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From what I know in the world of vaping, 18650 has been batteries you can replace on a mod, but LiPo has been mostly built in the mods. As to which is superior, I cant comment on that, both has their pros and cons. But its safer to use 18650 based mods as you can replace those batteries easily when the life is up, unlike LiPo. This is based on my understanding, try search on youtube for better understanding.
Hope this helps
Hope this helps
Lipo's tend to have higher volts and higher amps. A 3s lipo's is like 3 18650's flattened out and wired in series. Because of this they make better use of the space. Unless it's a tube mod.
External charging is marginally easier with 18650's and it's easier to cart around spares to switch out.
I've used lipo's in RC cars for years. They are safe if treated correctly and good brands are used. The same goes for 18650's.
Safety is more about the user than it is about the battery.
This is a lipo battery failing:
In terms of how they handle a thermal runaway/failure - our 18650s of choice are FAR superior. Our batteries are designed with safety in mind. LiPos; not at all. They will turn a minor incident into a major accident. Please don't be the guy that blows up a LiPo battery while holding it to your face.
Want more power? Get a multi-battery 18650 mod.
In terms of how they handle a thermal runaway/failure - our 18650s of choice are FAR superior. Our batteries are designed with safety in mind. LiPos; not at all. They will turn a minor incident into a major accident. Please don't be the guy that blows up a LiPo battery while holding it to your face.
Want more power? Get a multi-battery 18650 mod.
Don't be fooled. 18650 and all those number denote the battery size and shape. The numbers mean nothing as to the battery chemistry.
LiPo, LiMn, LiCoO2, on and on, denote the battery chemistry. The various types have their designated applications. Unstable types can be mishandled and made dangerous, and proper types for vaping can be relatively safe. Because it is an 18650 that doesn't make it safe, and because it's LiPo doesn't make it unsafe.
Basic to Advanced Battery Information from Battery University
Lots of good info here. Just remember, we push our batteries to the limits as far as current draw and mishandling. That's why accidents happen.
LiPo, LiMn, LiCoO2, on and on, denote the battery chemistry. The various types have their designated applications. Unstable types can be mishandled and made dangerous, and proper types for vaping can be relatively safe. Because it is an 18650 that doesn't make it safe, and because it's LiPo doesn't make it unsafe.
Basic to Advanced Battery Information from Battery University
Lots of good info here. Just remember, we push our batteries to the limits as far as current draw and mishandling. That's why accidents happen.
When would you be using a 6 cell lipo for vaping? There are just as many videos of 18650's exploding.
I don't see any danger if you are using the battery, whichever type, within its limits.
It's OK if the fire and toxic/acidic gas cloud is somewhat smaller?
I'd like to see a video of an exploding IMR (specifically) battery. Not just a random 18650. We use certain chemistries for a reason. That reason is high-ish discharge coupled with superior safety. 18650 is just a form factor, not a type of battery.
There is more to consider when using batteries than just their discharge limits within a perfect theoretical world. What about balance charging, storage - or simply dropping them on a hard surface?
Well running them in RC cars with super high amp draw and taking massive impacts hasn't led to a single explosion in my experience. Balance charging is in my opinion a lot more fool proof than marrying batteries.
In saying that if the intended purpose doesn't require more than 1 18650 then I would use that option. Anything that requires more than one cell I think a lipo is the superior option.
Superior only in terms of discharge ratings.
In practical terms; what's the difference between 'marrying' 3 batteries and charging them individually - and balance charging a 3S battery?
I think it's bad advice telling someone who knows absolutely nothing about LiPos that they're safe; based on never having one blow up on you.
In practical terms; what's the difference between 'marrying' 3 batteries and charging them individually - and balance charging a 3S battery?
I think it's bad advice telling someone who knows absolutely nothing about LiPos that they're safe; based on never having one blow up on you.
Plugging in a balance charge port vs manually keeping track of 3 batteries that could be mixed with others. To me the lipo pack is less likely to be misused.
Too much hype has been created around lipo's which have been in use for a long time in many devices with very little failure or injury. I think it's wrong to create a fear of something when it's unwarranted instead of helping someone to understand and be able to take advantage of a good product.
Discharge is primarily what a battery is built for right?
I am also sharing my opinion and not telling someone what to do. It's their choice to take my information or yours and do with it as they please.
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No but because it's LiPo makes it inevitable that a user or manufacturer error will have a lot bigger consequences than our batteries of choice.
For RC use, yes.
For other applications, like EVs, LiPos are generally not used. They are simply not considered safe enough. Besides safety properties, LiPos are awesome batteries. No question about it.
For vaping, we don't choose batteries solely based on how they perform under normal operation. We choose them by how they fail; should something go wrong. Like it occasionally does - because a lot of vapers know next to nothing about batteries. Also because some of the electronics used are dime-a-dozen POS-es. Know your audience.
My agenda is to not see LiPos become the next rage in the somewhat dimwitted "bigger clouds, brah!" crowd. LiPos can push a lot of power, but they're far from the only way to push a lot of power.
I am not concerned for experienced RC enthusiasts and the like - building their own LiPo powered mods. They tend to know what they're doing and are well aware of the consequences if they get it wrong. I am concerned for those who ask questions like "which is better". Those are the ones who needs to know the dangers involved. Telling them LiPos are in any way "safe batteries" is, IMO, bad advice.
Saying lipo's arnt safe is like saying petrol cars arnt safe because some (a lot actually) have blown up so we should all drive diesels. The failure rate vs usage rate is very low.
Also don't you think all of these companies would of done some due diligence into the safety of the power source of their devices? There are a lot of lipo's in off the shelf devices now.
I think we are pushing the limits of 18650 amp draw vs the massive overheads we have when looking at alternatives like lipo's.
Also don't you think all of these companies would of done some due diligence into the safety of the power source of their devices? There are a lot of lipo's in off the shelf devices now.
I think we are pushing the limits of 18650 amp draw vs the massive overheads we have when looking at alternatives like lipo's.
No I don't. And there is no "think" involved. As they say on Game of Thrones: It is known
That's an iStick 50w with a round cell LiPo in it. Think the manufacturer did their due diligence?
We're on different sides of this. Not much more to discuss.
Lipo's are hugely superior to any round cell batteries in every which way.
Bigger size for same mah, bigger amps, bigger charge rates, very low internal resistance, they are awesome batteries but that also means bigger boom. If used properly there's almost no worry, they are literally used in almost every electronic device you can think of.
The problem with using them in an ecig, that power is a monstrosity to be used so close to our body and face.
To date there have been very few issues but those random events could be a bad employee/robot day at work and that happens at apple microsoft etc etc etc etc.
That pictured 50 watt Istick is one that went bad out of 100's of thousands that are fine so ya you just hope for the best and that it was a good day at work..
A lipo battery that vents like that is usually from the lipo cell being punctured and exposed to oxygen, overcharged/overdischarged is ruled out because they swell up 1st 3-4 times their original size and the case does not look bulged. So ya it was probably a bad sloppy solder with a pointy inside it or an errant screw that sneaked along during build and across time it broke the lipo's foil seal causing it to vent..
Meh', cell phones, ipads, tablets, laptops etc have some uber powerful cells are dropped everyday and used by kids in a lot of schools. Virtually no worry but there can be and it can be bad..
If you can use round cells it is the better choice IMO..
Bigger size for same mah, bigger amps, bigger charge rates, very low internal resistance, they are awesome batteries but that also means bigger boom. If used properly there's almost no worry, they are literally used in almost every electronic device you can think of.
The problem with using them in an ecig, that power is a monstrosity to be used so close to our body and face.
To date there have been very few issues but those random events could be a bad employee/robot day at work and that happens at apple microsoft etc etc etc etc.
That pictured 50 watt Istick is one that went bad out of 100's of thousands that are fine so ya you just hope for the best and that it was a good day at work..
A lipo battery that vents like that is usually from the lipo cell being punctured and exposed to oxygen, overcharged/overdischarged is ruled out because they swell up 1st 3-4 times their original size and the case does not look bulged. So ya it was probably a bad sloppy solder with a pointy inside it or an errant screw that sneaked along during build and across time it broke the lipo's foil seal causing it to vent..
Meh', cell phones, ipads, tablets, laptops etc have some uber powerful cells are dropped everyday and used by kids in a lot of schools. Virtually no worry but there can be and it can be bad..
If you can use round cells it is the better choice IMO..
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