Workhorse and a hot battery...oh my!

[Robinowitz]

Firstly, I absolutely love my 18350 Workhorse "filly". We are inseparable when I am out and about.....and then something happened....

i had had done my usual maintenance to her topper (Svo KFL v2), placed it on my Workhorse and off we went for errands. A bit later, I reached in my pocket for her, took a Vape, noticed I wasn't getting a full hit and that the tube was warm. (I know, I know....but I do practice safe pocket practices!)... Anyway, I checked the battery which was very warm. I separated the bat from the mod and thanked my lucky stars that I learned early on to have "back-ups for your back-ups." As I was driving around, I figured that perhaps I needed a stiffer spring and that i had accidentally mis-fired the mod and that's why it got hot....

once home, I put the "cooled" battery on the charger and it read 3.9. I then put another fresh battery in the mod and got the same thing as before. I tried to Vape, weak vape and a warm tube and hot battery within seconds.....separated out again. Once cool, I metered the second battery and it was 4.0.

All looks well inside the tube (to my eye that is). The KFL works perfectly on another mod and is at 1.4.

Im stumped.......any thoughts? Thank you!

 

[Robinowitz]

No thoughts at all? I'm kind of baffled. Tried trouble shooting but.......

Bet it's something obvious....just not to me.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Wraith504]

kfl 510 connection not seating to the workhorse properly? Not really sure.

 

[Robinowitz]

kfl 510 connection not seating to the workhorse properly? Not really sure.

Thanks Wraith! That would account for the weak vape. I just don't get why both batteries ( 1 at a time) became hot. I wasnt hitting the button repeatedly. Fresh batteries, metering 3.9 & 4. afterwards.....
..hmmm.

A few moments ago, I decided to try it again. Another fresh battery and so far, so good. I keep checking the battery for warmth. Not exactly a relaxing vape time but really want to figure this out..... This isn't my first rodeo. Had another weird occurrence w another mod a week or so back. Must be in the air. Luckily, was able to sort it out. These forums and US mod makers are so helpful.

Just had another thought: perhaps I should post this to the KFL plus thread tomorrow.

 

[Wraith504]

Thanks Wraith! That would account for the weak vape. I just don't get why both batteries ( 1 at a time) became hot. I wasnt hitting the button repeatedly. Fresh batteries, metering 3.9 & 4. afterwards.....
..hmmm.

A few moments ago, I decided to try it again. Another fresh battery and so far, so good. I keep checking the battery for warmth. Not exactly a relaxing vape time but really want to figure this out..... This isn't my first rodeo. Had another weird occurrence w another mod a week or so back. Must be in the air. Luckily, was able to sort it out. These forums and US mod makers are so helpful.

The bad connection is what causes the heat i believe.

 

[Robinowitz]

I think I'll separate the workhorse and KFL for the night and rebuild the KFL tomorrow and see if any of the KFL folks have a thought too.
Thanks again Wraithe!

 

[snork]

The KFL has an adjustable pin, correct? Have you checked that the pin protrudes a bit beyond the 510 connector? I know sometimes I have to readjust them.

 

[twgbonehead]

If the KFL is at 1.4 ohms, you don't have a bad connection, you have a short somewhere in the mod. Perhaps a shard of metal in the 510 connector, or something similar.

 

[Robinowitz]

If the KFL is at 1.4 ohms, you don't have a bad connection, you have a short somewhere in the mod. Perhaps a shard of metal in the 510 connector, or something similar.

I think you might be onto something TWG. I don't see anything out of the ordinary (specs and magnifying glass). Any thoughts on how I might disassemble or clean near the 510? Perhaps it has worked itself out because I was able to use it with the KFL last evening for a few minutes without heating up the battery. Still concerned though. Not wanting to be an alarmist but hot batteries concern me. Thanks.

 

[forcedfuel50]

You likely have short somewhere in the system. To clean out the top cap post well where the atomizer screws in, just use a bit of dishsoap and a toothbrush to get down in there, sometimes debris down in there can cause a short. Check your battery for any rips in its wrapper. Lastly, check your rba/rda, though it may work on another device, if the problem lies in the post, it may act differently on a different mod (such as if its adjustable and screwed up too far in it may be allowing the center pin of the top cap to short against the cap).

 

[Robinowitz]

You likely have short somewhere in the system. To clean out the top cap post well where the atomizer screws in, just use a bit of dishsoap and a toothbrush to get down in there, sometimes debris down in there can cause a short. Check your battery for any rips in its wrapper. Lastly, check your rba/rda, though it may work on another device, if the problem lies in the post, it may act differently on a different mod (such as if its adjustable and screwed up too far in it may be allowing the center pin of the top cap to short against the cap).

Thank you for the clear directions! Did all of the above with these results:
No rips in any battery I used. The 510 connection was sticking out. Yesterday evening i tried it again and had no problem. I rebuild the KFL and noticed one of the legs might be touching the non-metal dealie on the deck but doubt that would have caused the problem. (It was firing fine on WH last evening and ProVari earlier).
Gave the top cap a bath with a toothbrush and dish soap. Didn't see anything obvious but all it takes is something minuscule.
Am feeling better about the situation. I have much respect for safety. I so appreciate everyone's input. Hope my situation can help others.
So, if I'm reading this correctly, sounds like a short caused the heating of the battery?

Very happy to have my "filly" back. Great mod!

 

[forcedfuel50]

Yes, a short will cause your battery to heat extremely fast.

 

[Robinowitz]

Thanks. A good day is a day I learn at least one thing

 

[Nach]

Also, you mentioned that your "fresh" batteries had 4.0 and 3.9 volts. To me, those are not fresh batteries and they may have been overdischarged if they aren't filling up to 4.2v. Food for thought...

 

[Robinowitz]

Also, you mentioned that your "fresh" batteries had 4.0 and 3.9 volts. To me, those are not fresh batteries and they may have been overdischarged if they aren't filling up to 4.2v. Food for thought...

Thanks Nach. so with AW IMR's, I ought to be watchful if they don't charge to 4.2? I've been looking for a benchmark. I understand about watching for batteries that lose their charge quickly (which is a PIA when out and about) but this could take the guess work out of it. I also have a couple Efests. 4.2 as well?

Don't know if this is helpful, but the readings were taken after the batteries heated up so they might have discharged. Nonetheless, I'm still curious about "fresh" readings.

 

[Nach]

Yes, all Lithium based 3.7v batteries charge to 4.2v when fully charged. This goes for all brands. If you find your battery does not charge up to 4.2v and/or see a quick discharge and a quick charge would indicate that your cells are damaged and should be replaced.

 

[Robinowitz]

Chrystal clear Nach! Thanks for taking the time to pass this along.
Good evening!

 

[snork]

I can certainly see a shorted 18350 go from 4.2 to 3.9 in nothing flat, so the fact that you caught it so quickly is a very good thing. At 3.9 I don't think there's any possibility you damaged the batteries.
Is everything functioning correctly now?

 

[Robinowitz]

I can certainly see a shorted 18350 go from 4.2 to 3.9 in nothing flat, so the fact that you caught it so quickly is a very good thing. At 3.9 I don't think there's any possibility you damaged the batteries.
Is everything functioning correctly now?

It sure is Snork. Just like before. . You know, I've been carrying it around in my front pocket (with lots of security measures of course) and the first time the short happened, I thought.....uh oh, no more pocket mod for me. It was a pretty hot day but geez, that tube got HOT quick! Perhaps a speck of something got on the 510 connection. After the cleaning and trouble shooting from some fine Super T folks, I'm feeling more at ease. Dang, I like this little mod.

I am considering getting the stiffer coil just for peace of mind. Any thoughts, fellow pocket carrying person?

 

[snork]

I think the stiffer spring might afford a little more security, but not much. If something's going to getcha it'll getcha. I've tried the stiffer spring in lots of different Super-T equipment and always go back to the lighter one. I like its response much better.

I hesitate to endorse carrying an unlocked mod in a pocket under any circumstances knowing how foolish people can be. Fool that I am I can say that the WorkHorse has been absolutely safe in my front jeans pocket every single day *unless* I have absent mindedly left some other object in that pocket. The pocket has to be devoted only to my WorkHorse. I can do that.