Super Easy 5v Passthrough

[Diagasa]

PLEASE ONLY TRY THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK, IMPROPER USE OR MISUSE MAY RESULT IN PROPERTY DAMAGE AND POSSIBLE mod DAMAGE!!!
I AM IN BY NOW MEANS RESPONSIBLE FOR OR TO THOSE OF YOU THAT WILL ATTEMPT SUCH A mod!!!
I UNDERSTOOD THE RISKS AND PROCEEDED WITH SUCCESS, YMMV!!!


Let me start by saying that I am not gifted or adept at mod building by any means. I have a drawer full of abandoned projects along with a 5 subject notebook full of schematics and design plans that will never see even a tiny poof of vapor. BUT, I do tend to get lucky every now and then....

I came up with the idea after trying to use a usb port to try to power a small clip style fan. I soon found out after some research (thank you Google) that 5 volts easily burns up a small motor that runs off of a single 1.5 volt AAA.... So I then took a small trip to my local Radio Shack.

Here's what I picked up:
A 3x2x1" project box: $2.69
A 3A 125V SPST N.O. Pushbutton Switch: $3.19

I already had a usb cable that I didn't mind sacrificing and a 510 connector.

I then soldered everything together and added a wee bit of hot glue and after a quick check with the multimeter, I was vaping at a steady 5 volts! Without being under load, it reads out 5.9 volts. I'm not able to read what it would be under load but it is a huge step up from a 3.4ish volt Ego battery. It is also a huge step up from a fully charged 18650 that reads 4.4 volts fresh off the charger.

I have vaped at 6 volts before and this is a much better experience than straight 6 volt vaping.

For a full price here is what I came up with: $10!!!
Switch: $3.19
Project Box: $2.69
510 Connector: $1.19
Empty Battery tube: $0.39
USB Cable: $3 to $4 depending on location (buy a cheap male to male cable and when cut in two, yields two usable cables!)
A little time and patience: BOOM! a 5 volt passthrough!

P.S. A little tip: Most project boxes have very loose doors so they enclose 4 screws to keep it shut, which makes for a huge pain when taking a box mod apart. Use your hot glue gun and put a small bead of hot glue on the inside edge of the box and use the hot nozzle of you hgg to spread it out nice and thin. I did this on both sides of my box and the door stays on very tight.

My camera is misplaced so I will post a few pictures tomorrow if all goes well and if people request them lol.


PLEASE ONLY TRY THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK, IMPROPER USE OR MISUSE MAY RESULT IN PROPERTY DAMAGE AND POSSIBLE MOD DAMAGE!!!
I AM IN BY NOW MEANS RESPONSIBLE FOR OR TO THOSE OF YOU THAT WILL ATTEMPT SUCH A MOD!!!
I UNDERSTOOD THE RISKS AND PROCEEDED WITH SUCCESS, YMMV!!!

 

[Shadow102]

You're vaping it off of a wall usb connector right? I wouldn't do it off a computer USB, good way to short out your USB port and possibly your mobo.

 

[lynch]

It's nice to vape something that you make, but if you dont want to make one or another one electronicstix.com has 5 volt P.T. for $10.00

 

[Rocketman]

Your 4.4 volts for an 18650 is hopefully due to a weak multimeter battery and not a defective charger.
The 5.9 volts unloaded from a USB jack is hopefully also due to high readings from the meter and not from a blown USB regulator. A light load like a digital camera attached to that 5.9 volts might die.

I caution anyone wanting to try this not to use an expensive computer to power your e-cig as a direct connected pass through. I'm glad you are happy with a device you made. That is always cool. Others may follow in your footsteps and not be as lucky. That's an unstated responsibility you take on when you post something. People will believe it.

Best,

Rocket

 

[Diagasa]

To Rocketman and Shadow102, I do understand the risk of blowing out the usb ports on my pc, but I take every precaution when soldering and wiring up all my mods.

Rocketman, I have tested Ego batteries and my 18650 batteries and they all do check out to similar voltages posted by other people. My meter is brand new with a fresh 9v battery in it. As far as the 5.9v power from my usb ports, I have tested this in a wired circuit with a 5v passthrough and a bare wire usb plugged directly into the socket and have seen the same voltage readout. With a little google search you will find that most usb 2.0 ports only put out 5+/- volts. A fully charged 18650 battery also usually tops out at 4.2+/- volts fresh off of the charger. If I am missing something here please help me understand. I assure you I'm not trying to be hostile here I'm just trying to set the facts straight.
Thank You Rocketman, Diagasa

 

[Rocketman]

CYA edit you made to your post covers most everything.

What I keyed on was the 4.4 v 18650. The safe maximum should be 4.23v.

A laptop charger hits a bunch of 18650 cell to 4.35 volts, but since it hits it hard the terminal voltage after the charger stops is about 4.23. 4.40 is an indication of a faulty charger, I think.

But most important is

You made, and it vapes

 

[Diagasa]

Your 4.4 volts for an 18650 is hopefully due to a weak multimeter battery and not a defective charger.
The 5.9 volts unloaded from a USB jack is hopefully also due to high readings from the meter and not from a blown USB regulator. A light load like a digital camera attached to that 5.9 volts might die.

I caution anyone wanting to try this not to use an expensive computer to power your e-cig as a direct connected pass through. I'm glad you are happy with a device you made. That is always cool. Others may follow in your footsteps and not be as lucky. That's an unstated responsibility you take on when you post something. People will believe it.

Best,

Rocket

All modding either big or small should be taking with an air of caution. We all know and fully understand the risks of creating or modifying an electronic cigarette. If a person does not understand the risks, they should at the very least do their homework on the subject or consult someone who has the proper knowledge on the subject at hand.

 

[Rocketman]

I agree, everyone should, but how many have you seen that got into it and didn't know positive from negative

Even some of our reputable vendors sell "5 volt passthoughs" that run off a USB port that will never make it to 5 volts because of the small light gage wires used. The voltage drop through the wire resistance is probably the only thing that saves them.
Glad you made a successful device. Sorry to have sounded so critical of a fellow modder.

You sure your 18650 comes off the charger at 4.4v? That is a little high. Sometimes an AW IMR is conducting so well that a cheap charger doesn't drop to CV mode soon enough and the charge continues. 4.4v isn't necessarily unsafe, unless it is an indication of charger failure. Just shortens the heck out of cell life.

 

[Diagasa]

I agree, everyone should, but how many have you seen that got into it and didn't know positive from negative

Even some of our reputable vendors sell "5 volt passthoughs" that run off a USB port that will never make it to 5 volts because of the small light gage wires used. The voltage drop through the wire resistance is probably the only thing that saves them.
Glad you made a successful device. Sorry to have sounded so critical of a fellow modder.

You sure your 18650 comes off the charger at 4.4v? That is a little high. Sometimes an AW IMR is conducting so well that a cheap charger doesn't drop to CV mode soon enough and the charge continues. 4.4v isn't necessarily unsafe, unless it is an indication of charger failure. Just shortens the heck out of cell life.

I think that was a very hasty post.... I re checked a fresh 18650 right after I read the post and I only got 4.21 volts. On that account I do apologize. I have been using single strand 20 guage wire so I should be ok.