A couple of quick questions about 18650 batteries?

[iRyyy]

Hello,

I recently ordered a VAMO and had to order a couple of IMR 18650 batts with it. I was just wondering if the batteries are shipped fully charged? Also, how long does it take to fully charge a dead 18650 battery? Thanks.

 

[ppeeble]

The batteries usually arrive with around 3.7v charge and can be used straight away.
I will usually re-charge when a battery drops to 3.4v.
The batteries should never full discharge because this will damage them. Your Vamo will stop working when the voltage drops anyway and at this point you should recharge.
Charge time will depend on the battery capacity and charging unit. An average 2000mAh battery being charged with a 500mAh output charger should take round 4 hours. (2000 / 500 = 4).
All of the above information was gained by lurking on ECF

 

[iRyyy]

thanks! knowing that it should never go below 3.4v was very helpful because I wasnt sure. Appreciate your help!

 

[Thin]

I'd just like to point out the difference between protected and unprotected batteries. Protected will cut out when the volts get too low - like an eGo battery which still has enough power to brightly flash the light to warn you it's too low but won't supply any power out to your head. Unprotected will run flat like old style batteries we used to use in torches etc until they went dim and eventually died.

Modern batteries can't be allowed to go flat cos the chemistry inside them has a fight and burns the house down next time you try to charge them, hence the protection (protected batts also have overcharge protection). However Vamo's and Provari's have their own built-in protection so they'll stop the battery from getting too low for you. I've also read of some folks having trouble using protected batteries in Vamo's, something to do with the two protections fighting each other.

So, for a Vamo you're better with unprotected batteries, but get a good quality charger so they don't get overcharged, and don't use them in mods without in-built protection unless you learn how to tell that they're getting low and recharge them.

 

[Baditude]

Unprotected HIGH DRAIN IMR batteries is what you should have bought.

Preferably the red AW or Panasonic hybrid/IMR's.

 

[Vwls]

Good info! Just ordered a Provari with extension and two 18650 batteries. So basically, my Provari will stop firing when it's time to charge, and that's all I need to know?

Then pop the battery in to the recharger for 4 hours and done?

Simple is good!

What if I put the battery in the recharger and forget it till the next day? (Likely to happen.) Will that damage it?

 

[wv2win]

Unprotected HIGH DRAIN IMR batteries is what you should have bought.

Preferably the red AW or Panasonic hybrid/IMR's.

Efest batteries are another good battery from my experience.

 

[xpackaday]

I like the samsung.

 

[ppeeble]

Good info! Just ordered a Provari with extension and two 18650 batteries. So basically, my Provari will stop firing when it's time to charge, and that's all I need to know?

Then pop the battery in to the recharger for 4 hours and done?

Simple is good!


What if I put the battery in the recharger and forget it till the next day? (Likely to happen.) Will that damage it?

It's not ideal to leave a battery in a charger overnight but i have.
Although not recommended, it is virtually impossible not to leave charging batteries unattended (especially if you are charging 3000mAh batts on a 400 mAh charger !!
As long as you use a good quality charger it should be ok. I use an Xstar and a Trustfire charger and these two will cut off the power when full charge is achieved.

 

[jhiga]

I'd just like to point out the difference between protected and unprotected batteries. Protected will cut out when the volts get too low - like an eGo battery which still has enough power to brightly flash the light to warn you it's too low but won't supply any power out to your head. Unprotected will run flat like old style batteries we used to use in torches etc until they went dim and eventually died.

Modern batteries can't be allowed to go flat cos the chemistry inside them has a fight and burns the house down next time you try to charge them, hence the protection (protected batts also have overcharge protection). However Vamo's and Provari's have their own built-in protection so they'll stop the battery from getting too low for you. I've also read of some folks having trouble using protected batteries in Vamo's, something to do with the two protections fighting each other.

So, for a Vamo you're better with unprotected batteries, but get a good quality charger so they don't get overcharged, and don't use them in mods without in-built protection unless you learn how to tell that they're getting low and recharge them.

There's so many incorrect things in this post.

 

[Baditude]

So basically, my Provari will stop firing when it's time to charge, and that's all I need to know?

The Provari's fire button will begin blinking when the battery gets low on voltage. You'll have approximately 1 more hour of battery time left once this happens.

Then pop the battery in to the recharger for 4 hours and done?

What if I put the battery in the recharger and forget it till the next day? (Likely to happen.) Will that damage it?

I have done this before, but it's not recommended. I use a very high quality battery recharger (Pila) which will stop charging once the battery is fully charged. I can't say the same about some of the lower quality, less expensive chargers on the market.

 

[InTheShade]

I highly recommend attending Basic to Advanced Battery Information from Battery University If I am using something that can burn my house down, kick my dog and make my wife leave me, then I want to know all about the enemy within. It's worth a look...

 

[Thin]

There's so many incorrect things in this post.

Sorry mate my post about the protection is what I honestly believed. Any chance you could point out where I got it wrong?

 

[EddardinWinter]

There's so many incorrect things in this post.

Let's hear it! Educate us.

 

[Baditude]

Battery Safeguards; Protection Circuits

Safety Concerns with Li-ion Batteries

 

[Thin]

I'd just like to point out the difference between protected and unprotected batteries. Protected will cut out when the volts get too low - like an eGo battery which still has enough power to brightly flash the light to warn you it's too low but won't supply any power out to your head. Unprotected will run flat like old style batteries we used to use in torches etc until they went dim and eventually died.

Modern batteries can't be allowed to go flat cos the chemistry inside them has a fight and burns the house down next time you try to charge them, hence the protection (protected batts also have overcharge protection). However Vamo's and Provari's have their own built-in protection so they'll stop the battery from getting too low for you. I've also read of some folks having trouble using protected batteries in Vamo's, something to do with the two protections fighting each other.

So, for a Vamo you're better with unprotected batteries, but get a good quality charger so they don't get overcharged, and don't use them in mods without in-built protection unless you learn how to tell that they're getting low and recharge them.

There's so many incorrect things in this post.

Battery Safeguards; Protection Circuits

Safety Concerns with Li-ion Batteries

Ok I've had a bit of a read at the links kindly given but still can't see where my layman's description of protected batteries is wrong. Sure there's more to it than I said, but is what I said fundamentally wrong?

Please correct me if I've got this whole thing wrong, I don't wanna burn my house down any more than the next guy lol.

 

[EddardinWinter]

Ok I've had a bit of a read at the links kindly given but still can't see where my layman's description of protected batteries is wrong. Sure there's more to it than I said, but is what I said fundamentally wrong?

Please correct me if I've got this whole thing wrong, I don't wanna burn my house down any more than the next guy lol.

Accept the useful information Baditude gave you and move on. The original rock thrower won't follow up, apparently.

I would only use the exact batteries a mod manufacturer advises for the device. For example, I only use AW IMRs for my ProVari. You insinuated in your first post that any battery was fine since they are "protected" devices. So that was technically "incorrect" for me.

Don't worry about the rest. I get it wrong all the time. Baditude and others have taught me enough to stay out of trouble.

Follow manufacturer's guidelines. Stick to the basic rules in those links. You will be just fine.

 

[Baditude]

Ok I've had a bit of a read at the links kindly given but still can't see where my layman's description of protected batteries is wrong. Sure there's more to it than I said, but is what I said fundamentally wrong?

Please correct me if I've got this whole thing wrong, I don't wanna burn my house down any more than the next guy lol.

The Vamo is a regulated device that uses boost circuits to accomplish higher voltage than the 3.7v of a typical Li Ion battery. This means it requires a high drain battery like an IMR.

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/provape/334831-technical-why-high-drain-batteries.html

You "could" use a protected battery in one of these mods if you are only going to use voltages of 3.7 volts or less, but that really defeats the purpose of having that type of mod, doesn't it? Li Ion protected batteries will overheat if pushed beyond their limits, and I don't trust the primitive protection circuits on them to prevent a thermal runaway (this has happened to me). In addition, some regulated mods see a protected battery as a short, and will either shut down or not fire the atty.

 

[Thin]

Thanks for the replies guys, it seems I'll need to be a bit more careful with advice in the future. BTW it's AW IMR's I use, maybe I should mention them next time.

 

[Riverboat]

Good info! Just ordered a Provari with extension and two 18650 batteries. So basically, my Provari will stop firing when it's time to charge, and that's all I need to know?

Then pop the battery in to the recharger for 4 hours and done?

Simple is good!

What if I put the battery in the recharger and forget it till the next day? (Likely to happen.) Will that damage it?

I use a Pila charger...best charger IMO... It charges at 600 MA and never takes more than a couple of hours to fully charge a AW 18650 IMR battery....