Problem with my Precise

[Sevenchan]

First of all I got my Precise, and then had to stare at it for 2 weeks while I waited for my charger to arrive! It is a beautiful object I was so excited to fire it up for the first time!

Unfortunately, it's not working correctly Half the time I get vapor. The other half of the time I get nothing.

It sounds like the battery is moving around a tadge in there. So maybe it's not connecting reliably.

I tried stretching the spring -- no improvement.

Does anyone have any other suggestions? I really don't want to have to return the device to David if it's a problem I can easily fix myself.

NOTE: I've tried half a dozen different batteries (all Trustfire protected 10440s), so the problem is not one wonky battery.

 

[aschmidy]

Hopefully somebody will jump on here soon that can be of more help. I'm not real electronically inclined. But I do have a Precise. I know I had a few ultrafire protected that were loose in there, too. They don't work well that way. When you get a battery that fits right it is snug, no movement, and it hits every time. My trustfires all fit snug. Sorry I couldn't be of more help to you. I feel your frustration.

 

[hamsup1o]

The lack of quality control of these batteries is the problem. I gave up using protected batteries and use unprotected 10440s with a magnetic spacer (not recommended). I do put a layer of epoxy on the side of the spacer to avoid shorting out. No more misfiring.

 

[forcedfuel50]

The precise is a pretty simple device, so there isn't too much to go wrong, so i'd look to the batteries. Someone did post they put a dab of noalox on the contact end of the button and it worked good after that, no idea why that would make any difference though. Just to make sure, you put the battery in with the positive side up towards the atomizer (negative end towards the switch). Did you verify that the oring is in place at the bottom of the battery chamber?

 

[El Dee]

Using protected Trustfires and they all work fine. Had to massage a couple to get them in but they all fire right off.

 

[YKruss]

Sevenchan,
<<It sounds like the battery is moving around a tadge in there.>>

You probably have the same shorter batch or wacky geometry of trustfires as I do.
And so I had the same problem as you until I found the way around - use your pinky to push the button in pass the body.

I should receive 10 new trustfires any day, hope they are a little bit longer and problem will go away. Will report back.

 

[AngusATAT]

Someone did post they put a dab of noalox on the contact end of the button and it worked good after that, no idea why that would make any difference though.

I've got some UltraFire 10440's that were obviously not put together very well. The Noalox on the contact end of the button gives me a better contact with those batteries, mostly because I don't think the negative end of the battery matches flat with the button contact. It allows for a little better contact area to the battery.

Once I get some decent batteries, I doubt this would be needed at all.

 

[Happy Domino38]

I'm still waiting for my Precise, but I think I hate the 10440's. I use them with my OTHER mod and they just seem to be a PITA...I won't even TALK about the CHARGER...

 

[forcedfuel50]

Oh and another thing to check, i ran across a couple of batteries that had the plastic wrapping wrapped about half way across the bottom of the battery, thus not allowing the battery to make a proper connection.

 

[USinchains]

If you're down around 3.6 volts or lower, just blame it on the battery, big power drops around that point for me. The Noalox helped me out, I suspect for the same reason Angus states, although any contact at all should be enough, theoretically, we use small contacts everywhere in mods that use wires and solder, but we can't really see what's going on inside there. Nine times out of ten, my problems arose around 3.6v and lower, and a fresh batt solved the problem. The device is a freakin' CNC'd work of art, but I think the batt's are more suited for those who have not already been spoiled by larger 18650's etc, people who still have patience for charging standard e-cig batts. My first 30 minutes are heaven on 10440's, then it's time for me to switch to a fresh one.

David, I am glad you're going bigger with these, I would've hated to see that craftsmanship go the wayside for the big mod folks. I think 16340 was a great idea too, my fav small batt right now, good performance for pretty much my entire day, even beats the TF 14500, IMO.

OP, smear the batt ends with aluminum anti-oxidant lubricant (Noalox etc), also the button contact area and bottom of the top adapter.

 

[USinchains]

I think I hate the 10440's. I use them with my OTHER mod and they just seem to be a PITA

What brand are you using?

 

[YKruss]

smear the batt ends with aluminum anti-oxidant lubricant (Noalox etc), also the button contact area and bottom of the top adapter.

Went to HD, bought that Noalox and applied it to the button contact area.

What do you know - I can't vape my 18 mg ejuice anymore, it is so strong. (I am at work,will dillute when get home)

Thanks a lot!!!

 

[USinchains]

Glad it helped. Put some on the spring too, where it meets the button housing and where it meets the body. That'll make sure the return path of the circuit is as conductive as possible.

 

[Sevenchan]

Thanks everybody for your replies! Lots of helpful advice here. I appreciate it

It seems like the problem must be the batteries. They certainly are shoddily made things. The Precise is so beautiful, it deserves a better power source

The O ring is in place all right, but the batteries are still rattling around a bit. I am going to look for that aluminum anti-oxidant contact lubricant in the stores here. Sounds like that makes a difference for a lot of people.

In the end... I may just have to buy the bigger Precise that takes the other batteries...

Damn you, David, I promised myself I was only going to buy ONE handcrafted mod 8-o

 

[rotten76]

Damn you, David, I promised myself I was only going to buy ONE handcrafted mod 8-o

I said the same thing, .

 

[USinchains]

Haha, no doubt. I always find a reason to get another. Gonna be hard not to buy the 18650, that's the best vaping batt IMO, and having an all-mechanical PV on hand is a safe bet. Since I don't have an all-mechanical 18650 device, sounds like a good enough reason to buy one more.

 

[Sevenchan]

Update!!

Well, I got the silver conducting grease and applied it to the business end of the switch -- where I assume it touches the battery -- and also to the battery contact terminal at the other end. And, it's made no difference at all

I'm still only getting vapor one drag out of three

So, I still want to give the Precise another chance. I'm assuming that all 10 of the batteries I have are problematic (they're all Trustfires; David very kindly gave me 4 as a freebie, and I ordered the rest). Is there any alternative maker of these batteries? Are there any regular, NON-rechargeable batteries that fit the Precise, so I could test my hypothesis that the batteries are the problem?

I would just love to get this device working right, because on the rare occasions it works, it REALLY hits!!

 

[BrockJ]

why don't you send it back to David with a few batts and let him look at it..

Could be a small tweak issue... At least you'd know...

 

[YKruss]

Update!!

Well, I got the silver conducting grease and applied it to the business end of the switch -- where I assume it touches the battery -- and also to the battery contact terminal at the other end. And, it's made no difference at all

I'm still only getting vapor one drag out of three

I had exact same problem as you are and first tried the same solution as you are. It works for a while and then returned to the same mode - one successful hit and three misses.

But then I did what David always recommend - apply Noalox to threads and I did applied it to both battery and button threads.
(I am not applying Noalox to the battery ends anymore)

Not a single misfire for the whole week!

Hope this helps.

 

[Switched]

I had exact same problem as you are and first tried the same solution as you are. It works for a while and then returned to the same mode - one successful hit and three misses.

But then I did what David always recommend - apply Noalox to threads and I did applied it to both battery and button threads.
(I am not applying Noalox to the battery ends anymore)

Not a single misfire for the whole week!

Hope this helps.

What he said.

I cleaned my threads on the lizard (weekly maintenance) low and behold it wouldn't fire. The short story, applied a coupler (didn't have Noalox) to the body threads and it hasn't missed a beat, since.