Swings & Roundabouts, one of those days

[katz-in-boots]

This was going to be the day when my supplies would be totally exhausted and I had to go without a puff of nicotine, which I wasn't looking forward to. Not happy.

Unexpectedly, my V4L order turned up - only 8 days (last was 13 days. Customs etc, you just can't tell how long it'll take). Happy !!!!

Then I realised the clearance platinum shorty battery I ordered hadn't been included. Not Happy.

Stuck a Nuport menthol on my battery an enjoyed. And enjoyed. And enjoyed!!! Very Happy!

Tried PT on computer, even though I don't normally vape in the house. Even happier!!!
Decided to try PT on new car charger - didn't work. Took a while to realise it is the car's lighter socket that doesn't work. Not happy.

Ah, the ups & downs of vaping.

 

[Kanza]

awww, Katz, that's good/bad news I know they will quickly replace your bat but I don't think they can fix your car's lighter socket

 

[katz-in-boots]

Yeah, if only life was that simple. Never mind, am getting another car shortly, so fingers crossed the lighter works in that one.
There's something ironic about using a lighter to power an e-cig though.

 

[Mmc]

When I plug my pt in my car, it takes about 5-10 minutes befor the light comes on and I can vape. Bit once its working, its great!

 

[Rappel_Welch]

Can't imagine having to deal with customs on a routine basis. That can't be much fun. I'd be ordering everything at least once a day to be sure that I never missed a beat.

 

[katz-in-boots]

Wah! Things just got way worse!

First off, one of my new batteries didn't seem to be holding a charge. The USB charger that came with the kit said it was charged but when I tried it, it kept blinking & telling me it wasn't. I took it off the USB charger and plugged in the V4L wall charger (which I wouldn't normally use because it's US point and our power points are different, so I have to run it through an big, clunky travel adapter). This seems to work, looks like I might get it charged finally. I was a bit worried about the PCC cos it took ages, but finally the green light came on.

Then my purple diamond shorty I already had just stopped working . Just like that. Light works when I inhale, but nothing coming out, no flavour, no vapour.

Switch to new chrome shorty: It works - intermittently. Honest, I can take a puff, maybe two if I'm lucky, then it won't work at all, no light, no nothing. Then suddenly I'll get another puff from it. I thought maybe I was inhaling too long, but it isn't that. I've tried 3 different cartos, the purple won't work & the chrome is doing the intermittent thing.

So I just tried the 3 cartos on my White Cloud battery (the one that works with Cool Carts - the other doesn't for some reason). It works with 2/3 of them. The 2 that work are making loud popping noises when they work, and were before the batteries started dying. Is that a clue?

What the heck is going on here? Have I killed my purple diamond? Am I doing something wrong?

Helllllllllp !!!!?

 

[katz-in-boots]

Can't imagine having to deal with customs on a routine basis. That can't be much fun. I'd be ordering everything at least once a day to be sure that I never missed a beat.

Not at $25 a pop flat rate international postage, you wouldn't

 

[AG51]

My car lighter socket didn't work when I bought the car (second owner). Found out there were two fuse boxes for it. One inside the car dash and one under the hood in the engine compartment. The fuse for the lighter was blown in the engine compartment section. Maybe you can check that out Katz. After making sure both fuses were good for it my PT works like a charm !!

 

[katz-in-boots]

Hey thanks Anita, I never considered a fuse. There's a dash light recently stopped working too, so maybe...
Any ideas for my battery problems?

 

[AG51]

The only time I've ever had that happen with the batteries, not getting vapor, was when the post needed to be raised a bit. On mine, I wasn't getting a good connection with the carto. I'm not sure if that's what's happening to yours or not. I'm sure someone with more experience with that will tell you more. I myself have been so lucky with my V4L stuff. I've never had any major problems so far. I've never had one with no light or anything so I'm afraid to give any advice that could be the wrong advice...

 

[Morandir835]

Ms. Katz check out Snow sir's video located here:

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...batteries-tutorial-post-adjustment-video.html

As for the usb charger, are you sure it's screwing all the way in? The threads might need some sanding... Autos seem to need sanding more often than manuals (the copper shorty I ordered for today's contest needed to be for example). Hope this helps...

 

[waylonjessi4ever]

funny about the cars and what they do one year and not another ,my older grand prix has the seperate plug in for cells ,etc and i will use the same for ecigs ...never had a problem with my cell charger and car can be off also ....
When this old prix is history i will be one sad girl cause its been my fav car ever .....

 

[Joyce]

Wow, katz, you have had a day! You've got exactly the advice I would have given you regarding the fuse and the purple battery, so I won't go into them, but with the new chrome that works intermittently, I'd put in a ticket for it, personally. And of course, be sure you contact CS about the platinum shorty that's missing, as I'm sure you have.

Also, re: the popping noises, if they're coming from the cartos, that's normal. It usually means you're going to get a good draw.

 

[Kanza]

Fortunately, katz, you can Skype V4L...you just have to plan to be available during working hours USA CST...they will certainly NOT leave you hanging like this

But, here's hoping the "pros" who post here will certainly continue to give you good advice. In the meantime, it looks like you are finding the "trouble spots" in your home so maybe it's saved you a house call by an electrician

 

[katz-in-boots]

Okay, after a good night's sleep, I started again. Fortunately able to settle my after-breakfast vaping needs with a nice Nuport wow on my White Cloud battery.

Sat down, did some empirical experiments, worked out which battery was working with which cartos.

And then I came here, read the advice and watched Snow's videos about raising posts & sanding threads. These things I have done. Lo & behold, I now have 3 working batteries! (he he, even raised the post of the White Cloud battery that wasn't working with Cool carts, that works now, so that's another 2 batteries I can use )

Something must've pushed my purple diamond post down though, so I must look into that. It was working fine with cool carts & wow before all this.

So thank you again, oh experts in experimentation & all things V4L !!!
Especially Snow Dragon Hero !

 

[Mary Kay]

You will learn to love the poping sound! It does that when there is lots of juicy goodness to be vaped. It does stop after a while when you refill.

 

[katz-in-boots]

Lo & behold, I now have 3 working batteries!

.... And now I don't... Turned out one of the new chromes was still only working intermittently. The other and my purple diamond worked until mid-afternoon, when both had to be charged - which is when I found the other one only worked sometimes. Straight from charging, neither worked. Again. Not Happy.

How can charging them stop them working? I don't over-tighten, only screw til they flash [that sounded wrong]

Have written to our friends at V4l (they've responded to my ticket saying the battery missing from the order will be sent), see what they can suggest/do about my battery/charger problems. I do feel like the most complaining customer ever, but I honestly think this ratio of problems is too much. Worrying now what the other shorties I've bought from the Bargain Bin will be like, whether they'll work.

On the positive side, Anita, you were spot on about the car lighter socket problem being the fuse! I was able to replace it and now at least my PT is working, so I can vape in the car (I don't usually vape in the house, though did today trying to sort my batteries, but I can smell it). Guess if all else fails with my batteries I could stick the PT into a USB wall adapter at home and stick it out the window to vape

 

[Kanza]

Katz, I have noticed of late that I am not tightening my bats enough when I charge them and they'll show they're charged when they really aren't. Plus the usb charger was loose and needed to be pushed back into its base. I certainly hope things work out for you and quickly! Let us know how things are going...this is as bad as a soap opera

 

[AG51]

I'm so happy the fuse thing worked for you !! I too have wall usb adapters and use them all the time with the PT ♥ I hope your battery issues get solved as quickly as that...

 

[katz-in-boots]

Kanza I don't think it's that, because they take the proper amount of time to charge.

Well, I managed to lift the posts on my diamond shorty and got that working again. It's got to the point where I don't trust any of my V4L batteries to work now and I'm leaning towards my White Clouds. It'll take a while to regain confidence in them.
Customer Service are going to replace some things (not sure if they meant batteries or chargers or what though) and are going the extra mile to help me.
I am concerned the problem is the chargers, somehow pushing the posts down. The diamond battery worked fine. It was only when I used the V4L chargers that it went wrong.
Anyway, I'll see how it goes with the next batch of batteries, bargain bin shorties which are due any day now and any replacements from CS.
It's good that CS are so quickly onto fixing these problems, it'd be better if the problems didn't happen.

Loving the PT in the car though !!! I hold it by the wire end and wave it around to the music (currently Rolling Stones) and vape my head off. Can weave the wire in my fingers so I don't have to put it down when I go round tight corners or roundabouts etc. Thanks again Anita for helping me get my lighter socket problem fixed.