electronic Cigarette Modification No1

One of the downsides of electronic cigarettes is the battery life, typically they say that you can get 180 puffs out of a single charge and it takes one hour to re-charge the battery from flat.

It is for this reason we electronic Cigarette users need to keep a stock of batteries so that we can have a constant 'Vaping' experience, there is constantly one 'On Charge'.

There are various people offering devices on the Internet - the generic name for anything like this is a 'Modification' for obvious reasons.

One of the most interesting for me was the 'USB Passthrough' this is perfect as you draw power from your PC via the USB socket that just happens to supply the voltage required by the cigarette (5v). The idea is great and the device is dead simple to construct but my PC's are far too important to me to even consider attempting to draw the required amperage from my motherboards.

If I loose a machine that means big trouble for me, customers wondering where I am - sales not being processed etc - too risky. Apart from anything else I don't want the expense of replacing a motherboard.

So, in my usual fashion I decided to find a solution to my power problem without the possibilities of future problems cropping up when least expected - and typically when involved in something crucial.

I have put together what I call a 'Universal Passthrough' - I used a White Board marker pen as the chassis, a Satellite coax connector and some bits from Maplin (Namely a 'Push to make' switch and a DC power socket).

Ladies & Gents allow me to present to you the brand new "UP1"

The power connector I have used is a common 2.1mm pin size which is used by many things including Laptops and Power Packs (Most Laptop Power Supplies will supply too much power so I will need to be careful what I do use when out and about).

Currently I have this connected to a 6v battery charger for a torch (Americans call these 'Wall Warts') - each time I press the button to complete the circuit the 'Wall Wart' lets me know that I have activated my device as the red 'Charged' light goes out.

That is the only thing missing from my new device - an LED to show when it is live.

To power this in the car I have a rather neat 'Flush Mounting' USB adapter for the Cigar Lighter socket - I made a simple USB - Jack cable which is excellent.

My next modification will be whats called a 'Box Mod' that is just a really powerful (3000Mah) Lithium-Ion battery in a box that willl be used to power the unit when no other power sources are available but I am waiting for parts for that one - I have everything Except the connector this particular electronic cigarette needs to connect the atomiser to the power properly.

Above is a bit of a rough solution (using that Coax Connector) and my next mod will be slightly more refined :)