New to modding questions

[anjilek]

First off, I am a cable guy so I am trying to mod using stuff I have on hand plus an 510 batt adapter I pulled out of a blown batt.

I have cat6 (24gauge copper) (free) that I am wanting to use for my wiring. Any reason this won't work?

I want to use a phone punch down block to test (maybe even as a base for a mod)stuff. Anyone ever try this? or know of a reason it won't work? Same for phone scotch locks?

I am trying to mod to a remote from work (click and vape, click and vape). The remotes use 2 AA's which is only 3 volts. 3v seems to vape an old carto I have ok, but I was wondering if an LR would hotter?

Last, Anyone try any of the carbon electrical glues instead of solder?

Thanks

 

[nofalls]

Anjilek,
the cat6/5e/5 or any twisted pair solid core will work just fine. Might get work harded and break a little easier than stranded but so what? Not like you are going to run out of wire any time soon.

As for a punch down block that will work just fine. It is basicly a sturdier version of a bread board with big clips for jumpers. I have never used the scotch locks but I can tell you the blue dolphin "bennie" no strip wire connectors taste like crap.

A LR will be hotter but will pull more amps from the batteries and shorten the life. V=IR so with V fixed at 3volts as the R drops the I, amps, has to go up. You could use a 14500 3.7 volt Li-ion battery in one of the AA slots, jump the other, to get more out of you remote box mod.

I have never used a carbon electrical glue. I do have some silver conductive epoxy but it tends to run.

Best of luck to you in your modding adventures!

 

[WillyB]

Learn how to solder.

 

[AttyPops]

Learn how to solder.

Gotta agree with this.

I've not heard of anyone using phone equipment nor cat 5/6.... but hey... modding is fun. I think there are some "power over ethernet" standards that may tell you more about what cat6 can handle if you google it. You can find heavy gauge stranded wire in a lot of old junk, however, if you need some. Usually doesn't take much. It flexes well and carries more current, and prolly won't melt insulation. (think 10 watts of power, at least for the spec). I think I'm using 18 or maybe 22 AWG stranded wire....

I assume that what you want to do is save yourself a lot of frustration by reading this sub-forum and finding out what works well. OTOH, experimentation is fun. If you're really new to electronics, soldering, etc., I'd start with something you know works well, like a simple 2xAA box mod, and get it working. Then you have something to fall back on, while experimenting with phone equipment and old remotes for fun.

A "kit" from MV : http://www.madvapes.com/Soldering-Irons_c_62.html
Radio Shack sells em too, of course, and so do home improvement stores....
They also have a box mod kit for about $8.00 with new, clean parts. However, since you have old connectors, you may wish to get the parts separately. If you want to omit the LED, you can just pick up a 2xAA box and a 3.0 amp button, scrounge some wire, and go to town with the soldering iron. Done.

IDK about using a punch down block for testing, since I use a breadboard. Seriously though, for a basic e-cig box mod, not much testing is needed. You can test it with a multi-meter on-box/in-place. I guess my question back to you is... can a punch-down-block handle 10 or more watts without having arching or melting? Why not just solder it and get a "real" perm connection. It's sounds OK for testing, similar to a breadboard... but IDK. OTOH nofalls seems to think it will work. Personally, I'd want heavier guage for a mod, and I hate PDBs... little insulation slicers that they are. A bread board allows you to do things like: run a ground rail, easily connect several components to the same connection, etc.

And welcome to ECF!

 

[stouchon]

I am also a cable (Dish mainly) guy, I personally don't use cat5 wire (breaks to easily). I have plenty of usb cords, from HSI installs, to tear apart for stranded wire. Like Attypops says, it is easier to just build it and test, than putting together a breadboard type setup. I am just impatient, and would rather get to vaping than building the same thing twice.