Vamo switch repair

[osdset]

I purchased a used Vamo from a member on here a few weeks back. I knew there had been some trouble with the fire button but I wasn't expecting to find all three buttons kaput!

The fire switch has no plastic button left, it fell out as I removed the board, the switch itself is knackered all the innards have been compressed and it no longer works. The two wattage/voltage up-down buttons look OK but they have both had it as well

A new bottom switch wasn't a problem, I had a few the right size in my reclaimed bits box, but finding tactile switches the right size and configuration for the top buttons was becoming a mission. They measure 4x4mm but most small tactile switches are 6x6mm, way too big.

I found a board from an old car hands free wireless unit that had some small tactile switches, they were the right size but only had two leads instead of four, however four connections aren't really needed as the switch connect the top pads as a pair with the bottom pads, so as an experiment I soldered them diagonally across the pads.


Soldering components this small is a mission and I managed to bridge the pads in the centre so I had to scrape away the solder bridge with a scalpel blade, the fire switch also needs the square button cutting off so everything will fit.
I fitted the board back into the tube and held it all together roughly while I installed a 18350 battery, the display flashed when I screwed the bottom cap on, and I got the system startup message when I pressed the fire button five times, both up/down switches actually worked!

I took a quick vape at 8.5 watts just to make sure! I now have a working Vamo instead of a rather expensive paperweight!

If anyone needs the tiny switches Farnell do suitable ones ALPS - SKQYAAE010 - SWITCH, TACTILE, SMD, 1.57N.

[Pepperty]

wow! nice job, your handy aren't you! glad to hear you have it up and running

[Deleted]

Good job... just incase you need to go through the same mission again you can buy the vamo board from fasttech for about 6 quid and i think its stealth vape that sells the legit buttons..... just incase you didnt know...lol

[ronaldo]

I have genuine new switches for the up and down buttons and have replaced a lot for members on here I wont give names out who I have fixed them for but I can assure you that the switches are available

[VapingBad]

Well done osdset, I like someone who can fix things without the correct/original parts especially if they recycle from the scrap box, never give up. If you went on Farnell or RS who have the biggest ranges and spent an hour finding the right switches most of the time with min order quantities and shipping it's not usually cost effective. Especially if you can get the complete board for £6 and a new Vamo for less than double that.

[osdset]

Jul 7, 2014 21:56:23 GMT @agenthoover said:

Good job... just incase you need to go through the same mission again you can buy the vamo board from fasttech for about 6 quid and i think its stealth vape that sells the legit buttons..... just incase you didnt know...lol

Arrgh! I did a quick search on Fasttech and Focalecig for spare boards and came up empty, obviously didn't search hard enough.
However I enjoy fixing things so it's time not wasted IMO.

[Deleted]

Is this what you are after ...Board >>>> www.fasttech.com/products/0/10004394/1652300-vamo-v5-variable-voltage-wattage-mod-module
Buttons ... >>>>> www.stealthvape.co.uk/chrome-metal-vamo-buttons

[osdset]

Thanks for the input everyone, I've ordered a new Vamo board from Fasttech, the old one can go into a box mod I'm planning.

It's been a sharp learning curve, however I'm used to dubious kit having repaired guitar pickups that hail from China, Taiwan, Korea. In fact most 'big name' gear originates from the far east and is just re-branded.

I have learned however that a lot of vaping stuff that's bought and sold is pure eye candy. Mechanical mods are simply tubes with a connector at one end and a switch at the other, they all started life as torches. Give me a length of 22mm copper tube some stop ends and add bit of ingenuity and I'll make a 'vapes like a steam train' for a couple of quid.

As far as I'm concerned the 'art' in all this is finding a balance between generating enough current to efficiently vapourise your chosen 'Juice', and distributing the resulting vapour to the lungs.
Rocket science it isn't.