Discontinued The Grasshopper

Baron23

Well-Known Member
I've ordered (and kept spares) of brand new batteries so I could test this most of the time, but that was never the issue for me. Glad it was for you! :)

Sorry, mate....I often hesitate to comment on the reliability of my GH as I know so many others whose devices are not reliable at all.

Hope they get you fixed up right, once and for all.

Cheers
 

JoeMama

Well-Known Member
"Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears;. I come not to bury Grasshopper, but to praise him"

(yes, edited a bit from the original haha)

You may remember that after a year and change, my Ti GH finally stopped performing the way it did. It would still vape, but weakly and it no longer milked my can nor did the AVB look done.

So, I blew it out, I cleaned the threads, I sacrificed a virgin to the gods (and you just don't know how hard it is to find one of those these days), all to no avail.

I despaired of having to send it to Hopper and go through the RMA cha-cha with them.

But, I did think to order a new set of batteries first to eliminate any further possible causes. I had been using my second set of batteries, GHB-2s, and I religiously rotate and charge the four batteries I keep in the line up.

Now understand, it wasn't that I wasn't getting as many loads as before...it was that the vape was not running as hot as previously...by a long shot.

Got my batteries this past weekend, topped them off in a Nitecore charger, and ran it last night with a PFE in a stevenlmz79 FC-188, 14 mm, Mobius knockoff. The new ones are GHB-2 also, but with what appears to be a thicker sleeve on the outside.

MY GRASSHOPPER LIVES!! :bowdown::rockon::spliff:

zZIKZ1c.jpg


Seriously, performance was back to brand new.

I did try different batteries out of the four when I was having issues, but since they were all rotated religiously they all had the same number of charge/discharge cycles and apparently they all got puny at the same time also.

So, if you are finding your GH running a bit cold, you may want to consider new batteries before RMA.

DISCLAIMER: I had not intended this to be so friggin' long. I really didn't mean this to be a treatise on the Revelations about Battery Performance over Time in the Real World. However, I think it's worthy of publication in either Science Today :science: ... or Psychology Today. :mental:

@Baron23 that was really a helpful observation, thank you!

I have been going through this same saga with my Ti's.
I do exactly as you, with a 4-battery rotation in the Nicore.

This made me realize something I would like to share, hoping it's a "useful awareness".

• I'm on my second rotation of 4 batteries over the past full year (rough idea for purposes of my point).
• I consume about 3 modestly-filled chambers per day, and desire/expect a respectable ABV color. Point being that the hopper is used all day, several to many times a day. I hit once/twice, and lay it down. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Perhaps the #1 Frustration with the battery rituals is knowing when to swap batteries.
When I'd decided to swap out the first rotation of batteries 5-6 months after I began with them, it was a pain in the ASS, and now I understand why: I was too hung up on the life of the battery as a measure of the battery's 'health', and ignoring maybe the other factor: performance when fairly charged.

I'm sure someone out there can answer the question, "How many well-toasted chambers
will a fresh GBH2 produce on a single charge?" Perhaps that is a "gold standard" against which a mid-life battery could be measured. Because I think that after mid-life, the battery might LAST (roughly) as long as a new one, but actually underperform, making the hopper look like the problem. Upping the Temperature to T5 is always an option, I suppose, but when one is not used to doing that for the first "3 months", one tends to avoid breaking that habit for the "last 3 months". And still, that doesn't answer the question of whether the hopper is the problem.

Hence, my mind was blown: It's time to replace the batteries when I start really questioning whether I should do the RMA-dance. Throw a fresh battery in it. See what happens.

So that's what I did. And like yours, @Baron23 , my hopper jumped right back to top-shelf hitting.

Bottom line, for me, is, how much am I willing to put up with sub-standard performance? Pretty long, if I know it's not the Hopper, but just the battery getting tired.

:tup:
 
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Hjalmark

Oldest boy alive
About batteries.... is it better to rotate between batteries or to use one until it shows some signs of failure?
I rotate all and then in about a year of use I buy new ones but discharge and charge all my old and pick the best ones

I don't think the hopper batteries are that bad, year of daily use with discharging and charging under demanding load

Have had AAA batteries that crap out sooner from running my headlamps :)

But think the quality of each battery is much more random then large manufacturers like Duracell and uhh Sony?

I dont know any battery names
 

Baron23

Well-Known Member
DISCLAIMER: I had not intended this to be so friggin' long. I really didn't mean this to be a treatise on the Revelations about Battery Performance over Time in the Real World. However, I think it's worthy of publication in either Science Today :science: ... or Psychology Today. :mental:

@Baron23 that was really a helpful observation, thank you!

I have been going through this same saga with my Ti's.
I do exactly as you, with a 4-battery rotation in the Nicore.

This made me realize something I would like to share, hoping it's a "useful awareness".

• I'm on my second rotation of 4 batteries over the past full year (rough idea for purposes of my point).
• I consume about 3 modestly-filled chambers per day, and desire/expect a respectable ABV color. Point being that the hopper is used all day, several to many times a day. I hit once/twice, and lay it down. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Perhaps the #1 Frustration with the battery rituals is knowing when to swap batteries.
When I'd decided to swap out the first rotation of batteries 5-6 months after I began with them, it was a pain in the ASS, and now I understand why: I was too hung up on the life of the battery as a measure of the battery's 'health', and ignoring maybe the other factor: performance when fairly charged.

I'm sure someone out there can answer the question, "How many well-toasted chambers
will a fresh GBH2 produce on a single charge?" Perhaps that is a "gold standard" against which a mid-life battery could be measured. Because I think that after mid-life, the battery might LAST (roughly) as long as a new one, but actually underperform, making the hopper look like the problem. Upping the Temperature to T5 is always an option, I suppose, but when one is not used to doing that for the first "3 months", one tends to avoid breaking that habit for the "last 3 months". And still, that doesn't answer the question of whether the hopper is the problem.

Hence, my mind was blown: It's time to replace the batteries when I start really questioning whether I should do the RMA-dance. Throw a fresh battery in it. See what happens.

So that's what I did. And like yours, @Baron23 , my hopper jumped right back to top-shelf hitting.

Bottom line, for me, is, how much am I willing to put up with sub-standard performance? Pretty long, if I know it's not the Hopper, but just the battery getting tired.

:tup:

I think its not GH loads but rather the number of discharge/charge cycles that impact capacity and, after a while, its seems to effect voltage output.

It didn't even seem that insidious to me....seemed like my GH was working pretty ok and then went downhill rather quickly. On the other hand, if the decline was slow enough, I may not have noticed until performance was dramatically effected. By the by, even temp 5 wasn't cutting it with the old batteries and that's when I knew I had an issue.

I don't use my GH as often as you, but I'm still thinking about 6-8 months (depending on usage) on a set of batteries and its time for new ones. $28 or so plus shipping....not a worry for me but for others, YMMV.

I really love my GH and I suppose had taken it a bit for granted until I thought I was going to have to send it in for RMA at which time I was rather deflated. Its a perfect vape for me at 2 am with pain and need for relief and sedation. Quick and easy to load, heavy duty extraction, easy to empty and clean out.

Cheers Joe, glad my experience was helpful to you.

About batteries.... is it better to rotate between batteries or to use one until it shows some signs of failure?

IMO, rotate them...why not. Why wait with a battery in the charger when you can just queue up the next one.

Rotating will distribute charge/discharge cycles over a larger set of batteries, but I don't know that this would make any individual battery tolerate a larger number of charge/discharge cycles than just running one.

I keep my GH in this case. One battery in the device, three on deck. When a battery dies, I take it out, take the next one in line, move them all up one spot, charge the depleted one and add it to the end of the queue. Makes it easy for me to keep track of them (and I'm at the age when CRS is endemic. LOL)

1vTvzoD.jpg
 
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mmenzie

My friends call me "Menz"
i just noticed today that one of my two GH's does not auto shut off at all and the other one auto shuts off like its supposed to. the one with the auto shut off that is working is not a model that will turn back on with one click after auto shutoff. so i have to click it to turn it off for real and click it again to turn back on. the one with the auto shut off not working is obviously a double click as well
 

CaptVapor

Well-Known Member
Does Hopper Labs send an email after they've shipped or will the status change on my orders page? I know they are probably working through Black Friday orders but I'm just a little anxious! In an excited way, of course.
 
CaptVapor,
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PPN

Volute of Vapor
Even with the PFE the Grasshopper burns my lips. I never use it because of this.

I got the same issue (I don't own the PFE) and I use a silicone tip from the old W9 EO cartridge. It fits very well and doesn't affect the look so much (unlike the GHL silicone mp). Mine was already used and doesn't seems to affect taste but, while new, maybe you'll get a faint silicone taste.... idk. Is somebody else used this tips?

Works as a watertool adapter too (14mm).
 

Hjalmark

Oldest boy alive
Does Hopper Labs send an email after they've shipped or will the status change on my orders page? I know they are probably working through Black Friday orders but I'm just a little anxious! In an excited way, of course.
They are supposed to but sometimes overworked

They forget to send it to me like every single time but then they have also shipped longed before I finally ask
 

splitz

Well-Known Member
I'm done with this vape. I purchased and started using the PFE in June of this year. They claim it has nothing to do with my multiple failures.



If there is anyone in Canada who wants to cover shipping, you are welcome to my hopper/PFE...hmu
 

Shieldsab

Well-Known Member
This past weekend, I put an order in for 3 new batteries as I'm down to one good one, and the super special whizbang hopper charger, since having a job lets me do that. I suspect this battery is going to have to hold out for a while since I don't mind it all shipping at once. But whenever it gets here I, like others I'm sure, will post impressions.

I'm also glad I never sent my unit in for RMA. Now there's the Canadian option, and once the new process is sorted and the backup is cleared, I'll send mine for an upgrade.
 

DelaSheck

Well-Known Member
I'm done with this vape. I purchased and started using the PFE in June of this year. They claim it has nothing to do with my multiple failures.



If there is anyone in Canada who wants to cover shipping, you are welcome to my hopper/PFE...hmu

I'm feeling the same way as you. I am thinking of selling mine for a small amount with full disclosure of it's performance.
 
DelaSheck,

sk8man121

Frozen_Vaporent
Question: Is anyone else getting a strong metallic taste upon coughing when using the hopper?
 
sk8man121,

Justpassedu

Well-Known Member
Hey all , just wanna chime in as i just got my 4th hopper recently. I had pre-ordered a stainless way back when they had the kickstarter and 1st started up , used it for a bit , it worked ok. I eventually sold it , got another stainless , had my fair share of issues , got it fixed than sold it. Than had a 3rd stainless for awhile that i got towards a trade and sold that one as it just never worked great for me. Now i am on my 4th , its a titanium and seems to work the best out of any i ever had. Not sure how long i will keep it for , but its working great so i will use it. I just wish battery technology moved a bit faster and we could get some cells that last awhile as i hate having to always swap out.
 

Sonicboom1991

Well-Known Member
Question: Is anyone else getting a strong metallic taste upon coughing when using the hopper?

I have never experienced this, but there was someone on the grasshopper sub reddit a while ago that has some machining residue on his pfe, maybe your experiencing something similar?
 
Sonicboom1991,
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Cheesequake

Free Men Don't Ask
I had all kinds of problems with my hoppers but I miss it so much I bought a used one from another member. Really excited to have one again, just hope it lasts a while this time. Haven't found another vape since that milks up glass nearly as much.
 

Kermitt

Well-Known Member
I used to have a hopper too. I would also like to own one again, but I would rather wait until the devices are finally reliable. In the Vaposhop the Hopper is offered again and advertised as a kind of version 2. Since the shop has taken the hoppers out of the program due to the frequent defects, I wonder if the Hopper is really more reliable now.
But I think I'd rather wait until there's actually a Grasshopper 2?
 
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johnnyCanuck

Well-Known Member
This past weekend, I put an order in for 3 new batteries as I'm down to one good one, and the super special whizbang hopper charger, since having a job lets me do that. I suspect this battery is going to have to hold out for a while since I don't mind it all shipping at once. But whenever it gets here I, like others I'm sure, will post impressions.

I'm also glad I never sent my unit in for RMA. Now there's the Canadian option, and once the new process is sorted and the backup is cleared, I'll send mine for an upgrade.

I haven’t read otherwise but what is the update for Canadian RMAs? I first read on here that Hopper Labs was setting up a warranty plan so that Canadians didn’t have to ship defective units back to the Colorado.

Then I read that warranties stay in Canada only if you bought through a Canadian vendor.

Does anyone know what the current plan that is written in stone?

Got a Dynavap M as a back up as my gh is flashing red/blue. Not bad, I’m really impressed by it, but I’m really missing the convience of quick discreet hits due to the hopper’s small footprint and quick heat up time.
 

Baron23

Well-Known Member
Sounds like they are aware of the failure rate and are working on a solution.

Really...they are aware they have reliability issues....gee, when did the light go on in their head.

Wow....sorry, but this has been an issue for the entire time that the GH has been out.....when was first shipments....what...maybe 1 1/2 - 2 years or damn close to it??

I love the device, I don't know what kinds of financial pressures or other limitations may have prevented Hopper from fully addressing this much earlier, but as a customer...I don't really care.
 

guyonthecouch

Well-Known Member
Really...they are aware they have reliability issues....gee, when did the light go on in their head.

Wow....sorry, but this has been an issue for the entire time that the GH has been out.....when was first shipments....what...maybe 1 1/2 - 2 years or damn close to it??

I love the device, I don't know what kinds of financial pressures or other limitations may have prevented Hopper from fully addressing this much earlier, but as a customer...I don't really care.
What has been an issue the entire time the GH has been out? That they're fixing all issues as they arise within their means? All that remains is the heater issue and that is a new problem.
If the issues are as simple as you make them out to be someone else would've accomplished the tasks long ago. Extra extra manufacturing ain't easy..
And what's your point about the launch delay, it was a crowd funded project (one of the more successful ones that i know of, big ups HL!). People seem to forget that the GH was not mass produced prior to the funding campaign. Expectations of a perfect functioning product from day one are completely unrealistic, for any company(Ghost, Vivant, S&B portables are still dealing with old ongoing issues, etc). Why don't we compare Hopper Labs to Evoke in this regard.. Hopper is much further along. I'm sure some of us would have preferred waiting a few more years just to get a 100% market ready vape but I personally am much happier having used the device for the past year+. The grasshopper destroys every portable on the market IMO by a mile. Another plus for it being manufactured in North America. It's tech/design are leagues ahead of the rest of the industry. The gh is part of me meow, I am one with the Hopper :borg:

:peace:

 
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Cheesequake

Free Men Don't Ask
What has been an issue the entire time the GH has been out? That they're fixing all issues as they arise within their means?
No, that their product is very unreliable and as far as anyone can tell they haven't done much if anything to improve that problem. Still people over a year after releease having multiple warranty claims within a few months is kind of insane.
 
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