Question -- do passthroughs need to be replaced?

[CZEdwards]

First -- Shawn, this is not a solicitation for a replacement.

I've had my passthroughs for at least month and I find I use my VX2 passthrough a lot more than I use my 401 (it's a convenience thing -- the VX2 is just easier to clean, fill and top off.)


Last night, the VX2 passthrough just stopped working. The atomizers are fine -- they work great with both manual and auto batteries; my USB ports are fine. I conclude it is something in the passthrough. It's in two pieces, the cable (probably fine) and the battery part (more likely.)

Is this common? Is there anything I can do about it? Should I just expect to make a monthly order of a passthrough? (Not that I'll mind; I've yet to kill an atomizer in almost 3 months of vaping so if I have to buy passthroughs instead, I'll call it a wash.)

 

[UptownRiot]

You could try replacing the battery inside the passthrough first. That would be my first choice.

 

[CZEdwards]

Riot, how would I do that? I'm decent at small electronics repair -- I own more iPods than I've purchased because people give me their dead ones and I Frankenstein them -- but I'm not much of a solder-er and I have no idea where to get the cells for the passthrough battery.

 

[UptownRiot]

If it's not obvious to you, then you may have a different model than I have. Can you post a picture?

 

[shawnp1]

i have only eveer had maybe 3 passthroughs die that needed warranty so its def not a common occurence

 

[CZEdwards]

The question is where to get the battery.
Assembled.

Disassembled.

 

[UptownRiot]

Oh sad day, we have different models. As you can see, mine would be significantly easier.

 

[The Doc]

There is no battery in a VX2 passthrough. I know this for 100% sure, because I dissected my VX2 passthrough so I could burgle the parts to make some of my DIY projects. I also had a VX2 passthrough fail and even my replacement had current pass limmitations.....so I just gutted it and made darn good use of the parts. I'm much happier now with my DIY passthroughs. They can pass a lot more current and provide way better vapor....BUT if you want max atty lifespan, you do have to exercise enough common sense to either stop vaping OR switch attys once the energized atty gets fairly HOT. I usually do about 5 or 6 consecutive hits/hauls/drags before I stop to let the atty cool....OR just swap out the atty for a cool one. Sometimes I actually line up 8 attys (4 black & 4 silver) and just vape, vape, vape....LOL

 

[The Doc]

Oh sad day, we have different models. As you can see, mine would be significantly easier.

That USB passthrough is designed with a storage battery so it does not draw excessive initial surge current from the USB supply bus in your pc during those BIG hits/hauls/drags. That is a good manual passthrough design and I'll bet it works very well. I do not like automatic passthroughs that have no manual switch and I'll never own one again.

 

[UptownRiot]

That USB passthrough is designed with a storage battery so it does not draw excessive initial surge current from the USB supply bus in your pc duirng those BIG hits/hauls/drags. That is a good design and I'll bet it works very well.

It has worked phenomenally from the moment I pulled it from it's packaging. I used it constantly until I got my Silver Bullet this morning, and so far the passthrough hasn't left my bag today except to take that picture.

I would, however, highly recommend it to anyone who needs one.

 

[The Doc]

First -- Shawn, this is not a solicitation for a replacement.

I've had my passthroughs for at least month and I find I use my VX2 passthrough a lot more than I use my 401 (it's a convenience thing -- the VX2 is just easier to clean, fill and top off.)


Last night, the VX2 passthrough just stopped working. The atomizers are fine -- they work great with both manual and auto batteries; my USB ports are fine. I conclude it is something in the passthrough. It's in two pieces, the cable (probably fine) and the battery part (more likely.)

Is this common? Is there anything I can do about it? Should I just expect to make a monthly order of a passthrough? (Not that I'll mind; I've yet to kill an atomizer in almost 3 months of vaping so if I have to buy passthroughs instead, I'll call it a wash.)

If you like convenience, try a DSE601 EPIPE! It may not be your first choice feminine fashion statement when out of the house, but when you are at home, it ROCKS! The cart is HUGE. The battery is HUGE. On a freshly charged battery (includes 2) and a freshly filled cart (includes 5), it will vape a nice loooooong time.......hassle free. Just be sure to store it with the mouthpiece facing down (in a small jar) so it does not get clogged behind the atty. I'm vaping on the Cappucino juice today for the first time and now I realize that I should have tried this juice a long time ago!

 

[Meltbanana]

I have one dead vx2 passthrough, and one that works most of the time. Sometimes I gotta mess with it to get it to activate.

 

[CZEdwards]

If you like convenience, try a DSE601 EPIPE! It may not be your first choice feminine fashion statement when out of the house, but when you are at home, it ROCKS!

Oh, Doc, I know -- my partner has that pipe and vapes it pretty much continually on weekends and evenings at home. (He sometimes takes it to work, but he's not the nicotinic I am.)

I have tried it -- I don't like the mouth feel. It's too heavy, for me, though you're right -- vapor by the kilogram, the batteries and carts last forever.

 

[The Doc]

I have one dead vx2 passthrough, and one that works most of the time. Sometimes I gotta mess with it to get it to activate.

The regulator/limiter circuit on those is fragile and you can't just keep using it for heavy vaping (at least that was my experience). That is partly why I came up with my homebrewed contraptions. The other reason is to conserve the original VX2 batteries for the times when I truly do NEED them.

 

[The Doc]

I have one dead vx2 passthrough, and one that works most of the time. Sometimes I gotta mess with it to get it to activate.

I will offer you a TRADE/BARTER deal. Send me both of your USB passthroughs and I'll send you a MANUAL passthrough with a small inline rocker switch box that gives better vapor and should never let you down (IF the switch ever fails, I'll replace it with another one, likely of updated style/push-type). I will include BOTH pieces as shown in BOTH photos, but no atomizers will be included. I will remove the 2 ADAPTAPLUG connectors so the UNI-BALL USB PEN just goes directly onto the rocker switch box...with an overall length that is more than adequate...let me know and I'll send you a PM if you are interested.

SHAWN, if there are any problems with this, let me know and I'll comply accordingly. There would be no money exchanging hands here.