Why is my Protege so...wimpy?

[geeker]

My Protege puts out very weak vapor. Fresh batt, broken-in-but-not-old atomizer, HV juice, high nic juice, cleaned and detailed the unit, nothing works to get this thing to work right. It was fine when I got it. A nice little vape, it was. Now my laser mod kicks it's ..... What can I do to help it along?

 

[Dilutetrips]

Try a diffrent attie. I have had some last weeks (4) and still acted like it was new. I have had atties that last a few days. I belive atties are a very strange item with no way to tell how long they will last. I have had times where I go to bed and the attie was working great. Woke up in the am and put attie back on and nothing. Gremlins love to mess with atties.

 

[lotus14]

My Protege puts out very weak vapor. Fresh batt, broken-in-but-not-old atomizer, HV juice, high nic juice, cleaned and detailed the unit, nothing works to get this thing to work right. It was fine when I got it. A nice little vape, it was. Now my laser mod kicks it's ..... What can I do to help it along?

If the atty's not the problem, how are you cleaning it? I was using rubbing alcohol and wiping everything back down. I thought my batts were already going - a stock batt vaped better! Turns out the rubbing alcohol wasn't doing job with the brass connectors. I just used a pencil eraser to really scrub the brass battery contacts on BOTH sides of the switch and the adapter. Good as new

 

[geeker]

I cleaned it with 80% ethanol. I'll give the eraser a try. Maybe a new atty, too.

 

[lotus14]

I cleaned it with 80% ethanol. I'll give the eraser a try. Maybe a new atty, too.

The ethanol I was using was 91% and still left a residue. I had to keep scrubbing the black off the eraser onto my jeans to keep cleaning the brass!

The easy test for your atty is if it works well on the laser mod (or even a standard batt - same 3.7v) it should work on your protege.

I've read Brasso is good to use also. I wonder if it leaves a protective coating so you don't have to clean the contacts so often. Anyone?

 

[Beer Man]

yes brasso, neverdull, and other metal polishes will typically leave behind a faint oily residue. Best way is to simply give it a try and see what happens. I spent 8 years in the Navy and went through a ton of the stuff. Just don't touch it after polishing it.

 

[NekoGurrl]

I just use a fine emery board to clean my contacts. Wipe it off with a little everclear. and good to go. Took some time on Thursday to clean both my Prodigy's and my protege. Went as far as polishing my Prodigy adapters, and clean up the machining marks on my Protege's switch housing. All bright and shiny now, and vaping up a storm.

 

[LuckySevens4U]

Weird mine has been doing the same thing. It's not working like it was at first. I've been vaping on regular battys lately. My stuff all looks clean, battys charged, even a brand new 510 atty and it's so sluggish and not working well.

 

[eclypse]

Could it be the threads on the Protege? Cant remember the name now but i've read plenty of times on other mod threads to use some anti-seize (lube) on the housing threads to clean them and lube them up.. Its made for electronics so it will also help make a good clean connection.

EDIT: Heres the info..

Main threads:
For trouble free operation and smooth battery changes it is recommended to clean the main threads once a week with a soft cloth. Be sure to not leave anything behind. A small particle can cause big headaches when trying to change a battery.
I strongly recommend an anti-oxidant/galling compound. I personally use NOALOX, a product sold in most hardware stores including LOWES. It is a product made by IDEAL and it can be found in the electrical isle. Only use it on the main threads to prevent galling/seizing. To apply it simply use a small dab on a q-tip and apply it to the male threads. Work the compound into the threads by screwing and unscrewing the top and bottom. After it is worked into the threads wipe off the excess with a soft cloth. There are several other conductive lubes/anti-oxidants that can be used, this one is the most economical at $2.98 for .5oz.

 

[LuckySevens4U]

Ya, I've got to try something because it's just not working, freshly charged batty, pretty brand new atty, and just no vapor hardly and sluggish. It's just not doing it like it used to at first.

 

[LuckySevens4U]

Everything looks clean and I've used a q tip and all that, so what next? You can hear the atty it's just so sluggish and stuff and if I put the same atty on a regular 510 batty it is all loud. I have brand new batteries also.

 

[Hellen A. Handbasket]

Lucky did you try pushing up the switch a bit?

 

[LuckySevens4U]

Let me try that.

 

[LuckySevens4U]

Okay now the whole switch is apart. lol I am NOT technical and hate this crap. So how do I get this put back together? lol

 

[LuckySevens4U]

Do I slide the silver button thing in first and then push the switch up into it?

 

[LuckySevens4U]

okay figured it out got it back in lol now let me try again. You put the 2 together and then just slide down. Pretty intelligent for an idiot. lololololol OMG I hate technical crap.

 

[LuckySevens4U]

Okay this is WEIRD now that I put it all back together, it's cranking again. OMG so what did I do to fix it? lol Something must have not been making contact correctly and now it is? cool. I'm a rocket scientist now. OMG LOL

 

[LuckySevens4U]

WHAT a difference! Now it's working like it did when I first got it! Atty sizzling and massive vapor. It seriously hasn't been working right for a week or more now and I put it on the back burner cuz I was frustrated with it. Now it's like awwwwwwwww again!

So I took the whole switch out and everything just came apart and I put it together and back in and now it works like a charm, so what could have been wrong or caused this?

 

[LuckySevens4U]

I think we should start a thread Proteges for dummies. I'll be the President. :-(

 

[LuckySevens4U]

Casey is going to be so proud of me. lol Oh well, at least I know how to use a crock pot. hehehehehehehehehe