Lithium battery failure = boom (I'm okay)

[Tone]

Imagine that. Unprotected batteries going boom, and I get slammed for advocating for use of protective batteries. ::::::::sigh::::::: Glad you are okay. This is why I still am even concerned about the Janty Stick. I will not purchase a device without protective batteries and an on/off kill switch.

I was waiting for you to comment

[eskimoroll]

Holy fudge!!! Is this the one you made based on my idea?? I only ask because I've never had a failure on one of my batts thank god, but wondering if you've ever dropped a battery, had it in your pocket around other metal objects, or maybe run it really really low on charge, etc....something that made it go wonky before the explosion?

There was some discussion somewhere that these dealextreme batts ARE protected but I took the plastic wrap off an old one and it had no PCB so they can't be protected. The funny thing is that they behave like they are protected...when the charge gets low they just stop working, they go from big vapour to none, and that is one of the characteristics of protected cells. I play it safe with mine and charge them once a day no matter what. you can do that with Li-Ions, they like frequent charges.

Yup, it's that very one. I don't think I've ever dropped them and I don't carry them in my pockets or store them near metal. As for how low the charge got, I can't say. I have a bunch of CR2s and I rotate through them but I'm not very disciplined in terms of keeping track of them.

[Walrus]

::exhale::

[eskimoroll]

Imagine that. Unprotected batteries going boom, and I get slammed for advocating for use of protective batteries. ::::::::sigh::::::: Glad you are okay. This is why I still am even concerned about the Janty Stick. I will not purchase a device without protective batteries and an on/off kill switch.

I can't speak for the rest of the guys on this site, but I'm definitely going to buy only protected batteries from now one. One close call is more than enough for me.

[nicowolf]

Eskimoroll, I am glad that you are ok and that the damages were so limited. The idea of that happening anywhere near my face scares the feces outta me. I went on a brief quest for protected CR2 batteries for my Magnum mods and got distracted with the Nicostick. I haven't looked back at the Magnums, sorry.

Lucky, please don't go stir up the Cowgirl, she won't understand until her precious expensive stick goes boom in her face like the exploding cigar prank.

Youfillintheblanks, it is real easy to attribute lack of vapor to other things besides the battery, and to continue trying to push that button testing each possibility. Add liquid, try again, check connections, try again, switch atomizers, try again, add liquid to the second atomizer, try again. Each time that button is pressed to try out another theory, it depletes the battery even further.

Walrus, wait no longer. I am not going to say "I told ya so". I am going to simply emphasize that this type of explosion is very much possible with unprotected lithium batteries. It is even more possible when those batteries are in the hands of someone who only knows NiMH and NiCd rechargeables or lithium batteries in cell phones that now typically carry their own protection in the circuitry to the phone. This is why I am so outspoken about using protected and why the modders' forum now requires that any step by step instructionals demonstrate and advocate protected batts. It is not to make life difficult, or to be a nanny state. It is to protect those who are too new to the whole thing to know the difference./lecture.

[Shreck]

I have been reading this forum since January and have yet to post, But I really just had to say this. Walrus, THAT was funny! I was waiting for the same thing!

[Ladycats]

I'm holding my breath and waiting for it. If you don't know what it is... don't worry, you will.

LOL Walrus I was wondering why your avatar turned BLUE ... breathe Walrus .. breathe !!!!!

[TnA]

Eskimoroll....definitely glad to hear you're okay and the damage was so minimal!

There was some discussion somewhere that these dealextreme batts ARE protected but I took the plastic wrap off an old one and it had no PCB so they can't be protected. The funny thing is that they behave like they are protected...when the charge gets low they just stop working, they go from big vapour to none, and that is one of the characteristics of protected cells.

youfillintheblank. I can tell you my original Nicostick was with the unprotected 10440 battery and I experienced something similar. I mistakingly wired a high output led that takes 3 volts to operate. So, when the battery is charged, it vapes well and makes a great led flashlight. But once the voltage drops below 3 volts, the led dies out and so does the vapor. I'm wondering what the cut-off voltage is for these atomizers is (think this might have been discussed in other threads). There has to be a threshold at which the voltage/amperage is not high enough to produce enough heat to create vapor. Thus the possible reason for your transition from big vapour to none.

Nicowolf, I'm glad we got to see a true-to-life example of your concerns and that it was a rather painless example!

[balldope]

Glad your OK, Wow... How can anyone avoid this other then buying protected bats?

[youfillintheblank]

I'm not sure about that.....these batteries do say the cut off for low voltage is 2.0v....byt that number I would assume 2 almost dead batteries would put out 4 volts, plenty to fire up the atomizer. That's what lead me to believe that they were protected.....the voltage got low, and the circuit board said "alright men, shut 'er down we're low on power" there could a PCB under the cap at the positive end of the battery....but I don't feel much like poking at it for fear of shorting it out.

I'm happy with my setup the way it is, I just charge the batteries often to keep a solid charge in them and I just keep on foggin' up the place!

youfillintheblank. I can tell you my original Nicostick was with the unprotected 10440 battery and I experienced something similar. I mistakingly wired a high output led that takes 3 volts to operate. So, when the battery is charged, it vapes well and makes a great led flashlight. But once the voltage drops below 3 volts, the led dies out and so does the vapor. I'm wondering what the cut-off voltage is for these atomizers is (think this might have been discussed in other threads). There has to be a threshold at which the voltage/amperage is not high enough to produce enough heat to create vapor. Thus the possible reason for your transition from big vapour to none.

Nicowolf, I'm glad we got to see a true-to-life example of your concerns and that it was a rather painless example!