Unknown component identification - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: Libas
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 26, 2023, 11:23:39 am
content: Hi there,could you help me please with identification of component displayed on attached pictures? It looks like microphone capsule with 3 pins + blue LED.I have found this outside during the night as the LED was blinking (in condition as on photos). In the morning LED was not blinking anymore.Does anybody recognize this device or at least that one component with LED?

author: Manul
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 26, 2023, 12:22:11 pm
content: I suppose it is electret microphone with integrated resistor (and LED for some reason). Red wire seems like possitive supply, black ground and blue one - signal out. That matches red and black tape (I assume polarity markings) on the big cyclinder (lithium battery?). Notice that ground and signal are going outside throught the cut tube.I don't know what the hell is this. For sure looks broken and not a complete device. There is a chance that there are other parts of it laying around which you haven't found.

author: HwAoRrDk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 26, 2023, 12:46:51 pm
content: This is a broken vape pen. The microphone-looking thing contains a specialised IC that detects the user inhaling and drives the heating element to vapourise the liquid in the reservoir (missing here).You can harvest the LiPo battery and reuse, they're usually a decent capacity. But beware they have no protection circuitry.

author: Libas
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 26, 2023, 12:56:17 pm
content: Yes...correct. Big cylinder is battery and red/black tape shows polarity. Of course I looked around but no other parts found.Strange is that it looks like complete device...no signs of any other wire which has been torn off....no other damage except that some kind of housing is missing.Inside of that cutted heat protective tube is just twisted piece of wire. Blue wire just goes through this coil to negative pole of battery.

author: Libas
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 26, 2023, 12:59:38 pm
content: I also thought it could be something like vape pen as it smells very intensively like some fruit

author: HwAoRrDk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 26, 2023, 01:03:30 pm
content: Be careful handling, most vape liquids contain nicotine, which is easily absorbed through the skin.

author: Libas
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 26, 2023, 01:03:36 pm
content: Quote from: HwAoRrDk on August 26, 2023, 12:46:51 pmThis makes sense...so my question is how does it detect user inhaling and what is the name of this component?

author: RoGeorge
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 26, 2023, 01:04:58 pm
content: That's a single use, disposable electronic-cigarette/vape (vaporizer to inhale nicotine), though the battery inside is rechargeable.Beware that the battery has no BMC (battery management circuit, a protection PCB). If you want to reuse the battery, you'll have to buy a small battery protection circuit for LiIon batteries, and add that to the battery.The one that looks as a microphone is an IC working as a switch/inhale detector. There is also a heating element inside the plastic reservoir, to vaporize the nicotine liquid.https://hackaday.com/2022/05/05/2022-hackaday-prize-disposable-vape-pens-turned-project-parts/

author: Libas
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 26, 2023, 01:10:31 pm
content: Quote from: Libas on August 26, 2023, 01:03:36 pmThis component was inserted in a black cap which lies next to it on the photo. There is an opening in the black cap + there are 2 small holes in the small "PCB" of that component. So it looks like it detects air flow throuh this component?

author: Libas
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 26, 2023, 01:20:45 pm
content: Perfect Goerge! Thats exactly what I was looking for. Thank you all guys