VAMO no longer working with 18650 or single 18350?

[Kosher Fried]

I searched and have not found an answer:

Since I got my flat top 800mah efest batteries I only used 18650 2000mah efest for long drives or a work day, and use the stacked batts at the house.

So yesterday morning I put the efest up to charge and neither of my fully charged (at 4.2v each) 18650 would work. no flashing light, nothing.

However, both my button topped and flat topped 350s worked in pair, but not individually with a section removed.

So in short, it works ONLY with stacked 350s...any ideas?

smoktek offered an RMA to send back and replace. just wondering if i could do something about it.

 

[tc1]

Is the spring making good contact with the single batteries?

 

[Kosher Fried]

yes. it's actually a spring from a helix i got off of avidvapers. without it, there was rattling around. worked fine until now (ps...the spring that comes with the vamo is so cheap and malleable)

 

[tc1]

Are the battery contacts clean?

Does the positive post inside the Vamo seem fine?

 

[MikeA5]

I'm now using (for about 5 days now) the AvidVapers Helix hot spring with it working correctly. I did have to spread out the bottom portion of the spring though, so it would fit snug on the bottom cap so it wouldn't fall out when changing my Efest 18650 flat top batteries. Prior to using the Helix hot spring I was using a Vapesafe fuse to keep the battery firm within the Vamo. So far I haven't had any problems using the Efest 18650 battery. I haven't yet tried the stacked or single Efest 18350 batteries in it cause I prefer not stacking.
My original spring that came with the unit was the flimsy one, even though I have Vamo V2 (with rubber gasket around center post, remembers wattage setting and vapes at 6 watts correctly).

 

[Kosher Fried]

Are the battery contacts clean?

Does the positive post inside the Vamo seem fine?

yes and yes

 

[Kosher Fried]

same version i have, and same spring. i didnt think about the fuse, though.

I'm now using (for about 5 days now) the AvidVapers Helix hot spring with it working correctly. I did have to spread out the bottom portion of the spring though, so it would fit snug on the bottom cap so it wouldn't fall out when changing my Efest 18650 flat top batteries. Prior to using the Helix hot spring I was using a Vapesafe fuse to keep the battery firm within the Vamo. So far I haven't had any problems using the Efest 18650 battery. I haven't yet tried the stacked or single Efest 18350 batteries in it cause I prefer not stacking.
My original spring that came with the unit was the flimsy one, even though I have Vamo V2 (with rubber gasket around center post, remembers wattage setting and vapes at 6 watts correctly).

 

[tc1]

Very strange. The fact that you can use stacked but not singles would lead me to think it's a connection/contact issue. If it was an electronics issue ... you'd think it wouldn't work at all or at the very least act up ... even in stacked mode.

 

[tnt56]

It sounds to me like the center battery post may have some damage to it. Not allowing the flat tops to make a good contact. Glad you posted this. It brings up a potential weekness in the device. So far I've had no trouble from my v1 or my v2 vamo's. I made my own gasket for the v1 so I don't have to worry about the flat tops in it. I'm kinda thinking that the center post may have been pushed down on the battery connection. That's really a bummer.

 

[tc1]

I'm kinda thinking that the center post may have been pushed down on the battery connection. That's really a bummer.

That's what I was thinking earlier as well ....

I'd check to see if there is any give on that positive post. If you feel any, that's probably the issue. Might be able to place something small and conduction inside (perhaps a magnet like people use to make batts button tops) and see if that makes a connection.

You could also check to see if it's a connectivity issue by using some gator clips/wire and rigging the battery up OUTSIDE the tube.

 

[Dieseler]

Its your spring. ; )

 

[MikeA5]

You may want to try the original spring to see if that helps, otherwise it may, as others have mentioned, be a falty center post within the Vamo.

 

[Kosher Fried]

i gotta go rumage around for it lol....

it fell under the couch the other night...i need to find it.

 

[Kosher Fried]

well i'll be damned.

i put the original spring back in and it works will all batteries. i put the larger spring in on top and it still works.

oh well, guess that tiny spring is in there for a reason, afterall.

 

[Heavyrocker]

I searched and have not found an answer:

Since I got my flat top 800mah efest batteries I only used 18650 2000mah efest for long drives or a work day, and use the stacked batts at the house.

So yesterday morning I put the efest up to charge and neither of my fully charged (at 4.2v each) 18650 would work. no flashing light, nothing.

However, both my button topped and flat topped 350s worked in pair, but not individually with a section removed.

So in short, it works ONLY with stacked 350s...any ideas?

Smoktek offered an RMA to send back and replace. just wondering if i could do something about it.

Ive heard they dont work too well with lithium batts well,what batt type ya got?

 

[Heavyrocker]

Ive heard they dont work too well with lithium batts well,what batt type ya got?

BTW...manufacturers suggest you dont stack the batts,too much power will damage the beast.

 

[kiwivap]

well i'll be damned.

i put the original spring back in and it works will all batteries. i put the larger spring in on top and it still works.

oh well, guess that tiny spring is in there for a reason, afterall.

That makes sense. Two 18350s were long enough to make a connection. Glad it got worked out for you. I found that using the wider spring without the original spring worked didn't work as well either. I use single batts. The unit got hot. Not sure why, but once I added the original spring back it was fine, and has been for a fair bit of vaping since.

 

[feolip]

Are these units SS?

 

[Kosher Fried]

mine's the chrome plated brass....but the SS units looked like they have the same springs.

 

[feolip]

mine's the chrome plated brass....but the SS units looked like they have the same springs.

Hey DFW! I saw a ad for a very cool looking vapor shop in your area. The few here in Austin suck..