Protege Users -- For Those That Have Encountered Sticky Switches

[gjrhine]

Steve, I sent you a PM regarding a different issue (or possible non-issue), could you take a quick look and let me know?

Thanks!

With the evidence mounting I think this thread should be kept clear of thread clutter. Thanks.

I am watching the device very closely and keeping my finger on the atty (to make sure it's not getting hot) when in use and removing the atomizer and battery when it's not in use.

This seems like good advice for anyone with a switch from the suspect batch. I would still like to know the worst case scenario for setting down the device on cloth or paper without ever noticing it is still in an attomizer-is-on state.

 

[vapn]

I had troubles with mine too... Good thing I have a Prodigy to fall back on... So I will return mine soon.

I know Steve will make it right... He always does the best he can to help us out.

I don't want to be without my new toy but if I have to then...I have to..

 

[lotus14]

I would still like to know the worst case scenario for setting down the device on cloth or paper without ever noticing it is still in an attomizer-is-on state.

The worst case scenario is that the paper catches fire and you burn down half the state of South Carolina.

Hope it's not the half that I live in. ;-)

 

[Casey@PS]

Guys, Steve and I WILL be working tomorrow, so if you've sent an email, I'll be looking at it tomorrow morning, and getting all the replacements set up and in order. Sorry about the lack of email responses this weekend, but sometimes Steve and I also need the weekend to destress

 

[gjrhine]

The worst case scenario is that the paper catches fire and you burn down half the state of South Carolina.

Hope it's not the half that I live in. ;-)

Let's hope it does not happen to you. Or if it does you at least develop a whole new attitude.

Not literally burning, but the Protege was was hotter than hell - the whole entire Protege. It was so painful to get the battery cap off so that I could remove the battery. I was able to get the cap off, but I now have two huge blisters on my fingers. The battery was red-hot.

 

[katnbrian]

WAAAHWAAAH

 

[d0kieSmok]

Let's hope it does not happen to you. Or if it does you at least develop a whole new attitude.

 

[CaSHMeRe]

The Results of my shorting test .... Interesting finding:

*** DISCLAIMER *** DO NOT TRY AT HOME. I Did the Following Test to Prove a point. Remember, when NOT in use, Battery should be taken out of your PV and atomizer detached.

A Protege Was Sacrificed During This Test (Atleast a switch and battery was)

Anyways .... Took a protege, shorted the switch and put a shorted atomizer on .... At first, I shorted the switch (to stay on), put 2 different working atomizers on, and they just stayed on for 4-5 minutes each. NEITHER atomizer burnt out which was quite intriguing to me. Thus the reason I added a shorted atomizer (pulled the silicone from around center post on atomizer to cause the short)

Now, Once activated ... Things got HOT in a hurry. Rushed the Protege out to my driveway, and put a trashcan on top. Then decided to check the mail (although Sunday), walk around, stand in the garage and watch ... figured it was boring, went up and ate ... came back down stairs (about 20-25 minutes had passed)... Trashcan was still in tact. Put on my sunglasses and a big hoodie -- tipped the trashcan over slighly. Protege still looked brand new .... Next, touch the tube with my finger ... no longer hott, just warm. Figured, the batt already discharged everything. Unscrewed the atomizer, put it in a small bucket. Walked in to the house and straight to the bathroom.

Unscrewed the end cap ... Spring still in tact, no burn marks, etc... Next, slid out the battery. HALF the blue wrapper was gone on the battery ... I figured it melted, but was actually happened is that is shrunk, halfway up the tube. Saw no indication of any type of venting, but I'm sure it happened. No residue on the inside of the tube or battery. Just a shrunken blue wrapper. Looked at the switch (mind you that sits in delrin) ... Didn't get hot enough to melt it, brass posts, switch and solder joints all still in tact.

Moral of the story ...
1) By bypassing the switch and activating atomizer ... didn't heat up the batteries.
2) The only time the batteries heated up, was when the atomizer itself shorted.
3) Battery did not *explode* It heated up, then when fully discharged, cooled down. Perhaps the reason why I didn't notice any venting residue, etc....

However, with that said, we need to make sure to take the necessary precautions.

1) Please make sure to take battery out of the tube at night or any extended period of time.
2) Keep an eye on your Protege when not in use. First indication of getting hot = short. Disconnect atomizer and do NOT take the battery out until it cools down.

 

[gjrhine]

Now, Once activated ... Things got HOT in a hurry. Rushed the Protege out to my driveway, and put a trashcan on top. Then decided to check the mail (although Sunday), walk around, stand in the garage and watch ... figured it was boring, went up and ate ... came back down stairs (about 20-25 minutes had passed)... Trashcan was still in tact. Put on my sunglasses and a big hoodie -- tipped the trashcan over slighly. Protege still looked brand new .... Next, touch the tube with my finger ... no longer hott, just warm. Figured, the batt already discharged everything. Unscrewed the atomizer, put it in a small bucket. Walked in to the house and straight to the bathroom.

pics or it didn't happen

However, with that said, we need to make sure to take the necessary precautions.

1) Please make sure to take battery out of the tube at night or any extended period of time.
2) Keep an eye on your Protege when not in use. First indication of getting hot = short. Disconnect atomizer and do NOT take the battery out until it cools down.

If it helps the only time it will happen is after releasing the button - it will continue to burn. After that I can re-assemble it and it will not happen again until the button is pressed.

 

[vapn]

AAA no explosions or anything exciting... what a let down.. I wonder what happens when you throw the Protege into a fire? Anyone what to try that one?

 

[CaSHMeRe]

pics or it didn't happen

1 sec grandmaster! Sounds like your switch is simply misaligned Gary ... Not bad per say. Will take pic for you

 

[lotus14]

AAA no explosions or anything exciting... what a let down.. I wonder what happens when you throw the Protege into a fire? Anyone what to try that one?

I will NOT sacrifice my Protege in the name of science! 8-o

 

[CaSHMeRe]

I will NOT sacrifice my Protege in the name of science! 8-o

No need lotus ... I sacrificed mine LOL

Here ya go Gary!

 

[vapn]

SO the switch gave up before the battery could explode? lol...

 

[CaSHMeRe]

SO the switch gave up before the battery could explode? lol...

Nope ... I hotwired the switch (post to post) so the switch really didn't play much of a role here. In a real case scenario, the switch would likely burn up before the batteries did. Either which way....the battery was completely done discharging (went from hot to luke warm -- over 20-25 minutes) Battery didn't explode and Likely just vented, although I couldn't see within the casing itself.

Essentially ... If the atomizer were to burn up, it wouldn't short I don't believe unless the silicone melted. Therefore, I compounded the situation by adding a shorted atomizer to get the battery hott to see what would happen.

 

[vapn]

I was just messing with you... Trying to give you a hard time.. lol

Now that was going the extra mile destroying your protege for our sake. Thanks.

Waaa I don't want to be without this cool azzz PV.. I will be using it until I get to the Post Office and send it back... The thought of it makes me a bit nauseous. This thing has been welded to my mouth since I got my batteries yesterday. Then I pick up the Prodigy and it feels enormous. lol...

 

[CaSHMeRe]

Then I pick up the Prodigy and it feels enormous. lol...

The main reason we are trying to make V2 smaller LOL

 

[gjrhine]

Sounds like your switch is simply misaligned Gary ... Not bad per say. Will take pic for you

So what is misaligned?

Is this from the new batch? It looks a little different. The red arrow points to what looks like solder. On mine it is black plastic.

Where the green arrow points there appears to be a chip in the plastic on mine compared to the other one of mine (the one that works).

 

[vapn]

I just lost my Protege.... WTF.....

Looking everywhere for it...

Damnit...

I sat the Prodigy in front of it and lost it... lol... Seriously lost it for about ten minutes until I picked up the Prodigy again and said you dumbass...

LMAO....

 

[CaSHMeRe]

So what is misaligned?

Is this from the new batch? It looks a little different. The red arrow points to what looks like solder. On mine it is black plastic.

Where the green arrow points there appears to be a chip in the plastic on mine compared to the other one of mine (the one that works).

If you are able to take the protege apart and reassemble and the switch isn't stuck on until you push it, the switch itself isn't fried ... Thus, my assumption it was misaligned.

Don't pay attention to my picture GJ ... That solder is NOT supposed to be there on normal switches. I soldered both posts together because I didn't have a bad switch here, so I figured, I would bypass and make my own bad switch