Why is the PT so much better than a regular battery?

[scottro]

I'm a writer, not an electrical engineer, so this might be a stupid question. Why is my passthrough so much more effective than a regular battery? Even a brand new fully charged battery can't compare to the awesome power of my PT.

Is it just a higher voltage?

 

[nightwalker83]

Yes.... the new XL batterys are pretty close though, got one in the mail today it's great.

 

[Taryn]

Its not only higher voltage but also continuous high voltage, a battery wears down as you use it.

Blame catmommy, she got me wanting to use all the new kittys I found!

 

[scott58]

More power period. Not just volts, but amps also.

 

[Rockerella]

Ok, I'm using a Belkin power converter (wall power to USB)for my PT and I keep getting shocked! Not a huge - knock you over - shock, just enough to be annoying and a little... well.... shocking! What gives??

 

[Adrenalynn]

Consider a light bulb. A 100 watt light bulb is brighter and hotter than a 60 watt light bulb.

Volts * Amps = Watts.

3.7v * 1 Amp = 3.7 watts
5v * 1 Amp = 5 watts

This is assuming that both modes will deliver 1A and that's all the device wants. Assuming that's true, you're going to get at least 35% more wattage (heat is a function there-of) from a device delivering 5v into a 1A load vs a device delivering 3.7v into a 1A load.

So the upshot: More wattage = more complete vaporizing.

 

[leaford]

Sounds like your wall converter might be letting a bit too much juice get through. I notice the same thing whenever I'm in Thailand, there's always a little tickle of static electricity on all of my electrical devices that are plugged into the outlets.

 

[Adrenalynn]

Ok, I'm using a Belkin power converter (wall power to USB)for my PT and I keep getting shocked! Not a huge - knock you over - shock, just enough to be annoying and a little... well.... shocking! What gives??

Sounds like bad isolation. That's not terribly safe. I wouldn't continue using it. One nice thing about the PC's port is better isolation. But technically, any electrical device you're sticking in your mouth (or attaching to your body in any way) should have absolute isolation (opto-isolation is the way I'd design it). If the adapter is not well isolated, stop using it.

 

[Taryn]

Does it do the same thing when plugged into a computer Rockerella??? If not it might be a bad power supply? Or perhaps even a static problem but I'm no expert.

 

[CatMommy]

Blame catmommy, she got me wanting to use all the new kittys I found!

AWWWW...so cute!
I like this kitty much better Taryn...

Regarding Rockerella's problem, I don't think she was able to use the PT on the computer. Her USB port wouldn't supply enough power. That's why she bought the converter.

 

[Rockerella]

Regarding Rockerella's problem, I don't think she was able to use the PT on the computer. Her USB port wouldn't supply enough power. That's why she bought the converter.

Yes, that's true. My laptop is an older Mac and the USB ports don't seem to have enough juice to fire up the ol PT (or my digital camera or most other devices for that matter). And Leaford is correct, it's more like a static electricity charge than anything. I brought the PT to the office and it seems that it's fine plugged directly into my PC's USB port AND using the power converter here. I think the issue must be a bad power strip at home. I'll have to change that out, since my laptop is plugged into it, too! 8-o Or let it fry so that I can get a new one that I can use my PT with. J/K.

Thanks for all your help, guys!!

Sandi

 

[calla2]

Yes, that's true. My laptop is an older Mac and the USB ports don't seem to have enough juice to fire up the ol PT (or my digital camera or most other devices for that matter).

That's odd. I vape on my 2000 Mac powerbook G3 (Pismo) with no problems, also no problem powering any of my other usb devices (phone, camera, card readers, flash drives, battery chargers, PCC, etc.). In fact, I'm having a great vape on it right now. Might be a problem with that specific computer, I don't think that the age or brand has anything to do with it.

 

[scottro]

speaking of PTs not working in some ports, I bought this excellent USB adapter for my car (http://tinyurl.com/ygmmonu). It works great for charging my iPod and stuff, but it won't power my PTs. Any thoughts on that?

 

[calla2]

speaking of PTs not working in some ports, I bought this excellent USB adapter for my car (http://tinyurl.com/ygmmonu). It works great for charging my iPod and stuff, but it won't power my PTs. Any thoughts on that?

No product specs are provided by with tinyurl or bestbuy, but my guess is that it provides less than 1,000mA. Some folks have had luck getting their passthroughs to work with a usb adapter with as little as 800mA, but 1,000 is recommended for passthroughs to work properly (other devices requiring less power will work fine with it, as you have discovered). You can look at your adapter to see the actual mA rating.

 

[Pawpaw]

speaking of PTs not working in some ports, I bought this excellent USB adapter for my car (http://tinyurl.com/ygmmonu). It works great for charging my iPod and stuff, but it won't power my PTs. Any thoughts on that?

Try your local Wallgreen's. I have this one:

E Tek Dual USB Car Charger | Walgreens

The brand name on mine says "i-xt" and the upper left corner of the package is blue instead of yellow. It does 1000ma and works great.