PSA: Cherry Bomber mech box mod is just that.. A bomb. Do not use.

[nyiddle]

Summarized very well by a Redditor (his name there is Vapeducator, for all I know he has an account here too.)

The Cherry Bomber should not be purchased or sold. It has an inherently dangerous design. Every single one of them should be removed from the shelves and all websites. Any stores that have sold them should make a maximum effort to recall them voluntarily and replace them with a safe mech box or issue a full-refund, hopefully before the consumer product safety commission or other regulators do so. A store may end up with a significantly higher legal liability if they don't make all reasonable efforts to mitigate the potential damages.

What's specifically unsafe is that the 510 center pin is directly connected to the positive side of the batteries instead of going through a switch. The switch on it works by connecting the grounded case of the box to the threads of the 510. That's crazy, because it makes the atty body have a hot/positive voltage connected through low resistance coils. Any conductor that bridges between the metal of the atty and the case of the mech will close the circuit. So now you have to treat the whole box as if it's loose battery by keeping all conductive materials away from the atty and case or else you'll get an autofire, except that it's worse than a battery because the distance between the atty and the grounded box is very small, much smaller than on a battery, so only a small amount of metal can bridge it.

This is not the way that most mechs are designed. The 510 threads should be grounded, not floating. The switch on a top-button mech should be connecting the positive rail/post of the batteries to the 510 center post only when the button is pressed, and this is indeed how most top-button mechs are designed, except for the Cherry Bomber. The design can't easily be fixed either. The switch, 510 connector, and internal battery connections would have to be removed and replaced with a different design, and that's unlikely something that could be done by a purchaser. Bottom-button mechs have the 510 center posts connected to the positive of the battery, but the negative post of the battery isn't connected until the button is pressed - the 510 connector is grounded to the case, so bridging it with a conductor doesn't complete the circuit.

If you own this device I'd suggest attempting to return it from the B&M, perhaps show them this very post and explain that the legal repercussions of continued distribution of this device may be extremely dire, and overall, if more of these devices blow up on users it may fast-track consumer product safety legislation.

 

[retired1]

This is one of the newfangled "hybrids" that are coming out. Although they're not true hybrids, we're well aware of the issues. There are already a few threads regarding these devices and the dangers of using them.

 

[nyiddle]

This is one of the newfangled "hybrids" that are coming out. Although they're not true hybrids, we're well aware of the issues. There are already a few threads regarding these devices and the dangers of using them.

The interesting thing is that the older "pure" hybrids are miles safer than the newer ones. It's a real "two steps backwards" sort of situation.

I only posted this thread because my sister told me her boyfriend was looking into getting one of these. It took little to no research to find LOADS of horror stories ("Had to pull batteries because device was rapidly heating up" type things), and yet I've seen some posters on ECF mentioning using the device like it's no big deal, some of whom have even recommended it in the New Members forum.

In a case like this, where it's possible to create a dead short with metal touching the outside of the device, nobody should be using the device. I don't care if you're an electronics expert in your 60's who has been vaping for 10 years. The thing is dangerous and should be taken off the market before someone gets seriously hurt.

And not to sound overly insensitive: The only reason I don't want people to get hurt is because it'll inevitably mean faster legislation, likely for the worse.

 

[Bad Ninja]

You have to be smarter than the device you are using.

They don't "automatically" fire or heat up.
If you understand how the device works, you won't have a problem.

In a nutshell:
-Don't use a piece of metal to short your mod.
-Understand how a mod actually works before buying it.

BTW
There are already a few threads on this topic.

 

[nyiddle]

They don't "automatically" fire or heat up.
If you understand how the device works, you won't have a problem.

If the atty is screwed down and touches the metal of the outside of the mod, the device will auto-fire.

Auto-firing is best broadly defined as "the mod fires when I'm not pushing the button intended to make the mod fire" -- and by that definition, the mod absolutely auto-fires.

This mod is absolutely unsafe. I don't care how much knowledge you think you have, the device has inherent design flaws that need to be addressed. People will throw the device in their bag/pocket/purse without thinking twice about metal touching the outside of the case. People will get hurt.

 

[Bad Ninja]

Mechanicals are for experienced users only.
Not everyone.

You must understand that the firing mechanism uses a break in the negative side of the circuit.

You need to use the correct size atty.
22mm max.

You need to avoid shorting the side of the atty to the mod with a piece if metal.

You realize your home wall socket will short of you shove a piece of metal in it right?
Avoid doing that to your mod.

 

[nyiddle]

Mechanicals are for experienced users only.
Not everyone.

You must understand that the firing mechanism uses a break in the negative side of the circuit.

You need to use the correct size atty.
22mm max.

You need to avoid shorting the side of the atty to the mod with a piece if metal.

You realize your home wall socket will short of you shove a piece of metal in it right?
Avoid doing that to your mod.

You're defending a poorly-conceived, poorly-executed mod that simply shouldn't have gone on the shelves.

Mech mods don't short out if you use the wrong sized atty. They don't short if you touch a piece of metal to the outer casing.

I can't imagine what would happen if you auto-fired this mod with a coil half-attached (or not attached). The device has serious design flaws. Literally some of the worst design flaws of any device I've seen on the market.

 

[Bad Ninja]

Coil half attached? User error.

Short atty with metal? User error.

Buy a mod clearly designed for experienced users when you don't realize how it works? User error.


I have three CB mods.
I use them daily.
I have had them since they were released.
I have never ever had a problem, however I have over 100 mechanicals and yes, I know what I'm doing.

The real CB is a $300 device made in limited numbers for experienced vapers. It is not an entry level device.

The clones are spot on, and work just like the original.

Understand what you are using and you won't have any problems.

 

[edyle]

It's a bad design;
actually I have a feeling the original design was a plastic enclosure,
then somebody else probably copied the shape but used metal instead of plastic; and that's where the problem shows up.

 

[vapero]

the cherry bomber is actually a bad design because of that issue, please don't tell me after watching that video that it is a safe mod...

 

[nyiddle]

Coil half attached? User error.

Short atty with metal? User error.

Buy a mod clearly designed for experienced users when you don't realize how it works? User error.


I have three CB mods.
I use them daily.
I have had them since they were released.
I have never ever had a problem, however I have over 100 mechanicals and yes, I know what I'm doing.

The real CB is a $300 device made in limited numbers for experienced vapers. It is not an entry level device.

The clones are spot on, and work just like the original.

Understand what you are using and you won't have any problems.

You kidding dude?

If the designers didn't lazily make the switch make direct contact with the post below the 510, this issue wouldn't exist. It's not user error at all. They ....ed up the design, and people who aren't aware of these issues will almost definitely encounter a potentially serious problem.

I realize you proudly own three, but you shouldn't be defending this dangerous piece of garbage, and if you truly are an experienced vaper (with any concern for their safety) you'd discard these hunks of junk in exchange for any one of the hundreds of safer devices out there.

Also the 300$ authentics have the same issue as the clones.

 

[Bad Ninja]

It's a bad design;
actually I have a feeling the original design was a plastic enclosure,
then somebody else probably copied the shape but used metal instead of plastic; and that's where the problem shows up.

Nah
The original is aluminum with a few being made of solid copper.
The design wouldn't work with a non conductive material.

The mod is far to heavy to reasonably pocket.

The copper one weighs almost a kilo.

If you use 22 mm atomizers and don't pocket the mod, you can't short it "by accident".

It's a bulletproof design, fully mechanical switch that can handle any build your batteries can take, but you need to be aware of how the mod works or you can experience problems.
That, however, is true with EVERY mech mod.

The "flaw" is in thinking this mod is an entry level device.

 

[nyiddle]

It's a bulletproof design, fully mechanical switch that can handle any build your batteries can take, but you need to be aware of how the mod works or you can experience problems.
That, however, is true with EVERY mech mod.

Any number of mech mods, even the faux-hybrid ones (SMPL et al) are leaps and bounds safer than this hastily-manufactured bomb.

People are going to hurt themselves, veteran and newbie alike, because of this poorly designed mod.

 

[Bad Ninja]

You kidding dude?

If the designers didn't lazily make the switch make direct contact with the post below the 510, this issue wouldn't exist. It's not user error at all. They ....ed up the design, and people who aren't aware of these issues will almost definitely encounter a potentially serious problem.

I realize you proudly own three, but you shouldn't be defending this dangerous piece of garbage, and if you truly are an experienced vaper (with any concern for their safety) you'd discard these hunks of junk in exchange for any one of the hundreds of safer devices out there.

Also the 300$ authentics have the same issue as the clones.

Lol
I own a hundred mechs. It's not a pride thing, I used to repair mods for a few B&M stores and use them for learning.

How exactly do you get it to "autofire"?

It sure won't do it on it's on, or in normal use.

 

[vapero]

Nah
The original is aluminum with a few being made of solid copper.
The design wouldn't work with a non conductive material.

The mod is far to heavy to reasonably pocket.

The copper one weighs almost a kilo.

If you use 22 mm atomizers and don't pocket the mod, you can't short it "by accident".

It's a bulletproof design, fully mechanical switch that can handle any build your batteries can take, but you need to be aware of how the mod works or you can experience problems.
That, however, is true with EVERY mech mod.

The "flaw" is in thinking this mod is an entry level device.

if a mod can be fired without using the switch ( the only thing that was meant to make it fire) then there is a flaw on the design

 

[Bad Ninja]

if a mod can be fired without using the switch ( the only thing that was meant to make it fire) then there is a flaw on the design

You Mean by shoving apiece of metal between the atty base and the mod housing?

Lol

So is your wall socket a flawed design?
Because you can short it out the exact same way!!

Now.....what do we can people who shove metal in wall sockets?

 

[nyiddle]

You Mean by shoving apiece of metal between the atty base and the mod housing?

Lol

So is your wall socket a flawed design?
Because you can short it out the exact same way!!

Now.....what do we can people who shove metal in wall sockets?

I think you need to re-evaluate your definition of "user error". If my car's brakes fail, but I don't pull the e-brake in time to prevent a crash, was that user error?

 

[Bad Ninja]

I think you need to re-evaluate your definition of "user error". If my car's brakes fail, but I don't pull the e-brake in time to prevent a crash, was that user error?

It is if you cut the line.
On purpose or by driving off road and hitting a rock.


Didn't we just go through this with newbies slapping Aspire attys on SMPLs without understanding how they work?
The mod isnt for everyone.

I'll agree a vaper that doesn't understand exactly how if works might run into a dangerous problem....

Some people these days watch a YouTube video or two and think they know it all and it's on to "Cloudz bro"! They think all mechs are alike and you can slap any atty on any mech and roll out for the night.

 

[Hitcat44]

The "Light Socket" Analogy is pitiful and abjectly Inane....
Regardless of how you look at it, however you spin it, however you twist & skew Common Sense to defend the Device, the Fact still remains that it IS a Turd.
Actually worse than a Turd as a Turd doesn't have the distinct inherent Possibility/Probability to Injure and/or Maim.
I would think considering the true Evidence and inarguable Proof, this Community and All Responsible Members thereof would quickly unite to decry & dissuade the usage of this Device.
Flush the Turd.

Here's an Analogy for you far more fitting the Situation and the Facts;
You can load one Round in one Chamber of a Revolver,
Spin the Cylinder,
Snap it shut,
Place it to your Skull,
and Pull the Trigger.
You have a Five in Six Chance it's gonna be All Good.
That don't make it OK, Safe, or even remotely Smart. And, only a Fool would defend doing so.
However, I suppose you could affix the blame on "User Error". That makes it Fine & Dandy right?

 

[coolerat]

Driving in traffic is risky.

Relaxing with my Cherry Bomber, like I am now, is heaven.