lenmore power port sale 9.99

[boondongle]

I was at RadioShack today picking up the last of the clearance rcr123a 3v 400mah batteries and I saw the pack you guys are talking about (I think) they were 12 bucks- not sure which model- I was in a hurry. Anyways- so did you guys have success modding it? I would like to give it a try- but my modding skills aren't that good- (Ive built a NicoStick- thats it) Could a novice mod this?

youngunner: Be careful...at a guess, those RS batteries probably aren't rechargeable. If you knew that...never mind, then. I haven't modded the PPUMINI yet, because I'm actually using it for its intended purpose at the moment. I'm thinking I'll swing by tomorrow and grab another one to take apart.

Here's my expected process:

1. Cut my fingers badly getting the guts out of the case (standard practice).
2. Spend an evening figuring out how everything connects.
3. Get distracted by something else and forget this project for a few days.
4. Come back to it and install it in a box before realizing that I'm not leaving enough room for other components, and I can't fix it because I already glued it in place.
5. Throw it out the window in frustration, then go pick up another one.
6. Get it installed in a box and working.
7. Feel bad about the one I threw out the window; go outside and find it.
8. Realize I could have made that one work.
9. Give the working one away once a new idea comes along.

But that's just me...your process may be different.

i have had good sucess with this 2 mods made it is a tad wider than 2 AA batterys so a 2 AA box probably wont work. radio shack has a box fits it prity well. if you can get the unit apart then modding it is nothing just solder 2 wires from the + and - on the usb out port you can leave the port or take it off. the ones i got are all 500mA.

I'm thinking that once I get it out of the protective outer shell, I'll be able to find a way to fit it in a 2xAA box, even if I have to thin the inner walls a bit. Based on the box I have in front of me, if the inner workings are 30.3mm or less, I should be able to get it inside. With a bit more trouble, I could probably go to 32.3mm. If you have it available, can you check and see exactly how wide the board inside is?

 

[codfish124]

its probably about 2mm skinny without the case. it is not to hard to pop apart take a knife and slide it down the seem with force

 

[opuscroakus]

I'm thinking that once I get it out of the protective outer shell, I'll be able to find a way to fit it in a 2xAA box, even if I have to thin the inner walls a bit. Based on the box I have in front of me, if the inner workings are 30.3mm or less, I should be able to get it inside. With a bit more trouble, I could probably go to 32.3mm. If you have it available, can you check and see exactly how wide the board inside is?

You might want to try a 3xAA box. I have found I can source them from Big Lots as they are used as the battery holder for the battery operated LED Christmas lights. The extra bonus with this is for $4 you get the 3xAA battery box with switch and 20 white leds with holders I can use if I want.

 

[boondongle]

Well, Opus, I like to get as much into a small package as possible, but it turns out that it's a moot point anyway...the guts still measure 34.11mm when they're out of the protective shell. There is some unused space at the edges of the PCB, and I'm trying to decide if I want to deal with the headache of de-soldering the battery, shaving the edges of the PCB,then reattaching the battery diagonally in cross section.

 

[codfish124]

did some testing today the battery is a 3.7V battery so one might be able to get a cell phone battery with more mA

 

[youngunner]

youngunner: Be careful...at a guess, those RS batteries probably aren't rechargeable.

They are rechargeable. They came with a charger.

I ended up buying 3 of these kits. 2 RCR123a 3v 400mAh and charger for $9 bucks tax included. The mAh was a little low- but they do the job. I have Tenergy 3v 750mAh bats for my SB but I use these also. I have a laser/tactical flash light for my AR15 and the use cr123a bats too- so I figured if the radioshack bats didn't work well for vaping I'd use them on the light/laser. They ended up working really well in my Silver Bullet and they were cheap as dirt.

 

[boondongle]

They are rechargeable. They came with a charger.

I ended up buying 3 of these kits. 2 RCR123a 3v 400mAh and charger for $9 bucks tax included. The mAh was a little low- but they do the job. I have Tenergy 3v 750mAh bats for my SB but I use these also. I have a laser/tactical flash light for my AR15 and the use cr123a bats too- so I figured if the radioshack bats didn't work well for vaping I'd use them on the light/laser. They ended up working really well in my Silver Bullet and they were cheap as dirt.

Glad to hear it. I had a super-fun conversation with an employee at RS about whether the CR2 batteries they had on the shelf were primary or rechargeable batteries, because the label wasn't clear on that. He picked up the package that I just said didn't contain the relevant info, took about a minute to read it all, then said, "I guess they're primarily rechargeable." There was a good long moment of silence, then I asked, "You really have no idea, do you?" Another moment of silence...then, "No." I left the store.

 

[Snarkyone]

Welcome to the wonderful world of Radio Shack these days. It used to be if you needed a geek that was the place to go. Now if you need a ..... that's a good place to start. They don't seem to have a clue anymore what the stuff they carry does. I had to explain to the manager the other day that yes in fact rechargeable CR2 batteries do exist. He didn't believe me until I pulled some out of my mod and slammed them on the counter and asked if he could tell me what these were then if not rechargeable CR2 batteries that he insisted don't exist. If you know what your looking for then it's a decent place to get your mod parts otherwise it's a PITA.

 

[boondongle]

So I finally (too late) have come to the bottom of the whole sale issue. It seems that the PPUMINI-K was on sale for $10, but only until 10/17. Then the PPUMINI-M was on sale for $13, but only until today (10/24). However, I found a site where you can get the PPUMINI-K online for $15 shipped.

 

[etip]

I have had one of these Lenmar batteries for a while and I love it. I had originally bought it to recharge my iPhone but have been using it with my USB PT (off the shelf, just shortened the USB cable). I had tried a few different ways of attaching the PT to the battery and / or putting both in box (altoid tin, etc.). They all worked good enough, but were too big and ugly / clumsy. It really did't occur to me to try and take one of the Lenmar's apart until I saw this thread (thanks codfish!).

I happened to pick up a couple more of the PPUMINI-K's a couple weeks ago so I was willing to sacrifice one. I ended up using the PPUMINI that I had from a couple months back not sure if it is a -K or -M since I took the sticker with the model# info off long ago. It looks exactly like the -K's but the housing has a shiny finish as opposed to the matte/rubberized finish on the one's that I just bought (-k's). Perhaps it's a -M?

I had the 4xAAA box from parts I gathered to build a nicostick. The hardest part was cutting/filing all of the extra plastic (battery dividers, etc.) inside the AAA box. I have few tools and did it with wire cutters, an exacto knife and a file. I don't recommend this unless you have better tools and/or more patience than I! Oh, and I did have to file down the end of the PCB to get it to fit (and be able to keep the built in switch in place).

I am pretty happy with the results - I love that I can use it while it's charging. I think I may find a way to use the Lenmar housing for my next mod. I will post pics and more details if anyone is interested.

 

[opuscroakus]

I am pretty happy with the results - I love that I can use it while it's charging. I think I may find a way to use the Lenmar housing for my next mod. I will post pics and more details if anyone is interested.

Please, post some pics!

 

[boondongle]

etip: Sounds good! Any pictures of your mod? As to the matte/shiny finish, I'm thinking that's probably an issue with when they were manufactured, not the model, because my PPUMINI-Ms all have a rubberized finish. So if my new Ms have that finish, and your new Ks have that finish, that's probably not an indication of anything in your old one with the shiny finish. They probably just changed materials somewhere along the way. That's my guess, at least.

I was considering a 4xAAA or 3xAA box for this mod, because I can pick those up at the local Radio Shack. But in the end, I think I'm going to wait to have a 3xAAA box delivered, because that seems to be the best size.

 

[codfish124]

ha i just finished a mod using the casing from the lenmar. i took dead 810 batteries the auto part broke and fit 2 in the lenmar along with a charging board well see how this works

 

[ctourtelot]

How are you guys getting these to work as a passthrough? I had both the duracell power pack and the lenmar and both work great as a charger, but will not run my passthrough.

any suggestions??

thanks

 

[boondongle]

ctourtelot: Do you know if you have the PPUMINI-K or PPUMINI-M? I still don't have anything working with the PPUMINI-M, because I'm still building. I am a bit concerned that the M might not have enough power, while the K does. We'll see once I'm done modding, though.

 

[mnealtx]

You have to bypass the charging circuit for them to work as a passthrough. You'd have to do a search to find it, I don't recall who it was that posted the info.

 

[etip]

More pics here:

ImageShack -

 

[etip]

etip: Sounds good! Any pictures of your mod? As to the matte/shiny finish, I'm thinking that's probably an issue with when they were manufactured, not the model, because my PPUMINI-Ms all have a rubberized finish. So if my new Ms have that finish, and your new Ks have that finish, that's probably not an indication of anything in your old one with the shiny finish. They probably just changed materials somewhere along the way. That's my guess, at least.

Yeah, based on your input, I agree. I am also guessing then that the shiny one that I have is a K as well since I haven't noticed a difference.

I was considering a 4xAAA or 3xAA box for this mod, because I can pick those up at the local Radio Shack. But in the end, I think I'm going to wait to have a 3xAAA box delivered, because that seems to be the best size.

Does the 3xAAA have plastic battery dividers? Just curious since I may try that at some point .....depending on your results . Where are you ordering them from? May be a little small for my skills (and patience) even it does fit.

 

[etip]

You have to bypass the charging circuit for them to work as a passthrough. You'd have to do a search to find it, I don't recall who it was that posted the info.

Perhaps I am confused about terminology here. When you say "work as a passthrough" - do you mean a) being able to get power from the device while it's charging Or b) the ability to power a separate USB Passthrough with the battery? Either way, I can do both without bypassing the charging circuit with this Lenmar battery.

If it's option b), perhaps it's a matter of difference in in USB PT devices?

 

[Snarkyone]

Invest in a Dremel that will make a lot of the cutting so much easier on you. I believe he is using it as a power device for a passthrough rather than a PC USB port.