Unlucky with my KR808 hardware

[K24A3]

Hi ppl ,

Usually I wouldn't raise this kind of issue unless I am sincerely concerned.

I'm wandering if its possible for V4L to look into the build quality and QC of the KR808 batteries and PT's.

So far I have had four KR items from V4L. Unfortunately all four items plus a friends KR Battery has failed in a short time.

1. Auto Battery that failed to activate after 2 weeks of light usage.
2. Auto Battery that failed to activate and no LED activity at all after only a few days.
3. Manual Battery that has a switch that is very hard to press.
4. USB Manual Passthrough that keeps on sizzling after I depress the switch intermittently.
5. A friends Auto Battery that was totally dead after a week. Luckily it failed while my friend was visiting me so I was able to lend him one of my Batteries.


At the same time, I have two 901 Manual Batteries and an Auto 4081 Battery that has been absolutely perfect since day one. The 4081 (my very first vaporizer) has been perfect for 5 weeks and I have used that more than everything combined.

I am currently using the 901 Battery with a 901->KR808D-1 Adapter to use the KR808 carts, and feel totally confident when vaping with the 901.

I've endeavored to take care of these KR items and am somewhat mystified why all 5/5 of the KR808 equipment I come across have failed. I'm ultra careful when I refill my carts so juice doesn't enter the Battery, and I don't apply too much pressure to the Manual equipment.

It's come to the point that I'm almost afraid to use the KR808 equipment, sometimes I even jump out of my chair when a new cart sizzles and pops hoping it wont short and melt.

Is this just how the KR808 equipment is? Or am I just really unlucky


The Auto Batteries really need a more reliable drag sensor (like the sensor in the 4081).
The Manual Batteries really need a better quality switch (like on the 901).


V4L, could you please look into this with the manufacturer?
If not, is it possible to offer your customers alternative hardware that is compatible with the V4L Carts?

I would be more than happy to pay an extra $5 for more reliable equipment.

 

[Mary Kay]

I am sorry you have had such trouble. I, on the other hand have been using V4l's Vapor king batteries for 8 months coming from 901's. I have had two batteries with problems out of 30 batteries. 2 have died of old age..all the rest are going strong..ok 2 are limping a bit but they are 7 months old!
My 901's which I loved, were costing me a fortune, they never lasted longer then a month or so and I had to recharge after an hour and a half to 2 hours (same size as a V4L shorty).
I guess everyone has different experiences. Hope ypou get this sorted soon!

 

[K24A3]

Hi Mary, thanks for the feedback. I guess I'm just really unlucky

A 5-10% failure rate is fine in my books. But a 100% failure rate is concerning to anyone.

I have received a new replacement Auto Battery from V4L which has been working fine for 2 days, but I can't help to avoid using it for now.

I really don't know where to go from here, maybe I should stick with the 901 hardware for now on.

I've converted three people to V4L and am concerned that their KR808 hardware will also fail (one has already), which may result in them going back to Analog's if their KR Batteries fail.

 

[Tenebrae]

I have had the same issues with the manuals so I avoid them except for refilling. I had bad luck with the earlier model of shorties and XLs as well.

However my auto regular sized have had a very good success rate. We even washed one and it worked fine after a couple of days drying. I have been vaping for 6 months now and only one of my auto regulars (out of 11) has any issues... The new XLs seem much sturdier as well IMO.

Sucks you have has such a bad run of luck. I am glad that you haven't let that turn you off vaping altogether

Happy Friday!

 

[dohsma]

We are always looking to improve our quality, and at this point we are even looking at alternate manufacturers. For the time being, we are doing the best we can to trouble shoot and/or replace faulty equipment. If you contact us at customer_service@vapor4life.com we should be able to help you out.

 

[Kimmy]

i would just call it a string of bad luck. I have 30+ batteries from vapor4life and two have had to be replaced. I still have my original two batteries from 7+ months or so.

 

[K24A3]

Kimmy, thanks, I guess a black cat walked under a ladder when I processed my orders

dohsma, it's great to hear that you are looking at alternative manufacturers. I find that those two other models I mentioned draw much easier and are generally better built (the manual switch on the 901 has a nice soft feel and the click/activation is very precise), so considering those two would be great, despite the need for an adapter. Plus the threading on those two models are very consistent.
I'll get the faulty Batteries replaced and continue using them.

 

[Desertfremen]

I think you've had a bad run too. The auto batts I've had haven't lasted long yes, but they all met deaths because of me dropping them. I've had a total of 11 manuals; 2 reg and 9 XL. I've only had to have V4L replace 1 because it was DOA. Otherwise, the others have worked fine until they could take no more of my abuse. Even then I've only had this happen with 2 batts, one of which still works intermittently.

 

[SMILIN]

Apologize for inconvenience, we will of course replace everything for you, and check it before we ship it.

I have found that the good come in batches, as well as the bad. Your order just happen to be picked from a bad batch.

I have had over 10 companys build samples to my specs, and hope to solidify new manuf, very soon.

V$L is dedicated to make you smile, and, I promise, we will

Steve

 

[K24A3]

No worries thanks Steve

 

[K24A3]

I think you've had a bad run too. The auto batts I've had haven't lasted long yes, but they all met deaths because of me dropping them. I've had a total of 11 manuals; 2 reg and 9 XL. I've only had to have V4L replace 1 because it was DOA. Otherwise, the others have worked fine until they could take no more of my abuse. Even then I've only had this happen with 2 batts, one of which still works intermittently.

Thanks, I think I'll stick with the Manuals for now since they are generally safer and last longer. I had one Auto sizzle in my pocket by itself which is a bit scary, despite them having the Auto Cut-off timer.

 

[dedi]

[
Is this just how the KR808 equipment is? Or am I just really unlucky

I'm just chiming in here........have been vaping since Feb 2010 and have around 15 batteries. A variety of auto and manual's, also variety in shorties, regulars and XL's. I have used them all consistantly and fairly equally in different situation's. I have had no problem at all with any of them (other than one DOA which was replaced) My passthru's (one in house and one in car) along with charger's (other than one DOA which was replaced) all working great. Hope I don't jinx them! lol Also the two regular manual's from original kit in Feb. still chugging along! (although they are the last I use) When I first started vaping and read all the negative's and unreliability issue's I was hesitant. However, these thing's ROCK! I have nothing to compare to since I have used all VL4 product's other than some juice from an un named source
Dee

 

[K24A3]

Wow now I'm very confused.

You with 15 Batteries with near 100% reliability.
Me (and friend) with 5 Batteries, 100% failure rate.

I've only been vaping for little over a month, so I guess I received items from bad batches due to a manufacturer change, or just pure unluck by chance

I'll use my replacement Auto Battery along with the DSE901's and see how things go.
I've only had the 901's for 4 days but so far they have been as solid as WowBoy

 

[CES]

I don't post much here, but wanted to chime in. Eleven manual batteries. None DOA. My first battery just died- it was 3-4 months old ( I had just posted on another thread that I'd never had a battery die in the 8 months I've been vaping). One of my original batteries is limping, but the others are good to go.

 

[K24A3]

CES do you have a Manual USB Passthrough?

My button sticks intermittently, it just burnt out my only RY4 cart

 

[CES]

I do have a manual USB PT. I haven't had any trouble with the button sticking, but I don't use it very much. I think (someone else correct me if I'm wrong) that it's a 5 volt PT. Either way it runs a bit hot for my tastes.

If it's still under warranty, contact CS. If it's not, toss it and get a new one.

Obviously, make sure that it's unplugged, and that there isn't a carto attached when you step away from the computer.

 

[Adrenalynn]

Is there a reason that you would both unplug and remove the carto every time you step away? Does it store electricity somehow?

 

[CES]

Belt and suspenders, or just quickly writing redundancies... I stand corrected, it's not necessary to take off the carto if you've unplugged the PT. (and the answer to your question is yes, perhaps a teensy tiny bit. I have no idea how much capacitance the PT and carto have and am not going to dust off Ohm's law on a saturday One of the only times I care about capacitance is when my smoke alarm keeps beeping (at 3am) because the battery is low- even AFTER I take out said dying battery)

 

[Jeff78]

I have had well over 20 batteries in the last 6 months and only 1 was defective, which was the first one I ever bought other than the 2 that came with my starter kit. That was one was replaced ASAP by CS. I had 4 manual PTs that work great and have not had any issues with.

I have batteries from February to now as I just got one in the mail last week, and it is working wonderfully. I don't know why you are having so many problems, and I really wish you weren't. Have you thought that maybe on your non-PT batts that it could be your charger doing something to them. Do you use multiple chargers, or just one for all you batteries?

 

[K24A3]

Hi Jeff,

I've ruled out a Charger issue.

Two Batteries failed using the PCC, another failed using the USB Charger, and my friends failed using his own USB Charger.

Another friend at work has just received her two Auto Batteries and one of them doesn't charge properly in the PCC. It only charges for about half an hour, then the charging light goes out and the Batteries LED flashes for some reason. But her other Auto Battery is working perfectly. So is my replacement Auto Battery so far

The USB PT has only played up three times (keeps on sizzling after depressing the button), so I need to be extra careful when using the PT. There is no juice or anything in the switch by the way, its done that since brand new.

And yeah I do disconnect it from my PC when not in use.

Maybe these devices don't like recharging on a 240v 50hz power grid we use down here