What should I troubleshoot first?

[adog2cats]

I bought my husband an e cigarette from an 800 number I heard on the radio. The starter kit arrived. It contains no information on model number or manufacturer. It is a white and blue (sky with clouds) package that looks like a hardpack of analogs. From what I've read on your fabulous forum, I think it's an M403. It came with little instructions. He used it for 24 hours. He's probably toking on it much like he toked on analogs.

He took it out to demonstrate it to friends and family and the end lit briefly and then 'died' and little 'smoke' was produced. We plugged it into the charger. The red indicator light lit and then went out after about an hour. Everything I read says the light should turn green or blue when the battery is charged. We have not seen it turn green or blue--only shut off. Is it charged?

We tried drying out the atomizer overnight. No improvement. We read about blowing into the atomizer end of the disconnected battery then recharging the battery. When he blew into it, it glowed red, went out, then flashed red twice. We plugged it into the charger, the red light came on, then went off after 30 minutes. It did not turn green.

We hooked it up again, toked on it and it appeared to work normally. Then a couple of seconds later the red light came on again (unprovoked), glowed for a couple of seconds, went out, then flashed twice.

We've read much about cleaning atomizers with alcohol, blowing, drying, draining, tapping and shaking the atomizer and/or battery.

Help! Where do we start?

 

[Kent C]

We've read much about cleaning atomizers with alcohol, blowing, drying, draining, tapping and shaking the atomizer and/or battery.

Help! Where do we start?

It isn't clear whether you're fully charging the battery. If you have, say, had the battery in the charger for over an hour and it still only works for a bit, then it is likely that you have an auto battery (no button) that has an internal switch that is vacuum or sound activated. And these auto batteries are the type that can rather easily get liquid in their switches. Try blowing from the LED end - there's usually some channel through the battery compartment that allows some air to get by - to see if you can get any fluid away from where the switch is internally. You could take a hair dryer to the battery but not at high heat.

If the switch is shorted then you'll need a new battery of course. If you get it running be careful not to overflow when refilling the cartridge and careful as to how you hold the ecig - not down so any fluid could run into the battery easily, for at least the first few drags.

The ultimate solution would be to get a manual battery where the switch is sealed from this happening.