Problem with my Provari

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havoc1967

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Well this a post I never wanted, or expected, to put up here. I emailed ProVape last night to see how I go about sending it back to them. I am only posting here to see if anyone else has had similar problems.
I got my Provari (standard size) along with 6 18490 batteries from Provape in early February. Honestly I haven't really used it a great deal because it never leaves the house and I just tend to use my Silver Bullet most of the time. In the last several weeks I have had several problems which give me doubt in its reliability. Considering that I bought it mainly for reliability that is a huge concern.

First problem: using the device one evening with a Kanger Protank and everything seems fine. Go to bed so I turn it off. Next morning turn it back on and it gives me an error code with the same protank that had been working fine the night before. Put on a different protank and it seems to work fine.

Problem 2: I start getting flashes on the button, although that doesn't seem to affect performance. Give the device a thorough cleaning as directed on the provape site. Problem continues at random times.

Problem 3: I put in a freshly charged battery and get nothing. No light, no power, nothing. Bear in mind, considering how recently they were bought and how little they have been used they are pretty much brand new. Check the battery on my SVD. Full charge and fine.

So there you have it. Has anyone else experianced anything remotely similar?

Does Provape offer the option of a refund, or do they simply do repair or exchange?

This is the biggest disappointment I have had since I starting vaping. I really had high expectations.​
 

EddardinWinter

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Well this a post I never wanted, or expected, to put up here. I emailed ProVape last night to see how I go about sending it back to them. I am only posting here to see if anyone else has had similar problems.
I got my Provari (standard size) along with 6 18490 batteries from Provape in early February. Honestly I haven't really used it a great deal because it never leaves the house and I just tend to use my Silver Bullet most of the time. In the last several weeks I have had several problems which give me doubt in its reliability. Considering that I bought it mainly for reliability that is a huge concern.

First problem: using the device one evening with a Kanger Protank and everything seems fine. Go to bed so I turn it off. Next morning turn it back on and it gives me an error code with the same protank that had been working fine the night before. Put on a different protank and it seems to work fine.

Problem 2: I start getting flashes on the button, although that doesn't seem to affect performance. Give the device a thorough cleaning as directed on the provape site. Problem continues at random times.

Problem 3: I put in a freshly charged battery and get nothing. No light, no power, nothing. Bear in mind, considering how recently they were bought and how little they have been used they are pretty much brand new. Check the battery on my SVD. Full charge and fine.

So there you have it. Has anyone else experianced anything remotely similar?

Does Provape offer the option of a refund, or do they simply do repair or exchange?

This is the biggest disappointment I have had since I starting vaping. I really had high expectations.​

I have three of them and have not experienced that. The LED flashes when the battery is low (below 3.5 V) but that all sounds pretty wonky. What error code did you get?

If you need repair they will do so immediately (it is under warranty for one year, so you should be just fine), most repairs take one week to get back.
 

havoc1967

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It was the "OP" error code if I remember correctly. Put another atomizer on and it worked fine. Later in the day I put the original atomizer back on again just to check and it worked fine. This hasn't soured me on Provari though. The build and overall quality of it is very impressive. I think I just got a lemon due to bad luck.
 

EddardinWinter

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It was the "OP" error code if I remember correctly. Put another atomizer on and it worked fine. Later in the day I put the original atomizer back on again just to check and it worked fine. This hasn't soured me on Provari though. The build and overall quality of it is very impressive. I think I just got a lemon due to bad luck.

OP meant that your atty was not making contact, generally.

I like the suggestion to stretch the spring for your other issues. Do that while carefully holding the bottom into the base, because if it pops out it is a real PIA to get back in place.
 
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havoc1967

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Thank you for the advice as far as stretching the spring but I am not going to do that. To be blunt, jury rig repairs are one thing (and to be expected) from Chinese junk clones. But a superior American product which I know the Provari to be? ...well, that doesn't need me fiddling with it to make it 100% operational out of the box.

But now 2 (who I know to be Provari enthusiasts) have given me the same advice so I might actually try it. I still stand by the sentiment that I should not have to, but I really don't want to be without my Provari for even a short period of time. Will stretching the spring cause Provape to give me static if that doesn't work and I have to send it to them anyway?
 
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Riverboat

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Thank you for the advice as far as stretching the spring but I am not going to do that. To be blunt, jury rig repairs are one thing (and to be expected) from Chinese junk clones. But a superior American product which I know the Provari to be? ...well, that doesn't need me fiddling with it to make it 100% operational out of the box.

I agree there is no excuse for that......
 

p.opus

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Provape suggested the spring stretch to me. It's a common issue. Not jerry rigging at all. Just a little pull on it.

I had a friend who bought a ProVari and he was having some really wierd problems like voltage check going all wonky and we did the spring pull and it works.

I guess everything comes to question if the battery doesn't have good contact.

I use Noalux on the battery tube threads for all my devices. I know that there are concerns of galvanic corrosion using Noalux on stainless steel, but ProVape has suggested Noalux since forever and I have not seen a single case of a mod undergoing galvanic corrosion using Noalux.

I'm wondering if Noalux would help on some of these issues.
 

havoc1967

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I'm wondering how many of those people who are a pinch disgruntled that they need to stretch the spring aren't admitting to dropping it at least once - a common reason for a compressed spring.

I actually haven't dropped it, I would admit it if I did. But the only reason I haven't is because I baby it so much ;) There's a reason top point in my criteria is durability :) Hence being dedicated to Silver Bullet and Provari.

Well I heard back from Provape and they too suggested stretching the spring out a bit, so I will give that a try first thing when I get home. Really hope that fixes it, I don't want to mail it anywhere. Even for a week :)
 
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Gato del Jugo

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I'm wondering how many of those people who are a pinch disgruntled that they need to stretch the spring aren't admitting to dropping it at least once - a common reason for a compressed spring.

It might be a common reason..

But my new one from ProVape had a compressed spring on day-1 in both the regular end-cap & the extension cap, without a drop..


I couldn't really measure the extension cap one, but the spring in the regular was short by about 2.5mm & I had to stretch it...
 

EddardinWinter

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The battery flashing intermittently could also be a spring problem. If you notice, when screwing in a fresh battery the button flashes once as the battery makes contact (mine does anyway) It may be flashing like that because its not making good contact.

Pikachu knows about power issues...

th
 

magman007

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as for the pro tank issue, check your insulator and that your positive contact pin is pulled down far enough, or still making connection with the coil. Many protanks have issues due to their inconsistent threading on the 510 connection. Most are too short, which allows the topper to thread too far into the device, which then pushes the positive contact pin too far into the head, and can cause the connection to break on the coil.
 

Coelli

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Well Gentlemen (I assumed most of the responders to my post are male due to their names here. If not I do apologize), it seems yet again this forum in one way or another has come to my rescue. I adjusted the spring and my beloved device seems to be fully operational again. Many thanks.

Glad to hear it. :) I had the same issue with the Kir Fanis extension cap I bought. Just a slight pull up on the spring fixed it. It's like any device that uses a spring for contact - I've had to do it with flashlights too. Just the nature of the beast.
 
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