Need new charger or bad battery?

[amadteaparty]

I bought some cheap ego batteries off of fasttech ( EGO-C Twist 1300mAh Variable Voltage Rechargeable Batteries (5-Pack)) to replace my current ones as they were getting old. They came just in time since I dropped one of my old Vision spinners and the button broke (got stuck depressed).

This is my first time using knockoff batteries. I'm having a problem with the first one I've tried out of the pack. After a couple of seconds it'll shut off, long before the normal timer. This occurs randomly (some times doesn't happen at all for a day or two).

When I last charged it the charger felt a little hotter than normal, but nothing alarming. I'm plugging it into a wall adapter and that into a power strip and that's been fine with all of my other batteries.

Not sure if it's the battery or the charge that's the issue. The charger I'm using came with the original kit I bought and is a Joyetech USB (Input 500mA, Output 420mA) and it's about a year old. Now writing this... I think I should probably get another one as a backup anyways. Should I get a new charger and adapter or just a new charger (I plan to always use a wall socket)? Know where to find a good inexpensive one?

Just time for a new charger? Bad battery?

Thanks for any help

 

[ImThatGuy]

So, what about the other egos? Are they all acting the same way with that charger?

 

[Kent C]

From earlier posts here, 2 bad out of 5 from fasttech is the usual. One DOA, another that doesn't last that long. The other three are good for months.... I've had Joye chargers for years - I keep them clean - it's probably not the charger and if the battery is getting hot, that isn't good. None of my Joye batts even get warm on a charger. But for the price, 3 out of 5 ain't bad for some.

 

[Katya]

Yeah, neither a charger nor a battery should ever get warm--toss that battery; it's not safe to use. If other batteries are charging OK and nothing gets warm, it's clearly that one bad battery that is causing problems. I agree with Kent--I've been using my Joyetech charger and a generic wall wart (0.5A output) for years. I just clean the contacts occasionally with a q-tip and and old soft toothbrush dipped in 91% isopropyl alcohol.

That said, it's always a good idea to have a backup--you don't want to be without a charger. I get my chargers and other basic supplies from Good Prophets and LiteCigUSA; they are both very good vendors and offer genuine products at reasonable prices.

Good luck.

 

[amadteaparty]

I haven't tried the other batteries yet, I didn't want to leave them on the charger over night not knowing if they were good or not. I should have some time tomorrow to test a couple of them out.

2/5 sounds pretty bad and not really worth the trouble or risk of a battery exploding/starting a fire. I'll just go ahead and buy the name brand batteries next time.

It was the charger itself that was heating up a little bit, not the battery, it wasn't very hot, but it isn't doing that with my vision spinner at all... better to be safe than sorry though.

Thanks for the site references

 

[Katya]

Please don't charge batteries overnight. Just don't. Please, pretty.

 

[amadteaparty]

Two more of them were defective. Just going to return them for a refund and eat the shipping cost if they make me pay for that as well. I'll just buy good batteries from now on instead of messing around with possibly defective ones. Thanks for all your help ^^

 

[Katya]

So sorry to hear that. But I agree--grab a few eGo-C Twists, Vision Spinners, iTaste VV V3s or even an MVP 2. You can get an MVP 2 for 40 bucks shipped--vv/vw, ohms reader, dual 510/eGo connection, works as a passthrough, and will charge you cell phone to boot. What's not to like?

BTW--open a ticket with FT--they should cover shipping if they sent you DOA stuff. Or refund your money. They will ask for a picture and such--but it's on them.

Good luck!