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SZX RDA Short

ScReWbALL

Silver Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Been using (and loving) my SZX RDA and SZX Mod, but picked up some replacement posts (Anvils) for the RDA and haven’t been able to use it since. Took everything apart, replaced the posts with the upgrades, reassembled the exact way it was and I’m cooking batteries off in the tube with no power going to the coils and if I put the RDA on a regulated mod it just reads “Atomizer Short”. Loosened and tightened everything up...same result. Got pissed and said fuck it and just went to put the original posts/Anvils back in and put it back together...still reading Atomizer Short and if I put it on the SZX Mod it does nothing and if I hit the fire button, the battery starts overheating in the tube again with no power going to the coils. The insulators are still brand new and not fried, but I went ahead and replaced them with the spares that came with the setup anyway, just in case. No damage to any of the screws or connections or evidence of any arcing anywhere...just curious if anyone else has had this issue and how to fix it.


You're not drinking water are you?! You realize that stuff is found in antifreeze!?!
 

Mykreign

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Member For 5 Years
Damn that sucks :( you have any pics?

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
 

The Cromwell

I am a BOT
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Sounds like a messed up or lost insulator or improper reassembly.

In any case it sucks.
 

ScReWbALL

Silver Contributor
Member For 4 Years
I’m at work and left my tool to loosen the screw posts to pop the coils out, so here’s the rundown with pics without being able to take the coils out.
As you can see it’s not your typical center 510 pin with insulator around it with the other post milled into the deck like most all other RDA’s out nowadays.

528ef855151be5aa4fc4f39c71e5b70b.jpg

RDA deck with posts and insulators removed
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Bottom View of posts with (new) insulator
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Side view of posts with new insulator
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Screw inserted and tightened securing one post to deck
18b9fc9f821dee3ba4b917b15374c222.jpg
a96de257e078c287f721048ed0c7fe1a.jpg

Bottom panel that the other screw securing the other post to the deck attaches through (top and bottom)
94a5a4f3fc49a056c26590a739d8ef57.jpg

Bottom plate attached and secured with screw attaching other post to RDA deck
e8f8f3aa972f5eb2254acc10fae5384d.jpg

Deck rebuilt and everything seated properly and no wiggling, all insulators in place. No fire going to the coils and battery immediately starts getting incredibly hot as soon as fire button hit (or reads Atomizer Short on regulated device)


You're not drinking water are you?! You realize that stuff is found in antifreeze!?!
 

zephyr

Dirty Pirate Meg
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I’m at work and left my tool to loosen the screw posts to pop the coils out, so here’s the rundown with pics without being able to take the coils out.
As you can see it’s not your typical center 510 pin with insulator around it with the other post milled into the deck like most all other RDA’s out nowadays.

528ef855151be5aa4fc4f39c71e5b70b.jpg

RDA deck with posts and insulators removed
6f3cb10448f8128c3f4306742da740da.jpg

Bottom View of posts with (new) insulator
509c7339539688856fef41265f0b51c2.jpg

Side view of posts with new insulator
3f3d4f27fc1746bf1ac2dfbf2e879f69.jpg

Screw inserted and tightened securing one post to deck
18b9fc9f821dee3ba4b917b15374c222.jpg
a96de257e078c287f721048ed0c7fe1a.jpg

Bottom panel that the other screw securing the other post to the deck attaches through (top and bottom)
94a5a4f3fc49a056c26590a739d8ef57.jpg

Bottom plate attached and secured with screw attaching other post to RDA deck
e8f8f3aa972f5eb2254acc10fae5384d.jpg

Deck rebuilt and everything seated properly and no wiggling, all insulators in place. No fire going to the coils and battery immediately starts getting incredibly hot as soon as fire button hit (or reads Atomizer Short on regulated device)


You're not drinking water are you?! You realize that stuff is found in antifreeze!?!

Starting small and simple, checked inside your mech tube and got a nice clean battery wrap?

Is this metal peeking through the PEEK or just a shiny spot:
Screenshot_20180122-191055.png

Talking about those two curves outside the hole
 

zephyr

Dirty Pirate Meg
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Been using (and loving) my SZX RDA and SZX Mod, but picked up some replacement posts (Anvils) for the RDA and haven’t been able to use it since. Took everything apart, replaced the posts with the upgrades, reassembled the exact way it was and I’m cooking batteries off in the tube with no power going to the coils and if I put the RDA on a regulated mod it just reads “Atomizer Short”. Loosened and tightened everything up...same result. Got pissed and said fuck it and just went to put the original posts/Anvils back in and put it back together...still reading Atomizer Short and if I put it on the SZX Mod it does nothing and if I hit the fire button, the battery starts overheating in the tube again with no power going to the coils. The insulators are still brand new and not fried, but I went ahead and replaced them with the spares that came with the setup anyway, just in case. No damage to any of the screws or connections or evidence of any arcing anywhere...just curious if anyone else has had this issue and how to fix it.


You're not drinking water are you?! You realize that stuff is found in antifreeze!?!

Also, looking at the design pics, tiny gauge wire could get above the clamps and stuck up there...but then you said your old posts short now too? Ugh
 

MrMeowgi

The Vapin' Drummer
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Maybe a burrito when you screwed or unscrewed something. I honestly have no idea just a thought

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
 

ScReWbALL

Silver Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Also, looking at the design pics, tiny gauge wire could get above the clamps and stuck up there...but then you said your old posts short now too? Ugh

Yeah, here are the new posts/clamps/Anvils whatever you want to call them disassembled and reassembled. You twist the grub screw which push the silver “rod” that lays sideways down, which pinched the lead between the rod/bar and anvil...neat idea because your entirely lead is making connectivity
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And with the bottom view you see where the screws go that secure the posts to the RDA deck.
bf2ad2010f1791964a43e0f00f8a6ebc.jpg


You're not drinking water are you?! You realize that stuff is found in antifreeze!?!
 

ScReWbALL

Silver Contributor
Member For 4 Years
What’s really sucking right now is that my RR2 RDTA is my fallback, but I snapped the pin in it the other night and didn’t think to ready another mod/RDA when I started swapping these posts out at home and then I ran out of time and had to come to work. So, I’m on hour number 6 without being able to vape, which is 6 hours without nicotine, which is not making me a kindler, gentler person...but more like an edgy asshole that’s likely to kill someone because they are breathing too loud. And with another 2 hours and 10 minutes to go...ugh, I dunno...might be going to jail if anyone comes in and legitimately pisses me off, because I’m out of hiding places for bodies at the moment.


You're not drinking water are you?! You realize that stuff is found in antifreeze!?!
 

Don29palms

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Member For 3 Years
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First thing is quit using that on a tube mech mod withoit checking it first before you have a battery blow up.
 

zephyr

Dirty Pirate Meg
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What’s really sucking right now is that my RR2 RDTA is my fallback, but I snapped the pin in it the other night and didn’t think to ready another mod/RDA when I started swapping these posts out at home and then I ran out of time and had to come to work. So, I’m on hour number 6 without being able to vape, which is 6 hours without nicotine, which is not making me a kindler, gentler person...but more like an edgy asshole that’s likely to kill someone because they are breathing too loud. And with another 2 hours and 10 minutes to go...ugh, I dunno...might be going to jail if anyone comes in and legitimately pisses me off, because I’m out of hiding places for bodies at the moment.


You're not drinking water are you?! You realize that stuff is found in antifreeze!?!

Shouldn't there be something to insulate the screw that attaches the negative post to the deck, between the screw and the anvil? I see peek inside those screw holes but not between the screw and the anvil
 

ScReWbALL

Silver Contributor
Member For 4 Years
It’s hard to tell in the pics, but that’s why there is two pics of the “bottom disc”...the flip side of that disc is entirely peek insulator. Shiny silver one one side and all peek on the other.
ea782b8c352013be68f90fdbef88939b.jpg
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You can see the peek a bit along the edges of the silver side

You're not drinking water are you?! You realize that stuff is found in antifreeze!?!
 
Last edited:

ScReWbALL

Silver Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Oh damn. I guess I need to proof read more often. A burr is what I meant to type. Like from the threads of screw or pilot hole itself. Burrito sheesh

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

I knew what you meant, but you still made me kinda hungry, for real, lol.


You're not drinking water are you?! You realize that stuff is found in antifreeze!?!
 

MrMeowgi

The Vapin' Drummer
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I knew what you meant, but you still made me kinda hungry, for real, lol.


You're not drinking water are you?! You realize that stuff is found in antifreeze!?!
I had a burrito for lunch from moes Southwest grill today oddly enough.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
 

Brad Mitchell

Silver Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Member For 3 Years
Shouldn' there be an insulator for the screw when it goes through the hole? I see flat insulators but there is an area of metal inside the holes that the screw could be touching the screw could have shifted and hitting the side.
 

ScReWbALL

Silver Contributor
Member For 4 Years
There was no peek insulator around that screw that I saw when disassembling it and it’s been working fine since Christmas. There were duplicates of all peek insulators in the “extras” bag (that I just opened today for the first time) and there’s no spare peek insulator given that would fit that area. All videos and pics of the device show no peek insulator around that area, and on their website where you can order spare parts there is no peek insulator for sale and the extra spare goodies bag that you can purchase that comes with the RDA doesn’t appear to have another peek insulator for that area in any of the pics of that bag on their site.
But, I’m willing to concede that it’s possible that during disassembly maybe the peek insulator fell out and I didn’t notice it and I’ve yet to find it and there was an oversight in the goodies bag where a duplicate insulator for that part was left out. Is there anyone with this particular RDA that could check theirs and see if I, in fact, did drop and lose the insulator and there isn’t a spare or if theirs doesn’t have an insulator around that screw as well...that would actually solve the problem for me and I know to contact them and ask about that particular part rather than going crazy trying to figure out what the hell is going on with this thing over here.
@CrazyChef v2.0 if you’re around, didn’t you pick one of these up or were you just trying one out when I noticed a post where you were not a fan of the acrylic tip and picked up some chuff’s?


You're not drinking water are you?! You realize that stuff is found in antifreeze!?!
 

CrazyChef v2.0

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I never did get the short version (though I do want one, along with the new SZX/Shorty mod they just came out with not too long ago). But it's definitely shorting out somewhere. I'll look at one of my regular SZX RDAs (construction is the same) later on and compare to your pics to see if anything is different.
Sounds like a messed up or lost insulator or improper reassembly.

In any case it sucks.
Quite possibly. Or maybe a cracked insulator?
 

ScReWbALL

Silver Contributor
Member For 4 Years
I never did get the short version (though I do want one, along with the new SZX/Shorty mod they just came out with not too long ago). But it's definitely shorting out somewhere. I'll look at one of my regular SZX RDAs (construction is the same) later on and compare to your pics to see if anything is different.

Quite possibly. Or maybe a cracked insulator?

The “short” in the topic was meant as the Atomizer shorting out...it’s the standard RDA and mod, not the mini or shorty. I noticed that just now right before you replied and was about to change the topic name, lol...guess I’ll leave it now though. And many thanks if you could take a look. I’ve got an email into SOI as well.
If there is supposed to be an insulator there it has got to be the thinnest one I’ve ever seen as there is not even a hint of a wiggle or any visible room for an insulator to fit...
5ab526da3c8c6a68fe9a478a8847b7f1.jpg
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You're not drinking water are you?! You realize that stuff is found in antifreeze!?!
 
Last edited:

CrazyChef v2.0

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Does this happen when you use the 510 adapter on a standard mod, or only with a direct connection to the SZX mod?
 

ScReWbALL

Silver Contributor
Member For 4 Years
It happens when the 510 adaptor is being used and during Hybrid Mode with the szx Mod. I know it’s user error on my part somewhere, I just have no clue where as i replicated how it was put together and even broke out the goodie bag and used the unused insulators and such when this problem began in case the problem was due to a defective insulator.


You're not drinking water are you?! You realize that stuff is found in antifreeze!?!
 

Brad Mitchell

Silver Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Member For 3 Years
There is a picture of the bottom of the deck when you screwed in the negative post. It showed the positive hole being really small is it possible the screw is shorting to the deck? That is where I would think an insulator should be actually in the hole.

The positive plate has a flat insulator and the positive post has a flat insulator but nothing in the hole.

What also has me confused is the bare deck showes a huge positive hole. Although when you put the negative post on it appears to be much smaller with a recessed hole.
 

ScReWbALL

Silver Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Here’s the Assembly process I’ve gone through on it step-by-step with pics...it’s a strange setup, so, I think that may be where some of the confusion is coming from and maybe someone sees a glaring problem I’m missing
a417591471cd29b007d3fb4c5a7945fc.jpg
All Components disassembled. Long Screw, Short Screw, 2 posts/Anvils, peek insulator that goes between the posts, peek insulator that goes on the bottom of one post, bottom plate (one side metal, other side peek), RDA Deck
ef2455c081f59e7821272edda8b85fe5.jpg
i take the deck
dd16bee5ccd0e27667fa602b5610a19a.jpg
Insert peek insulator
4cb5f6b4f53882b8e304ecaa5afe40aa.jpg
snap post into peek insulator (top view)
21a291bbfb56f5351892d2f621fcfbb7.jpg
Bottom View
658b041df86a5e48c0ea8f172dd45264.jpg
Insert Short Screw into the bottom, through the peek insulator and into the post and tighten
80e276ecb38f1a546e537fca67a365f5.jpg
place peek insulator in recessed section of the side of the post
2443cc89317c3e712a089b57683f3c0b.jpg
place other post in place, making sure peek insulator between them snaps in place
cc914501287f58c21728d50bddb70388.jpg
bottom plate (metal side)
46ce5017da76c509838c5dba932be4a7.jpg
bottom plate (peek side)
0d179adb3bb2bdb7c39a346a53da560b.jpg
insert bottom plate and line the holes up with the hole in RDA deck where other post sits
afe0193b339eb115039680c499a46eeb.jpg
insert long Screw (no peek insulator goes here) through bottom plate and through RDA deck into post and tighten down
8b034162162730bc9f3b02f0cf6bfd0f.jpg
Fully Assembled RDA


You're not drinking water are you?! You realize that stuff is found in antifreeze!?!
 

zephyr

Dirty Pirate Meg
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It happens when the 510 adaptor is being used and during Hybrid Mode with the szx Mod. I know it’s user error on my part somewhere, I just have no clue where as i replicated how it was put together and even broke out the goodie bag and used the unused insulators and such when this problem began in case the problem was due to a defective insulator.


You're not drinking water are you?! You realize that stuff is found in antifreeze!?!
Is it possible to swap the screws around?
 

ScReWbALL

Silver Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Is it possible to swap the screws around?

I did that as well. It had a spare long and short screw. I tried with the original screws, then tried the spare screws, tried putting the long Screw into the Short Screw hole and visa-versa, tried using only the Short Screw and replacement Short Screw (not even using the long screw) and tried using only the long Screw and replacement long Screw (not even using the Short Screw)...same result in all applications
0f90756b12a0d58f63bebf94fff39d5c.jpg

Oh, and here is the 510 adapter
6b339c61ae4c8b52a27049f5444de45c.jpg

732a7cf967de6a124ae3d58819bba201.jpg

And a pic of RDA with 510 adapter screwed into place
e91758744d9d0923b1a6dde62ba607d9.jpg



You're not drinking water are you?! You realize that stuff is found in antifreeze!?!
 

ScReWbALL

Silver Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Success! I have absolutely no idea why this worked, but in the spirit of doing things backwards (or switching things around) I installed and tightened down the anvil that does not have a peek insulator at its bottom first and then placed the anvil with peek insulator on the bottom (and side) and tightened it down...finished the rest of the Assembly and put it on a mod...”Check Atomizer” rather than “Atomizer Short”...considering there was no coil in place, I knew why it was saying Check Atomizer. Mounted a coil and got a read on it .18 for a single Alien and it fired no problem. Stripped it all down again and put the new upgrade Anvils in using the same process (tightening down the bare anvil before tightening the insulated anvil) and its working like a Top now!
Why the hell the order in which the screws gets tightened makes any difference whatsoever I have absolutely no clue, but I’m not gonna stare a gift horse in the mouth!
Thank you everyone for your assistance in this matter...I have a tendency to give up and toss something to the side and let it collect dust when I can’t figure it out, but in taking everything apart and putting it back together again multiple times to take pics and stuff, in order to respond to comments with visual aids, it kept me tinkering with it rather than giving up in disgust.
Time to mount some new coils and play with coloring them a bit and continuing to enjoy this awesome Mech/RDA Combo!
Oh, and shall we have a moment of silence for the poor coils that perished....
4326bfbeee9c136aeef98433972c7918.jpg



You're not drinking water are you?! You realize that stuff is found in antifreeze!?!
 

zephyr

Dirty Pirate Meg
VU Donator
Gold Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Unlisted Vendor
Success! I have absolutely no idea why this worked, but in the spirit of doing things backwards (or switching things around) I installed and tightened down the anvil that does not have a peek insulator at its bottom first and then placed the anvil with peek insulator on the bottom (and side) and tightened it down...finished the rest of the Assembly and put it on a mod...”Check Atomizer” rather than “Atomizer Short”...considering there was no coil in place, I knew why it was saying Check Atomizer. Mounted a coil and got a read on it .18 for a single Alien and it fired no problem. Stripped it all down again and put the new upgrade Anvils in using the same process (tightening down the bare anvil before tightening the insulated anvil) and its working like a Top now!
Why the hell the order in which the screws gets tightened makes any difference whatsoever I have absolutely no clue, but I’m not gonna stare a gift horse in the mouth!
Thank you everyone for your assistance in this matter...I have a tendency to give up and toss something to the side and let it collect dust when I can’t figure it out, but in taking everything apart and putting it back together again multiple times to take pics and stuff, in order to respond to comments with visual aids, it kept me tinkering with it rather than giving up in disgust.
Time to mount some new coils and play with coloring them a bit and continuing to enjoy this awesome Mech/RDA Combo!
Oh, and shall we have a moment of silence for the poor coils that perished....
4326bfbeee9c136aeef98433972c7918.jpg



You're not drinking water are you?! You realize that stuff is found in antifreeze!?!

Right on man. Glad you kept the spirit of troubleshooting alive.
 

Zohmbiebuilds

Silver Contributor
Member For 3 Years
f6f795e7e90950a8f62b2b4f8f476bdd.jpg
57791915950cbb940ec809a6dba33930.jpg

Maybe not the prettiest girl at the prom, but I’ll be damned if she doesn’t put out....big clouds that is


You're not drinking water are you?! You realize that stuff is found in antifreeze!?!
I'm happy to see you succeed brother. I get irritated when things don't work. It's by far the most annoying pet peeves I've got. So I know how you feel

Sent from my Z981 using Tapatalk
 

Zohmbiebuilds

Silver Contributor
Member For 3 Years
I'm happy to see you succeed brother. I get irritated when things don't work. It's by far the most annoying pet peeves I've got. So I know how you feel

Sent from my Z981 using Tapatalk
That's actually a clever deck. How do the "anvils" help. More connectivity? What are they made of, and is it just another deck change option. Let me know I'm interested as hell.



Sent from my Z981 using Tapatalk
 

ScReWbALL

Silver Contributor
Member For 4 Years
That's actually a clever deck. How do the "anvils" help. More connectivity? What are they made of, and is it just another deck change option. Let me know I'm interested as hell.



Sent from my Z981 using Tapatalk

ef03acc3b0ad125f1a9311fab9317aa4.jpg

The grub screws on top of the post pushed down a metal rod that’s laid sideways. So you’re entire lead is making contact even on really thick builds rather than a single screw just pinching part of the lead. It’s not a deck changing RDA, it just has the ability to remove the 510 adaptor to where there’s a direct to battery hybrid connection when used in conjunction with the SZX tube mech. The mini version of the RDA doesn’t have that option. Never could find out what the original Anvils were made of, but the general consensus is Stainless. I ordered the silver plated copper Anvils to switch them out with...they also have bigger post holes.
050697adc729dccf45eddf0fbf45cd0e.jpg

Top set is original, bottom set are the upgrades.


You're not drinking water are you?! You realize that stuff is found in antifreeze!?!
 

Brad Mitchell

Silver Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Member For 3 Years
I haven' read everything but that' what I figured the negative needs to attach to the deck first the positive with the insulator attaches to the plate thing.
 

Brad Mitchell

Silver Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Member For 3 Years
I did a quick post before.

So:
the negative post actually touches the deck
It's attached by the first screw that you insert
Then the deck touches the side of the mod
The side of the mod goes to the switch
The switch completes the circuit to the negative side of battery.

Now to the positive post which can't touch the deck because it will cause a short

Positive post is on an insulator
The deck, I now see, has a larger hole as to not short on screw
Post Attaches to the plate thing by the screw
The plate thing touches the positive side of battery.

Hope that makes since.

As you now see the correct procedure is

Negative to deck and screw down
Positive with both insulators in place put on deck
Insert plate thing insulator side touching bottom of deck and screw into positive post
 

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