Discontinued The Grasshopper

biohacker

HREAM
Decided to dig up my newer GH's and do some part swap testing with my older two. So, it appears that my re-post of those reddit snippets yesterday just may be bang on, and it all may have to do with fitment issues. I seem to not get any blue flickering and inconsistent performance when I use the new ti backend on my old ti body. Works perfectly! So as long as I mix up my parts I may be good!

So maybe there is something to minor variations in tolerance of the components, resulting in piss poor behaviour in some new GH's, and kick ass performance in others?
 

duff

Well worn
FWIW, I'm relatively new here (started lurking sometime around Jan 16) and have watched countless folks go through the same thing as I did.

The cycle for the most part follows the same trajectory.
  1. Honeymoon
  2. Intermittent issues
  3. RMA/frustration
  4. Repeat (or go to step 2 or worse, step 3 again)...
  5. Get a backup
We all deal with it differently and I'm thankful for you bums and all of the frustration, bad jokes, cryptic acronyms and high times we (and by we I mean you) share.

@Icon13, you have our sympathy and understanding. No need to abandon civility. Especially with a bunch of bad hombres like us.

When it works, it's fits a couple of niches nicely. When it doesn't, which is way too often, it's achingly aggravating.

We all bought this before it was officially released and knew what we were potentially getting ourselves into. There is a lot of wisdom in not buying a car in the first year of production/redesign.
Frankly, I've spent more on vapes that I was never happy with and have been in a drawer for years.

It will be interesting to see what next steps (or heaven forbid, missteps) HL takes.
Maybe in the second iteration of the manual it will say tap it real damn hard!
 

sixstringsmash

Well-Known Member
Here's an update of my missing top screen fiasco:

So Caroline from GHL got in touch with me a little under twenty four hours after I last sent them an email. The tone of the email made me sound very hopeful that my problem will be resolved relatively painlessly but at the same time I can't help but complain about the lack of a phone line or live chat service. I responded to the email that I received within an hour or two of receiving it and it's been around twenty four hours again since I last sent that email and I'm still waiting for a response. After I get my invalid serial number registered I'm then also going to have to file a warranty claim(but I can't do this until I hear back from GHL that my hopper has been registered) and I just can't help but feel like this whole process is going to probably take the better part of a week when it could easily be solved in under five minutes with a phone line or chat service(or at least a response time of less than twenty four hours with email).
 

slcbdco

Brewer, Lobbyist, Vaporist
While I agree with your assessment of the sometimes irrational/unscientific behaviors folks exhibit, I also take issue with this statement.
The back end regulates temperature, for one thing. Isn't this a process, not simply a completed circuit?

The backend is actually the brains of the device. It has no wires and the backend communicates with the heater through the battery, my simple country lobbyist attempt at talking engineering
 

Gramin

Well-Known Member
Day 2 and still cop lights. I'm going to give the LED holes a gentle blast of compressed air and try again.

I have to admit that after reading here someone dropping their GH in the bath and surviving, and now another person putting ISO in the battery compartment. I'm fully tempted to try a 100% submerged body in pure ISO clean. Give it a few days in the sun to dry out 100% and try again.

You will all advise against this I'm sure.
 
Day 2 and still cop lights. I'm going to give the LED holes a gentle blast of compressed air and try again.

I have to admit that after reading here someone dropping their GH in the bath and surviving, and now another person putting ISO in the battery compartment. I'm fully tempted to try a 100% submerged body in pure ISO clean. Give it a few days in the sun to dry out 100% and try again.

You will all advise against this I'm sure.
Good idea unless there is something that the iso could soften/disolve/compromise. I would myself try it. I dont think the HL could tell.
 

MoltenTiger

Well-Known Member
In fact I'm betting the chinese can come out with a much better snide copy
How much and what time frame are we talking here? :)
FWIW hardware is simple to copy and happens constantly. Backwards engineering software is a different story and will keep the hoppers design and dynamics exclusive to HL.
There are plenty of companies out there eyeing this shit off.
Watch the market react, China is getting closer off the back of western engineers. It's possible but I'd bet good money it won't be for 3 years until a cheap China vape does something desirable, or is even comparable to the hopper.
Arizer out of Canada and S&B from Germany are the places to watch.

What is the best way to store these batts?
How long are we talking? If it's less than 6 months, bring them to flashing red lights with the hopper and they should be fine without cycling.
Cycling certainly isn't a bad idea though, especially for proper long term down-time.

Anyway, I don't recommend it
Yeah, soaking in very concentrated IPA is relatively safe if you are aware of what you're doing. Most people haven't owned Nokia shops, and so it really can't be openly recommended to the general public.

I'm going to give the LED holes a gentle blast of compressed air
Be careful with condensation, don't click the GH on too soon after doing this.

Give it a few days
Absolutely, 24 hours and it should all be evaporated or very close to it.
The biggest risk however is residue relocated to bridge fine electric connections.
There's quite a difference between washing a PCB and soaking a dirty and assembled device in solvent.
Jaycar sell 99.8% IPA for electronics cleaning. They are one of the cheapest sources in Aus, 9 bucks for 250mL! Gotta love paying drinking tax on industrial goods xD


-----------------------------

The back-end is complex, it has a voltage potentiometer and a PCB with a microcontroller.
It certainly can cause issues, though it's been infrequent, but more concerning is how subtle the difference of performance is. With only a single device, it'd be frustrating because although the device works somewhat normally, the power to the heater takes a hit and the vapour production declines. With nothing to actively compare to, it's not obvious if something is wrong.

I've had a more than a few issues with my GH as I approach my hopperversary.

  • Red light then power off - temperamental issue, occasionally the device worked but the red lights lingered for 10+ seconds. Body replaced.
  • Rapid blue light but no heat - also temperamental, eventuated to cop lights. Body then replaced.
  • Cop lights - most likely caused by backflow (caused by using a 25cm silicone whip) and separately frm IPA damage to the device (Avoid/let it dry!!!) 3 bodies replaced.
  • Dodgy back-end - performance with my original back-end eventually became completely disparate to my second hopper's back-end. I told HL and after filing warranty they sent me another. That was nearly 3 months ago. Though I've been using my plain Ti body since October and it's showing no signs of slowing down.
The hopper uses pulse width modulation to actively monitor the heater temperature, read up on the other companies producing vapes doing this. Errybody having troubles, but no one else has as good a warranty

@JoeMama cheers for the juicy data. I'll admit I've reached saturation at this point haha!
Like others, and being from a fully illegitimate cannabis area, I've for sure noticed the merit of using the dankest of dank. And I do feel that, with my latest performance woes, the particular bud I was using was the worst of a really nice batch of Red Beard. I'd like to ascociate the anemic clouds to it, but I feel more confident saying that the power source was the culprit. Replacing the used battery with one charged the previous day showed similar anemicness, getting a fully charged one straight off the charger gave me the cloud results I was chasing - but most importantly, the ABV was much darker too.
 
Last edited:

biohacker

HREAM
I have no other vapes anymore other than the GH (last o....but I have 4 of them so i'm probably more of a pussy than brave.

Gotta echo the herb quality reflecting performance of the device. Last night I tried some blueberry cheesecake which looked pretty decent and smelled fragrant, however compared to some other strains, the vapour production appeared about 50% less. On the other hand, when you do use a high oil quality strain, the GH makes it SHINE!!! Like Banana Kush!

It's kinda refreshing knowing that all my parts seem to work, but I need to shuffle them up between hoppers!

Last night's testing lab!

iqZ2QZ6.jpg
 

MoltenTiger

Well-Known Member
I mean it's possible, but come on haha.

I'd happily take a single hopper, either, for a trip somewhere. I'd rarely have the need though, so probably won't (I do currently carry one if I'm only out for a day or two). But, if you were actually new to bud and vaping, the GH would kick your ass and it'd stay alive more easily (my friends had them since August 8th, not a single issue, and for one it's their only vape) GHB1s, never cleaned, works and looks brand new.

@biohacker can I pm you my post address for a slice of cake? Haha
PS sick spoon

Try and isolate the dodgy bits and get em swapped. Then buy three claisens :freak:
 
Last edited:

Hjalmark

Oldest boy alive
@biohacker Yep that is what a real hopper lover should do ..

Own more then one :smug:

I been thinking about if I should get just another hopper instead of a different vape and a different rollecoaster but how is the FW4 working out for .. Uh.. Who just bought a Firewood4?

I am mobile and awkward position to be able to go back searching :goat:
 

biohacker

HREAM
I'll buy a supreme v3 again soon just for variety, and because it's also like the best damn vape out there and a great compliment to the GH if you don't mind a torch vape. I sold mine because I burned myself on the block too many times! lol

Other than that, I will buy the new Arizer portable, and still keeping my finger on the pulse for new GH's and see what's what.

I do not miss my Crafty nor Mighty!
 

Mr. Me2

Well-Known Member
@biohacker Yep that is what a real hopper lover should do ..

Own more then one :smug:

I been thinking about if I should get just another hopper instead of a different vape and a different rollecoaster but how is the FW4 working out for .. Uh.. Who just bought a Firewood4?

I am mobile and awkward position to be able to go back searching :goat:
That would be @JoeMama.

Okay,I tattled...
 

Baron23

Well-Known Member
There is nothing silly about it. There is no proof that helped anybody. These devices operate at such an intermittent level that just because it starts working after tapping it on something doesn't necessarily means that's what fixed it. I've seen mine do countless weird things that can't be explained and then randomly stopped doing them out of nowhere. The bottom line is, grasshopper labs has posted that the immediate Bluelight issue is a heat sensor issue on their troubleshooting page. So again, tapping it against something to get rid of the blue light problem is the only silly thing.
I also think its funny...in a rather sad way. Reminds me of when I was in the USAF. I was talking to an avionics tech on the flight line of an F-4 wing when I saw she had a large rubber mallet in her tool box. I asked what the mallet was for....she said to fix the fire control system. Upon seeing my quizzical look, she said that the first thing they did when a bird landed with bad FCS is smack the crap out of all of the black boxes with the rubber mallet! Apparently it would get seat some lose connections and work from time to time...well, until the next time the bird pulled g's and shaked and baked and the basically bad connection would go bad yet again.

Never felt quite the same about going up in those birds. LOL

To me, its silly. If the pin unseated or even if it reseated upon shipping, either the design is inadequate in general or the build of that particular device is not up to snuff. But now way would I accept tapping on my thigh as a fault resolution. At the very best, its a band-aid and something is wrong in there.
 

Gramin

Well-Known Member
I wonder what other GH owners think of the Davinci IQ? I'm kinda envious of that 80 minute battery life and native support for water pipes. But again it's a fairly expensive and no doubt a road with a few bumps just like the Hopper.

I'm still going to wait to see what Arizer do before I assess a 3rd portable vape. Maybe I'm due a desktop...
 

natural farmer

Well-Known Member
I wonder what other GH owners think of the Davinci IQ? I'm kinda envious of that 80 minute battery life and native support for water pipes. But again it's a fairly expensive and no doubt a road with a few bumps just like the Hopper.

I'm still going to wait to see what Arizer do before I assess a 3rd portable vape. Maybe I'm due a desktop...
I wouldn't even dare to compare the Hopper to the IQ! Hopper is years ahead every way you look at it, ok, except battery life, but then again if it had better batteries it would be bigger and heavier. And pricing? IQ should probably cost a hundred bucks less for what it is... Or Hopper a hundred more? Shhhh....
 

duff

Well worn
I been thinking about if I should get just another hopper instead of a different vape and a different rollecoaster but how is the FW4 working out for .. Uh.. Who just bought a Firewood4?
Haven't tried the Firewood4 myself.
The Milaana may be my next purchase but I am absolutely loving my Sticky Brick, IMO it is the tastiest vapor I have ever had, and having a butane vape as a back up just makes sense.
 

tubasco

Well-Known Member
Just a note on warranty speed: I've been waiting 5 weeks for a replacement green Ti backend. Mine stopped clicking, and would sometimes stay on. Obviously an issue with the spring. A week or so ago I was told that they were waiting on a "highly specialized part" so they could assemble my backend, and to expect shipping next week.

I got an email with tracking 2 days ago, and my package just arrived this morning!

The only problem is it contains a Body, and not a Backend. :doh:
A follow up to this post--

I just received my new backend in the mail. My serial number is now 8xxx instead of 1xxx.

Like others have noted: the newer Ti backend temp adjustment is smoooooth turning compared to the stuttered turn of my old backend.

I have a body that has only been used a couple weeks before the backend stopped clicking, and the original front end's threads didn't fit with this new body, so now I essentially have a brand new hopper. I'm also using a ghb2 battery for the following:

A quick heat test on t3 produced very good heat at the front end, ZERO heat at the clip ring (PLEASE let this last!!) and nearly inaudible ticking (I used to believe loud ticking was indicative of better performance, as every time I got my last backend to tick louder by fussing with it i was treated with better performance, and vice versa.)

My initial impression is that HUGE improvements have been made in the backend Pcb and voltage regulator since the early models.

One strange thing I noticed is that this new backend screws on really TIGHT with what looks like about a turn or 2 left until it would be completely flush with the body. I don't care though. It roughly matches the small gap under the dial. Both gaps are even. My old backend's clip ring was slightly crooked, which produced a slightly uneven gap.

My ONLY complaint so far is that the 8xxx backend's laser engraving is not a star crisp as my old one.

Then again, I'm a little more than a year older since getting my first one. Could be my eyes haha.

I'll check in after some time with this new backend.

Renewed grasshopper love never felt so....ah whatever. I will NOT become too attached again... I will NOT become too attached again...I will NOT become too attached again...I will NOT become too attached again... lol

EDIT: I almost forgot to mention, about that body they sent me in error...they apologized and told me they priority shipped my backend...

here's the kicker: they said "Be sure to return your original Backend and that Body we just sent you. DO NOT USE THE NEW BODY or I will have to charge you for it."

Ha...I understand where they're coming from, but this "NEW BODY" looks like a "REFURBISHED BODY." I hope they can tell I didn't use it. But I also have no idea how they would "charge me for it" without my authorization. Whatever.

Can we all agree that "Caroline" is a clever name for their service department? Remember, these guys started out in North CAROLINa before moving to CO. coincidence? Yeah, maybe. But I'm pretty sure there is no "Caroline." Does anyone even know anyone named Caroline? lol
 
Last edited:
Top Bottom