The frother mod project.

[warp1900]

In my never ending search for battery cases/holders I found this $2.99 Milk/Coffee frother and I thought it might make a cool mod.

It is made out of some kind of rubberized plastic that feels great and provides a good grip. BTW the thing really works great for what it was designed, believe it or not.

When I opened it (very easy with only 2 screws), I noticed there is nothing in it besides an electric motor, lol.
I really like the switch design and I would prefer not having to install one and still be able to use it.
First problem is it is designed for 2 AA in series and the placement of the switch makes it confusing to re-wire for 2 14500 in parallel and, there are 2 tiny springs in it that make it impossible to work with only 1 battery because the inside connectors will tip to one side if it does not have even ressure from both batteries.

I hope the pics illustrate what I am trying to explain.
Any ideas on how to overcome this problem?

And yes, I already thought about 1 14500 and a dummy and it works, but I have 4 and I am trying to make one of them 2 14500 in series with a regulator for 5v but don't know how to connect the regulator since the switch is in the middle instead of at the end of the circuit.

help?

^^^^

 

[mnealtx]

I'm guessing the device in the exploded view of the cap is the switch?

Take the negative pad of the left battery (going to the motor) and run it to the center connector of the regulator, solder it in place, and run it on to the negative connector of the atomizer connection. Take the positive lead of the right battery (going to the motor) and solder it to the input leg of the regulator. Solder a wire between the output leg of the regulator and the positive terminal of the atomizer connection, and Bob's your uncle!

Recap:

1. LH battery (-) -> regulator common -> RCA jack shield
2. RH battery (+) -> regulator input
3. Regulator output -> RCA jack center
4. VAPE IT!!!

 

[warp1900]

Yes Mike, I made a drawing with your instructions to understand what you mean, (I'm not good at picturing it without seeing it), and it seems to be the right path.

I'm gonna give it a try and will post the results, I am working on 6 projects at the same time, , don't ask me why, the mod fever kicked into high gear I guess.

Thank you for your help because it was really driving me crazy, and once I see it like you put it, it seems simple. Or should I just say, DUH!



^^^

 

[Nforcer]

preety cool design ...waiting for the mod itself

 

[mnealtx]

No worries - glad to help.

 

[warp1900]

So I finished the first version of 3 on this project.

This is a 2x14500 with 5v regulator and it was really simple, except the part where the batteries connect which has to be balanced so the switch will not get jammed.

I really don't like the end location of the switch Screw Driver style, but it was already there so I had to give it a try.

Now that it is done, I still hate the switch there, so I will have to add a second switch on a more logical position for the hand.

The mod is really cheap to make, fits and feels nice in the hand and vapes great just like any other 5V mod.

Next up will be a 2 x 14500 parallel for double mAh and a hELi-VapeR style using the original switch.

Special thanks to mnealtx for helping me figure out the weird switch and wiring for the 5v regulator.


The pix:

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[mnealtx]

No problem, glad to help - the mod looks good!

The regulators that kardjunkie sent finally came in today and I converted my parallel nicostick into a series-battery stick. It seems to hit harder than the passthrough even though they're both 5v - weird.

 

[warp1900]

No problem, glad to help - the mod looks good!

The regulators that kardjunkie sent finally came in today and I converted my parallel nicostick into a series-battery stick. It seems to hit harder than the passthrough even though they're both 5v - weird.

100% agree, that regulator rules, it does hit better!

And for free, it just can't get any better, hehe.

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[Cisco]

Real nice looking mod Warp, bet it feels real comfortable in the hand.

No problem, glad to help - the mod looks good!

The regulators that kardjunkie sent finally came in today and I converted my parallel nicostick into a series-battery stick. It seems to hit harder than the passthrough even though they're both 5v - weird.

Hey Mike,
There is no voltage drop with the regulator like there is with USB. It regulates to 5v even under load, no voltage drop no reduced amperage. So in essence its better then a passthrough and obviously hits a little harder...

Cisco...

 

[mnealtx]

yeah, but the regulator is giving me 4.98 and the usb through the wall wart is 5.14... it's just weird, I tell ya. Wallwart supposedly does 2.5a max at 5v.

 

[Cisco]

yeah, but the regulator is giving me 4.98 and the usb through the wall wart is 5.14... it's just weird, I tell ya. Wallwart supposedly does 2.5a max at 5v.

Hmm... That is weird, you shouldn't be getting any noticable voltage drop from a wall pack thats capable of that much amperage. typical a USB will drop .5 to .7 volts under load. Are you able to check the under load voltage on the wall pack? maybe its over rated and dropping volts....

Cisco...

 

[mnealtx]

That's exactly what it was - loss under load. With being able to output 2.5a @ 5v, I wasn't expecting it, but it was dropping 1.2v. Pushed it up to 6.5v output and I'm now getting matching performance @ 4.9v through the passthrough.

Both the 510 and the 801 are nice at that voltage, although the 510 runs a bit hot - 2.5 amps vs. 1.6 amps for the 801 (calculated, not measured).

 

[warp1900]

My RS 4.5v @ 1600 mA wall wart still beats the 5v regulator, but I think the vapor on the 5v regulated is a little smoother for some reason, I know its all in the numbers, but to me it is still amusing.


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