Discontinued The Grasshopper

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texasvape

Member
Hawk said:
I think there are two things GH should explain to us. First what battery protection circuitry is in place, short circuit, reverse battery, charging, etc. And second who makes these batteries and what are their specs. If they are getting it from some Chinese company then that Chinese comapany are probably buying C and D batteries from the big battery companies like Samsung, Panasonic, etc. The fact is when you are dealing with Lithium and high amps you need quality batteries that you can gaurantee are within spec. The battery venting in the GH should scare everybody. Should just not happen. There should be circuit protection for that.

I still think there is a battery contact issue going on that is possibly creating arcing and the rear end heating up. It is going from being a troublesome issue with all these issues to being very worried. That could easily have started a fire.
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I have three batteries, upon receiving the unit, I labeled them 1-3 (they were charged upon arrival) -- One battery, battery #2 charged and operated as expected delivering at least 15 good heady draws at temp setting 3 before showing the flashing red light to recharge. Battery #1, would never take a charge - once the magnetic charger was connected it would show a quick blue light then nothing. I let this sit on the charger for 35min -- batt was dead. Battery #3, initially charged as expected for the the first several minutes then showed neither a flashing or a solid red or blue light. I smelled something, noticed the GH was hot and opened the back end, the batt had swollen in the chamber, a few taps and I was able to remove the melted batt. The batt chamber had a residue and smell, I wiped out the chamber placed in battery#2 and received the dread clicking and flashing red and then it bricked.

Its a phenomenal item and quality in its hand-feel and form, but this thing is definitely in the beta phase and might as well be considered a custom-shop item.

They may send me another unit, I have yet to hear back from Trevor or Caroline, but I have to seriously consider the prospect of vaping good organic product through a device that may at any point exhaust toxic chemical fumes.
 
Pipes

Pipes

Addicted DIY Enthusiast
Accessory Maker
skyvaper said:
Is one exploding battery out of lets say 100 hoppers ok? Id like some serious feedback from fc members that have a solid understanding of batteries in electronics or specifically vaporizers.
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I'm thinking the GB charger circuit is defective. Since one battery either won't charge or the charged already killed it internally. One battery bad is plausible but 2 out of 3 is hard to swallow.

I have only checked on this thread once in awhile but every time seems not good news.
Kind of disappointing for a product with so much anticipation. Hope they get it together soon.
 
T

texasvape

Member
stickstones said:
I don't think any exploding batteries is acceptable for something you are putting up to your face. We should define 'explode', however. I doubt any of these are doing what I would consider exploding.
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True, the use of explode was hyperbolic -- I should've said the battery failed in that it vented and became so hot it melted the outer covering and positive end.
 
TheWhisper

TheWhisper

Well-Known Member
While I'm fine letting GHL figure out most of these problems on their own without communicating to us all the details (I'd rather they communicate, but still), something like an exploding/bursting/inflating battery is something that they really need to publicly address. That can cause real harm and isn't something they should PR toe step around.
 
skyvaper

skyvaper

Well-Known Member
Ill take missed dates, multiple warranty requests as I have patience but "exploding" batteries is uncharted territory and my level of caution has been raised. Hopefully we hear back a full report of what happened. Thanks @Hawk for the feedback.
 
TheWhisper

TheWhisper

Well-Known Member
texasvape said:
True, the use of explode was hyperbolic -- I should've said the battery failed in that it vented and became so hot it melted the outer covering and positive end.
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Do you feel that the GH body contained what would have otherwise been a larger issue?
 
TheWhisper,
Pipes

Pipes

Addicted DIY Enthusiast
Accessory Maker
stickstones said:
I don't think any exploding batteries is acceptable for something you are putting up to your face. We should define 'explode', however. I doubt any of these are doing what I would consider exploding.
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Exploding is next to impossible these days. The batteries are designed with an absolute failsafe if all else goes wrong. The under side of the nipple end of batteries have a pin pointed towards the battery. When the battery expands, the casing will be punched by the pin allowing the battery to release its internal pressure. Preventing it from exploding like a pipe bomb. Only time an actual explosion would happen is if that pin is damaged or the pressure build up is close to instantaneous.
Battery venting would be the better term in 99.9% cases.
 
VapeKnight

VapeKnight

Day Tripper
stickstones said:
I don't think any exploding batteries is acceptable for something you are putting up to your face. We should define 'explode', however. I doubt any of these are doing what I would consider exploding.
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I agree, " exploding " for a battery is different and nothing to take lightly, though this still does seem to be a problem. we have all used store bought batteries our entire lives without any of them leaking or exploding. it CAN BE serious and this should not be ignored.
 
hippogriff

hippogriff

Well-Known Member
Shit Snacks said:
Firefly, Elevape, Lotus, Daisy/Lily, VapMan, Thermovapes, Firewood3, Underdog, E-Nano, Cloud Evo, LSV/SSV, other desktops potentially as well... Upcoming VapCap and Zion too
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Thanks for the list! I'd go for the Firewood3 if it had USB charging and no screws-into-wood battery door, I think a Lotus J-hook kit will be my next purchase, if my hopper isn't in service enough while I wait for the Zion single-bat version (love how those guys are working/communicating!).

Hoping my hopper comes back soon w/ issues resolved, as hopper + small power bank + keychain pill container is the best portable setup I've found.
 
T

texasvape

Member
texasvape said:
Its a phenomenal item and quality in its hand-feel and form, but this thing is definitely in the beta phase and might as well be considered a custom-shop item.

They may send me another unit, I have yet to hear back from Trevor or Caroline, but I have to seriously consider the prospect of vaping good organic product through a device that may at any point exhaust toxic chemical fumes.
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Reply via Trevor at HL :
Sorry about the problem. We would like to replace your whole unit including the charger as that might be the problem. It looks like the battery vented safety after it got overheated -- although I realize it ruined your Grasshopper. We will send a new on out to you later today.

Picking up a external charger to avoid the whiz-bang magnet charger.
 
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Bass Vaper

Bass Vaper

Well-Known Member
Good Lord, man. That battery pic is scary as shit. Not overreacting, but if that were to happen mid-draw? Yikes.

I think 'Toasted' is the actual tech term for all you guys splitting hairs over exploding. :tup:

Fuck Battery Combustion!

Knowing that the one I'm using gets hot as shit (back end), its acting totally crazy about 6 out of 10 tries when turning it on, and it's been LIVING on the charger I don't even wanna try it anymore.

Bummer.
 
R

radiant34

Well-Known Member
Bass Vaper said:
Good Lord, man. That battery pic is scary as shit. Not overreacting, but if that were to happen mid-draw? Yikes.

I think 'Toasted' is the actual tech term for all you guys splitting hairs over exploding. :tup:

Fuck Battery Combustion!

Knowing that the one I'm using gets hot as shit (back end), its acting totally crazy about 6 out of 10 tries when turning it on, and it's been LIVING on the charger I don't even wanna try it anymore.

Bummer.
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ghlabs is def freaking out about now with this battery situation. Im assuming so anyways..
 
radiant34,
Bass Vaper

Bass Vaper

Well-Known Member
Who knows. Shit happens, especially with electronic gadgets. I just wish we'd get better news with more frequency. Feels like the setbacks are mounting vs getting less.

It felt good for a second seeing all the confirmations going out. Now it's back to gloom and doom. Just my feeling is all.

I keep picturing Elmer Fudd's face in the Bugs Bunny cartoons. When Bugs stuffs a carrot into the end of his rifle and then Elmer shoots it and it backfires. Haha
 
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vapen00b

vapen00b

Many vapes & accessories. Always happy to help
texasvape said:
Reply via Trevor at HL :
Sorry about the problem. We would like to replace your whole unit including the charger as that might be the problem. It looks like the battery vented safety after it got overheated -- although I realize it ruined your Grasshopper. We will send a new on out to you later today.

Picking up a external charger to avoid the whiz-bang magnet charger.
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That's it? That's all he answered ? SNAFU??

Don't know what I wished to hear from him - but this sounds pretty "cool".
Still observing this whole "progress" GHL is going thru - still on the fence to cancel it. Guess finally I'll be doing it for peace of minds (and safety's?) sake...
This is getting serious..:\
 
PAZ

PAZ

Well-Known Member
vapen00b said:
That's it? That's all he answered ? SNAFU??

Don't know what I wished to hear from him - but this sounds pretty "cool".
Still observing this whole "progress" GHL is going thru - still on the fence to cancel it. Guess finally I'll be doing it for peace of minds (and safety's?) sake...
This is getting serious..:\
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This was stolen from the reddit:

That's what's called a dead short. They can be common in the ecig world if you don't know what you're doing with mech mods. I had a brand new piece do that, by the time I realized and disassembled it to stop the short I had to throw the battery across the room. It never vented, but it was hot enough that the insulator had completely liquified carrying the positive pin with the battery and burning my carpet. Somehow your hopper made contact, shorted, and vented. It can happen with any device to be honest.
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Not really sure if this is true, but he sounds like he knows what he's talking about.
 
AgentXero

AgentXero

Well-Known Member
Man these GH threads create a lot of panic! Of course an "exploding" battery would be worrisome, but looks like a short. Again, there have been likely over 2,000 units shipped out and we heard of a few dozen failures. A new company with a new electronic product - of course there will continue to be failures, especially with limited funds. As I think maybe @slcbdco or @Ratchett have probably said before, even multimillion/billion dollar companies have plenty of failures with a new product. I for one still have plenty of faith they will be just fine. If not, oh well! :):2c:

Also, how about the idea of using some kind of neon like glow paint to mark the ticks of temp so you can see in the dark using a very fine paint brush?
 
H

Hawk

Well-Known Member
AgentXero said:
Man these GH threads create a lot of panic! Of course an "exploding" battery would be worrisome, but looks like a short. Again, there have been likely over 2,000 units shipped out and we heard of a few dozen failures. A new company with a new electronic product - of course there will continue to be failures, especially with limited funds. As I think maybe @slcbdco or @Ratchett have probably said before, even multimillion/billion dollar companies have plenty of failures with a new product. I for one still have plenty of faith they will be just fine. If not, oh well! :):2c:

Also, how about the idea of using some kind of neon like glow paint to mark the ticks of temp so you can see in the dark using a very fine paint brush?
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This is not a mechanical mod. A battery venting because of a short should not happen. It is very easy to put in short protection in the circuit, a simple fuse would do. Every ecig regulated mod out there has it, no reason for them not to have it. To be honest when I first saw the battery they were using I was incredibly surprised that they were puling that many Amps out of it.

I still have my order in, it keeps being delayed, but I am suppose to get it in December. I keep thinking about cancelling but it such a neat little device that I keep hoping things get sorted. But when people are getting not just one or two warranty replacements but a lot getting them replaced 3-4 times that doesn't bode well. And its a serious issue with the back-end heating up. To be honest this is one vape where I would not feel comfortable leaving the battery in when I am not around.
 
Custom Flower Hardware

Custom Flower Hardware

Well-Known Member
Manufacturer
:brow:I just wanted to chime in after about 2 months of HEAVY, HEAVY use! :nod: My Green TI GH is still working flawlessly!:tup: I charge the batteries externally and always get 4 to 5 chambers with about 4 to 5 nice long draws each chamber for a total of 16 - 20 wonderful, full blast, glass filling hits of goodness from each battery!:love:I do most of my vaping in my car in the wee hours of the CO morning (about 20 degrees F) as I work overnights. The cold has no effect on this units heat up or performance at these temps. :rockon:I haven't touched any other vape besides my Prima for the ride to and fro. IMHO the GH is just a superior product. I love my other vapes, don't get me wrong, I just don't have the time on break at these low temps to wait for heat up time, flavor, or performance. TIME is my most valuable commodity which is why the GH gets the most play these days. Plus there is no residual smell from the unit in my car or anywhere else for that matter. Whereas some of my conduction units heat up, cool down, heat up and retain a lot of ODOR that sticks with you in the cold. Not appropriate at work!:disgust:. I keep the GH and 2 batteries with the silicone tip in the @Ratchett case and all my car smells like is sweet leather!:tup:. I think these guys will be around for a long time! They are in the pot epicenter of Amsterado USA. They got it right their first time out IMO! Thank goodness for us Vaporists!:2c:
 
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hippogriff

hippogriff

Well-Known Member
AgentXero said:
Also, how about the idea of using some kind of neon like glow paint to mark the ticks of temp so you can see in the dark using a very fine paint brush?
Click to expand...

I like that idea, too, as they can be hard to see. Check out the picture on Page 190, tho - the one mark on the clip is engraved and would be easy to add paint, but the steps marks are all cutouts, so you need to choose how to offset the tick marks first.

I'm also contemplating a tiny bit of high-temp silicone or light-diffusing beads blocking the brightest 1 or 3 air intake holes, both to make the light a bit more discrete and to capture some of the light where it's easier to see.
 
Averyminya

Averyminya

Grasshopper Backer
One of my batteries seems to be losing charge more quickly but I haven't actually tested. Otherwise, I go between charging on my GH and the Nitecore and everything has been handy dandy. I posted some video on reddit the other day, still working on my overall review. I'm out of school Dec. 20th so it's gonna be up a couple weeks after that. Sorry for the looong delay.

Just for those pre-orders who are worried, I've sent in my Grasshopper zero times and have had zero issues, aside from the original 2 year wait (lol). Meanwhile, my Macbook Pro I bought 3 years ago had to be replaced 4 different times, for various reasons. That's a $1,300 computer from one of the larger tech leaders. I know it's different, but don't disregard GHL's situation as a vaporware company.

The battery thing is scary. I'd been worried something like this would happen, but at least it didn't cause injury. That's what I was most worried about (See Florida, Georgia, e-cig mod kabooms).

Also, it seems like Tex is able to blow air through his Hopper? If I inhale and cover and uncover the backend, there is no difference in draw resistance.
 
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