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Dovpo Topside broke 4 of my batteries

So I got the Dovpo Topside about 2 weeks ago, since then 4 of my batteries died. Last two batteries died with an audible pop and the device immediately turned off. I measured the batteries voltage and they are all showing about 150mV soo they're dead for sure. Two were Samsung 18650 that I used for another device. They were somewhat old, I switched on to them when two newer ones died which were less than a year old (Samsung 40t). I bought them from Nkon which is a trusted site. They were both used prior to the dovpo and they worked fine. This is most certainly the fault of dovpo since all of them died while being used in the mod. At first I thought that the charger was killing them so I bought a new charger but the other batteries died as well.

I dont know what to do. Should I contact the dovpo at [email protected] or some other email? I heard their customer support is abysmal.
 

wildgypsy70

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Huh. That’s definitely odd. I have one and it’s glorious! Mind you, I’m using 20700’s but I’ve never had a problem with the mod itself.

Have you google foo-ed the problem to see if others have had the same issue? Or checked Reddit/ELR forum? If someone else had the same issue, I’m sure it got bitched about.
 

Vape Fan

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So I got the Dovpo Topside about 2 weeks ago
Instead of Dovpo, I think 30 days is the usual website/etailer warranty on a mod, if they have one. I'd start there(after the google-foo:giggle:).

You might have to get creative on telling them what went wrong. When they hear the word batteries, they can get sketchy thinking you might not have authentic, recommended amps, married, etc, you know---the right batteries, the right healthy batteries.
 

ajvapes

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What atty and build are you using?
What is the resistance?
What wattage are you using?
What setting do you have the topside set on?
I am using a 40t in my TS right now...
 
Huh. That’s definitely odd. I have one and it’s glorious! Mind you, I’m using 20700’s but I’ve never had a problem with the mod itself.

Have you google foo-ed the problem to see if others have had the same issue? Or checked Reddit/ELR forum? If someone else had the same issue, I’m sure it got bitched about.

Yeah, I googled a bit and found a load of people complaining about the mod leaking and killing the board. Could be somehow connected. Could have somehow messed with the voltage regulator inside. I dont want to open it too see if there's a leak though just so I dont void the warranty or something.

What atty and build are you using?
What is the resistance?
What wattage are you using?
What setting do you have the topside set on?
I am using a 40t in my TS right now...

PulseX, dual coil, 0.6 ohm coils 50W (wattage controll). It is way under the spec of the battery. I got another 18 Amps of headroom. It should be okay. Im on my last battery, fuck me man.

Instead of Dovpo, I think 30 days is the usual website/etailer warranty on a mod, if they have one. I'd start there(after the google-foo:giggle:).

You might have to get creative on telling them what went wrong. When they hear the word batteries, they can get sketchy thinking you might not have authentic, recommended amps, married, etc, you know---the right batteries, the right healthy batteries.

I feel like this is dovpo's problem and could be potentially dangerous. This has never happened on any other mod I have used. Those batteries dont even have internal fuses so something very weird is happening.
 
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Vape Fan

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Instead of Dovpo, I think 30 days is the usual website/etailer warranty on a mod, if they have one. I'd start there(after the google-foo:giggle:).

You might have to get creative on telling them what went wrong. When they hear the word batteries, they can get sketchy thinking you might not have authentic, recommended amps, married, etc, you know---the right batteries, the right healthy batteries.
I feel like this is dovpo's problem and could be potentially dangerous. This has never happened on any other mod I have used. Those batteries dont even have internal fuses so something very weird is happening.
Since the place you bought it from didn't make the mod, then yes. But most companies are going to first refer you to a store warranty if one is in effect. The store may answer a phone, or an email much faster than a manufacturer. If the store says contact the manufacturer, then you have ammo if the manuf says contact the store.

Did you buy it used?
 
Since the place you bought it from didn't make the mod, then yes. But most companies are going to first refer you to a store warranty if one is in effect. The store may answer a phone, or an email much faster than a manufacturer. If the store says contact the manufacturer, then you have ammo if the manuf says contact the store.

Did you buy it used?

Nope I bought it new. I will still have to contact the manufacturer just to see if they will be willing to compensate me for the damaged property (my batteries). Thats on them.

do the batteries look damaged ?
No. They are fine, no tears no nothing.

Anyway what I gather from this is that the internal CID of the battery popped. Its basically internal mechanical fuse that these batteries have. It must be that.
 
from what i understand, they don't have a fuse.

No electronic one but they have a CID which acts as a permanent mechanical fuse that break the circuit when the pressure in the cell rises above some threshold point. Once they pop its over for the battery. Almost all round batteries have them.
 
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Vape Fan

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I took a little interest in looking into any protection(s) built into the batteries that most revel as the best for us vapers.
I remember just after starting to vape, that MXJO had 18650 that they said had internal protection.
These days I haven't heard of protected batteries being preferred. Even if it was just a CID.
I do see "unprotected" listed at times, depending on battery - the site - or if there's even anything to indicate if it's somehow protected or not.
Doesn't mean there aren't protections not listed or that I don't know about. I just always understood that the battery protections were (or can be) built in to regulated mods and to a degree unregulated. And with mech you are your own battery safety.
Here's what I found on 40T.
(unprotected) https://www.imrbatteries.com/samsung-40t-21700-4000mah-35a-battery/

Samsung 40T Datasheet
 

SteveS45

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Nope I bought it new. I will still have to contact the manufacturer just to see if they will be willing to compensate me for the damaged property (my batteries). Thats on them.

Most Warranties cover the device and never any incidental damages incurred by the user.
 
I took a little interest in looking into any protection(s) built into the batteries that most revel as the best for us vapers.
I remember just after starting to vape, that MXJO had 18650 that they said had internal protection.
These days I haven't heard of protected batteries being preferred. Even if it was just a CID.
I do see "unprotected" listed at times, depending on battery - the site - or if there's even anything to indicate if it's somehow protected or not.
Doesn't mean there aren't protections not listed or that I don't know about. I just always understood that the battery protections were (or can be) built in to regulated mods and to a degree unregulated. And with mech you are your own battery safety.
Here's what I found on 40T.
(unprotected) https://www.imrbatteries.com/samsung-40t-21700-4000mah-35a-battery/

Samsung 40T Datasheet

I thought that regulated mod is all the protection it has, but now as Im looking more into it they seem to have a load of protections. But yeah I was confused when I read that datasheet and saw no mention of the fuse or any protection and only way I could explain what happened is with a fuse. I saw it listed as unprotected, I assume they are talking about external protection, like those protection boards you find on some cells and yeah nobody wanted those because they were always rated for low currents like 8 amps.

I managed to reset the fuse though. I just cut of the tab on the top of it and pushed the plate underneath which made the contact again. Its reading 4.5V now but its trashed, even if it isnt I'd have thrown it away. I much prefer my balls not charred.

I guess that answers the question of what happened to the batteries. Now the question is what caused it. The charger or the Dovpo?
Im just not convinced it was the charger because I used it for sometime and all 4 of the batteries died in succession in past 3 days while using the mod. Unless something failed in the charger making it overcharge and stress the battery then the discharge gave the final blow. I guess I'll just use the mod to charge the last living battery until new ones arrive and if survives then I guess it was the charger.

Most Warranties cover the device and never any incidental damages incurred by the user.

You're confusing two different things. Warranty is for the device, but if their device suddenly lights on fire and cause someones house to burn down then thats another thing. These are just a few 5 buck batteries but the idea is the same. Anyway you never know, I got nothing to lose by asking.
 
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Jinx'd

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No electronic one but they have a CID which acts as a permanent mechanical fuse that break the circuit when the pressure in the cell rises above some threshold point. Once they pop its over for the battery. Almost all round batteries have them.

if they had them then batteries wouldn't be blowing up.
 

Vape Fan

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I thought that regulated mod is all the protection it has, but now as Im looking more into it they seem to have a load of protections. But yeah I was confused when I read that datasheet and saw no mention of the fuse or any protection and only way I could explain what happened is with a fuse. I saw it listed as unprotected, I assume they are talking about external protection, like those protection boards you find on some cells and yeah nobody wanted those because they were always rated for low currents like 8 amps.

I managed to reset the fuse though. I just cut of the tab on the top of it and pushed the plate underneath which made the contact again. Its reading 4.5V now but its trashed, even if it isnt I'd have thrown it away. I much prefer my balls not charred.

I guess that answers the question of what happened to the batteries. Now the question is what caused it. The charger or the Dovpo?
Im just not convinced it was the charger because I used it for sometime and all 4 of the batteries died in succession in past 3 days while using the mod. Unless something failed in the charger making it overcharge and stress the battery then the discharge gave the final blow. I guess I'll just use the mod to charge the last living battery until new ones arrive and if survives then I guess it was the charger.
IK this isn't your first rodeo, but since for others I can't use this info without my own firsthand knowledge, maybe you can show a pic of what you did(sounds dangerous) or post any source of this "protected" info as it applies to your or any top tier mainstream battery used for vaping?
 

SteveS45

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You're confusing two different things. Warranty is for the device, but if their device suddenly lights on fire and cause someones house to burn down then thats another thing. These are just a few 5 buck batteries but the idea is the same. Anyway you never know, I got nothing to lose by asking.

I must disagree because most warranties state terms like these and you are confused.

upload_2020-3-11_13-2-18.png
 

MyMagicMist

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if they had them then batteries wouldn't be blowing up.

IK this isn't your first rodeo, but since for others I can't use this info without my own firsthand knowledge, maybe you can show a pic of what you did(sounds dangerous) or post any source of this "protected" info as it applies to your or any top tier mainstream battery used for vaping?

Well, I mean if a battery is going to blow up it'll blow up. This is akin to if someone desperately wants you dead, you'll get dead. That aside I did find this information.

18650 batteries sold in the US are required to have CID and PTC protection.
 
IK this isn't your first rodeo, but since for others I can't use this info without my own firsthand knowledge, maybe you can show a pic of what you did(sounds dangerous) or post any source of this "protected" info as it applies to your or any top tier mainstream battery used for vaping?

Here I attached some images for you. This is the other battery. I measured voltage before and after pushing down on the dimple you can see in the third image. From my understanding the pressure inside pushes it up and it breaks the contact like that. Its not really dangerous to do this as long as youre not using it after. I found a nice image of sliced 18650, you can see everything nicely on it.

I must disagree because most warranties state terms like these and you are confused.

View attachment 156772

I guess it really dependes on what the product is and the damages and if you could prove it was their fault. At least in the US people can sue anyone for anything and they do. Im probably just wasting my time on writing mails but whatever.
 

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SteveS45

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Not sure if it is the pictures or not but it sure looks like there is some pitting on the top of that battery IMO. Possibly from arcing?
 

Syythe

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Some chargers have a switch to set the end voltage. Have you checked to make sure your charger is set to finish at 4.2v?
 

bobnat

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Yeah, I googled a bit and found a load of people complaining about the mod leaking and killing the board.

I have 4 Topsides, 3 are in constant use for over 10 months, at least. Addressing the issue above, I found that if you fill it up too much, you'll get leaking. It happened to me early on with one of them. It started acting wonky so I let it sit for a week hoping it would dry out. Since then I've not had a single problem. The largest issue with the Topside is not being able to see the top fifth of the bottle. I understand that having a 10ml bottle is a selling point, but not if it's going to leak into the board. My rule is I fill it up to where I can see it on the cutout. I give it one last small squeeze and stop. It's maybe 7-8 mls but I'm fine with that and not having to worry about killing the mod.
 

inspects

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Not sure if you have the same problem, but I had a squonker custom made which had a poor ground, it killed batteries overnight. Sent it back to the modder, he fixed it, but I'm not sure what he actually did, but I could ask.
 

MyMagicMist

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The largest issue with the Topside is not being able to see the top fifth of the bottle. I understand that having a 10ml bottle is a selling point, but not if it's going to leak into the board. My rule is I fill it up to where I can see it on the cutout. I give it one last small squeeze and stop. It's maybe 7-8 mls but I'm fine with that and not having to worry about killing the mod.

Perhaps similarly along that vein of thought, I seem to continually over squonk the Gorge RDA on the Topside Lite. Not faced this issue with other squonking mods. Then, I've probably also not quite gotten used to silicone bottles. Though, I agree it's rough too not seeing the top of the bottle to know when you got it full. Maybe they can keep that in mind for a new version, possibly have a transparent section to let us see the top of the bottle.
 

bobnat

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Perhaps similarly along that vein of thought, I seem to continually over squonk the Gorge RDA on the Topside Lite. Not faced this issue with other squonking mods. Then, I've probably also not quite gotten used to silicone bottles. Though, I agree it's rough too not seeing the top of the bottle to know when you got it full. Maybe they can keep that in mind for a new version, possibly have a transparent section to let us see the top of the bottle.

That would be a great fix to a great mod.
 

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