Nico Stick battery questions

[leannebug]

So I got my first MOD on the trading boards (yea). The kind person that sent it to me, told me to get the 14500 protected batteries and charger. Which I did, all charged up and ready to go.

The NicoStick arrived today and the batteries don't fit! I'm guessing it's the first version of the Nicostick V.1 ? - that took the unprotected batteries, because aren't they a little smaller?

I can jam the thing in, and it works (tho I don't know if it's operating at full capacity because it's the first mod I've owned) but the lid doesn't close, and of course, I'm not sure it's even safe to do that. I'm a feeling a little iffy, since I've read so much about the BOOMers

So.. my questions, to all those in the know:

Is there another size, protected battery, that fits the Nico V.1? The 10440 perhaps?

Or, is there an easy fix -to adjust this mod -to fit this battery? I don't have a soldering iron.

Also, why can't I just use a regular rechargable AA? Or is that what an unprotected batt is??

Signed,
Totally Clueless


Still need help.. other idea won't work

 

[Blaze]

I can jam the thing in, and it works (tho I don't know if it's operating at full capacity because it's the first mod I've owned) but the lid doesn't close, and of course, I'm not sure it's even safe to do that. I'm a feeling a little iffy, since I've read so much about the BOOMers

Oh lord, don't do that

So.. my questions, to all those in the know:

Is there another size, protected battery, that fits the Nico V.1? The 10440 perhaps?

10440 is about the size of a AAA batt, so no, it wouldn't work. Nicostick were designed (I'm pretty sure) to work with the 14500, so I'm not sure why it won't fit, unless it is in fact designed to work with unprotected batts (which are smaller by about 2mm, someone correct me if I'm wrong), which at that rate, I WOULD NOT USE.

Or, is there an easy fix -to adjust this mod -to fit this battery? I don't have a soldering iron.

Perhaps some plastic carving?

Also, why can't I just use a regular rechargable AA? Or is that what an unprotected batt is??

"Regular" AA batts won't provide enough voltage to power the atty, or that's at least my understanding of the beast

Some pics would be helpful, as to see the specific device in question

 

[LukeNM]

I got some wire cutters and cut one loop off the negative connection spring to make the 14500 protected battery fit better in my box mod...

 

[OmahaVapor]

I got some wire cutters and cut one loop off the negative connection spring to make the 14500 protected battery fit better in my box mod...

That is exactly what I do for the mods I make that take a 14500 protected battery. Just looked at my 5V box mod and there is about 3 turns on the negative side.

 

[leannebug]

I can jam the thing in, and it works (tho I don't know if it's operating at full capacity because it's the first mod I've owned) but the lid doesn't close, and of course, I'm not sure it's even safe to do that. I'm a feeling a little iffy, since I've read so much about the BOOMers

Oh lord, don't do that

LOL! So I guess this is a bad idea?

So.. my questions, to all those in the know:
Is there another size, protected battery, that fits the Nico V.1? The 10440 perhaps?

10440 is about the size of a AAA batt, so no, it wouldn't work. Nicostick were designed (I'm pretty sure) to work with the 14500, so I'm not sure why it won't fit, unless it is in fact designed to work with unprotected batts (which are smaller by about 2mm, someone correct me if I'm wrong), which at that rate, I WOULD NOT USE.
I'm fairly certain it's the old Nicostick size, which, to my knowledge, was designed for the unprotected ones.


Or, is there an easy fix -to adjust this mod -to fit this battery? I don't have a soldering iron.
Perhaps some plastic carving?
Plastic carving? Like with my exacto? I'm not sure there is room. see pics below..


Also, why can't I just use a regular rechargable AA? Or is that what an unprotected batt is??
"Regular" AA batts won't provide enough voltage to power the atty, or that's at least my understanding of the beast

Some pics would be helpful, as to see the specific device in question

Right-o! Coming up.
Open sesame...

See how the battery doesn't fit? And this is jammed in as far as I felt comfortable

Thanks Blaze

 

[leannebug]

Luke, (and Omaha) Thank you thank you! Didn't even think of that.

Schweeet!

 

[Blaze]

I'd have to agree with Luke. Snip off enough of the spring so the batt will fit

 

[leannebug]

I'd have to agree with Luke. Snip off enough of the spring so the batt will fit

Thanks Blaze.. I'll give that a try. (need to find my snips)
Now time to get some shut-eye!

BTW.. wouldn't you know it.. the bottles came today!


OH WAIT>>> now I know why that didn't cross my mind~ The battery (when properly jammed in by me) shoves the spring completely into the housing. So it won't really matter if I snip any off. The battery won't fit in the unit, and I can't jam it in any further, it's already at max without breaking

Any other ideas?

I'll check back in the morning.. gotta get up in a few hours! zzzzzzzzzzzzz

 

[Blaze]

BTW.. wouldn't you know it.. the bottles came today!

Of course they did LOL


OH WAIT>>> now I know why that didn't cross my mind~ The battery (when properly jammed in by me) shoves the spring completely into the housing. So it won't really matter if I snip any off. The battery won't fit in the unit, and I can't jam it in any further, it's already at max without breaking Any other ideas?

Another thought would be to eliminate the spring all together. You really only need metal to metal contact to conduct power. Possibly use a piece of folded tin foil in between batt and neg contact (I know, it's ghetto...but it works LOL )

If your feeling particularly jaunty, you COULD go with a 10440, but would require either replacing the spring with a longer one, or some other variant that would allow for contact. You would still have to deal with the issue of the 10440 being significantly thinner tho.

 

[leannebug]

Thanks blaze I'll get out the ole snips and tin in the morning and see what I can do! Appreciate the help

 

[Blaze]

No problem whatsoever

 

[Connman]

Here is something else you may try if the + side has enough play in the wire.

Try slipping the contact up and out of it`s holder Then cut those pieces of plastic off that hold it on the positive side of the battery. (They are thin holders that create a slot) You might also try smashing the round nub that is on that contact before installing it back in place.

read through this how to and you will see this step being used right above picture 7. Further down there is a picture of that slot piece after it was cut out as well.

MadVapes e-Cig 'How To' Tutorials • View topic - 5 Volt 3xAAA Box Mod by Ez Duzit

You can use 2 part epoxy but super glue will hold it in place again then the battery should fit pretty nice. I would cut some of that spring off as well they seem to compress but keeps it tight so I always trim some off. Just be sure to curl the end back in so it don't damage the negative side of the battery.

Hope this helps get rid of that rubber band.

 

[WillyB]

It does appear to be rather poorly made mod. The atty connector is mounted in the wrong end, but the battery should fit. Might just be the battery.

When I measure my blue TrustFire 14500's the case is 51mm, just a hair shy of 2" long. Measure yours.

 

[Shortstuff116]

It's unfortunate that you received such a mod that really wasn't made properly to begin with. Without trying to post pics I'll try to explain the best way (and proper way) to do this so that a protected 14500 (Trustfire or Ultrafire) will fit perfectly:

If you look at the positive end of the battery compartment (where the battery goes) you'll notice that the terminal clip (the flat metal portion with the raised nipple in the middle) is held in place by friction between the outer case of the battery and two additional plastic pieces (tabs). When you put the battery in, you'll notice that the sides (outer round portion) of the battery will contact these plastic tabs making it a tight fit.

First, using a small screwdriver (or something similar) remove the metal battery terminal by prying it up out of the plastic "slots". Next, using an exacto knife or very small chisel or something similar, completely remove those extra two plastic pieces (tabs). Be very careful as this will take some time and is very tricky at best. The best way to do this is to shave just a little bit of plastic at a time until they are completely removed.

Now if you place the battery terminal back in place (it is loose now) and try and put the battery in there you'll see that it will fit better but still not good enough. Now you have to flatten the "nipple" portion of that battery terminal. Hopefully there is enough slack in the wire to allow you to get this terminal out of the case far enough to lay it on a flat hard surface and tap it with a hammer or something just enough to flatten the nipple. If you can do this, now you'll see that the battery fits even better than before.

Now take a pair of wire cutters and snip off about 1/2 of the spring on the negative battery terminal inside the case. Now it is a perfect fit. The only thing left to do is put a few drops of superglue very carefully on the plastic part of the case behind the positive battery terminal, put the terminal in place, put the battery in place and stand the unit up so that the positive terminal is on the bottom so the superglue will stay there. Let it dry for 15 minutes or so and you should be all set.

Only trying to help.

 

[leannebug]

Great advice guys! Thanks much! I will get out the hammer and tools and give it a whack (pun intended)

Just to MAKE SURE.. when you say to "flatten the nipple" you mean the piece in the box, not the nipple on the battery, right?? I don't want to go whacking the battery and have it explode on me.

I cant complain about the MOD.. was a gift Don't look a gift horse, and all that jazz.


BTW, my Trustfires came from Madvapes, so I'm assuming they should be the proper size. I don't have one of those measuring thingys (what was that Blaze? that you mentioned on the other thread?) Tape measure, ruler, good old thumb. No mechanical measurers. (sorry brain malfuntion this am)
Thanks again for the help.

 

[Shortstuff116]

Yes, when I say flatten the nipple, the nipple is the extruded portion in the center of the chrome-looking metal battery terminal that the battery positive post contacts inside the case, not on the battery itself. The bump on the flat metal contact that the wire inside the case is attached to. By flattening that, it gives the battery more room inside the case, but the battery positive tip will still make good contact with it after it is flattened.

 

[leannebug]

Great tutorials at Madvapes! This one (2aabox3.7) was particularly easy to understand.

the only part I didn't quite get was this:

The LED runs parallel to our battery connectors

power, never in series.

Does this mean like: ======
and not like: -----*-----*

We need to drop the voltage a bit with a

resistor

Here you can see one side of a 470 ohm resistor

connected to the switch and the other side

Is that the little bedknob looking thing?


This looks fun May have to find a cool box and

make a mod

 

[leannebug]

awesome! I see it better in the pictures shorty

that battery in the 2AA tutorial seemed to fit just fine. Wonder why mine doesn't? That one is the same volts. Right..? The 14500 is the voltage? and they are both protected. hmmm, double hmmm Isn't this a standard sized box? (I thought I read somewhere that these came from Radio Shack.)

 

[WillyB]

I thought I read somewhere that these came from Radio Shack.

The one at MV is different from yours which is different from the ones from Radio Shack. The AA size refers to standard 1.2-1.5V batteries. These Li-Ions are close, but if you hold one next to regular Alkaline or AA Nicad/NiMH battery (which are in fact branded as 'AA') you'll see the difference. Also note not all 14500's from different makers are exactly the same size. Where an UltraFire may not fit a TrustFire might.

 

[leannebug]

The one at MV is different from yours which is different from the ones from Radio Shack. The AA size refers to standard 1.2-1.5V batteries. These Li-Ions are close, but if you hold one next to regular Alkaline or AA Nicad/NiMH battery (which are in fact branded as 'AA') you'll see the difference. Also note not all 14500's from different makers are exactly the same size. Where an UltraFire may not fit a TrustFire might.

Oh, I meant the "box" coming from RS.

But I didn't know the batteries could be different sizes. That's lame.
A 14500 should be a 14500, etc.
Still haven't tried the smashing and snipping yet. Stuff came up, but it's on my "do list" for the weekend! Otherwise, I have someone looking to trade (he has the 10440, so I'll just have to "rig" it a different way!

~thinking it might be less trouble just to build my own~