My first 'real' mod - USB Powered - Battery Powered - All parts at RS - DIY 510 Connector (not RCA)

[mjkjr]

Well, I went to buy a couple 4xAAA boxes but bought 4xAA by mistake. Kind of had a backup battery box idea in mind, like something I could run alkaline batteries in if there was ever an emergency, power outage, dead batts, etc.

The only parts needed were 1-4xAA box, a small switch, a "Motorola Type Plug" (for the 510 connector), and then the USB cable.

I don't have a dremel, couldn't find the drill, etc. But I still came out with a mod that has perfectly round holes and is very solid. I don't understand why some people seem to have so much trouble building something so simple or why they have to make such a hack job out of it. I'm just saying, everyone should be able to build simple stuff like this.

So, I rearranged the battery contacts to only hold 3AA batteries, pretty simple. Then for my switch and atomizer holes I pushed a hot nail through the center of where I wanted them. I then used a razor (the kind with 45* edges) and began to round out the hole until it was close to the size I needed. I then rounded out the holes to make them a perfect circle.
Mounted everything, soldered it up, then used some 'heavy' hot glue and sealed up the switch, atty connection, and all the wiring.

For my DIY connector I first cut down the end cap big enough to fit the atty through. Then I screwed a small piece of wire, maybe 1/4" to the center of the "Motorola Type Plug". I built up the wire a little with solder to strengthen it. Then just pop the atty in the plug, and screwed on the end cap which tightens the prongs on the plug to the atty.

For testing purposes I used 3 AA alkalines that I had laying around. I may us Ni-MH or something, but the point of this was for a backup. I couldn't find the charger for my Ni-MH batteries anyway. Works great even with alkaline and is perfectly safe, as long as you don't connect the USB while they are in.

I first tested the USB with a 5V wall wart, worked okay but the wall wart only put out 1A so it didn't quite cut it but still works, just felt more like I was vaping 3.7-4.0V. Feeling confident with the quality of the mod I went ahead and hooked it up to my laptop, and then my PC, and now my work PC, all working very well

Overall I'm pretty happy with the outcome, including the quality. Now I have my USB mod that also serves as an emergency battery powered mod. More to come in the future ha ha.

Some pics...

 

[mjkjr]

So after a week of use I've decided this might just be one of my favorites so far. I really like not having to worry about batteries!

 

[GIMike]

So, is the USB cable to use as a passthrough when you have no batteries in it?

 

[mjkjr]

Yeah, I mostly use it as a USB connection with no batteries in it, like at work or on the weekends. I'll only put batteries in if there is an absolute emergency ha ha, like a power outage from a storm or something.

 

[GIMike]

That's pretty cool for a quick and easy mod. I've never built one myself, but you made that one seem pretty simple. I was thinking it would be cool to have a detatchable usb cable, but if you rarely put batteries in it, and strictly use it for usb, then what's the point? Makes sense to me.

 

[mjkjr]

Thanks. It was surprisingly simple which is what I wanted for my first one. I did almost made the USB detachable but decided against it since it was going to be used via USB primarily. My next mod(s) will probably have a micro-usb connection though for the plug to connect to. I kind of like the idea of always being able to have a 'real' power source if necessary.
The Black & Decker drill and the ColdHeat projects I did were simple and easy too, but I don't know if I can really call them 'mods' like this one. However they do work pretty well at 4.6-6.0V, and I guess I did modify them, hmmm...

 

[GIMike]

I would call those mods. Mods aren't modding an ecig to work better, they're modding other things to use as ecigs which is exactly what you did.

 

[GIMike]

As an example, the Reo mod, is probably the most popular on here. It's a bunch of things put together that weren't intended to be an e-cig, but made into one anyway. Wooden box, switches, leds, all that stuff. Yours is basically the same thing, just using existing parts instead of making something from scratch. I would say that reusing old stuff is better as you're taking what would have been "junk" at some point (even though it was working) and turning it into something useful. I like that idea better

 

[mjkjr]

Thanks a lot, feel pretty good now So now that I have 3 mods then I guess the 4th one needs to be really good. Maybe something involving a bit more work like some type of auto-feed/juicebox. I have an extra 4AA box sitting around that I haven't decided what to do with and I'm tired of filling carts so I think that'll be the next one. Too bad there aren't really any mods/ideas that haven't been done countless times before.

 

[GIMike]

I thought of one that nobody has done and probably will never do I think turning a hookah into a plug in tabletop mod would be awesome. You have your separate tubes coming off the main body that people inhale from. Well, what you could do, is put some sort of power source in the main body of the device, and run electrical wires down the "tubes". Then at the end of each tube where you have the mouthpiece where you would inhale whatever you would be smoking from it, you would have your atty connector with a manual button. You could even vary it up and have 2 510s and 2 kr808s or whatever your fancy is, to support different people's ecig connections. All they'd have to do is screw on their own atty/carto whatever, and vape away Of course, you could even make it more authentic and have each "tube" have an automatic switch inside the main body, and do an automatic drip feed onto an atty that would feed the vapor into the corresponding tube. So basically all you'd have to do is put in it whatever liquid you want to vape for your tube, and start sucking Of course, this is all coming from somebody who's never even really seen a hookah, much less smoked one. I just thought it sounded like a cool idea for parties, owners of vaping stores who want to let people sample their wares, or people who just like the idea of it. I just don't have the skills, funds or know how

 

[mjkjr]

Ummm Mike, you are a genius. I personally do have a hookah, one that I can't/don't use to smoke stuff out of anymore because it's old and I upgraded
Anyway, mine is only a single hose hookah at the moment (could be 2) but I really like this idea. So one day, I might just have to 'steal' it from you. Although, I'll honestly never get around to it. But if I did build it I'd certainly give you credit for the idea.
Simple method, glass hookah bottom will be a big battery compartment, hookah bowl and top piece will be for "decoration", then the atty connectors will be at the end of the standard hookah hose wooden mouthpiece. No auto drip or switch at first, but that could always be added later.

 

[GIMike]

Thanks, I could see something like that taking off, and you could probably charge whatever you wanted for it. You'd still have to have some sort of switch to shut off power to the atty/carto. If it's a single user mod, you could probably mount it on the body somewhere, though I would think it would be easier to do on the mouthpiece somewhere. I may end up building one someday just cause I know nobody else will lol. One thing you may look into would be one of those big battery rechargable drills. Not sure how you'd knock down 18v or so to 3-4 volts though lol. I would think that type of battery would last quite awhile. Might be an awesome idea for the hookah too Hide it under the top piece so that way it's still portable and would support more than 1 or 2 users. Just fun to BS about it even though I may never get to it lol

 

[mjkjr]

Yeah, who knows if I ever will either. I'm already thinking that this lighter will be my next mod after I use all the butane, just for fun.

Yes it actually works too.

Oh, and I have the coolest idea for my next simple passthrough. Like the coolest 'box' ever to put the switch and atty connector in. Pretty sure nobody has done it either

 

[GIMike]

http://cdn.ubergizmo.com/photos/2009/4/giant-lighter.jpg I have (or had, haven't seen it in awhile) one like that. That might be even more fun

 

[silentt]

About the hooka pv, jollyrific mods is making a couple and its looking pretty cool.

 

[mjkjr]

Holy crap that's a big lighter. Don't know about handling that thing, but it could sure hold some batteries. It'll probably be a while before I get to the lighter, I don't want to 'waste' it you know, guess I'll have to put it to use this weekend and burn up some butane.
The new PT I'm doing should be pretty cool though, just have to go get another USB cable so maybe I'll get to it this or next weekend. I would post the rough idea on here, but if I do I know someone will make it before I even get home

And of course, someone already made the hookah PV That's why I have to keep my silly PT idea private until I can post it.

 

[GIMike]

lol ah well, no worries on the hookah thing. I know I've mentioned the same idea before in other places. If somebody takes my idea and doesn't give me credit for it, then ah well. I don't have it patented or anything. And since I'd never build it, I wouldn't wanna keep others from it either Let us know how the next passthrough comes out though.