Warning: Dovpo emech battery short

[mpkeith]

I had my battery short yesterday while I was holding on to my E-mech, had it been sitting where I wouldn't have felt the heat building up, it would probably have been very bad.

Here is the message I sent to Dovpo which will explain what happened:

I have an E-mech with V2 firmware purchased approximately 2 months ago. I have been using it daily with no issues until yesterday. I had the device in my hand and noticed it was getting warm. I looked at the display and it appeared to have an odd glow. I then smelled something burning, I opened the battery door and saw that the battery spring on the right side was glowing bright orange. I immediately dumped the batteries and avoided any severe damage.

It appears that the spring came into contact with the metal divider in the battery case which caused a short. I can send pictures through email or would be willing to send the unit to you.

Please contact me as soon as possible at the email address provided in this form.

Regards,
E. Jason Keith

Sent from right here...

 

[crxess]

Care to Share a Pic?

Oh, and the Springs are Ground side - Check your Center pin function and Positive Battery Pins. That Glowing spring was simply catching all the load.

 

[eratikmind]

Good to read that you noticed it time and you met no harm, mpkeith.

 

[1buda]

Please post up pictures. I just checked mine and the spring is touching the divider.

 

[mpkeith]

Best picture I could get... But from what I can gather the outermost coil contacted the back of the divider/frame.

Thanks, I'm just worried that somebody else might not be so lucky, had this been in my cargo pocket I wouldn't have noticed...

Sent from right here...

 

[1buda]

Thanks for the picture. One of the springs does compress down while the other doesn't. I'm going to take it apart to see if I can maybe isolate the springs with something. I don't use mine as much, but it only takes one time to go "BOOM". Please keep us update on your email you sent.

 

[mpkeith]

Prior to the overheating both springs were fine. Certainly the high temperature caused the spring to become permanently compressed.

I'd definitely get the exposed frame area covered with some electrical tape or similar. Heck, I'd cover all of the exposed metal in the battery area. I'm not going to use this one again obviously.

When I get a reply from Dovpo I'll update here.

Sent from right here...

 

[AzPlumber]

Is the positive side not isolated from the battery tray?

 

[crxess]

That spring did not cause the issue. It caught the brunt of the heat from whatever shorted.

The 2 Lugs are the positive contacts. Check the connections behind those and again, inspect the center pin connection.

The spring did its job as best possible and collapsed. It is now worthless and would need to be replaced.

 

[mpkeith]

Here is the email I received... No idea if this will result in any future design improvements but at least they are willing to replace it. Although I'm not sure if I really want to use this device again...

{MOD EDIT - removed contents of email}


Sent from right here...

 

[mpkeith]

That spring did not cause the issue. It caught the brunt of the heat from whatever shorted.

The 2 Lugs are the positive contacts. Check the connections behind those and again, inspect the center pin connection.

The spring did its job as best possible and collapsed. It is now worthless and would need to be replaced.

I will have to take a closer look at the interior to see if I can see anything that looks as if there was any contact from the battery.

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but some part of the positive side of the battery (lugs, center pin, or exposed wire etc) would have to be in contact with the frame of the mod AND the spring also needed to be touching the metal frame? I'm just guessing here, but the short occurred at the spring; the spring completed the circuit (right?) if there had been an exposed wire for example, the wire would have completed the circuit and heated up? The center post is after the switch so even if it was touching something it would only heat up if the button was pressed.



Sent from right here...

 

[AzPlumber]

I will have to take a closer look at the interior to see if I can see anything that looks as if there was any contact from the battery.

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but some part of the positive side of the battery (lugs, center pin, or exposed wire etc) would have to be in contact with the frame of the mod AND the spring also needed to be touching the metal frame? I'm just guessing here, but the short occurred at the spring; the spring completed the circuit (right?) if there had been an exposed wire for example, the wire would have completed the circuit and heated up? The center post is after the switch so even if it was touching something it would only heat up if the button was pressed.



Sent from right here...

Not necessarily, The spring would act like a coil if there is a short anywhere within the device. Not sure what type of spring is used in the EMech but a safety spring is designed to collapse in the event of a short anywhere. When the spring collapses the battery is no longer able to make contact at both ends.

 

[mpkeith]

Not necessarily, The spring would act like a coil if there is a short anywhere within the device. Not sure what type of spring is used in the EMech but a safety spring is designed to collapse in the event of a short anywhere. When the spring collapses the battery is no longer able to make contact at both ends.

So the spring would heat up to the point of glowing red? When I opened the battery compartment the spring looked like a stove burner and the battery was very hot.

I never knew that the springs were designed to be a safety precaution (although it makes sense), so I'm interested in knowing more about how they're supposed to function....

Sent from right here...

 

[AzPlumber]

So the spring would heat up to the point of glowing red? When I opened the battery compartment the spring looked like a stove burner and the battery was very hot.

I never knew that the springs were designed to be a safety precaution (although it makes sense), so I'm interested in knowing more about how they're supposed to function....

Sent from right here...

Here's a post that describes what a hot spring is and how they work. Yours may not be by design a safety (hot) spring but it sounds like you had a hard enough short that it acted like one.
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/new-members-forum/558459-what-hot-spring.html#post13010286

 

[mpkeith]

Here's a post that describes what a hot spring is and how they work. Yours may not be by design a safety (hot) spring but it sounds like you had a hard enough short that it acted like one.
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/new-members-forum/558459-what-hot-spring.html#post13010286

Awesome, thanks AzPlumber!

Well tonight I'll email the seller on eBay that I got this from and go from there. It was in a new shrink wrapped box, not used. So no worries there.

I've looked over the battery compartment and I don't see any evidence of where the battery could have made contact with the case. The positive side is clean and no signs of overheating. There's no odor of burnt electronics either. If the seller on eBay doesn't want it back I'll open it up and see what's inside.

I'm really bummed cuz this was my favorite VV/VW mod ever. Not that it's an issue right now; but I'm wondering if I should even get a replacement.... I'm open to opinions on that point.

In all my years of vaping I've only had one mod that got hot at all and that was a fairly cheap mechanical one. So this kind of freaks me out...

Sent from right here...

 

[Peter_C]

Just a thought? Am *not* trying to stir the pot or be a troll here. My username is really me.

This thread (and other stories like it) is why I bought and use a ProVari. All things made by man run the risk of failure. But because my vape 'tools' are close to me at most times, and near my hands and face, I am trying to do what I can to minimize the risk to me. I do realize that buying from ProVape does not assure me that nothing bad will ever happen, but in my opinion it does lower the risk.

Please take this post in the spirit in which it is meant - I am not trying to create an issue, just honestly sharing my thinking on this matter.

For the same reason, I am very choosy about where and who I buy my batteries from - a known vendor "RTD", and buying what I hope to be the safest choice in batteries too. The same for my charger.

Most all of us came to vaping as a form of 'harm reduction'. This too would include the devices we choose to use to vape with. I also own and love my 'Billet Box', which is another very well designed and made product. If I was a 'squonker', a 'REO' would be in my hands as well.

I know nothing about this device, or who makes it. I have no 'skin in the game', so am not trying to upset anyone. Just using this real-life event to point out a fact that we all ought to consider.

 

[mpkeith]

Just a thought? Am *not* trying to stir the pot or be a troll here. My username is really me.

This thread (and other stories like it) is why I bought and use a ProVari. All things made by man run the risk of failure. But because my vape 'tools' are close to me at most times, and near my hands and face, I am trying to do what I can to minimize the risk to me. I do realize that buying from ProVape does not assure me that nothing bad will ever happen, but in my opinion it does lower the risk.

Please take this post in the spirit in which it is meant - I am not trying to create an issue, just honestly sharing my thinking on this matter.

For the same reason, I am very choosy about where and who I buy my batteries from - a known vendor "RTD", and buying what I hope to be the safest choice in batteries too. The same for my charger.

Most all of us came to vaping as a form of 'harm reduction'. This too would include the devices we choose to use to vape with. I also own and love my 'Billet Box', which is another very well designed and made product. If I was a 'squonker', a 'REO' would be in my hands as well.

I know nothing about this device, or who makes it. I have no 'skin in the game', so am not trying to upset anyone. Just using this real-life event to point out a fact that we all ought to consider.

I certainly take no offense to your post. I have had a Provari, I got mine when there was still a months long waiting list. I loved it. Excellent build and materials, a US company who started the variable output explosion in our world. Provape is in a class all their own.

I also agree that batteries (as well as any other supplies) should always come from a reputable seller. That includes internet, B&M, eBay, Amazon and so on. Look at good and negative reviews. Examine pictures, and so on. Follow your instincts and don't buy if you're not absolutely sure about what you're buying.

I generally read reviews or do some sort of research before I buy anything vape related (and most other 'hardware' items). I am not going to spend my hard earned dollars on an inferior or dangerous product. I purchased this item because A.) the product seemed safe and well built. B.) it would be what I wanted at a lower price for a similar item. C.) the eBay seller had numerous positive reviews across multiple sales. D.) Why would I spend $20+ at some vape specific on line retailer when I can get the exact same thing for much much less.

Anyhow, I appreciate your input and insight. I think it is very sound advice that we buy from reputable vendors who sell reliable items...

P.s. I almost wish I used atomizers because I've seen a couple Billet Boxes and they're amazing devices.... I can truthfully say I (personally) have not seen a better built device.

Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using Tapatalk

 

[mpkeith]

I apologize to anyone who was looking for more information about this problem... Work and the rest of life has been pretty hectic lately.

So, I contacted the eBay seller and he was more than happy to help me out. Of course now it has been a few weeks or so and the e-mech is still sitting on my dresser waiting for me to get to the post office and ship it off. However, the weekends mysteriously vanish before I can get to the post office.

In the meantime I've replaced all of my older batteries and have decided to go back to my tried and true Magneto...

Hopefully I can get this out in the mail by this Friday.

Sent from right here...

 

[classwife]

Moved to Variable Voltage APV Discussion from General Vaping Discussion