My Alien 220w (literally) fried in my hand, need a new mod

Status
Not open for further replies.

numsquat

Senior Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jan 18, 2015
287
420
Was sitting my chair tonight, watching some tv and vaping, and I noticed the screen didn't light up after a vape. So I played around with it trying to get the screen to light up. Pulled the batteries out a few times, tried the click through the menu from memory to try to see if I accidentally somehow set the stealth mode (which I never use). The unit would still fire (fried a coil testing it out) screen never came on. The last time I fired it there was a flash of light from behind the screen (something was burning) and smoked came out of the USB port. I immediately pulled the batteries and put the mod on the concrete step in my garage. Figured the screen fried, which from what I've researched has been an issue for some people. Anywho, got everything together to send to Madvape for warranty (which could be a whole other tread of frustration from what I have read) since it's less than 2 months old and still under warranty. Not angry, stuff happens, tech doesn't always work well and I have my MVP3 as a backup.

BUT, it puts a kink in my vaping. The MVP3 is a brick and a beast but if it dies I have no other mods and I will be a cranky bear without my vape. My birthday is coming up at the end of May and was planning to get another mod then to have a 2nd around the house and as a backup for situations like this. That time frame is now moved up. So I'm looking at either the Smoat Battlestar or the Tesla Steampunk. Both have received very good reviews and I can get either for around $40 from a US vendor. I vape in the 20w-24w range most of the time though I will occasionally do 60w-80w with one particular tank, both mods fits that issue. So my real question is does anyone have any negatives towards either one. Right now I'm leaning towards the Tesla because I like copper for both of them but right now the place with Battlestar's is out of copper. So any input would be great.
 

Eskie

ECF Guru
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
May 6, 2016
16,087
77,744
NY
Battlestar has built a solid reputation for reliability and performance. The Tesla Steampunk is newer to the market, has a very distinctive design which makes he decision about it a personal aesthetic one. Both will work well for you.

And yeah, the board on the alien fried. Getting it addressed under warranty is certainly the right way to go.
 

numsquat

Senior Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jan 18, 2015
287
420
I like the Battlestar history, really have found no negatives on forums (which I trust more than most reviews) and I can get a silver one for less than $37. With the black buttons and such should look good with either stainless or black tanks. Color-wise I'm pretty industrial on my mods (black, silver, stainless, gold, copper, basically metals) and don't care for the yellows, blues, reds, etc.

I can find the Tesla for $39, I do like the design but also really like the on/off switch and the reported weight. Especially now that I'm using the MPV3 again, I like the weight feel in my hand versus the Alien. Plus I like the metal tactile feel versus the plastic. Why I'm leaning towards the Tesla right now.

I've also thought about just getting both. I do money from having a flavor order for my DIY ready to go and was going to get a Coil Master coil kit to start getting into rebuilding but I can put both off and use the funds to get both. I'm going to have to put one off to get a mod anyway and I have some concerns on when (even if) I get my Alien back based on a lot of what I've read. I have plenty of replaceable coils for certain tanks to last a while and enough DIY to get by a month, longer if I creative on some flavors.
 

dyanaprajna

Super Member
ECF Veteran
Feb 6, 2017
576
1,319
45
Indiana
I've never used either one, but both have great reputations. The Tesla design is amazing, but personally I would go with the Battlestar if only because the Tesla is newer, and most companies like to put out mods and tanks before all the kinks have been worked out. I'd give it another six months at least before I'd buy the Tesla. Just my two cents.
 

numsquat

Senior Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jan 18, 2015
287
420
@numsquat sorry to hear about your Alien but did anything happen to it over the time you had it like maybe a major e-liquid spill or something? Curious because my Alien just feels so strong and sturdy that it can take whatever I can dish out. And belive me I can dish it out!

I have thought about that. Since Tuesday I have been using the same two tanks, did change coils in each once during that time, but no leakage of juice. Been using the same 3 pairs of batteries I bought new less than 2 months ago. I don't remember dropping it, banging it around, anything along that line. The only thing that was "different" was that I ganked my right foot and have spent the weekend mostly in my recliner with it elevated and on heat/ice rotations, so I have been vaping much more than normal, went through 2 pairs of batteries since Friday after work and had put in my 3rd pair a few hours earlier. But I don't think the increased usage should be a problem.

Actually don't have an issue with the Alien build, it always felt sturdy, no rattles or such. Up until the Alien I only had MVPs and the weight of the MVP3 and more industrial look and feel always was appealing to me. I went with the Alien because of replaceable batteries (no longer doing internal batteries), overall good reviews and does what I want a mod to do. Once (if) it gets fixed/replaced I still plan on using it.
 

Eskie

ECF Guru
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
May 6, 2016
16,087
77,744
NY
I have thought about that. Since Tuesday I have been using the same two tanks, did change coils in each once during that time, but no leakage of juice. Been using the same 3 pairs of batteries I bought new less than 2 months ago. I don't remember dropping it, banging it around, anything along that line. The only thing that was "different" was that I ganked my right foot and have spent the weekend mostly in my recliner with it elevated and on heat/ice rotations, so I have been vaping much more than normal, went through 2 pairs of batteries since Friday after work and had put in my 3rd pair a few hours earlier. But I don't think the increased usage should be a problem.

Actually don't have an issue with the Alien build, it always felt sturdy, no rattles or such. Up until the Alien I only had MVPs and the weight of the MVP3 and more industrial look and feel always was appealing to me. I went with the Alien because of replaceable batteries (no longer doing internal batteries), overall good reviews and does what I want a mod to do. Once (if) it gets fixed/replaced I still plan on using it.

That shouldn't have happened even if you were chain vaping while keeping your foot elevated. Unless you were using a 0.02 ohm build with no name 4A flashlight batteries. Then all bets are off. But short of that sort of misuse, or running it through the dishwasher, that's a manufacturing failure and warrants replacement by them.
 

halbgott

Senior Member
ECF Veteran
Apr 23, 2012
181
298
Hope the vendor takes care of you.
I've had the tesla a few days and am happy with it so far. I liked the idea of an actual on off button. There's a lip above the power switch so I'd guess if a leak were to happen it would run down the sides and not over the buttons. The customizable power ramp up is nice too.There's no usb port though.
 

numsquat

Senior Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jan 18, 2015
287
420
The Copper Tesla Nano weighs in at 386g with batteries and a Goon RDA.
Test driving one now. Feels good in hand if you like a solid mod. I don't use TC or any of that other nonsense, just straight power :)
I'll get back to ya when I change the batteries :)

That's more than I thought, my MVP3 with a full Axiom tank comes in about 100g less that that. I'm a big guy though, don't mind the weight.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kprthevapr

numsquat

Senior Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jan 18, 2015
287
420
That shouldn't have happened even if you were chain vaping while keeping your foot elevated. Unless you were using a 0.02 ohm build with no name 4A flashlight batteries. Then all bets are off. But short of that sort of misuse, or running it through the dishwasher, that's a manufacturing failure and warrants replacement by them.

0.5ohm with 2 month old LG HD4's from IMR. I don't think that was an issue, just was the only thing that was out of the norm for me. No misuse, I do baby my mods.
 

numsquat

Senior Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jan 18, 2015
287
420
Hope the vendor takes care of you.
I've had the tesla a few days and am happy with it so far. I liked the idea of an actual on off button. There's a lip above the power switch so I'd guess if a leak were to happen it would run down the sides and not over the buttons. The customizable power ramp up is nice too.There's no usb port though.

The on/off is very appealing to me too, saves a lot of clicks on the fire button. No usb is not a battery problem, have an external charger, but also means no software upgrades, which I can live with.
 
  • Like
Reactions: halbgott

Eskie

ECF Guru
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
May 6, 2016
16,087
77,744
NY
0.5ohm with 2 month old LG HD4's from IMR. I don't think that was an issue, just was the only thing that was out of the norm for me. No misuse, I do baby my mods.

That's annoying. Aesthetic stuff like flaky paint is annoying, but a shorting board is potentially a real safety hazard.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kprthevapr

Kprthevapr

Vaping Master
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jan 1, 2015
7,952
46,186
On the River, GA
Battery life is pretty decent on the Nano, I put the batteries in at 12:30pst and took them out 24hrs later, it was at 40%.
This is the setting I used.
IMG_20170502_094537_178.JPG

The on/off switch is a plus, you won't wear out the firing button turning it on/off.
No USB port.
Easy to use menu.
All around nice mod.
 

numsquat

Senior Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jan 18, 2015
287
420
That's annoying. Aesthetic stuff like flaky paint is annoying, but a shorting board is potentially a real safety hazard.

Yeah, I could have easily gotten up and put it my pocket, accidentally hiy the fire button and it could have gone off then. Around the house and other times I really don't lock it.
 

numsquat

Senior Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jan 18, 2015
287
420
Well I decided to live on the Ramon diet for a couple of weeks and ordered a copper Telsa and a silver Battlestar. Having 3 mods won't kill me, was planning on giving my MVP3 to my oldest son with 2 of my 4 Axiom tanks and a few 60ml's of DYI juice that he liked on our last visit. I have 2 Ijoy EXO's I haven't used (my want for the Master Coil kit) to replace the Axiom's. After the Battlestar arrives, will be sending them off then.

The Telsa arrived today, been playing around with it. So far loving it. Have used both my Axiom and Clieto 120 tanks on it. Both have worked well. Still on first set of batteries. What I really like: 1)the on/off switch, very tight, shouldn't switch on when in the pocket; 2)the weight, feels so solid; 3)the design, I found myself holding it my my hand sideways and rubbing my thumb over the texture, almost like a stress release; 4)the menu is quick and easy to use. The only improvements (but not negatives) I would want is I wish it was a little taller (I have big hands) and the up/down downs were like the MVP3 where you have to push one button down for 3 seconds before you could adjust the setting, I have increased/decreased he wattage a few times accidently but I think my hand holding will adjust. Also, just something I've noticed while typing this one handed, I have no issue using either finger or thumb with right hand but because of the weight can only use finger left handed, thumb left handed (I'm right handed) just is not comfortable (yeah I notice the stupidest things).

Hopefully the Battlestar will arrive tomorrow, Friday at the latest. Excited about trying it out. Will post some pics of all 4 mods for comparison when it gets here, then will send in the Alien for replacement.
 

ian91

Ultra Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Nov 14, 2013
1,156
1,905
Westbank, BC Canada
The first Alien that I got had the same issue with the screen frying. When I opened it up, there was a bunch of juice in it. Can come in thru the battery vent holes. Since then I put scotch tape over the vent holes (I always use a silicone cover so it is not so obvious). I figure if the battery vents, it would blow the scotch tape away.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Users who are viewing this thread