Protege V1.1 Switch Fustrations

[Jimi Mack]

OK, I have had my V1.1 Protege switch for 4 days now and it is driving me crazy. I can only get a hit if I use a dime over my finger or thumb to be able to press it down hard enough for the copper ring to make contact. I have tried cutting down a spare spring a bit thing it was giving too much resistance, that does not seem to be the issue.

The issue seems to be the black shaft the spring sits in is too long for the switch. I need to apply so much pressure for it to make any type of contact because the shaft seems to be bottoming out. Is this now a known issue on this New Switch?

 

[anim8r]

OK, I have had my V1.1 Protege switch for 4 days now and it is driving me crazy. I can only get a hit if I use a dime over my finger or thumb to be able to press it down hard enough for the copper ring to make contact. I have tried cutting down the spring a bit thing it was giving too much resistance, that does not seem to be the issue.

The issue seems to be the black shaft the spring sits in is too long for the switch. I need to apply so much pressure for it to make any type of contact because the shaft seems to be bottoming out. Is this now a known issue on this New Switch?

Before you think about modding any other internal workings on the switch, do this first.

Take the spring out and re-assemble the protege (with the button down). By having the button face down, you're letting gravity keep the copper disk off of the contacts.

screw in an atomizer.

Now, apply pressure to the switch. Can you hear the atomizer sizzle?

- If you hear the atomizer activating, then it could still be the spring. But at this point, I'd almost say to return it for repair.

- If you don't hear it activating, loosen the adapter just a bit. If loosening the adapter helps, try it with the spring and this time don't snug up the adapter too tightly.

- If after loosening the adapter and you still can't hear the atomizer firing, then you definitely have a screwed up switch.

 

[ceo51378]

I got my V1.1 switch last week and haven't had any issues with it. Take the switch apart (take a mental note of all the parts) and make sure the contacts are clean of debris and oxidation(the copper ring and two stainless posts). Also, with the aluminum housing part of the switch off, push down on the button to see if the copper ring is making contact with both posts. If not, the plastic half of the button may be too long - but I would check with Steve and Casey before modifying the switch so you don't void it's warranty.

 

[Jimi Mack]

Before you think about modding any other internal workings on the switch, do this first.

Take the spring out and re-assemble the protege (with the button down). By having the button face down, you're letting gravity keep the copper disk off of the contacts.

screw in an atomizer.

Now, apply pressure to the switch. Can you hear the atomizer sizzle?

- If you hear the atomizer activating, then it could still be the spring. But at this point, I'd almost say to return it for repair.

- If you don't hear it activating, loosen the adapter just a bit. If loosening the adapter helps, try it with the spring and this time don't snug up the adapter too tightly.

- If after loosening the adapter and you still can't hear the atomizer firing, then you definitely have a screwed up switch.

Great ideas... I tried your suggestion of using the switch without the spring and that gave me a hit every time, for the five minutes I tried it that way.

I have been using a spare spring and I have been trying to slowly cut it down to find a sweet spot. As of now the action on it is a little too loose and I can only get a hit about 50-60% of the time with any spring in it. Any looser and it may be too loose.

I still have the original spring that came with the switch completely unaltered and that has such a tension on it I do not know if that thing would ever break in.

At least now I was able to find out that the copper ring is making contact to the posts but will only do so without a spring in the unit.

Again thanks for the idea to narrow down the problem without altering the switch.

 

[NekoGurrl]

I'v tried taking a bit off the length of the plastic portion of the switch where the spring goes in, it didn't help so don't void your warenty. Since my original mechanical switch is working fine I'm going to wait until Steve get's the issues resolved. Really want another Protege, but will wait for now.

I know that this issue will be resolved shortly.

 

[anim8r]

Great ideas... I tried your suggestion of using the switch without the spring and that gave me a hit every time, for the five minutes I tried it that way.

I have been using a spare spring and I have been trying to slowly cut it down to find a sweet spot. As of now the action on it is a little too loose and I can only get a hit about 50-60% of the time with any spring in it. Any looser and it may be too loose.

I still have the original spring that came with the switch completely unaltered and that has such a tension on it I do not know if that thing would ever break in.

At least now I was able to find out that the copper ring is making contact to the posts but will only do so without a spring in the unit.

Again thanks for the idea to narrow down the problem without altering the switch.

Glad that's helped narrow down your problem Jimi Mack.

Out of three of the new mechanical switches, only one is acting up every now and then. A much softer spring (and not tightening my adaptor too much) solved my problem on that one. Now all three are working great and I've replaced all of my aging tact switches =]