Need help from the experts please

[redrose]

Hi,
I've got 2 problems with mini pipes and believe this is the place that can help me figure them out. I have 2 mini pipes with different problems. I have tried different batteries and atoms in each, and the outcome is always the same.

lOne blinks a few times when the battery is inserted, then the led stays lit, and the base gets hot. Does not create vapor, just stays lit. Nothing changes no matter what I do.

On the second, when the bat is inserted, the led lights solid for a few seconds, then blinks a few times and then turns off. It does not light on inhale. If I hit it, the led will blink, and it will vaporize during those few blinks. Then it goes out again. It will vape only during the short period of blinks when i hit it. No smacks, no vapor.

Both problems ,tho different ,appear to be in the circuitry (sp?)
in bowl itelf because the batteries and aomizers are fine in a working pipe. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

[Vince1]

I had one of my pipes start doing this after I accidentally put a battery in upside down. Basically considered it dead and disassembled it for a mod project.
If you just got them I would return them as defective.

 

[breakfastchef]

First thought is to get a warranty replacement or technical support from the vendor.

In the first case, power being supplied to the atomizer without user interaction is not good, But you know that already. Lots of possible problems with that unit.

The scond unit sounds like a bad battery unable to provide the proper amount of current to the atomizer for the longest amount of time.

 

[yvilla]

As to the second problem, I'm pretty sure it is related to the stupid little bowl cover not pressing down on the battery enough to provide the required contact. I have the same problem. I don't think it's a bad battery, because I can vape all I want by just applying pressure to the cover.

I discovered that if I pull up a little on the spring down in the bottom of the bowl and then replace the battery and put on the cover, then the pipe will work perfectly fine for a while, until the problem reoccurs. I wish I could figure out a way to fix it more permanently, and by fixing the way the cover itself works/fits, rather than messing with the spring.

 

[opusMorian]

I have seen this while doing mod. I do not have a e-pipe so I am just describing a probable solution. The battery is engaged by shorting ground. Look at the bottom of the e-pipe and see where the spring is making contact with the battery (if there is a spring). If you can try to extent the spring without breaking it off the e-pipe. Be careful. The bottom of the battery might be bypassing the spring as a ground and using the contacts around the spring which is not controlled by the switch. For a test, you can try to cut a sheet of paper like a circle to fit the bottom with the center cut out to allow the spring to come through.

Try this as your last resort. After you try to get it RMA or if it can not be RMA. Just a suggestion, please don't come after me if it makes it worst. If you post some detail pics of the inside of the atomizer, maybe one of us can help better?

 

[yvilla]

Opus, I think you would need to see this mini pipe to understand the problem I am describing. Lifting the spring up to give the battery more height does help.

But it is the lid/bowl cover that causes the problem, because it does not stay screwed on tightly, and it is a metal bar on the inside of this cover that I think is supposed to both press the battery down on the spring, and close the circuit. When the cover is loose, the contact is not made. But if I keep constant pressure on the cover, then the contact is made and when I vape the auto switch (just inside the stem of the pipe) functions normally.

Edit: I can't say for sure about Red, but since these pipes came from Central Trade, I doubt any attempt to return will be worth it.

 

[scrubadub]

I have the loose lid problem with mine as well. I fixed it by placing a small ball of blu-tac on the edge of the pipe between the led and one of the notches the cap screws into. Not very elegant but it works and you can't see the blu-tac once the lid is on.

 

[Silver]

I can't say for sure about Red, but since these pipes came from Central Trade, I doubt any attempt to return will be worth it.

Hi Yvilla,

I believe Central Trade does actually have a one year warranty, but I think they will only send replacements with a new order (I doubt most of us would be placing orders with them regularly considering the MOQ and shipping costs 8-o).

Cheers,
Silver

 

[Silver]

lOne blinks a few times when the battery is inserted, then the led stays lit, and the base gets hot. Does not create vapor, just stays lit. Nothing changes no matter what I do.

Hi Redrose,

In this case I believe the switch is faulty and getting a replacement (if you can) would be the best option.

I've had this problem as well and the only way I could use the pipe was to manually hold the lid in place when toking on it. Not very handy, and risky, both for the possibility of losing the lid, and for inadvertently killing the atomizer.

Cheers,
Silver

 

[redrose]

Thanks everyone. I tried lifting the spring,makes no difference. I figured it was worth a try. It would be so much easier to be able to fix it than getting replacements. The lids don't seem to be the problem. I did notice that in one bowl the wires form an x, and in the other they are parallel. My curiosity stops there, lol. I'll take my chances on the replacements! I appreciate you all taking the time to answer. Thank you very much!
Denyse

 

[Nick O'Teen]

if you can't get it sorted out on warranty (or just want a spare,) smokejuice.co.uk sell the bowls (including lid) on their own for £20 + postage

It sounds like you're trying to bend the spring clips on either side up - you ought to be bending them down to make the lid fit more firmly; that way they'll pull the lid down, so it wedges against the rim.

edit: I see you meant the spring under the battery - yes, you can pull that up but it's probably going to keep getting compressed again. The right-angle clips on the sides are stiffer, and hopefully won't bend back so easily.