That statement has always been there but they did just recently add the '.. could severely damage your dna' part. It used to just say 'voids your warranty.' Guess they had to make it more of a scary statement as to be followed.
VaporShark rDNA
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Clearly from the response, they needed a device like the rDNA to accompany the VS dna. The number of devices hey have sold must be considerable for a vaping mod. However the scale needed to make some real money has to be great. I know everyone will remind me that the cost for materials to make this, can't be more that $40- $50 US. But let's not forget the cost for R and D on this thing. And then the final mold costs for the case pieces (3) and the internal cart for the battery and the boards. This device is a glueless design (show me many other devices out there as well made). So the initial investment was huge. Add on the cost for assembly, QC, packaging, marketing, customer support, liability insurance, shipping etc. Well you see what I mean. The DNA board is soldered in, so to replace it, you have to unsolder it and then what do you do about the daughter board that isn't eVOLVEs and the usb port, both also soldered on. What would you have to charge to replace this unit (3 components)? Maybe $125 - $150 each one. Customers will think, I only paid $189, so their ripping me off. So what do they do? They used eVOLV because of their reputation and being US made, but this board has an inherent flaw. Remember even Provari can't use a flat top battery because they would have the same problem, no reverse battery protection.
Bottom line, put the battery in backwards and get out your wallet.
Bottom line, put the battery in backwards and get out your wallet.
I see what you're saying but I think you're off on a couple points:
- Your assessment seems predicated on an assumption that VS won't fix an rDNA w/ burnt board. As far as I can tell, they only say that it would not be fixed under warranty. Considering that they offered convenient battery replacement for the DNA, I don't think it's unreasonable to assume that they will offer to fix burnt rDNAs, even if it is $125 or whatever.
- I wouldn't necessarily call the lack of reverse polarity protection a "flaw". Is it a flaw that you can accidentally fill your $400 4-stroke chainsaw with gasoline, or that you could potentially ignite a .308 in your .30-06? Reverse polarity protection would be a nice feature to have, but its not being there shouldn't really be considered a flaw.
- The cool thing about these devices is that they can be repaired, relatively easily and cheaply by ordering a replacement board from the OEM. Because they used COTS (commercial, off the shelf) electronics, if the end-user burns their board, they can order and install a ready replacement without even involving the manufacturer. Can you say this about your HP printer, Fuji camera, or iPhone?
Lets take your comments one at a time.
1, Your assessment seems predicated on an assumption that VS won't fix an rDNA w/ burnt board. As far as I can tell, they only say that it would not be fixed under warranty. Considering that they offered convenient battery replacement for the DNA, I don't think it's unreasonable to assume that they will offer to fix burnt rDNAs, even if it is $125 or whatever.
Reply. I have read or heard (review video) that VS will not replace the boards. Call them and ask. Replacing a battery and replacing these boards is a whole different proposition.
2,I wouldn't necessarily call the lack of reverse polarity protection a "flaw". Is it a flaw that you can accidentally fill your $400 4-stroke chainsaw with gasoline, or that you could potentially ignite a .308 in your .30-06? Reverse polarity protection would be a nice feature to have, but its not being there shouldn't really be considered a flaw.
Reply. Not fair comparisons. A flat top battery is really easy to put in backwards. Today's electronics are at a place where reverse battery protection isn't that difficult to do. Most chinese DNA clones have it. I own a cheep chinese DNA 30 clone and it has it.
3, The cool thing about these devices is that they can be repaired, relatively easily and cheaply by ordering a replacement board from the OEM. Because they used COTS (commercial, off the shelf) electronics, if the end-user burns their board, they can order and install a ready replacement without even involving the manufacturer. Can you say this about your HP printer, Fuji camera, or iPhone?
Reply. Yes you can buy an eVOLV DNA30 board. However have you looked inside your rDNA at the circuit boards? The DNA30 is soldered to the daughter board (charger) and then soldered to the usb port. The average user is going to do all of this small soldering? I don't think so.
I'm not trying to get into a pi**ing contest here. Okay so maybe not having reverse battery protection isn't a flaw but a bad business decision. All I know is that it isn't difficult to do and is a no brainer in my mind. The main point I was making is DON'T PUT THE BATTERY IN BACKWARDS.
1, Your assessment seems predicated on an assumption that VS won't fix an rDNA w/ burnt board. As far as I can tell, they only say that it would not be fixed under warranty. Considering that they offered convenient battery replacement for the DNA, I don't think it's unreasonable to assume that they will offer to fix burnt rDNAs, even if it is $125 or whatever.
Reply. I have read or heard (review video) that VS will not replace the boards. Call them and ask. Replacing a battery and replacing these boards is a whole different proposition.
2,I wouldn't necessarily call the lack of reverse polarity protection a "flaw". Is it a flaw that you can accidentally fill your $400 4-stroke chainsaw with gasoline, or that you could potentially ignite a .308 in your .30-06? Reverse polarity protection would be a nice feature to have, but its not being there shouldn't really be considered a flaw.
Reply. Not fair comparisons. A flat top battery is really easy to put in backwards. Today's electronics are at a place where reverse battery protection isn't that difficult to do. Most chinese DNA clones have it. I own a cheep chinese DNA 30 clone and it has it.
3, The cool thing about these devices is that they can be repaired, relatively easily and cheaply by ordering a replacement board from the OEM. Because they used COTS (commercial, off the shelf) electronics, if the end-user burns their board, they can order and install a ready replacement without even involving the manufacturer. Can you say this about your HP printer, Fuji camera, or iPhone?
Reply. Yes you can buy an eVOLV DNA30 board. However have you looked inside your rDNA at the circuit boards? The DNA30 is soldered to the daughter board (charger) and then soldered to the usb port. The average user is going to do all of this small soldering? I don't think so.
I'm not trying to get into a pi**ing contest here. Okay so maybe not having reverse battery protection isn't a flaw but a bad business decision. All I know is that it isn't difficult to do and is a no brainer in my mind. The main point I was making is DON'T PUT THE BATTERY IN BACKWARDS.
Fair enough. I suppose I can understand their being unwilling to replace the board. And, to my third point, I do realize that replacing the board is not a quick operation for your average end user, but a board could be purchased and taken to your average PC repair shop and have it put in if you are not comfortable to do it yourself. I pulled the back off mine the day I got it and gave the wiring a quick once over. If mine fried, I could order a new board from evolve or fasttech and put it in in an hour or so, and I am by no means an electronics expert.
Bottom-line: If your VS fries, tossing the chassis in the trash is not a foregone conclusion.
I argue that its actually a perfect comparison. Gasoline will pour into my chainsaw's tank just as easily as 4-stroke mix will, and a .308 round will feed into my .30-06s chamber with no indication that I did anything wrong. If I run the chainsaw, it will burn the jug. If the extractor holds the .308 round and it touches off, it could hang the bullet in the throat and blow the thing up and kill the operator.
Putting an 18650 in backwards is no easier or harder to do than either of the described mistakes.
Avoiding putting an 18650 in backwards is exactly as easy as avoiding either of the described mistakes - look at the label on the battery / gas can / headstamp, and follow the manufacturer's caution.
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You win. Vape on
Dude, this wasn't a fight.
I'd love to have reverse battery protection, I was just saying that I don't consider the VS flawed because it doesn't have it, and I wouldn't just throw out a VS if the board burned up. In fact, if anyone goes to throw theirs away, I'll pay the shipping to send it to me.
Totally random comment. I pull my battery up off one of the terminals while leaving it in the device. Grab my other battery hold it next to it make sure the polarity and markings are all matching pull out the one to recharge and put the other one in.
No, not yet. Still says processing, and I haven't gotten a shipping email.
That's what prompted me to call them all day yesterday, is because my order ON vaporshark.com says 'Complete.' So they've already taken my money. And gave me a tracking number. But they haven't sent it to UPS yet or UPS hasn't picked it up. They've just had the shipping label since 08/22/14.
I usually do the same thing.
With flat tops, I can do it by feel alone.
One end will have a smaller diameter opening in the over-wrap in my experience.
Same logic I use to put flat tops in the charger the right way.
That would be frustrating. I have resolved myself to the wait, and at least they added the sharkskin to my order. Originally, they said I would have to cancel and reorder which would have put my order to the back of the line. I had a Brick and Mortar shop sell me some fake VTC5s. I figured it out and confronted them. Same owner that makes the Tug Boat. That was bugging me too. I was after them for two weeks about it. They kept saying they would get some authentic ones to replace them. Finally, I got the cash back from them last night which was a relief.
It IS frustrating, but VS assured me that once they get this next shipment in I'll start seeing movement on it. I bought a VTC4 from our B&M the same day I ordered it but from what I can tell it isn't fake. What made yours stand out as fake?
Baditude posted a fake vs authentic link from sun-vapers.
How to spot a fake Sony VTC5 battery
Mine matched the fake. The most obvious was the raised negative.
Right on. Mine has the flat negative which is good, but the QC code looks dark and It has an iffy seam. Meh.
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