Is my Vamo V5 broken maybe ? Need vape send help... lost... scared...

[dutchdubs]

Been happily lurking on here til now! Finally caved tho since I'm not sure what to do about my Vamo V5 (less than 2 months old) has now been acting super crazy so maybe someone on here can shed some light on what to do to fix it... or if I should even try?

Basically been working more or less great for the past two months the only two issues I have are 1) sometimes shuts off randomly 2) sometimes will display 0 Ohms if the atomizer is overtightened... both annoying but tolerable issues... now onto the real issue...

As of today... every time i put any atomizer of any sort on top of it the vamo does a few things: the shaft get's really hot really fast, it emits a burning plastic type odor, and the atomizer fires automatically regardless of whether I am pressing the fire button or not. So far whenever this happens... which btw is EVERY time I put an atomizer on it... I unscrew the bottom and pop the battery out for fear of what might happen next...

So, Is this thing completely unusable now? Does anybody know of a fix? Ideas about what went wrong?

Using an IGO-W rda w Panasonic NCR18650B batteries.... usually have been keeping it between 10-15W and builds at 1.5-2.0 ohms.

 

[Dzaw]

She's cooked. Has a hard short in either the wiring or the board.

Now are you ready for the bad news? It is quite plausible you've ruined the batteries you've tried in it by shorting them. Without the wherewithal, know how, and tools to test, I personally wouldn't use them anymore. Damaged cells may not show any outward sign of trouble, but could nonetheless light up while charging or in use.

 

[Rickajho]

Well you mentioned the overtightening/zero ohms problem. There is a possibility that you have pushed the center post on the VAMO so far in that it's created a chronic short. When you look straight down into the 510 connector does the center post still look like it's where it should be? And surrounded by the o-ring? If yes, you can try pulling the center post straight up a bit, grabbing it with a pair of slant tweezers. However if it looks like the center post is 'missing' - out of place and down inside the VAMO it's going to take disassembly to fix it.

This is all assuming that a pushed in center post is the source of the problem. If there is a short on the circuit board itself then the thing is toast.

 

[Sthur]

Hello, sorry for all your problems, you can possibly replace the top cap to see if it helps.

https://www.ecigaretteimpressions.com/accessories/vamo_body_parts.php

 

[dutchdubs]

Thanks for your replies! Center post appears to be fine and can indeed be pulled up with tweezers. Not sure what's going on inside tbh. Having a fair amount of trouble actually removing the top cap and investigating further as it appears to have been forged in the fires of hell. If it's a wiring issue could definitely try and possibly resolder but not sure it's worth it for a ~$25 mod that now smells like lightly roasted PCB.

It is quite plausible you've ruined the batteries you've tried in it by shorting them. Without the wherewithal, know how, and tools to test, I personally wouldn't use them anymore. Damaged cells may not show any outward sign of trouble, but could nonetheless light up while charging or in use.

Damn, luckily just got some new batteries in the mail... So, is there any 'acceptable' amount of times batteries can be shorted before they become unstable like that? I've already had them left in my charger overnight to no ill effect... but guessing we can't just assume they're in the clear?

Definitely a learning experience as even though the vamo is supposed to have a built-in protection circuit it suddenly feels not so 'safe' if/when the board has a short. Ultimately, feeling like there's not much I could have done if the board is indeed faulty. But could something else have caused this? Reading about people having issues with their springs in the vamos. And other accounts of batteries going bad from touching metal while in your pocket or bag etc. But could those issues somehow lead to a permanent short like that?

 

[Dzaw]

Thanks for your replies! Center post appears to be fine and can indeed be pulled up with tweezers. Not sure what's going on inside tbh. Having a fair amount of trouble actually removing the top cap and investigating further as it appears to have been forged in the fires of hell. If it's a wiring issue could definitely try and possibly resolder but not sure it's worth it for a ~$25 mod that now smells like lightly roasted PCB.



Damn, luckily just got some new batteries in the mail... So, is there any 'acceptable' amount of times batteries can be shorted before they become unstable like that? I've already had them left in my charger overnight to no ill effect... but guessing we can't just assume they're in the clear?

Definitely a learning experience as even though the vamo is supposed to have a built-in protection circuit it suddenly feels not so 'safe' if/when the board has a short. Ultimately, feeling like there's not much I could have done if the board is indeed faulty. But could something else have caused this? Reading about people having issues with their springs in the vamos. And other accounts of batteries going bad from touching metal while in your pocket or bag etc. But could those issues somehow lead to a permanent short like that?

A built in protection circuit is all fine and dany if the chip is operating as designed. A short can bypass the safety features of even the best boards, though, so, yeah, I wouldn't use this.

The problem with the batteries isn't about how many times they can be shorted and still be good - any time you short a battery you -could- damage the cell. That doesn't mean you did, but it's not a risk I would take with my own gear.

There are a few ways these sorts of things can be damaged, and they can manifest differently. Having left them in a charger overnight doesn't make them safe, it's entirely plausible that they will vent while discharging instead of while charging. Or even worse, sleeper cells, which work just fine for a week, or a month, then BAM.

 

[daleron]

Welcome to ECF, make yourself right at home

Sorry to hear about your troubles, hope you have something else you can use

 

[Bunnykiller]

check out Fasttech.com for the SVD by Itaste....... sounds like the Vamo is toast

 

[dutchdubs]

There are a few ways these sorts of things can be damaged, and they can manifest differently.

Hmm ok so are there any best practices for avoiding battery shorts and chip shorts? Can having a bad RDA build cause a battery short or strain the protection circuit? Or are you just at the mercy of the manufacturers in these situations and can at best only 'hope' that it won't fail?

 

[Necrotic]

Hmm ok so are there any best practices for avoiding battery shorts and chip shorts? Can having a bad RDA build cause a battery short or strain the protection circuit? Or are you just at the mercy of the manufacturers in these situations and can at best only 'hope' that it won't fail?

A bad RDA coil is usually what causes a short. Usually the short occurs from the coil touching something it shouldn't (IE the top cap or the wall of the RDA). Honestly I'd look for a new mod maybe pick up an Istick as they are the most used mods currently. If you're looking for something with replaceable batteries I honestly don't know what you'd be looking for for that but do your research. Also I don't recommend using the Panasonic 18650B batteries. Try and find the Panasonic 18650PF or PD batteries as they are safer chemistry than the A/B batteries.

 

[dutchdubs]

Gotcha. Thanks for the recommendation. Was using those batteries because I read the Vamo needed an unprotected battery and heard some people recommend them for their long life. Anyways, grabbed a Sigelei 150 watt model and some Samsung 25r's so hopefully will have better luck with that set up.

 

[Susan~S]

Anyways, grabbed a Sigelei 150 watt model and some Samsung 25r's so hopefully will have better luck with that set up.

Your Sigelei 150 watt mod needs 30A batteries, not 20A (especially if you are going to vape at 100+ watts).

Get yourself a pair (or two) of Sony VTC4 2100mah 30A batteries from RTD Vapor and marry them.

BATTERIES - WHERE TO BUY

Only buy batteries from a reputable supplier (not ebay or Amazon) as there are many counterfeit batteries being sold. Here are several reputable battery suppliers in the US.

* RTD Vapor
* Illumination Supply
* Lighthound
* Orbtronics

 

[dutchdubs]

Your Sigelei 150 watt mod needs 30A batteries, not 20A (especially if you are going to vape at 100+ watts).

Ok thanks gonna grab a pair of VTC4s now from RTD. But can I use the Samsung's for now if I stay under the 20 Amp limit? wasn't really planning on going up that high... at least not right away. Just excited to be breaking through this 15W ceiling I've been stuck under

 

[Susan~S]

Ok thanks gonna grab a pair of VTC4s now from RTD. But can I use the Samsung's for now if I stay under the 20 Amp limit? wasn't really planning on going up that high... at least not right away. Just excited to be breaking through this 15W ceiling I've been stuck under

Yes.

.........