Are Charging Bag's Really Necessary?

[unclerj]

Like most of us, I started out with a 510 stick battery and some pre filled cartomizer's. I have been using the Epower 14650 kit for a while now and obviously I have been charging the batteries without problems.

I now have an Apollo V-Tube on the way and when I went shopping for extra 18650 batteries (and other goodies) I am seeing charging bag's.

Are these really necessary?

 

[NancyR]

While you can charge without them as you already know, they are just a bit of added safety. IF something does go wrong the bag helps keep it contained to the bag.

 

[fourthrok]

I'm glad this was brought up. I've been wondering about that myself!

Guess it'd be a good thing to go ahead and get one. Or two (one for hubby's batteries, too).

 

[Ezkill]

A lot of devices around your house have Lithium Polymer(Li-Po) batteries and people just don't worry about charging those. Laptops, cell phones, universal remotes with battery packs etc.

So that being said do you feel you need a charging bag? To each his own.

 

[Tolver]

While you can charge without them as you already know, they are just a bit of added safety. IF something does go wrong the bag helps keep it contained to the bag.

And this is a known issue that batteries have 'accidents' and therefore the bags were developed for a serious problem? Seriously? These things turn into bombs and need to be contained less they explode? Is it just because people 'overcharge' their batteries or something? Sometimes my batteries are left charging over night and are sitting in the charger with a green light until I wake up and remove them from the charger.

Are my batteries SO dangerous that I *NEED* a charging bag to protect my house from an exploding battery?

 

[Ezkill]

Tolver,

While obviously this is a personal decision and you should do what you need to do to feel safe, I personally think it's highly over blown.

Most people have absolutely no worries about charging a laptop while using it on their lap or using a cellphone that's currently charging. They then feel the need to charge their e-cig batteries in the garage, inside a battery bag. I personally don't understand it.

Buy good name brand batteries and a good charger.

 

[Tolver]

Ezkill,

So it hype and fear-mongering. Ok, thanx!

 

[mostapha]

The thought is that circuitry inside laptops and cel phones that protect the battery from overcharge/overdischarge/overcurrent/etc. are better than what's in cheap chargers. Things still occasionally go wrong with some of them, though it seems that only Apple's failures get reported.

For me, I don't really buy it. Phones get dropped, chucked around, thrown in bags, rained on, and no one bats an eye. Laptop batteries are under at least as much strain as PV batteries and are–generally–treated worse.

YMMV; don't blame me if your house blows up; etc., ad nauseum. But I just don't think that it's worth worrying about for me.

 

[fourthrok]

I'm not thinking about using a charging bag for my regular batteries...like the vGo, X2, eGo, or kGo or "stick" batteries. That'd be a bit silly. What I've wondered about is the big guys for the LTs, Provari, and other mods like the Gripper etc..... 14650s and 18650s and types like that. I don't know if they have a "safety cut off" or if the charger for them does or what. Or if they are reliable, as I assume the e-cig type are. Just thinking, though. I haven't used one so far. But it does occur to me that with rechargeable batteries of that nature it "might" be a good idea.

Or not.

 

[grandmato5]

Only you can decide how valuable and necessary a battery charging bag is to you. Charging our batteries has potential danger associated with it. It doesnt happen often, but fires and explosions DO happen. No one thats ever had an explosion or fire "thought" it would happen to them. Just because its never happened to you doesnt mean it couldnt in the future. If you do all the the preventative things like metering your batteries before charging them and after they come off the charger, regularly checking your charger cords for frays and good connections, cleaning the charger and battery connections regularly, only charge when you are nearby to keep on eye on them, and removing your batteries from your charger as soon as they are charged, not charging your batteries overnight when you are sleeping, you are much more likely to never experience a problem and not need a charging bag. Although its still possible to do everything right and still experience a problem.

If you are one of those people that doesnt do any of the above safety precautions and leaves your batteries on your charger when you are not nearby to keep on eye on them or charges them overnight when you are sleeping then a charging bag is likely to be good option for you to prevent a disaster from happening in your home.

 

[Ezkill]

Not necessarily.

When LiPo's first started being used for RC's way when back the charging bags were not a bad idea. The chemistry wasn't as good as it is now and a lot of the chargers were of dubious quality. The fact is these batteries do contain a lot of energy and they do have the potential to go nuclear.

Now the chargers are better and the battery chemistries are better. AW IMR batteries for instance don't go nuclear like the older LiPo's do in the case of a catastrophic short, they instead vent.

If you don't abuse your batteries you are unlikely to ever encounter any problems. They don't like to be over discharged and they don't like to be abused. There is an excellent battery safety sticky in the main index of the e-cigarette forum that has excellent information you can use as a guide to determine what you feel safe with. It's a very good read.

I find people are willing to spend 100's if not 1000's on PV's and then buy the cheapest knock off batteries and chargers they can find. That part I don't get either.

All I wanted to do was put it in perspective. The apple laptop, on your lap, not in a battery bag has a LiPo battery.

 

[grandmato5]

I'm not thinking about using a charging bag for my regular batteries...like the vGo, X2, eGo, or kGo or "stick" batteries. That'd be a bit silly. What I've wondered about is the big guys for the LTs, Provari, and other mods like the Gripper etc..... 14,650s and 18650s and types like that. Just thinking, though. I haven't used one so far. But it does occur to me that with rechargeable batteries of that nature it "might" be a good idea.

Or not.

Just so you are aware, there are reported battery explosions while charging ego type batteries so its just as important to consider a charging bag for those along with our other batteries.

 

[Tolver]

google search for site:e-cigarette-forum.com ego battery explosions

battery explosions - Google Search

 

[Davenkay]

I have never thought about this, but I guess it can happen. Anyway, you could drill out a hole in a sturdy decorative canister, run the cord through and place the charger inside and if it blows, the canister would capture the mess. If you are not worried about the appearance, get an old military ammo case and mount the whole thing in there.

 

[NancyR]

And this is a known issue that batteries have 'accidents' and therefore the bags were developed for a serious problem? Seriously? These things turn into bombs and need to be contained less they explode? Is it just because people 'overcharge' their batteries or something? Sometimes my batteries are left charging over night and are sitting in the charger with a green light until I wake up and remove them from the charger.

Are my batteries SO dangerous that I *NEED* a charging bag to protect my house from an exploding battery?

It is a very real concern, just search youtube for batteries exploding, even cell phones and laptops can do this. And these problems are EXACTLY why you should never leave your batteries charging overnight. You can do searches right here on the forum where people had a battery they had recharged before suddenly have a meltdown.

While most e-cigs do use the safest batteries they can they are still batteries and there will always be risks, so takign steps such as using a charging bag is not as you put in it another post "fear-mongering"

edited to add

The last battery meltdown I read about on the forum was less than 2 months ago.

 

[Tolver]

I suppose that this is why there is the 'PCC' ...

http://www.ecigexpress.com/joye-510...-c-63_65/pcc-for-joye-510-choose-color-p-1232

"PCC for Joye 510

Personal Charging Case (PCC) for the Joye 510 Electronic cigarette. The Joyetech Personal Charging Case (PCC) is designed for battery charging on the go without the need for a power source. It will charge a JOYE 510 battery 3-4 times. Once the PCC battery has been depleted, simply plug it into your USB port or your AC outlet to recharge. The PCC can hold a spare battery,a spare atomizer, and 2 cartridges making it the ultimate e-cig accessory. Never be stuck with an empty battery again! Ideal for traveling with your Joye 510 Electronic Cigarette.

The PCC is perfect for those looking for mobility and flexibility.

Joye 510 Starter Kit sold separately. Unit comes with PCC, USB cable.

WARRANTY: This item comes with a 30 day limited warranty. Please read our warranty policy for full details.

Model: JOYE510PCC
Manufactured by: Joye"

I wonder if it comes in my favorite color, Green?

 

[Ezkill]

This case has nothing to do with safety. It in itself contains a battery you can charge so you can then re-charge your ego batteries when you don't have a plugin available.

 

[tj99959]

This is what can happen if a charger doesn't shut off at the proper voltage, or if there is some other problem.

Lithium Ion Battery Explosion - YouTube

So how close is the nearest fire station if you don't use charging bags?

 

[Tolver]

This is what can happen if a charger doesn't shut off at the proper voltage, or if there is some other problem.

Lithium Ion Battery Explosion - YouTube

So how close is the nearest fire station if you don't use charging bags?

I wonder at a charging bags ability to contain such an energetic explosion, would have to be made out of Kevlar.

 

[Rocketman]

Has there EVER been a reported case of a PCC blowing up?
or a 510 blowing up while being charged in a PCC?
The eGos that I have seen reported going kabluey were the older style.
Has anyone seen a report of the eGo upgrade blowing up?
Could, I guess.

Is it even possible for the chargers we use to charge e-cigs to output as much current as was likely being used in that video. Did he say?


and Yes, the fiberglass charging bags will contain that kind of blast.
The double sided tape did pretty good, kept the cell from rocketing away.