Smoktech Vmax Owners - tips, tricks and quirks

[Modnar]

Were you using LR dual coils on it? I've heard in rare cases that dual's below 1.5 ohms at high voltage can put strain on it and cause boards to fry.

No I were using Vivi nova with a 2.8 coil.

The batteries died and I went to change them, and refill the vivi nova, and when I put a new set of batteries back in, it started blinking (I didn't have anything on it at the time)

Tried putting the nova back on, and it fired it up as it should (But now it's giving me the 123, 456, 789 code everytime i take the endcap off and put it back on)

The batteries were at 6.10 when I changed them (don't know if I drained the batteries too much or something and that caused it?)

 

[AnsonJames]

Random85,
an Ego twist is an excellent back up in these sort of eventualities.

 

[VAPNJ350]

Hey guys,

Been using my VMax for a few weeks now, and loving it until I ran into a problem the other day (Friday). It was in my pocket during a movie, and when I got out, it was no longer working. I think the tank

When I connect any 510 cartos (tank, resurrector, Boge), and press the button, it doesn't activate. I get the blue button as if it's firing, but no connection, vapor, etc. The only thing I can think of is that the tank I had connected did something to the threading - when I got the tank (pic attached) it seemed like there was almost an extra part on the bottom of the carto threading.

There were no drops or anything before this happened.

Any thoughts? Am I screwed? Bummed out....

Using a Chibi tank mod with Boge 3.0s when it happened. Also attaching a photo of the VMAX and the threading, although it doesn't show very well.

View attachment 119467View attachment 119468

If you do anything to try and get it out make sure you turn the device OFF and/or take out the battteries. The hardware store will have a thread reverser. This will get the part of your carto that broke off and was left in the connection top. JUST BE VERY VERY GENTLE IN DOING THIS. "TAKE YOUR TIME AND DO "NOT" RUSH". If you need extra help or instruction PM me and I'll help the best I can from a far.
J

 

[AnsonJames]

Random,

You probably insterted the batteries in such a way that you didn't notice it before but it's supposed to do the number thing, it's a self diagnostic that runs when you insert the batteries. Every Vmax after the V1's does it - nothing to worry about if it still vapes.

It's when the Vmax displays the numbers and doesn't fire up you have a problem.

 

[VAPNJ350]

Thanks for responding. Unfortunately I can't get any better pictures - just tried to shoot a bunch but don't have a good enough camera to get in there. The break looks very clean - so clean that you have to look really close to see it - probably why I didn't notice. Very far down - below the third notch on the spirals. Also, right in the center I can see a kind of silvery plate - did this come off the carto? I can make it budge a bit with a thumbtack but don't want to do anything drastic.

Leave the bottom center silver plate alone, DO NOT pry, pull, push or mess with the bottom plate. That is the + pole of the actual device. if you muck it up your done for. The ONLY thing you need to concentrate your effort on is the side wall of the connection where the collar of the carto snapped off.

A piece of advice for you also. DO NOT put a PV in your pocket with a tank on it. Things like this are bound to happen.
Keep your PV ""IN YOUR HAND or A EGO CASE"" Just my advice.

 

[kurtus]

No I were using Vivi nova with a 2.8 coil.

The batteries died and I went to change them, and refill the vivi nova, and when I put a new set of batteries back in, it started blinking (I didn't have anything on it at the time)

Tried putting the nova back on, and it fired it up as it should (But now it's giving me the 123, 456, 789 code everytime i take the endcap off and put it back on)

The batteries were at 6.10 when I changed them (don't know if I drained the batteries too much or something and that caused it?)

You say it's working right but the display is blank? This is normal when you put batts back into it, it will flash the 123 456 789 then start working without the display lighting up. Go into menu 6 and turn the led to on then you should see the display lighting up again. You may know this but based on this explination it seems like this is the case.

 

[Modnar]

Random85,
an Ego twist is an excellent back up in these sort of eventualities.

I have Ego twist 1000mAH, lavatube 2, lavatube 1.5 and a bunch of non-VV devices as backups

Having to vape on anything but the vmax just seems like torture at this point lol (but I guess I'll have to live with it. Maybe if im lucky i'll get vmax with Ego connection instead)

 

[pwyll]

Sounds like a very lousy English teacher.

Actually she was an excellent English teacher--she just had a couple of issues to work around.

 

[VAPNJ350]

The Chrome that I got a couple of weeks ago is displaying the level of the batteries incorrectly.
Freshly charged batteries began displaying as 7.8 volts for the pair, now they show up as 7 volts.

Checked the both pairs of the batteries on a multimeter and they're 4.20 on the money so they're not the problem.
The biggest issue is that the "lo" warning flashes and stops the Vmax from working when there's 3.8 volts left in each battery - I get about two hours of use before this happens. My V1 had button problems and now my Chrome is dying also - two for two in less than a month and a half - that's not a good record.

The cult of ProVari are waiting in wings and beckoning me over to them...

Dirk, the VMAX has a 6 month manufacturers warranty. Your vendor should swap it out for you with NO issue. You just happen to get 1 out of 5,000 that had a defective sensor chip. It happens. Not really Smoktechs fault but the manufacturer they bought the chip, resistors, regulators, boards etc... from. Welcome to the wonderful world of technology and all it's counter parts...gotta love it. ....lol....Good luck buddy. ...............J

 

[Modnar]

You say it's working right but the display is blank? This is normal when you put batts back into it, it will flash the 123 456 789 then start working without the display lighting up. Go into menu 6 and turn the led to on then you should see the display lighting up again. You may know this but based on this explination it seems like this is the case.

Yeah I know the display is off by default, but now the button isn't even lighting up when the display is off (Before when the display was off, the button would still light up in a blue color)

And my vmax never had 123, 456, 789 thing flashing, when I put in new batteries.

 

[kurtus]

That's a mystery to me then but my v2 vmax always flashes that code when I change batts slowly. It has a memory effect if your quick enough on the batt change but it's like a 2second gap. This is rather strange, does the display come on when entering into the menu settings?

 

[Modnar]

That's a mystery to me then but my v2 vmax always flashes that code when I change batts slowly. It has a memory effect if your quick enough on the batt change but it's like a 2second gap. This is rather strange, does the display come on when entering into the menu settings?

Yeah it does come on.

Im 100% sure my vmax never flashed that code before. (The button used to flash 3 times, when you put the batteries in, but there was never anything on the display, until you turned the display on)

 

[MXBNW]

Was thinking I need another VV tube mod. VMax looks like what I wont next.

Where is the best price for a SS one at this time.

 

[AnsonJames]

Dirk, the VMAX has a 6 month manufacturers warranty. Your vendor should swap it out for you with NO issue. You just happen to get 1 out of 5,000 that had a defective sensor chip. It happens. Not really Smoktechs fault but the manufacturer they bought the chip, resistors, regulators, boards etc... from. Welcome to the wonderful world of technology and all it's counter parts...gotta love it. ....lol....Good luck buddy. ...............J

Thanks mate,

It's going back tomorrow.

5000 sounds like a lot of sensor chips, how many Vmax's have been sold?

 

[martinc]

Makes the 5amp limit seem a tad pointless if that's the case.

Bah,To fully take advantage of a VV LR atties should be forgotten anyways;to still use them would be merely so you dont waste anything and insist on using all you got until you run out

Never was into the analog-alike hot vape anyways,my zone was 2.6-2.8 with 3.7V devices,still is somewhat around that value in watts with VV/VW

 

[Modnar]

Was thinking I need another VV tube mod. VMax looks like what I wont next.

Where is the best price for a SS one at this time.

Around 90 dollars

 

[kurtus]

Yeah it does come on.

Im 100% sure my vmax never flashed that code before. (The button used to flash 3 times, when you put the batteries in, but there was never anything on the display, until you turned the display on)

Weird cause I just checked mine and the button does flash 3 times but it's while it displays the 123 456 789 code in sequence. Maybe J can shed some light on it but I'm stumped.

 

[Modnar]

Weird cause I just checked mine and the button does flash 3 times but it's while it displays the 123 456 789 code in sequence. Maybe J can shed some light on it but I'm stumped.

Yeah its weird.

I'll just send it back and get a new one. The LED in the fire button has completely died (Not much of a problem, but a defect is a defect and it is kind of annoying me)

 

[VAPNJ350]

Weird cause I just checked mine and the button does flash 3 times but it's while it displays the 123 456 789 code in sequence. Maybe J can shed some light on it but I'm stumped.

The V2's are suppose to flash the diagnostic startup screen...123...456...789. If his didn't from the start that leads me to believe that that chipset may have had a issue from the start. But yes ..ALL V2's will and should flash the 123...456...789 on insertion of batteries and turning on.

I recommend sending it back at this point.

 

[MXBNW]

Ok I will try this again, Where is the best place to get a SS Vmax