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More 'Trash Tech' for you.
E-cigarettes are very popular now, and if you look in the right places, discarded ones can be easily found. But recently, there has been a surge in the use of disposable single-use models, which are commonly known as 'Puff Bars'.
All of these devices contain a foil-pouch lithium-polymer cell, typically cylindrical, but sometimes the more conventional flat shape, which are all easily salvaged. They are all fully rechargeable, even the 'disposable' types. Capacities vary from 200 mAh up to 1800 mAh. Cylindrical shapes can be 9mm up to 20mm diameter, a common one is 13400 ( 13 diam x 40 L ), the rectangular types tend to be long and slim.
These could be paralleled up if more capacity is wanted, and obviously series connected for higher voltage applications; two cells would make a fair PP3 9 volt substitute, for example.
In addition to the Li cell, the electronics has salvageable parts. Push-button switch, small LED's often blue or white. The ones with a USB charging port can be used as a charging regulator for any other Li cells you may use, like 18650 Li-Ion cylindrical types. And some have tubular stainless steel bodies, that could be repurposed if you are skilled in engineering.
The 'Puff Bar' types have just a single electronic device, the Li cell, and the heater coil for the liquid vapouriser. This device looks exactly like an electret microphone, but with three wire connections, and an LED on the rear of it. It is an air-pressure activated power switch, presumably the sensor is a very insensitive microphone element. This is measured by the custom electronics, which turns on / off a power switch, and also drives the ornamental LED. The power switch is a clean on/off, with active high output, the LED is driven with variable brightness, maybe PWM control?
I think there is some potential re-use for these pressure-switches. They are very simple to use, the wires are normally red and black to the battery +ve and -ve, with a blue wire to the switch output, the heater connects between this output and battery -ve.First tests suggest it's bounce-free, so it could be used to drive a T-type toggle flip-flop, giving Puff-On / Puff-Off action. This can then drive your own choice of switch.
One use could be activation of a head-lamp, while your hands are busy. For example detecting at night, your hands have digger / pinpoint probe / detector to take care of. A 'boom mic' with the pressure switch on it could be easily integrated into a head-lamp.
Cycling at night, particularly off-roading, is another use. Your hands are busy with steering/braking/gear-changing, turning on a lamp hands-free would be convenient.
In the workshop, with soldering iron / solder / wire in your hands, some extra light could be needed.
You could also link it to a radio-remote system, so you could switch on a desk lamp on your workbench, or a floodlight in your garage when you're servicing your car.
Maybe control the on/off of a still camera / video camera / action-camera ?
Where to find them ?
Puff bars are littered where people go, and where litter is often discarded. Around the edges of a supermarket car park; near shops / bars; seating areas in public parks. Take a small plastic bag with you to put them in, they can leak, or be wet from condensation/rain, or if they've been damaged, the guts could be exposed. Even car-squashed ones can still give up the pressure switch intact.
Many stores in my country have 'battery banks' where people can discard used batteries, for recycling / chemical recovery. I've recovered several reuseable vape devices from these 'bins' ( along with many laptop batteries full of 18650's, many AAA/AA NiMH rechargeables, unused 'Industrial' Duracell AA's in a box, and more )
Observe some sensible handling / hygiene precautions. These things have been in someones mouth, and handled a lot. The vape liquid stinks, and some cleaning of the battery could be needed.
When dismantling, be aware of the power of the Li cell. Many I have tested will give 10+ Amps when shorted, and the internal wiring in the vapes is thin, so red hot wiring is possible. Disconnect the cell first, then set about the electronics bits.
I suggest getting them while you still can. It's likely their sale may be banned, or they will be heavily taxed so they are less viable.
Attached some pics of some I've found. The cylindrical 09500 ( 9mm x 50mm ) is 320 mAh, from a 'Dinner Lady' disposable, some crazy flavour like cheesecake. The trademark-infringing 'Skitle' one does what you would expect, it stinks of the distinctive aroma of Skittles sweets.
I'm not the first to see the potential of this 'Trash', I discovered that 'Big Clive' is a vape user, and has done several videos dismantling them, explaining how they work.
Here is one of his videos on the subject:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N65DpT2nqEI
E-cigarettes are very popular now, and if you look in the right places, discarded ones can be easily found. But recently, there has been a surge in the use of disposable single-use models, which are commonly known as 'Puff Bars'.
All of these devices contain a foil-pouch lithium-polymer cell, typically cylindrical, but sometimes the more conventional flat shape, which are all easily salvaged. They are all fully rechargeable, even the 'disposable' types. Capacities vary from 200 mAh up to 1800 mAh. Cylindrical shapes can be 9mm up to 20mm diameter, a common one is 13400 ( 13 diam x 40 L ), the rectangular types tend to be long and slim.
These could be paralleled up if more capacity is wanted, and obviously series connected for higher voltage applications; two cells would make a fair PP3 9 volt substitute, for example.
In addition to the Li cell, the electronics has salvageable parts. Push-button switch, small LED's often blue or white. The ones with a USB charging port can be used as a charging regulator for any other Li cells you may use, like 18650 Li-Ion cylindrical types. And some have tubular stainless steel bodies, that could be repurposed if you are skilled in engineering.
The 'Puff Bar' types have just a single electronic device, the Li cell, and the heater coil for the liquid vapouriser. This device looks exactly like an electret microphone, but with three wire connections, and an LED on the rear of it. It is an air-pressure activated power switch, presumably the sensor is a very insensitive microphone element. This is measured by the custom electronics, which turns on / off a power switch, and also drives the ornamental LED. The power switch is a clean on/off, with active high output, the LED is driven with variable brightness, maybe PWM control?
I think there is some potential re-use for these pressure-switches. They are very simple to use, the wires are normally red and black to the battery +ve and -ve, with a blue wire to the switch output, the heater connects between this output and battery -ve.First tests suggest it's bounce-free, so it could be used to drive a T-type toggle flip-flop, giving Puff-On / Puff-Off action. This can then drive your own choice of switch.
One use could be activation of a head-lamp, while your hands are busy. For example detecting at night, your hands have digger / pinpoint probe / detector to take care of. A 'boom mic' with the pressure switch on it could be easily integrated into a head-lamp.
Cycling at night, particularly off-roading, is another use. Your hands are busy with steering/braking/gear-changing, turning on a lamp hands-free would be convenient.
In the workshop, with soldering iron / solder / wire in your hands, some extra light could be needed.
You could also link it to a radio-remote system, so you could switch on a desk lamp on your workbench, or a floodlight in your garage when you're servicing your car.
Maybe control the on/off of a still camera / video camera / action-camera ?
Where to find them ?
Puff bars are littered where people go, and where litter is often discarded. Around the edges of a supermarket car park; near shops / bars; seating areas in public parks. Take a small plastic bag with you to put them in, they can leak, or be wet from condensation/rain, or if they've been damaged, the guts could be exposed. Even car-squashed ones can still give up the pressure switch intact.
Many stores in my country have 'battery banks' where people can discard used batteries, for recycling / chemical recovery. I've recovered several reuseable vape devices from these 'bins' ( along with many laptop batteries full of 18650's, many AAA/AA NiMH rechargeables, unused 'Industrial' Duracell AA's in a box, and more )
Observe some sensible handling / hygiene precautions. These things have been in someones mouth, and handled a lot. The vape liquid stinks, and some cleaning of the battery could be needed.
When dismantling, be aware of the power of the Li cell. Many I have tested will give 10+ Amps when shorted, and the internal wiring in the vapes is thin, so red hot wiring is possible. Disconnect the cell first, then set about the electronics bits.
I suggest getting them while you still can. It's likely their sale may be banned, or they will be heavily taxed so they are less viable.
Attached some pics of some I've found. The cylindrical 09500 ( 9mm x 50mm ) is 320 mAh, from a 'Dinner Lady' disposable, some crazy flavour like cheesecake. The trademark-infringing 'Skitle' one does what you would expect, it stinks of the distinctive aroma of Skittles sweets.
I'm not the first to see the potential of this 'Trash', I discovered that 'Big Clive' is a vape user, and has done several videos dismantling them, explaining how they work.
Here is one of his videos on the subject:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N65DpT2nqEI
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