center post, or if you soldered in place, you overheated it. You might be able to replace it without completely tearing the mod down by buying the same fitting, and taking out and replacing just the center post + insulator.

 

[kjj]

Like des09 says, a damaged rubber bushing is likely.

And while you have it apart for repair, resolder the center pin, or replace it with a solid one. Oh, and maybe reseal the outside connector/box interface with super glue (cyanoacrylate).

 

[AttyPops]

Additional Thoughts:

Some of the unsealed connectors have a very small hole on the shell of the connector to allow airflow for the vacuum switch. If so, that would have to be plugged/soldered in addition to the center hole.

Some atties leak more than others (out the vent slots). Try another atty.

Clean all connections to insure a flush fit, especially on the center pin. Also, the center pin can get a bit "pushed in" on either the atty or the battery connector.l If it is not perfectly square/plumb I wonder if it could still make a contact/electrical connection, but allow leakage. Hmmmmm.

 

[WillyB]

... After 4 months of using mine it has started to become "leaky".... juice coming to the outside of the box from the top seam, same area where the connector is. I slathered JB Qwik Weld over everything including connector, but still seems to be leaking. I've been using unsealed 510 connectors. So is it the unsealed connectors that are letting juice leak through? Or has it eroded the qwik weld to the point that its leaking through? The juice is present around where the connector meets the box on the inside but not on the outside.

If you sealed the connector hole with solder it should be fine.

It's the epoxy. All epoxy will eventually lose it's bond and soften when wet with eliquid over time, and with the connector you also have some heat to help it along.

To re-epoxy means a very thorough solvent cleaning has to be done. You can't just wipe it off and put more on.

I often make comments when folks show off their box box mod's with neat little applications of epoxy or CA.

PM is also important, wipe the epoxied area clean with alcohol to help forestall the inevitable.

 

[VWFringe]

please post a picture...?

i'd like to see what you're talking about.

oh, and i saw on another thread where they used a swage-lock ring over or around their 510 battery connector to form a well around the air holes so leakage would be re-uptake or whatever - i wonder if i'm remembering that right

 

[b00stzx3]

Hey all, thanks for the replies!!!!!! I'm using a brand new atomizer today (510 regular) and there is no leakage. But with my other backup attys, there seems to be. I used unsealed connectors which I suspected was the culprit, but unsure of why it isn't leaking with the brand new atty. I will be using sealed atomizers from now on. I might've damaged the insulator as putting it in was a biznitch until I practiced it a bit. From now on I solder seperatley.

Didn't know that the Quik Weld would erode...figured it was permement. But then again most products guruntees ain't worth the packaging their written on Maybe I'll try Quik Weld Marine or one of the other epoxies they sell at Advanced Auto. It's defintley coming in from the bottom of the connector and not the vent holes up top where atomizer screws in (I checked the area on the outisde of the box, dry a sa bone).

I can post pictures as wlel. I was going to create a 510 AA Box Build how-to and didn't want to post something that would leak and screw folks up.

Thanks again all!!

 

[kjj]

The new atty isn't full of gunk yet, so you aren't overfilling it to compensate for the decline in performance. Thus your juice is still trapped in the fibers (wick, bridge, etc). Give it a few days...

Your box is still leaky, just like your roof can be leaky even when it isn't raining.

Normal atomizers leak, and because they need airflow, they can't be sealed. The best you can do is confine the leaking to certain places. After I attacked mine with super glue, my leaking has been confined to the outside of the box around the connector. It is actually pretty cool. As long as I don't let it build up too much, it flows right back in as I use it.

 

[b00stzx3]

Thanks all!!

I've fixed my personal box with a piece of foam where the leak trail was.... have to change it every day but I just wash it and dry it and it's good to go again. Will be using only sealed connectors and as always soldering seperatley. Will try another brand of epoxy as well.... the Quick Weld tubes eventually crack and leak epoxy.

Thanks again!