My beloved new Vamo's gone kaput! It's reading the ohms of any carto/clearo/atty I put on it as either 0.0 ohms or 9.9 ohms. It's been working just fine up until now, and it's really been my salvation with non-stop cigarette cravings. Does anyone know what might be going on? Any help is so appreciated!!
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I had to send it Back. Check to see if there is juice by the center pin and check to see if the rubber o-ring is still around the pin. Good luck sometimes I could unscrew the carto atty a touch and it would work most times.
Rubber o-ring around the pin? Nothing there! I've tried loads of fully charged, working batteries, so that's not it. I never noticed any o-ring around the pin. Do you think there's a way to replace this tiny item, if that's what I need?
It's a white ring around the center post of the 510 connection separating it from the 510 threading. If it's gone you would know. Condensation/ejuice can leak inside and wreak havoc with the innards.
It's definitely gone. And I wasn't being up front on this thread. I have two vamos, from two different vendors, and the same EXACT thing is happening to them, both starting today. Neither of them have the white o-ring around the center post of the 510 connection. Trust me, I am sure. I do have a memory of throwing away ONE (though not 2) tiny ring, thinking it was part of an RBA that I totally gave up on and tossed. Does ANYBODY know where or if I might find two little replacement rings. The 0.0 or 9.9 ohm readings happen with adapters in, as well. Shouldn't an adapter obviate the need for the o-ring? I have two brand new, non-functioning Vamos, here; any help will make you my hero!!
You might try taking a close-up picture of the 510 connection and posting it for review. I can't imagine the insulator coming out of the 510 connector without some work. Even if you were over-tightening heads it would tend to push the post and insulator down and if the insulator were to escape I would guess it would be pushed into the unit and not fall out.
What head are you putting on these VAMOs?
What head are you putting on these VAMOs?
I've also lost the o-ring around my Vamo's 510-connection. It's well out of any warranty that might have come with it; so I'm left with the very same problem. Everything clocks in at 9.9 ohms!
I'm bumping this just one time, hoping maybe someone will know if there's anything to be done!
Talula,
Where did you buy the Vamos?
Do you have pics?
Do you have pics of inside - up where the battery connects to the head?
More info needed.
I'm wondering if you put an attachment on them both that shorted them both. It seems odd that two Vamos from two different places do this.
But, I am also wondering where you bought them and what they look like. The version 1 vamos don't have the insulator ring inside.
Where did you buy the Vamos?
Do you have pics?
Do you have pics of inside - up where the battery connects to the head?
More info needed.
I'm wondering if you put an attachment on them both that shorted them both. It seems odd that two Vamos from two different places do this.
But, I am also wondering where you bought them and what they look like. The version 1 vamos don't have the insulator ring inside.
Kiwivap, thank you so much for trying to help me out. I had refrained from mentioning the suppliers because they are both really fine forum suppliers, and I didn't want to discourage anyone from buying anything from them. I also do not want to discourage anyone from buying the Vamo because they were sure great while they lasted. And it seems most everyone who has one is happy with it. I took a picture of the connection with my phone, but I've never uploaded a picture to my computer (I know, pathetic). I do some googling to try to figure out how to do it. To the naked eye, though, they look perfect. They are both version 2 (one black chrome, one stainless steel). I liked the first so much that I spent way more than I ought on a second a week later. I do think I might have accidentally tossed that little o-ring from the first one, but definitely not the second. Guess I was hoping against hope that someone would have seen this or have some quick fix. I miss them to an embarrassing degree.
I wouldn't think it would matter if it's the same exact o-ring. I would try taking it down to Ace or your local hardware store and going through their O-ring rack until I found one that would fit. Should be a little tight going in I would think. Just to keep it in place and not popping out all the time. Buy a few of them and try to put it back in. Probably could just press it into place with a small screwdriver, being careful not to break it. Also a small piece of copper tubing could probably work as an installation tool. What have you got to lose?
Hi talula,
Well thanks for trying with the pic anyway. I am wondering if you put the same attachment on both and it shorted them both. That seems probable to me, because you have two different vendors, plus one is chrome and one stainless. That would explain why nothing works on them.
Another possibility is the batteries. I know you have tried different charged batteries - which kind do you use?
And also - do both Vamos have the same kind of bottom spring - possibly the batteries are a bit loose and not connecting?
Those three things are all I can think of. If you can't isolate the issue I'd send them both back and see what happens from there. Sorry I can't be more specific in helping out.
Take a picture of the connector.
If you have a multimeter, check for continuity between the body and center pin. 9.9ohm is open circuit on my Zmax, i.e. no atty or busted coil, but it may be a short on the VAMO. The center pin may have de-soldered from the positive cable under the top cap - which would make both 9.9 and 0.0 showing up on the display possible as it grounds on the connector (0.0) or sits in open air (9.9). Anyway, a pic would help
If it's still in warranty, send it back. If not, this video shows how to disassemble one which looks pretty simple:
Vamo first impression and disassembly how to - YouTube
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Just noticed that you already tried attaching a picture. My bad, wasn't trying to be a jerk. If you have SMS, try texting it to an email address.
If you have a multimeter, check for continuity between the body and center pin. 9.9ohm is open circuit on my Zmax, i.e. no atty or busted coil, but it may be a short on the VAMO. The center pin may have de-soldered from the positive cable under the top cap - which would make both 9.9 and 0.0 showing up on the display possible as it grounds on the connector (0.0) or sits in open air (9.9). Anyway, a pic would help
If it's still in warranty, send it back. If not, this video shows how to disassemble one which looks pretty simple:
Vamo first impression and disassembly how to - YouTube
edit-
Just noticed that you already tried attaching a picture. My bad, wasn't trying to be a jerk. If you have SMS, try texting it to an email address.
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One thing that I noticed with mine is that if I put an attachment on to tight it would not fire or get a ohms reading from it, like my Vivi Nova. I had to loosen it for it to get a good ohms reading and then it fired just fine. Just a thought...
This is a confirmed problem people, at least on my SS Vamo. Just started 2 days ago, I've had it for 3 weeks and everything has been hunky-dory fine with it.
Now - It seems to not want to read certain atty devices that I put on it (reads 0.0 ohms) and they won't fire. If I loosen the atty/carto tank/RBA/etc a bit, it will read normal resistance of the device (2.2/2.6/3.2/etc) and fire properly. On other attys (of the same type I might add) it reads the correct resistance and fires normally with the atty screwed all the way down on the 510 connector. It is a completely sporadic problem, but very frustrating.
The irritating thing is that sometimes I have to loosen the atty to the point that it is VERY wobbly on the Vamo before it will read the correct resistance and fire. I have tried raising the center post on the unit to no avail (I CAN lift it a bit but it doesn't help). The white insulator ring is there and in fine condition.
I cannot figure this one out.
Now - It seems to not want to read certain atty devices that I put on it (reads 0.0 ohms) and they won't fire. If I loosen the atty/carto tank/RBA/etc a bit, it will read normal resistance of the device (2.2/2.6/3.2/etc) and fire properly. On other attys (of the same type I might add) it reads the correct resistance and fires normally with the atty screwed all the way down on the 510 connector. It is a completely sporadic problem, but very frustrating.
The irritating thing is that sometimes I have to loosen the atty to the point that it is VERY wobbly on the Vamo before it will read the correct resistance and fire. I have tried raising the center post on the unit to no avail (I CAN lift it a bit but it doesn't help). The white insulator ring is there and in fine condition.
I cannot figure this one out.
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It is a tear in the insulator. 0.0 ohms is a short, so screwing down a carto with a protruding positive pin crushes the insulator enough that the center post grounds. The only way to fix it is to take the top cap off, desolder the center pin, replace the insulator and resolder.
You can confirm this with a multimeter with continuity check. Put one probe on the body and use the other to put pressure on the center pin - wiggle it from side to side, push on the corners etc. If it beeps, there is a tear.
You can confirm this with a multimeter with continuity check. Put one probe on the body and use the other to put pressure on the center pin - wiggle it from side to side, push on the corners etc. If it beeps, there is a tear.
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meatsneakers...you are ABSOLUTELY right. Checked the Vamo with my VOM and applied downward pressure on the center pin with the VOM probe. There is, in fact, a direct short between ground and the center pin. There is mention in this thread of others (besides the OP) having the same problem. Looks like a potential fault with the Vamo. I have not misused this product in any way, and by that I mean doing stupid things. Like cranking atomizers super hard onto the 510 or anything even close to that. I'll be emailing the vendor where I purchased this ASAP. This has the potential of being a major safety issue. Looks like version 2 is soon to be version 3.
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