You reach for your vape pen, and after you press the button, nothing happens. No light flickers, no pre-heat hums. Your cartridge is full. What happened? You're not out of options. By using a little creativity and the right techniques, you can bypass the dead battery and use your cartridge until it's empty.
The Problem Explained: It Is a Connection Issue
To begin with, let me explain how a 510-thread battery functions. The main function of a 510-thread battery is to provide a controlled amount of low-voltage electrical energy to a heating coil within your cartridge. The coil uses that energy to heat the oil to create the vapor you inhale. When your battery dies, that electrical path is disrupted.
I think many people freak out because they believe they have thrown away a perfectly good cartridge, and that fear is well-founded. Cartridges are not cheap. In fact, there is very little published research regarding the extent of the waste of cannabis products, so the idea of getting the maximum benefit from your money is a common sense approach to purchasing cannabis products. These ideas are emergency fixes, not a long-term substitute for a functional battery.
Method #1: The Wires and Tape Fix
The simplest method to bypass the electrical circuit that your dead battery cannot supply is to connect two wires directly between the contacts on your cartridge. I have used this fix and while it does seem a little technical, it is extremely useful when you are under pressure to get back vaping quickly.
What You'll Need
You will need a USB cable you don’t mind sacrificing, a pair of wire cutters/strippers, and some electrical tape.
Step-by-Step Instructions
The first step is to remove the smaller end of the USB cable and strip the outside insulation to expose the 4 individual wires inside. The red and black wires are the ones you want, and you can disregard the green and white data wires. Strip a small section of the red and black wires to expose the copper underneath.
Identify the contact areas on your cartridge. The center pin on the bottom is the positive contact area and the threaded metal around the outside is the negative contact area. Understanding the difference is critical as incorrect identification can result in short-circuiting the cartridge.
Now for the hard part: Gently place the exposed red wire onto the center pin of the cartridge. Next, carefully position the exposed black wire on the threaded area of the cartridge. Once you've connected both wires, the cartridge should start to heat up. Don't leave the cartridge connected for more than 2-3 seconds. You are essentially pulsating the power manually. Using this method requires great hand-eye coordination, patience and concentration to avoid allowing the wires to cross each other and cause a short circuit.
Method #2: The Universal Battery (The Easy Replacement)
This is not a repair for the dead pen itself, but it is by far the safest and most reliable option available. Every vaper should have a backup plan.
Why a Backup Battery is Essential
Using a single battery is taking a huge gamble. Having a second 510-thread battery in a drawer is the cheapest insurance you can buy. To me, the benefits of the extra convenience and safety far exceed the price of a simple model. A proper battery is designed to do exactly this job with internal protection against over-discharging and short-circuiting that a DIY fix doesn't offer. The quality and consistency of a hit from a good battery is far better than any DIY fix, which preserves the flavor and potency of the oil in your cartridge.
Important Safety Considerations
While the wire fix works, there are some non-negotiable risks associated with the fix. You are working with electricity, and you have a flammable substance contained in your cartridge. I have personally witnessed a cartridge get too hot to handle due to leaving the wires connected for a few seconds longer than I intended to. There is a high degree of risk involved with overheating the coil, degrading the oil with excess heat, or even worse, leaking or cracking the cartridge. I would encourage you to only use this fix as a last resort, and with extreme caution. Your safety is more valuable than the contents of the cartridge.
Knowing When to Let Go
Occasionally, the problem is not with the battery but with the cartridge itself. If you've attempted these fixes, and received no results, or if the cartridge tasted burnt before the battery died, it might be time to retire it. Pushing a defective product beyond its limits is never worthwhile.