Silver Bullet Ventilation Question

[radicaljd]

I recently bought a Silver Bullet. After all the news about the exploding e-cig in Florida that severely injured a man, I did a bit of research. Tube type mods should be ventilated to allow escape of gasses. In fact, several months ago, the manufacturer of the Chuck (Thagbuilt) did a "recall" and had customers return their Chucks so a ventilator hole could be put on the end.

Don't get me wrong, I like my new SB much more than the Chuck I had (and sold). The Chuck was a bit "clunky" and the button didn't work very well. The Silver Bullet is awesome! But I am concerned that there is no ventilation on the end, or none I can see.

Can anyone address this?

RadicalJD

 

[cddz]

The SB IS vented from the underside of the switch. Take the top off and blow through it. These vents have been there since day one(june09)

 

[DevilFishPhil]

Glad to hear, I just received my first SB yesterday and I was wondering the same thing.

 

[Tennovan]

For peace of mind, I recently added a second vent to the bottom of my SB. It's really easy. For a quick how-to, here's part of a post I made a few weeks ago...

While I have a Dremel, a cordless drill was my weapon of choice. You'll need a drill bit set... these can be found at most hardware stores for just a few bucks. I used a Dremel 628 7 Piece Drill Bit Set that usually runs around $7. Here's a quick step-by-step:

First step is to remove the batteries and set them aside. This is very important. If your mod can be disassembled further, I would recommend doing this as well. Next, start with the smallest bit you have and drill a small hole at the desired position. You may need to apply some pressure at first in order to get the bit to "bite" but once you're through the metal, it is smooth sailing. I started with a 1/32-inch bit (about 0.8mm) and incrementally stepped up the bits to 3/64-inch, 1/16-inch, and 5/64-inch. The final diameter came out to 2mm and it took longer to switch out the bits than it did to drill the hole.

Feel free to shoot me a PM if there are any questions. And if you're unsure if you can do this yourself, ask a family member, friend, or neighbor if they can do it for you. You could probably even ask vapor shops, hardware stores, jewelers, or mechanics for help... I can't see them charging you much, if anything, once you explained why you needed it done.

 

[tybin]

i'd like to see a hole in the bottom too

 

[Xaiver]

The Omega features bottom holes (As you can see in Chad's picture above) and so does the Alpha.

I wonder if Mr Chad or Mr Rob have heard of any of their mods that the battery went into thermal runaway? That would be interesting to see how well they held up to it (And another advertising thing for durability ).

In all honesty though, I saw a video where some college guys were trying to force a laptop battery into thermal runaway. The effects were pretty scary, but they had it running while on top of a hot plate set to high, and they still had to leave it there for a good while.

-X

 

[tybin]

fthe prodigy that blew up was supposed to vent out of the button as well. i think it sucks that a vendor has to worry about what crazy things folks are gonna do with their mods, but i'd pay extra for the hole too.It seems like it's a cheaper option than some clown trying to take a vendor to court to prove their mod was safe and it was user error

 

[Xaiver]

I'll agree with that. We shouldn't need to have "Do not use in the shower" "Do not use while asleep" on hair dryers either, but there they are.

-X

 

[cddz]

the omega that blew up was supposed to vent out of the button as well. i think it sucks that a vendor has to worry about what crazy things folks are gonna do with their mods, but i'd pay extra for the hole too.It seems like it's a cheaper option than some clown trying to take a vendor to court to prove their mod was safe and it was user error

Omega that blew up? Not sure what you are talking about here. The Omega is vented through the bottom. not the button.

 

[cddz]

The Omega features bottom holes (As you can see in Chad's picture above) and so does the Alpha.

I wonder if Mr Chad or Mr Rob have heard of any of their mods that the battery went into thermal runaway? That would be interesting to see how well they held up to it (And another advertising thing for durability ).

In all honesty though, I saw a video where some college guys were trying to force a laptop battery into thermal runaway. The effects were pretty scary, but they had it running while on top of a hot plate set to high, and they still had to leave it there for a good while.

-X

Short answer yes we have. There have been a couple of SB that stacked batteries have vented. The units battery bushing and wire was shot. The unit was rebuilt and sent back to the customer. The SB vented as it was intended to, from under the switch and remained intact. We had one other occurance where the customer actually heard one of his stacked batteries explode inside of the SB, he described it as a shot gun blast. The SB remained intact once again sitting on his table. We have also had a batteries vent inside of an Omega. They were stacked and non rechargable. They went thermal right after he pulled them from the charger and tried to take his first hit. The vents worked how they were intended. The customer had only a burn on the palm of his hand from the hot gas.

 

[cddz]

LOL why does it say I am on a mobile device??

 

[tybin]

oops my bad. I meant prodigy . editing original post

Omega that blew up? Not sure what you are talking about here. The Omega is vented through the bottom. not the button.

 

[Xaiver]

Short answer yes we have. There have been a couple of SB that stacked batteries have vented. The units battery bushing and wire was shot. The unit was rebuilt and sent back to the customer. The SB vented as it was intended to, from under the switch and remained intact. We had one other occurance where the customer actually heard one of his stacked batteries explode inside of the SB, he described it as a shot gun blast. The SB remained intact once again sitting on his table. We have also had a batteries vent inside of an Omega. They were stacked and non rechargable. They went thermal right after he pulled them from the charger and tried to take his first hit. The vents worked how they were intended. The customer had only a burn on the palm of his hand from the hot gas.

So there wasn't any structural damage to the device itself, aside from the coil and bushings? I imagine some blackening or something on the inside, but the aluminum remained sound?

You should see about putting a couple pictures up and stickying it, if you have any. I bet it would be a great draw to customers knowing that their investment can withstand a battery explosion from inside.

-X

 

[cddz]

So there wasn't any structural damage to the device itself, aside from the coil and bushings? I imagine some blackening or something on the inside, but the aluminum remained sound?

You should see about putting a couple pictures up and stickying it, if you have any. I bet it would be a great draw to customers knowing that their investment can withstand a battery explosion from inside.

-X

I have thought about putting an M80 inside, but thought that would be unfair. The M80 would expand much faster than the battery. I would never claim that it could, there is always that what if.

 

[Xaiver]

I have thought about putting an M80 inside, but thought that would be unfair. The M80 would expand much faster than the battery. I would never claim that it could, there is always that what if.

To be fair, if it could withstand an M80, then this whole conversation about vent holes would be a bit moot. You could always do that to one of the rejects, and videotape it and toss it up on YouTube.

I have read about people running their SB over with cars with very little damage.

-X

 

[VIPOD]

Glad to hear, I just received my first SB yesterday and I was wondering the same thing.

You are going to really appreciate the SB. I do not stack batts in mine, only use the AW IMR 18650 at 3.7v, or on a standard atty, the 5 Volt NIMH 600mAh, which is perhaps the best vap from all my mods as we speak.

 

[cddz]

Since this is up top and I do not feel like searching, I will post another picture of the SB vents

 

[Chris Braddock]

well isnt that what the hotspring is for in the silver bullet so if something were to happen it would just melt the spring and the batteries would loose thier conection

 

[cddz]

well isnt that what the hotspring is for in the silver bullet so if something were to happen it would just melt the spring and the batteries would loose thier conection

Yes it will, while using an IMR cell. I have seen them colapse with LiFePo4, not sure how they were able to develope that much current. The vents are for that "just in case", like an internal short of the battery where no sort of internal or external PCB could prevent or protect you. I like things to be simple, less parts = less chance of the device letting you down.

 

[bmwjen]

So, there have been issues with the SB? Ok, I've got 4 vent holes spaced equally toward the bottom of my SB now. Burnt off face, or burnt hand...........I want neither. I just posted a video on my youtube on how to drill holes near the bottom of your SB for safer ventilation if your batteries were to run away on you.