The VAMO battery thread

[Strontium]

HOW LONG DO SHIPMENTS FROM fast tech SIT IN BURLINGAME, CA????????!!!!!!??????!!!!!!

I have been patiently waiting on two Vamos from fast tech. They shipped them in 2-3 days as declared on their site (not in stock). They got to Burlingame, Ca 4 days ago and continue to sit there. I've had stuff come in from Europe and South America and it has never sat at a port of entry. Is this just the U.S. playing games with Chinese made imports? Anyone else have their gear sit in Ca for any length of time or am I just having bad luck?

Fact:
Liion batteries are banned from international shipping. You've ordered li-ion from China then be prepared. You've ordered the wrong batteries (top button, flat top) you will not be able to return them (and Chinese will ask for it). It is almost impossible to ship them internationally. Chinese sellers know that very good. So far US customs were very tolerant, but .... if your batteries aren't delivered now you know why.

 

[Exhaler]

Did not know about the battery shipping, but one of the packages has no batteries in it at all. Just need patience.

Fact:
Liion batteries are banned from international shipping. You've ordered li-ion from China then be prepared. You've ordered the wrong batteries (top button, flat top) you will not be able to return them (and Chinese will ask for it). It is almost impossible to ship them internationally. Chinese sellers know that very good. So far US customs were very tolerant, but .... if your batteries aren't delivered now you know why.

 

[xbassman]

Fact:
Liion batteries are banned from international shipping. You've ordered li-ion from China then be prepared. You've ordered the wrong batteries (top button, flat top) you will not be able to return them (and Chinese will ask for it). It is almost impossible to ship them internationally. Chinese sellers know that very good. So far US customs were very tolerant, but .... if your batteries aren't delivered now you know why.

Got a link?
First I've heard this.
I've only ordered direct from China twice. Both times batteries.
I mean they gotta get here somehow. None are made in the US.

The Fasttech battery links were first posted by the founder of ECF.


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[xbassman]

Did not know about the battery shipping, but one of the packages has no batteries in it at all. Just need patience.

My order from Fasttech took 14 days.
Twice as fast as the time I ordered from Health Cabin.
Tracking info made it look like it was sitting in San Francisco for 1 1/2 weeks.


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[xbassman]

I picked some of these up, too. Figured highest mah I can stuff in there will be the best bet; not being high drain, what problem could that cause? are they capable or exploding in my face or anything? I figured the vamo's protection circuitry would pretty much work with whatever I throw at it.

You should read up a bit on battery safety

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=129569

That said...
You've got one of the best ICR batteries available.
It is still not the type recommended for a VV device.


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[peraspera]

Fact:
Liion batteries are banned from international shipping. You've ordered li-ion from China then be prepared. You've ordered the wrong batteries (top button, flat top) you will not be able to return them (and Chinese will ask for it). It is almost impossible to ship them internationally. Chinese sellers know that very good. So far US customs were very tolerant, but .... if your batteries aren't delivered now you know why.

I was aware that there are restrictions on shipment of batteries but it seems implausible that there is outright ban. It was my understanding that most, if not all, Li-on batteries are made overseas. They have to get here somehow.

Fast Tech has a Florida address for RMAs, Return address for North and South American customers:
Cloud Commerce Systems Limited
8345 NW 66 ST #B1111
MIAMI, FL 33166

 

[ricks]

They come by SHIP???

 

[Strontium]

About return refund- read this about Fasttech:
THE WORST! STAY AWAY!!! ITS NOT IF YOU GET BURNED ITS WHEN?: FastTech Forums


About that "address", it is third party mail forwarder called Usabox, nothing to do with Fasttech. Fasttech only rent a box #B1111. Anybody can rent a box there.

Here

Contact us at USAbox.com


My experience with liion shipment is that customs needed MSDS papers , and proper labeling "warnings" etc.
I thought that paperwork should be done by Chinese, but I was wrong. All this hassle because of 6 batteries, no thank you.

 

[Exhaler]

HOW LONG DO SHIPMENTS FROM FAST TECH SIT IN BURLINGAME, CA????????!!!!!!??????!!!!!!

I have been patiently waiting on two Vamos from Fast Tech. They shipped them in 2-3 days as declared on their site (not in stock). They got to Burlingame, Ca 4 days ago and continue to sit there. I've had stuff come in from Europe and South America and it has never sat at a port of entry. Is this just the U.S. playing games with Chinese made imports? Anyone else have their gear sit in Ca for any length of time or am I just having bad luck?

Update: Package without battery now in Charlotte, NC, getting closer. Package with two batteries still sitting in California.

 

[Punkonjunk]

You should read up a bit on battery safety

Rechargeable Batteries

That said...
You've got one of the best ICR batteries available.
It is still not the type recommended for a VV device.


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I read through the whole OP more than once. I googled a bit and forum searched a bit, and in general, people seem to have a good amount of faith in the "protection circuitry" the vamo is equipped with. Additionally, Protected li-ion anecdotally doesn't seem to work well in the VAMO. and finally, it's a single large cell, instead of stacked batts.

Now, of course, I'm hinging a relative risk on anecdotes from here, and that's why I ask! I'm not trying to be argumentative, but rather, you know, cover my ... a little bit. Realistically, is there a real chance this could explode in my hands and seriously injure them?

I imagine thermal runaway would have some precursor, like, intense or unusual heat, something to prepare me.

 

[awsum140]

If you feel it getting really hot, as in too hot to hold, and hear a sizzling sound accompanied by wisps of smoke, the proper procedure is to heave it like a live grenade and yell "FIRE IN THE HOLE" as you duck for cover! From what I've read, anecdotally, the more likely thing to happen would be a charger failure or a battery failure while being charged.

That said, I use stacked 18350's regularly and don't really worry too much about it at all. It's not that a failure can't happen, but the odds are in "our" favor that it won't (fingers crossed).

 

[xbassman]

I read through the whole OP more than once. I googled a bit and forum searched a bit, and in general, people seem to have a good amount of faith in the "protection circuitry" the vamo is equipped with. Additionally, Protected li-ion anecdotally doesn't seem to work well in the VAMO. and finally, it's a single large cell, instead of stacked batts.

Now, of course, I'm hinging a relative risk on anecdotes from here, and that's why I ask! I'm not trying to be argumentative, but rather, you know, cover my ... a little bit. Realistically, is there a real chance this could explode in my hands and seriously injure them?

I imagine thermal runaway would have some precursor, like, intense or unusual heat, something to prepare me.

The reason high drain batteries are recommended for vv devices is because the boost circuit creates a higher voltage from the battery by drawing a higher current.
I read a post stating a draw of 9A, but can't confirm that, nor have I seen testing that shows how high the current draw is on the battery.
As to protected batteries, most will cut off power when the current draw is too high for the particular battery. Folks posting trustfire protected batteries not firing in their Vamos, I assume they are tripping the battery's protection.

A standard ICR li-on battery will explode if you get a dead short and something doesn't cut it off.
The IMR (Limn) and hybrid IMR/ICR batteries will vent gasses on a runaway dead short. They also can handle a much higher sustained current draw.
For example, the Panasonic NCR18650PD can handle 10A sustained or 18A burst (5 seconds).

Really it's all about mitigated risk.
Sometimes I heat up my 18350s when I chain vape and they are IMRs.


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[Jfaria1891]

Efest 18350 flat tops either stacked or single both work.

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[dvo352]

I just bought Vamo-Vivi Voltage and I'm wondering if the batteries are safe now! I just came in here trying to find out how to figure out how much battery life is left on the display and now I'm wondering if I will blow my hand off lol. Should I be using these until they die or should I be buying new batteries?

 

[xbassman]

I just bought Vamo-Vivi Voltage and I'm wondering if the batteries are safe now! I just came in here trying to find out how to figure out how much battery life is left on the display and now I'm wondering if I will blow my hand off lol. Should I be using these until they die or should I be buying new batteries?

Those kit batteries are pretty much just what they could get cheap.
The charger is a cheapo as well.

I am sure they work in a pinch, but I would start looking at getting a good charger and batteries.

 

[dvo352]

Ok, that sounds good to me. I'll start looking while I wear these out. As long as they arent going to explode, I'm ok with that. Any settings I should be using to be safe?

 

[xbassman]

Ok, that sounds good to me. I'll start looking while I wear these out. As long as they arent going to explode, I'm ok with that. Any settings I should be using to be safe?

Just don't crank the wattage and you'll be fine.
If you like it hitting really hard it's probably a bit safer using them stacked.

As far as I know, there are no published specs for those batteries, so it's had to say what they can handle.
Also.... Don't leave batteries in that charger unattended.

 

[ricks]

I ordered my Vamo on the 6th and got it on the 17th to PA. Not too bad.

HOW LONG DO SHIPMENTS FROM FAST TECH SIT IN BURLINGAME, CA????????!!!!!!??????!!!!!!

I have been patiently waiting on two Vamos from Fast Tech. They shipped them in 2-3 days as declared on their site (not in stock). They got to Burlingame, Ca 4 days ago and continue to sit there. I've had stuff come in from Europe and South America and it has never sat at a port of entry. Is this just the U.S. playing games with Chinese made imports? Anyone else have their gear sit in Ca for any length of time or am I just having bad luck?

 

[Exhaler]

I ordered my Vamo on the 6th and got it on the 17th to PA. Not too bad.

I did get both of mine yesterday. 13 days which is not that bad. tracking ended in CA until they got to NC. Neat gear, glad I got them.

 

[TampaToker69]

Just wondering if these are good with the Vamo...

18650 - 2600mAh rechargeable lithium-ion Battery