Batteries Going Bad, Why?

[Tmartin63]

So four batteries just stopped working within the last two weeks. Panasonic CR18650, from Amazon. Everything seemed to be fine in a nemesis clone, one vape later nothing. Just one hit good, then wouldn't fire. Put them in the nitecore I4 charger and no light comes on. Tested with multimeter, nothing. Today I had my last one in the vamo v5, one vape fine, pushed the button and nothing. Thought it turned itself off, but there is no power. Put the battery in the charger, no lights, multimeter no voltage. Anyone have any idea why these would just stop working between vapes? I'm at a loss. Same thing has happen to 3 efest 18350's as well within the last month and a half. Am I doing something wrong?

 

[Kevin littell]

How old??? of the 3 I have 2 have been working fine for a year.....BUT!!!!


I never take them down below 3.7 volts....


I'd try new batteries and charger....sounds like charger is going south killing batteries.

 

[Tmartin63]

All the batteries are less than two months old and the charger maybe 4 months old. I bought the Nitecore I4 based on recommendations here. I don't go any lower than about 3.5. The 18350's would come off the charger show 4.2 volts, three vapes later dead. Let them sit about 10 minutes and be back at 3.8, one drag dead. Let them sit another 10 minutes and they would go back up to 3.6...and so on. Worthless so I threw them away. The 18650 were working great then next vape dead as a door wedge and never came back up at all.

 

[serenity21899]

Amazon sells all authentic batteries? Just asking cuz I know there are resellers there, too.

 

[emus]

How many amps are you pulling?
Maybe you dipped below critical voltage by accident?

 

[Tmartin63]

I have a protank with a 1.8 coil, was running the vamo at 7w today when the last one fried. On my nemesis I had a Russian 91% with a 1.3 coil.

These are the efest. Amazon.com: (2 Pieces) IMR 18350 800mah 3.7v High Drain Li-mn Rechargeable Battery with Button Top: Electronics

The pannies aren't listed anymore.

 

[JacobDaniel]

I would have to concur with a bad charger.
Did you check the charger with your meter?

I had a cheap charger, I had to redo the wiring and solder a few things.

I would not toss the batteries till you verify the charger is okay.

 

[JacobDaniel]

I would check your Vamo for shorts with the meter.

 

[Tmartin63]

I have not checked the voltage on the charger. Only the batteries after they are charged and after the "dead" issue. They were 4.2 when charged and 0 when dead. Would I just install a battery and check the voltage to see what the charger output is?

 

[Skinny Pete]

its definitely the charger imo.

 

[Tmartin63]

I will check the charger. I might believe it was the vamo too, but it happened in my nemesis as well

 

[emus]

I've been checking my 2011 Trustfire TR-001 a lot lately since everyone seems to hate it but me.

Empty charger reads 4.23v +/- 0.01v every time (using my cheaper two DMMs); both channels.
Charger with charged 18650 batt reads around 4.19v to 4.21v (cheaper DMM).
Oldish batt after overnight charge reads around 4.18v.
Charged newish Samsung INR18650-20R reads 4.23v.

 

[Tmartin63]

Okay so I can check it empty? I wouldn't think voltage would be running thru it while empty

 

[emus]

Okay so I can check it empty? I wouldn't think voltage would be running thru it while empty

Can try. Not sure if I4 shuts off empty.

Good to test when batt is charging too.

 

[Traver]

Just checked mine it has voltage when empty.

 

[Tmartin63]

Awesome thanks lemme grab the meter

 

[Paul.K]

I'd say charger as well. I'll never buy another charger from amazon either. I had the Nitecore I2 from there and it killed my batteries and finally died as well. It was making a weird buzzing noise too. I would not trust buying batteries from amazon or ebay as there are so many clone batteries. Only buy from trusted vendors such as RTD, Orbtronics etc.

 

[Rickajho]

Amazon sells all authentic batteries? Just asking cuz I know there are resellers there, too.

It is a reseller. Buying e-cig batteries from a place called "satelliteradiodirect" - who I'm sure has a ton of experience dealing eith e-cig's - probably not a good idea.

 

[emus]

TR-001 design charge voltage is 4.23v.

Nitecore I4 should be roughly 4.2ish v when batt is still in charger and is fully charged.

If much higher than design charge voltage your I4 may be frying batts.

 

[Kevin littell]

I would think over volts not under....

Basic to Advanced Battery Information from Battery University makes some good lite reading.