Why I love my screwdriver.

[Lurker]

Had my S/D about 3 weeks now and I love it. Here are some reasons:

Battery Charge - I've never run one all the way down. I just put one on the charger when it is convenient. I charge one battery per day and I'm a heavy user. This is nice because you don't have to carry around all those batteries and constantly run 2 or 3 chargers. Also will come in handy when there is no power available like power outages and camping trips.

Battery Life - 3 weeks is too short to know for sure, but they should last a long time because they are not being tortured by trying to power something they are not matched for.

Parts Availability - Since they use 901 atomizers you have a lot of choices of places to buy. This is important because you are not stuck with one vendor and you can buy from geographically local places. The batteries and chargers can also be found many places and are inexpensive. In the US you can walk into any RadioShack store and buy them. I couple of days ago I dropped my S/D onto concrete and the switch became very hard to trigger. I had to use two hands to use it So I took it apart and looked on-line to see where I might get a new switch. Yeah I could of sent it back to the UK and waited 2 weeks but then I would be SOL for 2 weeks. I went to my local RadioShack and bought a new switch for less than $1. I did have to modify the switch slightly to get it all back together but it's working great

Customer Service - Trog is on top of it! He has always responded quickly and provided help and solutions when needed.

Vapor - Nuff said. Very consistent and you can get as much as you want.

 

[freddo]

looks like a bloody detonator lol

 

[just4747]

You got a red switch? That's weird, mine and everyone else's seems to be black! Both are cool though

EDIT: Oh just read the part about you switching it out lol...can you go over what you had to do to put the new one on? Cause I can see mine breaking in the future as it is a bit loose in there and has a little play in its housing.

 

[Chrissie]

I so want to try the Screwdriver

It's my birthday coming up soon so just have to check on finances & ask myself - am I worth it?

 

[Lurker]

You got a red switch? That's weird, mine and everyone else's seems to be black! Both are cool though

EDIT: Oh just read the part about you switching it out lol...can you go over what you had to do to put the new one on? Cause I can see mine breaking in the future as it is a bit loose in there and has a little play in its housing.

Here's the original switch:

And here's a new one:

Basically, you need to bend the prongs and connect one to the switch housing. It will make sense if you take yours apart.

 

[just4747]

But how do you do any work to the switch components inside the battery compartment? It's such a small and inaccessible area. Enlighten me hehe

 

[Lurker]

Take it apart. The switch unscrews from the battery compartment.

Disclaimer: Proceed at your own risk! I don't want to be held responsible if people break anything. The switch is meant to be a factory serviced item.

 

[just4747]

What is that switch called at RS? I saw a bunch and the closest to the SD one was the SPST momentary mini pushbutton switch, which was at least double the size lol. Couldn't find any smaller ones.. Also what are the contacts rated at? That one was 1.5A at 125vac/250vac.

 

[Lurker]

"SPST Mini Momentary Pushbutton Switch
0.5A at 125VAC, 0.3 at 50VDC"

That's what my packaging says. It's 1/4" thread. Make sure you get the "Normally open" or it will always be on

 

[just4747]

How can they have the same name when the one I saw is huge and wayy different looking assembly?

 

[Lurker]

Just ask for the standard detonator switch

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062540

But get the "Normally open version"

 

[dc2k08]

sorry, but what way does it screw out ? i mean where to you put your fingers ?

 

[just4747]

Yeah see they didn't have that one unfortunately..I'll have to check another RS. You found it in one of the Switch drawers with the different sections for each one inside?

That's weird, it says in stock in the store I just checked in...hmm...

 

[Lurker]

I didn't really mean for this to become a how to change your switch thread. I just wanted to share why I love my screwdriver. I mentioned the switch because I am very pleased that the S/D is not made with proprietary pieces. Trog is not going out of his way to force us to use his parts. I think that is part of what makes it "just work". That is what we want and that is what we get. I would not recommend taking your S/D apart for no reason. Mine was an emergency

p.s. It screws out into the battery compartment and yeah look in the drawers

 

[just4747]

Well I know that, but you aren't the only one with some tinkering/technical/modding skills...it's not rocket science and I've done a million similar things. Heck, half of us could make these things on our own but we choose not to. So no worries about me and my SD, I just wanted to know for the future just in case, again, considering the switch is slightly chipped and is a little loose feeling in its place. Like you said, proprietary pieces aren't used so in case something does happen, people like me who live in the U.S. don't necessarily have to send the thing back for a fix and wait 2 weeks for the turnaround.

Thanks though, I'll be able to find the switch now if I need it.

 

[dc2k08]

so what tool did you use to get down in there ?

 

[just4747]

Yeah good question, needle nose pliers don't really cut it, it's tough to get any grip to unscrew it from the inside, let alone screwing a switch back in from in there..hmm...must think...

 

[Lurker]

Ok twist my arm. I'm no scientist or engineer or whatever. I'm sure there is a tool that fits down that compartment, but I don't have one. You could probably just use a long small regular screwdriver haha or two and stick them in the notches and unscrew the switch by its adapter. That is not what I did. Many ways to skin a cat i guess. Use the needle nose pliers on the thing directly under the button. That will get it started and then you can work it out. But that is really the easy part. You still gotta mod your new switch.

 

[just4747]

By mod you mean bend one prong down on the center so that the battery touches it when inserted and the other down so it's touching the side of the button housing? That's easy stuff right??

 

[Lurker]

Not quite that simple sorry. Take out your original switch and look at it. The prong will not reach the metal switch housing. You have to complete that connection. The RS switches are crappier than trogs. I don't solder much, but I could not get a good connection to the housing. Also you gotta be able to get the adapter back on. I got mine to work. But I also have a new switch coming from the factory. It's been working great so far.