AW IMR 14500 Degrade Quickly?

[zodduska]

I've been rotating a set of four AW IMR 14500 batteries in my mini for only a couple months now but the last week or so I've noticed performance drops off much more quickly than they used to. I chain vape 1.5ohm atties and today I decided to meter them when I felt the vape start to weaken, one earlier today metered 3.74 and I just tested one I changed less than an hour ago at 3.83V..

Could it really be time to buy new batteries already?

 

[nerak]

The only problem I have had with mine seeming to drop off quickly, turned out to be my charger. I metered them straight off and they were not fully charged. They were around 3.7. After a new charger, they charged and performed like new. Most of mine I have been running for around 5 months.

 

[zodduska]

Right off my charger they read 4.21. I suppose I could just be getting more and more hooked on the fresh charged hit and it starts to seem weak when they taper off peak charge quickly.

 

[Mvgratz]

Do you "run them till they die" normally?

 

[zodduska]

Never run them until they wouldn't fire the atty if that's what you mean, normally they get charged before they drop below 3.8. This afternoon was the first time I've metered one of them in the 3.7v range and that was what got me thinking they might be starting to wear out, didn't seem like I had really used that batt for an exceptionally long time between charges.

 

[Mvgratz]

Good. Your already aware that discharging them below 3.8v's shortens their life expectancy. If you bought them from one of the reputable vendors they may honor AW's warranty. This is take directly from AW's sales thread on the CPF MarketPlace where all the vendors selling them buy theirs. (Also, the are rated for >500 cycles) according to AW specs...

Warranty : All batteries sold are covered by a 90 day warranty from the date of purchase. Please keep the voltage of all LiIon batteries above 3.8V for healthy storage. Recharge as soon as possible when you have run them down. Storing a depleted ( less than 3.6V open voltage ) battery may damage/ shorten life/cycle permanently.

 

[zodduska]

Cool, thanks Mvgratz, I'll keep the warranty in mind if I become convinced there is an issue that exists outside of my head.

 

[Mvgratz]

Alot of us become addicted to that 4.2v vape. Mine never get below 3.9 before I'm already reaching for a fresh one...

 

[viktorialee]

THAT was what I was wondering - how long they lasted before I had to be prepared with a new set. I thought it would be much longer though. If they're rated for 500 cycles and I only charge them once per day, I would think that they should last a little over a year, but if other people are seeing a shorter life span, then I'd rather go with what other people have actually experienced.

Most of mine I have been running for around 5 months.

 

[BardicDruid]

The other batts say that their life span is between 200 to 300 cycles, that's why I stick with AW. Also you may want to clean your batt and PV contacts, they do get dirty, I do mine about every two weeks.

 

[Bauzen]

I have yet to find complaints with the AW IMR 18650.

I'd consider myself a moderate vaper, I go out whenever I feel like I need a fix, do my thing, then put it away.

I go through 2~2.5ml per day.

At the end of every day, I throw the battery into the charger and top it off, throw the fresh one back into the Reo.

If you're a chain vaper, the Reo grand should still get you through a majority of a day, but your batteries won't last as long because you're using them harder than someone like me.

Just got my first Mini, and I'm going to see how far into a day an AW IMR 14500 gets me... I may be able to get away with a whole day on just one battery, and if I can, I won't need the grand anymore.