Vamo boxmod "Short" (is there something I overlooked?)

[ArdDarvis]

After reading till my eyes fell out, I began to create my first mod using 2 -- 3.7/1200mah/25C Lipo batteries in parallel and a Vamo V8 from fasttech (the display tells me that it's a M384e).

I wired everything up outside the box for a test run and all the functions work, but when I hit the fire button it only says "short."

With a little time on google, I saw that this was a common problem (especially with the V5?) and usually pertains to the 510 pin grommet not doing its job, but I'm using a brand new 510 connector and my multimeter says everything is ok there.

With it out of the box, I tested the resistance at the points where the wires from the 510 touch the board and it read accurately at 1.6 ohms. I'm kinda stumped becuase the board (at least) partially works, but there seems to be just a little something amiss.


I know you have all heard this question a billion times, but any insight or guidance would be greatly appreciated.

 

[chefjoosie]

Sounds like you're doing the right troubleshooting so far. Something you might want to try is, remove the coil from an atomizer, screw it onto the 510 connection, then check for continuity between the atomizer+ on the board and ground. you obviously shouldn't get any unless there's a short. If you confirm there's no short, and the problem keeps happening, I can't think of anything besides a defective board, unless you caveman soldered on the board and cooked some traces.

 

[ArdDarvis]

thanks for the suggestion! I took the coil out and checked resistance between the positive pin and ground, and everything is okay- my multimeter reads like it is not connected to anything.

I've always loved modding- I started as a teenager hardmodding video game consoles. I love to tinker and I pride myself on my soldiering skills, which is why after a couple years of vaping, I figured I'd take the plunge into battery mods. You can imagine my face when I know I've done everything correctly but the board reads "short."
"No sir, I am not short, you're short!"

I've filed a DOA RMA with fasttech and have every intention of returning this board. I guess I'm just gonna bite the bullet and get a legit DNA board. For my first mod, I wanted to use a cheaper board, but I see that that may not be the best approach.

Anyways, thanks again for the reply. I really appreciate it. I know there are a lot of variables here, including my own experiences and talents, but I think I'm gonna throw in the towel and say that this is the board's fault, not mine.

 

[chefjoosie]

It's a shame, that particular board seems to have a decent track record, but there's always the chance of a dud when you go the cheap route. I've used 4 of the vamo/vomo boards, and have been lucky enough not to have any issues.

1 more piece of advice. If you're going to spend the money for a DNA, and want the best possible odds of having no issues from here on, get a DNA30. I have 2 DNA40s that work wonderfully, but 3 DNA40 boards had to be returned to evolv before I got those 2. 1 was from the original batch that had known issues, the other 2 were the new ones where the issue had supposedly been fixed.

 

[ArdDarvis]

Curiously, I got two of these boards, and they both have the same "short" problem. Fattech asked me if I wanted replacements, and I had to decline- at 15$ a piece, that's 30$ I could put toward another board. I've heard A LOT of good things about the vamo boards, but, I guess, everything for a reason :/

I'll look into the DNA 30 for sure, thank you for the insight. I can't imagine having to return 3 boards! Thats outrageous! IDK that I would be patient enough for that. I mean, realistically, I probably would, but wow.

I guess my biggest obstacle is that I don't want to break the bank for my first mod. That's fine and all, but I also really need a board that works I know there are DNA clones, but I don't want to go that route for the same reason I'm stuck with now.

Maybe I'd be better to just buy a working Vamo and reap the board out of it? I guess at that point I would just use the vamo as is.

 

[chefjoosie]

I'm 0/1 on DNA clones, so I couldn't recommend them.

If it helps at all, I have never gotten a bad DNA 30 board. Also the first DNA30 board I bought, back when they first came out, is in a mod that I have in my hand now. I use it every day. I have since replaced a fire switch and batteries but the board is working flawlessly.

Don't give up and just buy/use a Vamo at this point. Once you're done with a mod you made yourself, even if it looks like ..., you'll love it. It's worth the setbacks.

 

[Visus]

Does this mean anything to ya?

I was told that because the V5 has automatic protection,when you use a protected battery it is in conflict with the mode that is in the V5.I just bought a V5 and because I use protected batterys in my Chi You,thats all i have so I had to order some new unprotected batterys,

 

[ArdDarvis]

Does this mean anything to ya?

I read a lot of that when researching which board to use. Unfortunately I'm not sure if my LiPo RC batteries are protected or not.

Thank you very much for your input, but I'm not sure that that is my problem- I've read that when using protected batteries with the Vamo causes it to restart/reboot when fired. I will definitely keep that in mind in the future though.



Regardless, I'm happy to have gotten start, but I'm gonna hang it up for a while, at least until the semester is over. I'm going to recuperate and read some more, then dedicate to a well-documented approach and follow the directions exactly.

Thanks for everything guys