AW IMR battery end of life questions

[Geoscouter]

I use only Aw IMR batteries in my Reos. Some of them are approaching 1 year in age. They still seem to be working well but I wonder how to tell when they are approaching the end of their useful life. Has anyone had experience with their IMRs going bad? Are there any tell tale signs that they are going bad or do they just gradually fade in performance. I know they are supposed to be able to last for 500 charges but I am assuming that is an average.
Thanks


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[Mudflap]

When they're about ready to be recycled, they won't hold a charge for very long. After a recharge, the voltage will drop very quickly as you use them.

 

[mlinky]

And, don't ever assume that a drop in performance is the batteries without first checking the fully charged voltage on a multimeter. I had a charger die, but all of my batteries are still going strong.

 

[Geoscouter]

Ok so declining length of time that they stay at vaping voltage is the signal that they are wearing out. Does this happen gradually or is it more abrupt?


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[Mudflap]

Gradually, unless some kind of wonky over discharge or over recharge has occurred.

 

[Delilah718]

I use only Aw IMR batteries in my Reos. Some of them are approaching 1 year in age. They still seem to be working well but I wonder how to tell when they are approaching the end of their useful life. Has anyone had experience with their IMRs going bad? Are there any tell tale signs that they are going bad or do they just gradually fade in performance. I know they are supposed to be able to last for 500 charges but I am assuming that is an average.
Thanks


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Great question, I was wondering the same thing as mine are almost a year old too Time to reorder!

 

[Microlon]

I have just had 2 18650 AW IMR 1600 mAh battery's die after just 2 1/2 months usage from new. I am using a PILA charger, I am informed that they are the best.

The charger has just worked fine on my only other spare battery so I guess its not that at fault....I can only assume that its the batteries!

I have to order some more now unless some helpful person can enlighten me as to why 2 nearly new batteries have bitten the dust!

 

[ltrainer]

Were they run down too much. IMRs don't like to be run down too far.

 

[Microlon]

Never below 3.2.....is that too low to cause this issue?

 

[mlinky]

This is from the AW IMR specifications. Any time you let them get below 3.6v for any length of time, you shorten their lifespan:

LiIon Battery Charge Status

4.2V – 100%
4.1V – 87%
4.0V – 75%
3.9V – 55%
3.8V – 30%
3.5V – 0%

IMR:
Caution :

- Do not over-discharge/overcharge;
- Recharge empty batteries ( resting voltage below ~3.6V ) as soon as possible. Leaving LiIon batteries in discharged state will incur irreversible damage ( capacity / cycle loss );
- Do not short circuit ( will release tremendous current );
- Do not dispose of in fire.

 

[Manos]

Well i had an IMR reach critical mass in my front pocket, ( thankfully in jeans while getting out of the car in my garage after work). It was weird because it was only 2 months or so old, and it got so hot it felt like a dropped a hot ember in my pocket. I tossed that battery becuse i didnt want it to explode in my Reo. I had two others and they seem to work ok. Not a huge fan of the 14500 since i have since purchased a Grand and i am now rocking the 18650's. I think that battery may have been bad, just a guess, that is my end of life 2 cents.

 

[tmcase]

This is from the AW IMR specifications. Any time you let them get below 3.6v for any length of time, you shorten their lifespan:

LiIon Battery Charge Status

4.2V – 100%
4.1V – 87%
4.0V – 75%
3.9V – 55%
3.8V – 30%
3.5V – 0%

IMR:
Caution :

- Do not over-discharge/overcharge;
- Recharge empty batteries ( resting voltage below ~3.6V ) as soon as possible. Leaving LiIon batteries in discharged state will incur irreversible damage ( capacity / cycle loss );
- Do not short circuit ( will release tremendous current );
- Do not dispose of in fire.

Thank you Margie for reposting this. I've seen it before but forgot about it. After I read the list I checked the voltage in the battery I was using because it has been in my Reo for more than a day. It was down to 3.6v. The decrease in performance was so gradual that I didn't even notice it. So I put it on the charger and put a fresh battery in and THEN I noticed a difference in performance. So thank you for saving one of my batteries.

 

[ancient puffer]

There's a VERY subtle difference in performance that occurs at around 3.9v. When I first got mine, I ran them down to around 3.6v But I saw Rob post that he changes his out around 3.9, and by checking it just a little with the voltmeter (maybe 3 or 4 days) to get a feel for it, I change it out regularly at 3.8-3.9v The difference in overall performance is noticeable, and although I wind up changing out the 18650's more frequently (I use 2 a day), that chart just adds an additional plus to doing it that way.

I always (emphasize the "always") carry a small zippered pouch, which is just big enough for a spare 6ml bottle of juice, an extra (tested for proper resistance) cartomizer and fully charged battery (it prevents the battery from possible short too). I've never had to use it for "emergencies", but I don't have to worry about leaving home if it's close to the 8-10 hour usage mark on the current battery.

 

[ltrainer]

I agree 100%. I change my 18650s about 3 times a day. I left he house the other day and forgot to bring a spare. After a few hours out the vape just wasn't great but it was better than none at all. When I got home that battery tested out at 3.6.

There's a VERY subtle difference in performance that occurs at around 3.9v. When I first got mine, I ran them down to around 3.6v But I saw Rob post that he changes his out around 3.9, and by checking it just a little with the voltmeter (maybe 3 or 4 days) to get a feel for it, I change it out regularly at 3.8-3.9v The difference in overall performance is noticeable, and although I wind up changing out the 18650's more frequently (I use 2 a day), that chart just adds an additional plus to doing it that way.

I always (emphasize the "always") carry a small zippered pouch, which is just big enough for a spare 6ml bottle, an extra (tested for proper resistance) cartomizer and fully charged battery (it prevents the battery from possible short too). I've never had to use it for "emergencies", but I don't have to worry about leaving home if it's close to the 8-10 hour usage mark on the current battery.

 

[Mudflap]

Kinda on topic:

My Pila charges my 18650's to 4.19/4.20 like clockwork.

My TR-001 charges them to 4.22/4.23 every time.

From my extremely limited understanding, my batteries will have a longer useful life due to the Pila charger's algorithm thingies.

Then again, it's a 10 dollar battery that should last a year or more on either charger unless you're really running them down.

Just rambling here...