Provari AO issue

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Habu

Full Member
Jun 10, 2014
32
9
san diego
My new provari started acting up randomly. Usually when my atomizer can't be read due to no contact I get the OP error message. Today I went to take a draw and noticed no power, so I went to read the atomizer and it went ao --> nothing. No error message. I cleaned the contacts on both ends, and still nothing.

I took out the battery and replaced it for a fresh one, and it worked for about 2 draws then back to nothing.

Anyone know what's going on with my mod? Totally dumbfounded.
 

Habu

Full Member
Jun 10, 2014
32
9
san diego
tried that, no luck. Usually when there is no contact I get the OP message. Every time I remove the battery and then put it back in, it works fine for about 2-3 draws then boom, nada. The inside contact that touches the battery looks brand new clean. I'm gonna hope cleaning the 510 contact surface helps, but I don't see why it would work perfectly for a couple of draws, then not at all after removing/putting the battery back in.
 

Habu

Full Member
Jun 10, 2014
32
9
san diego
that was the first thing I tried, and both batteries gave me the same result...2-3 draws then bam nothing. I can scroll through the "menu" totally fine...setting the voltage and all that works perfectly, it's just something is going on with the AO reader.

I'm even a little skeptical of it being the contact since my 1+ year old caravela clone that I've never cleaned looks way dirtier and still works flawlessly.

I might of gotten a lemon.
 

Habu

Full Member
Jun 10, 2014
32
9
san diego
yeah, i'm using the AW IMR batts recommended on the provape site, and I'm 100% sure I'm getting contact since it works totally fine right after I remove the battery and put it back in. I don't know what's causing it to stop reading both the battery and the atomizer after a few draws though.

this is what's happening.

1. Removed battery
2. Put battery back in
3. Mod works fine for 2-3 draws
4. No vapor production, no messages, scrolling through menu works fine except.

Check battery > idle ... > nothing
Atomizer Ohm's > idle .... > nothing

usually I'd get an OP message if there is no contact with the atty, and I've never had problems with the check battery function. I really don't know what it could be. I haven't dropped my mod once since I've had it. Casually using it day to day, always putting charged batteries in.
 

Kbennett65

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ECF Veteran
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Dec 24, 2013
289
230
Northern, Wi, USA
Sorry to say I had the exact same issue. After much troubleshooting here the general consensus was that it was probably a bad chipset. I ended up sending it in for repair/replacement. It came back about a week later and has worked great since.
I am still not sure what exactly ProVape did to fix it, but fix it they did.
 

Habu

Full Member
Jun 10, 2014
32
9
san diego
I've seriously been having all sorts of bad luck lately, and this just adds on to it. Still, I appreciate everyone's advice and will probably be sending it in after I hear from Provape. I'm guessing USPS is probably the cheapest method to ship it to them?

Anybody have experience w/ Provape's warranty? I hope the turn around time isn't too bad...
 

Baditude

ECF Guru
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Apr 8, 2012
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Ridgeway, Ohio
Another potential fix before you send it in to Provape:

Get some Noaloxx from your hardware store (electrical dept) and clean the threads of your battery cap. The battery cap is part of the electrical circuit and can interfere with the circuit board if they are dirty. The threading should be shiney bare metal looking. If they are dark or dirty, clean them.

Noaloxx is an anti0xidant. Bare metal oxidizes, much like rust. Over time the oxidation of the metal can interfere with electrical conductivity and also lock up the threads.

Since removing and replacing the batteries seems to let the Provari work temporarily, this might be the fix. Provape sells Noaloxx on their website and recommends using it on the cap threads as part of the maintanance of the Provari.

noalox-2.jpg
 
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Kbennett65

Senior Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Dec 24, 2013
289
230
Northern, Wi, USA
I've seriously been having all sorts of bad luck lately, and this just adds on to it. Still, I appreciate everyone's advice and will probably be sending it in after I hear from Provape. I'm guessing USPS is probably the cheapest method to ship it to them?

Anybody have experience w/ Provape's warranty? I hope the turn around time isn't too bad...

No problems with the warranty repair. Great communication from Provape and quick return time, it was about a week. USPS is probably the cheapest, I paid for insurance since only $50.00 insurance is included with shipping and since I just paid over $200.00 for it that wasn't going to cut it for me. I think total shipping with insurance came to around $12.00.

Word of advice if you ship it in. I returned mine in the original box it came in, complete with extension cap and packaged in the box they sent it to me in (just changed the shipping label to return to them) and they returned it bubble wrapped in a padded shipping envelope. Since I use the ProVape box to store the extension cap when I'm not using it I contacted customer service and they shipped me back a new box right away, but if you want to keep the box I suggest you either note during communication with ProVape that you would like it returned in the box or send it in without the box. Come to think of it shipping may a little cheaper if you return it to them bubble wrapped and in a padded shipping envelope, that's probably why they returned mine by that method.

I sincerely hope you can get it working without the hassle of returning it, but rest assured if you need to send it in customer service is top notch!
 

COHgirl

Super Member
ECF Veteran
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Dec 25, 2012
701
1,661
Kansas
My Provari was returned for service right after I bought it. They emailed me a UPS return tag. It took a little over a week to get it back. It's been fine ever since. Mine also had some kind of board problem.

I sent it back in the little black box. I put my address labels on and inside the box. I got the box back :)
 

Gato del Jugo

ProVarinati
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Dec 24, 2013
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Sorry to say I had the exact same issue. After much troubleshooting here the general consensus was that it was probably a bad chipset. I ended up sending it in for repair/replacement. It came back about a week later and has worked great since.
I am still not sure what exactly ProVape did to fix it, but fix it they did.

You'll have to ask one of these guys.. :D


Starting at the 14:12 mark...


A PBusardo Video - My Visit To ProVape - Part 2 - YouTube

 

Gato del Jugo

ProVarinati
ECF Veteran
Dec 24, 2013
2,568
3,450
US o' A
I've seriously been having all sorts of bad luck lately, and this just adds on to it. Still, I appreciate everyone's advice and will probably be sending it in after I hear from Provape. I'm guessing USPS is probably the cheapest method to ship it to them?

Anybody have experience w/ Provape's warranty? I hope the turn around time isn't too bad...

It happens, unfortunately..


I believe in one of the tour videos, ProVape Dave mentioned that the return rate for new ProVarii was less than 1%..

Great odds -- unless you happen to be "lucky" enough to get that 1 in 150, or whatever it is...
 
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