For "visual" people" : The charging and discharging process of a Lithium Ion cell.
I thought this might help some understand what happens when you are employing the use of a Li-Ion cell in your mod; as well as what happens when you put it back on the charger.
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My main goal here is to allow people to understand that
actual physical changes occur in the "battery" when you under-discharge (allow the battery to drain or get drained) the Lithium Ion cell.
And, specifically, to illustrate that cells are more likely to vent and/or explode when they are recharging on a charger after being run too low in any particular device. (The exception here being when Vapers insist on 'stacking' batteries in a mod).
Here are some pictures from a link (included) to CPF showing the power in a Lithium Ion cell and why the utmost respect ought be afforded to what we loosely refer to as "batteries". In these images please notice the the fourth picture; the one with the blood and the flashlight.
Now, notice the shape of the battery body of the flashlight. Imagine if that was a mechanical mod that you decided to "stack" batteries in. Realize the injured guy in the picture was likely holding that light a distance away from his body and face, not inhaling on it when it went off. Yeah, this is much less likely with a mod and a single cell, but sobering for some that might think of lithium ion cells as just a bigger version"battery" that's like the one in their remote control.
This is the "why" in using safety guidelines.
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?280909-Ultrafire-18650-3000mA-exploded]Ultrafire 18650 3000mA exploded
The moral of the story is this:
Don't stack batteries. We are not a bunch of "mamby pamby old vapers that are just too scared" to do what you may think is really cool. We admonish you (those who will listen) to save your face, body or life simply by using safety guidelines.
You want a mechanical mod? Cool. Not a problem. With a a rebuildable atty? Cool again, not a problem. Wanna sub-ohm too? Cool. Also, not a problem. But
PLEASE..........
ease into it, get some knowledge get smart and vape safely. What sad cruel irony it would be to quit the stinkies that kill you slowly to something that blows up in your face maiming or killing you instantly. It saddens me with concern when I read of people who, in their enthusiasm want to just dive into advanced vaping without knowledge of the risks. Especially after just a couple of weeks or a month into vaping.
Some quick tidbits of knowledge
Don't use batteries with a "fire' in their name. (Again, the pictures in the link). Try to stick with AW,Sony or Panasonics that are rated for amperage-appropriate applications (in sub-ohming, especially).
Use a vape-safe type fuse to put a sort of "firewall" between you and a potentially capricious Lithium-Ion cell. If the fuse decides to trip, don't just get impatient and take it out to fix later while you vape now. I say this because I know the power of nicotine. Either you have a short or your Li-ion cell has gotten too low or
something. Fix it now or vape on something else until you do ascertain what the issue is.
Don't put a rebuildable device on an "ego" or any other sealed battery without built in electronic protection.
Get OCD about changing batteries, I mean specifically with mech mods. Once it reaches 3.7 -3.8 volts, change it out for a fresh one.
Here is a chart (again, for visual people) which was compiled using the info Baditude has in his "Battery Basics for Mods: IMR or Protected ICR?" link above. (Thanks, Baditude , you know you rock, right?) His list should be used to stay current battery-wise.
I have a "Vaultz" case for my cells and mods within which is a laminated copy of this chart. That way whenever I want to tweak an atty or switch builds on the fly with whatever battery I have, I've got the specs.
Here's a link to a larger size:
http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/q737/CrazyVaper/Vaping/BestChart_zps581061e3.png
And most importantly,
Vape Happy!
