Before you decide to purchase a new vape, relax. Of all the various types of vaping devices, in my over two years of testing and reviewing hundreds of disposable vaping products, I have discovered that many times when you assume a Lost Mary is dead, it is simply a misunderstood device.
In most cases, the root of the problem is not related to the electrical components of the Lost Mary but rather to one of a handful of easy to correct issues. Let us review the top causes of Lost Mary failures to charge and provide instructions to resolve each.
Reason 1: The Most Common Culprit – A Faulty Charging Cable or Adapter
It is without a doubt the most frequent cause of assumed failure to charge. We blame the vape, however, 70% of the time, the issue lies with the cable.
The cheap, generic USB-C cables that collect in our junk drawers are typically built for data transfer, not reliable power transmission. Therefore, the internal wiring of such cables may fail upon being bent repeatedly and become unusable. Likewise, utilizing a laptop or wall adapter that produces higher wattage than the capacity of the small battery in a Lost Mary OS5000 or MO5000 can render the battery incapable of receiving a charge.
I once spent twenty minutes convinced that my brand new Lost Mary MO5000 was defective. After performing the usual “check a different outlet” test, I replaced the high-end aftermarket cable I had purchased for the basic, no-frills cable that came with my mobile phone. Instantly, the charging light illuminated on the Lost Mary. Clearly, the moral of the story is to not rely on a cable unless it has proven guilty.
Fix: Step-by-Step Cable & Power Audit
- Try a Different Cable: This is the first step you must take. Do not simply unplug and plug the same cable back in. Locate another high quality, short USB-C cable — preferably one used for providing power to a device versus syncing.
- Change the Power Source: Disconnect from your computer and utilize a 5W/1A standard phone wall adapter. Additionally, steer clear of fast-charging blocks (those designed specifically for newer Samsung or Apple phones), as they may be incompatible.
- Look for the Light: Upon successfully connecting a working Lost Mary, you should see either a red or white light illuminate on the device itself based on the type/model of Lost Mary. This indicates that it is receiving power. If the light appears when connected with one cable/adapter combination and does not appear with another, you have identified the culprit.
Cause #2: Debris in the Charging Port
The USB-C charging port on your Lost Mary is a prime candidate for collecting lint, dirt, and other debris from your pockets.
A small, nearly imperceptible amount of debris can prevent the charging cable from making complete contact. As such, the pins on the cable cannot make contact with the pins within the charging port, thus preventing the flow of power to the device.
Fix: Careful Cleaning Procedure
Be Gentle: You do not want to damage the delicate contacts inside the charging port.
- Device Off: Ensure the Lost Mary is turned off.
- Fine Tool: Utilize a wooden toothpick, a plastic dental pick, or compressed air. Steer clear of using metal objects (i.e., paper clips) as they can short the pins.
- Inspect and Clean: Direct a light source into the charging port. More than likely, you will observe debris. Gently use the toothpick to clean around the edges and the center “tongue” of the charging port, blowing the debris away.
- Final Blow: A short burst of compressed air will help dislodge any remaining debris.
- Retest: Reconnect the Lost Mary to a previously tested good cable. You would be surprised how frequently this resolves the issue.
Cause #3: It Is Not the Charger, It Is the Battery
In rare instances, the Lost Mary is truly dead due to the battery having been depleted to a near zero state for an extended period of time.
Lithium-ion batteries, like the one contained in your Lost Mary, possess a protective circuitry that can place the battery in a “sleep” or deep discharge condition if the voltage of the battery falls below a predetermined threshold. If you utilized the Lost Mary until it became completely depleted and stored it in a drawer for several months, the battery may have self-discharged beyond the recovery point.
Fix: Patient Approach
- Connect and Wait: Connect your Lost Mary to a confirmed good cable and power adapter and let it sit for 30-60 minutes. Check it periodically during this waiting period.
- Signs of Life: The charging light may not appear instantly. After allowing the Lost Mary to sit for an extended period, disconnect it and attempt to inhale. If there is any response (even a faint light), reconnect it and allow it to continue charging normally.
- Hard Reality: If after sitting on the charger for a full hour, there is no light and/or no vapor produced, the battery has most likely expired. Disposable vapes are not capable of resuscitation.
Cause #4: The Device Has Simply Reached Its End of Life
This is the sad truth we all wish to avoid but is ultimately an inevitable fact of life for all disposable vapes.
A Lost Mary is designed to function for approximately 5000 puffs (thus the name OS5000). The e-liquid and the battery are a matched pair. Once the e-liquid has been exhausted, the device is programmed to cease operation. Moreover, lithium-ion batteries have a limited number of charge/discharge cycles. If you have consistently recharged your Lost Mary for weeks/months, the battery will inevitably degrade and lose the ability to retain a charge.
This is the built-in obsolescence that fuels the disposable market. I have had Lost Marys that survived three recharges and others that lived for dozens of recharges. It is a gamble. If you exhaust a full charge of your Lost Mary, only to have it die again soon thereafter, it is clear the battery has finally died.
Fix: The Only (Yet Sad) Resolution
- Acknowledge the End: If your Lost Mary is dead (out of juice) or the battery will no longer hold a charge, it has fulfilled its purpose.
- Responsible Disposal: Please do not dispose of it in your regular waste. These devices contain a lithium-ion battery. Take it to an electronics recycling facility or a vape store that provides battery disposal.
- New Purchase: This is the “solution” the manufacturer intended.
Final Hit: The Bottom Line
Prior to giving up on your Lost Mary, run through the following quick list:
- Cable Change: Attempt a different, high quality USB-C cable.
- Source of Power Change: Use a standard 5W wall adapter.
- Port Cleaning: Gently remove debris/lint from the port using a toothpick.
- Wait: If it was severely depleted, leave it on a proven-working charger for one hour.
9 times out of 10, one of these options will resolve the issue. However, if you have attempted all four and still find no light, it is time to bid farewell to your Lost Mary. Your Lost Mary has provided its best efforts in service to the cause. You can now confidently buy your next Lost Mary, knowing how to maintain it in peak performance for its entire operational life.