I know that this product is a scam the way it is sold but I have already bought it a few years now. I also bought a sterex needleholder as well as professional needles. This way, it works satisfactory as a galvanic machine. However there’s one problem: The current is too high even at the lowest setting. Is there anything I can do to decrease it?
Checked it on-line … this little scam just won’t DIE! Same fraud since 1975. ET or “electronic tweezer” YUCK!
Sure, go to Radio Shack (if they are still in business) and get a potentiometer (or “pot”) and put this in the DC circuit (the unit looks like it has one but it’s not working?). This will allow you to turn the current up-and-down. Maybe have somebody put in a new pot?
I have all the pieces now to show people … (a new vid) … how to make their own little DC device … for “cheap.” A device that will be much better than the little junk pieces sold on line (but not too pretty).
Note: as people are kind of finding out, “FDA registration” means NOTHING! You are on your own people!
better you than me Michael, I was avoiding answering this one. It would probably just make me too angry!
Believe it or not, these Vector devices still sell on Ebay , for $500-$800!!! They also have rebranded themselves as “AAvexex” and “V2R” and “Professional Salon” brand names. Some come with tens unit like gel pads and are supposed to distribute current through these to the follicle via the skin ( um sorry electricity doesnt do that!) others use tweezers and others actually come with a real deal probe holder and sterex probes for doing DC galvanic.Just like the “one touch” .
I would like to remind anyone that is considering purchasing one of these devices, that a much more capable ( although maybe older) professional electrolysis machine can be had for anywhere from $150 to $600 used that is capable of blend and thermolysis . Why spend nearly twice, for something capable of, at best, a poor galvanic implementation? That’s IF you can get the components to work at all.
So…what’s in the Box? Those who have pulled thse things apart have found them to be largely composed of second rate components hooked up to a 9v wall wart, and , sometimes poorly soldered connections to the output. That’s about it, a pot, a wall wart, and a connector. I could build such a circuit in about 10 minutes if I wanted to with …about $5 worth of components.
What the OP is experiencing, is , what sounds like a calibration issue. One could wire in a calibration pot as Michael has suggested and use a volt and current meter to measure the output . When these are made, they arent being made to be actually used as a electrolysis machine. They are being used so you can feel the current over a larger surface area which requires more current. We know from doing electrolysis that what we need is somewhere in the range of 9 volts at less than 1 milliampere. These are putting out more than that, because they are designed to make you feel the current through the skin via a conductive gel ( KY!) . So adding in a calibration pot between the original one and measureing with a voltmeter/ammeter we should, in theory be able to limit the output back into the range specified above.
Except…these are a very poorly built circuit. The components are shoddy. I personally would not trust such a device to be inserted into my follicle! You are better off frankly building your own circuit in a project box. It would be safer and better built than these pieces of junk. But again, why would you want to?
I also want to point out, that galvanic electrolysis is frustratingly slow. I think when I started doing my DIY I tried galvanic…for about…maybe 2 weeks before I gave up frustrated? I moved on to blend and never looked back. Not once have I felt the urge to go back to doing galvanic, not once! I’m in no way knocking galvanic as a modality. There are professionals out there that can do outstanding work with galvanic. If you are a DIY’er, you are not beginning with the same knowledge and technique as these professionals and they are using professionally built and calibrated machines that are designed to do…electrolysis!.
What you are trying to do is foolish, and potentially…dangerous. There, I said it Michael I am describing this in exactly the terms I have given you so much crap for doing in the past. That circuit is not designed to make an output suitable for doing electrolysis function as one. I wont often call any kind of DIY dangerous but there you have it. Galvanic improperly calibrated or regulated current is more than capable of leaving a unplanned pit in your face. Please dont do it. If you feel the need to go this route, hop in kijiji or ebay or craigslist and find yourself a suitable professional unit that is calibrated…for doing electrolysis on skin.
I will say that I when I came to hairtell, maybe 10 years ago, that I had the good fortune to be warned off exactly such a project by the professional electrologists here. Them telling me to go look for a well made professional unit, was by far the best advice I ever received here.
Seana
The Question Bitch!
Bravo Seana! Well said and thanks.
By the way … I do NOT mind “crap.” Actually, I WAY prefer being criticized than being complimented.
A compliment only make me sick: and I mean physically sick. Some nice “crap” tossed my way makes me reconsider my thoughts and moves me forward.
Being nice, sweet and giving compliments is over rated! Keep the shit coming baby! (And, I’m a “bitch” too … don’t it just feel GREAT?)
It does have a potentiometer however at the lowest setting it outputs 0.5 μA which is too high for me. Here’s what it looks inside:
Unfortunately I don’t have any electrical engineering knowledge I don’t think I can install a new one.
Oner…go online, and search ye out a professionally made machine.I post links to adds for them all the time here.
That solution requires more money being forked out.
I understand the money concern. I live on nothing and scrimp and save for every equipment purchase and often, borrow from my partner for purchases of gear. If you are going to do electrolysis on yourself though the best way, honestly, is to buy a professionally made machine. Not to play around with a poorly designed circuit with insufficient electonics knowledge.
Seana
If I add a cable extension to the needle holder or the indifferent electrode, is that going to have any effect at all (as longer cable = more resistance)?
Dont do this. Especially if you do not have the electrical expertise, please dont do this. I cant help with your question anyway. My guess is that unless you were extending the cable a considerable distance, the resistance would not add up to much. By considerable distance, I mean over 100 feet, and even then its silly. A variable resistor ( Or POT) is the best way to go , not adding extra wire. You have already gotten advice on this. If you go ahead and do anyway, and leave a huge mark in your skin or electrical burns, please dont come back and say you werent told. Because you have been.
Seana
Depends. Do you have 100 meters of cable?
I jest. No, in practical scales.
If the device in question uses a battery, you are pretty safe to fiddle with it. If it plugs into the AC outlet … I would not venture ANY experimentation: not safe. Maybe the recitifer is shot? … in which case “YIKES!” AC line-voltage to a follicle? Interesting concept.
Seriously, you would be better off hooking up your needle cord and “return” to a simple battery … Try a little AAA and see what happens. (Remember the negative is the needle electrode.)
Mostly … throw the damned thing out and start over.
An attorney looked up the FDA registration numbers listed on their advertisment and no such numbers exist. The device is not listed with FDA (but the ad says it is). There is also no way to contact the company and no listed address.
I greatly resent that their website LINKS to the AEA website. This looks like an endorsement.
The device is probably made in another country and shipped to some random “seller” in the US. Fraud abounds on the internet: be careful people.