Need advice regarding Passthrough and Usb Hub/Adapter (Voltage? mA?)

[Governa]

I've ordered one of these moments ago:

510/eGo (3.2V/ 3.7V/ 4.2V/4.7V) Variable Passthrough V2

I'm wary of using these straight from a computer's USB port so I plan to hook it to an USB hub / wall charger. The description (here) says that "It must be used and only can be used on computers. Please remember it can not work with universal AC-USB adapters". Why is that?

When looking for USB hubs / wall chargers, what should I look for? Would 5.0V 2000mA output do the trick? I plan in using the passthrough with a standard resistance eGo-C atty.

My iPad's charger outputs 5.1V 2000mA. Would 5.1V instead of 5.0V actually damage the passthrough or not necessarily?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[RizDaRula]

i wouldnt be worried about the passthrough... I would worry more about your lips and teeth.. I dont think using an ac specific device on direct current is a good idea.. a.c. alternate current... passes through resistance systems i believe. while d,c, direct current does not.. I could be worng but i wouldnt do it...

 

[Governa]

I would worry more about your lips and teeth.. I dont think using an ac specific device on direct current is a good idea.. a.c. alternate current... passes through resistance systems i believe. while d,c, direct current does not..

The wall adapter that I mentioned claims to output DC 5V 2000mA. So being DC is a good thing in this case?

Is there any difference in terms of safety between a small wall adapter (like the iPhone/iPad adapters) and an AC powered USB Hub?

 

[RizDaRula]

Im not an electrial engineer. I just wouldnt suggest using a passthrough on a wall charger.

 

[Slim Batz]

I would advise against using your expensive computer as a power supply for a passthru ... a computer usb port only has to be able to deliver 500ma (USB 2.0) to be in spec ... most will deliver more if asked but it will put a strain on components.
A lot of AC USB power adapters are relatively low power, meant to power and/or charge electronics like a phone, mp3 player etc ... again 500ma or less. At 5V with a standard carto, an ecig passthru is pushing 2000ma ... that said, there are AC USB adapters made to deliver on these requirements, I'm looking at the adapter for my touchpad right now ... rated at 2A (2000ma), and they can be found online as well ... many will be multiport ... so will have 2 or 4 ports and a "total" output rating ... these usually have higher output ratings to be able to split over the extra ports, but if you only use one of the ports, you can utilize the full amount rated.

 

[Governa]

there are AC USB adapters made to deliver on these requirements, I'm looking at the adapter for my touchpad right now ... rated at 2A (2000ma), and they can be found online as well ... many will be multiport ... so will have 2 or 4 ports and a "total" output rating ... these usually have higher output ratings to be able to split over the extra ports, but if you only use one of the ports, you can utilize the full amount rated.

Exactly. I saw some of those for sale. Would they be safe to use or it can be dangerous?

Also does it make any difference to get a small wall adapter (for iPhone/iPad for example) or a proper AC powered USB Hub? Are they both the same?

 

[Slim Batz]

Shouldn't be dangerous if you stay around or below the maximum rating of the power supply. You are not producing a constant draw at any rate, just short bursts when you are actually taking a hit. Part of the idea here is that if something does fry, its just an inexpensive power supply, not your computer. I suppose a multiport USB hub would work as long as current draw on each individual port wasn't limited somehow ... I've never really looked at them. The power only USB adapters just seem like a more logical choice for this application.

 

[Governa]

I'm inclined to getting an ac powered USB hub just for the passthrough. It supports, when only 1 port is being used, an output of 5.0V 2000mA. The ac adapter itself is rated at 3000mA.

Any thoughts guys?

 

[Sweeney Todd]

Sounds like you've done the math. I don't see any problem with that setup from a power draw standpoint.

The only risks that seem non-negligible have already been mentioned. (I consider the risk of electrocution from a USB device, even one plugged into a wall hub, to be negligable.)

 

[luvinit]

Well now, I'm still a little confused by this. I have a V2 passthrough that came with my starter kit. I've since gotten an Elite and just ordered a kGo too but still like to use that passthrough while sitting here with my laptop. I had it plugged into my computer until I read somewhere here that doing that could damage my computer. So now I've been using it with the wall charger.. so is this not good either?? I surely don't want to fry my computer and I guess I don't really need to use the passthrough but it sure is handy! The wall charger I use is the one that came with the V2 kit,, so it must be designed to use it that way, right? What do you guys think??

 

[Slim Batz]

You need to look at what the current draw would be on your passthru and then look at the wall adapter and see if it rated to produce it. Using Ohms Law I = V/R ... if say your passthru is 5 Volts (V=5) and you are using a 2.5Ohm resistance carto, (R=2.5) then your current draw when in operation I=5/2.5 = 2 A ... which is 2000mA. Could be wrong, but I doubt the adapter you got to charge your batteries is rated that high. Battery charging uses constant lower current over a long period of time ... as opposed to a short burst of high current. The only saving grace in all this is the fact that passthru's do only use power in short bursts ... if you hooked up a device that demanded constant high power to an under-rated source it would most likely destroy it after a while.

 

[deluxe]

I just got one like this but not from the same vendor so I'm not sure if it's identical. On a 2 amp 5 volt usb wall plug the lights come on in the unit but no atty will fire.

It may have some over-current protection in it that prevents it from running at 2 amps. I haven't tried it at 1 amp or 1/2 amp yet.

Most laptops output 1/2 amp on the usb port according to the info I've been able to find online but I cannot vouch that that is actually correct.

 

[wv2win]

Im not an electrial engineer. I just wouldnt suggest using a passthrough on a wall charger.

It's obvious you are not an electrical engineer.

To the OP, if your pass-through does not have an inline battery, then DO NOT plug it into your computer. There have been numerous reports of people damaging their computers and several ECF members who work on computers have also stated not to plug it into your computers USB port. Plus you will not be getting true 5 volt vaping plugged into your computer.

A good 5 volt/2 amp USB to AC wall adapter is what is recommended. Here is an example: 2 amp AC to USB Adapter, ideal for Passthroughs

 

[wv2win]

Well now, I'm still a little confused by this. I have a V2 passthrough that came with my starter kit. I've since gotten an Elite and just ordered a kGo too but still like to use that passthrough while sitting here with my laptop. I had it plugged into my computer until I read somewhere here that doing that could damage my computer. So now I've been using it with the wall charger.. so is this not good either?? I surely don't want to fry my computer and I guess I don't really need to use the passthrough but it sure is handy! The wall charger I use is the one that came with the V2 kit,, so it must be designed to use it that way, right? What do you guys think??

Read my post above and you will be fine. The post about not using a wall adapter is pure "scaretactics".

 

[Governa]

Using Ohms Law I = V/R ... if say your passthru is 5 Volts (V=5) and you are using a 2.5Ohm resistance carto, (R=2.5) then your current draw when in operation I=5/2.5 = 2 A ... which is 2000mA.

So for a 2.3ohm eGo-C atty I might need a bit more than 2000mA (2200mA for example)? If so, will 2000mA be enough for all voltage settings except the highest (someone measured 5.1 on the highest setting) or it won't matter what voltage level I select, it will always be insufficient?

 

[Slim Batz]

A 2A usb adapter may be up for it ... the rating would typically have some wiggle room. Its not like at 2000mA its good but at 2001mA it catches on fire ... and you would only just be pulsing it for a few seconds at a time .... this whole idea of putting a usb plug on that thing is kinda dumb since there's virtually nothing available that can deliver over 2A thru a USB plug. If it were me, I would get a 5V 3A adapter, which are readily available ... the power supplies for most USB hubs have that rating, and replace the connector (probably a barrel plug) with a usb one ... If you type 5V 3A into google, or on Ebay something should come up ... like this...
Amazon.com: NEW Genuine D-Link Power Supply AC ADAPTER 5V 3A JTA0302C: Electronics

 

[AttyPops]

I've ordered one of these moments ago:

510/eGo (3.2V/ 3.7V/ 4.2V/4.7V) Variable Passthrough V2

I'm wary of using these straight from a computer's USB port so I plan to hook it to an USB hub / wall charger. The description (here) says that "It must be used and only can be used on computers. Please remember it can not work with universal AC-USB adapters". Why is that?

When looking for USB hubs / wall chargers, what should I look for? Would 5.0V 2000mA output do the trick? I plan in using the passthrough with a standard resistance eGo-C atty.

My iPad's charger outputs 5.1V 2000mA. Would 5.1V instead of 5.0V actually damage the passthrough or not necessarily?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

That is strange (the description on the site - bold red emphasis above by me). And one user reports it won't fire on a wall-wart.

If I were selecting a PT... I"d want one that worked with a wall-wart... and didn't specifically require a computer USB port. If that info is correct, a very dumb design move IMO.

I wonder if the device can actually talk to the computer (or installs a driver, or some such). Also, they must have pulled some real tricks to get an older 500 mA USB port to vape at a true 4.7 volts. The capacitor alone for that would be huge...so this isn't making a lot of sense yet. It implies that it doesn't have an inline battery, but won't work on a wall-wart. I'm stumped. Big Capacitor?

I remember discussing a capacitor-driven e-cig in the modder's section a year or so ago and we decided that it would have to have a 4 lb capacitor (think BIG) to hold one or two hits worth of electricity.... maybe things have gotten better with super-capacitors. Or maybe... the info on this e-cigs is just wrong.

 

[AttyPops]

To the others on this thread talking about other devices/PTs... this particular PT appears to be different. So don't let this discussion mess you up. In general, the PTs with an inline battery can be used on a computer USB port since they just trickle charge the battery from the USB... you vape off the battery and can even used them unplugged.

5 volt "direct" PTs, or "true PTs" need a high amp draw and you should not use them on a computer USB. They don't have an inline battery (or other circuitry... like some big capacitor or whatever) and they need the amps directly from the power supply. They can stress a computer's USB port... particularly older USB ports.

This device... I don't know what it's doing yet........

 

[AttyPops]

Oh, yeah. P.S.

I'd want to see someone test this thing under load for a 5 second vape too.

 

[Governa]

this whole idea of putting a usb plug on that thing is kinda dumb since there's virtually nothing available that can deliver over 2A thru a USB plug.

How about this? It states "Power supply: 100~240V input, DC 5V~4A output". Is this only for the power suply? Are USB 3.0 hubs capable of supplying that much output?