Battery & Charger Concerns/Questions... Please help me out here!

[MrsP0721]

So I have two issues right now so let me start out by telling you what I have. I have (6) efest 18350 3.7V 800mAh (says V1 on the bottom of the label and I have NO CLUE what that means!), I have a TrustFire 2 bay charger and I use them with 2 Sigelei Zmax's (one mini and one V3).

First issue: This one might not be a big deal, but one of my batteries says it's got 4.3V left on the battery and I was told it isn't supposed to go above 4.2V, I've had these for about 10 days now and I've never seen them go up to 4.3V.

Second issue: This is the BIGGEST problem I have, this one worries me! One side (the left bay) heats up the battery it's charging pretty quickly and a lot more than the right side battery. I asked my B&M (where I bought them from) last night if this was normal and the guy told me he wouldn't be too concerned, but today I was concerned because the batteries weren't charging very long before it was pretty hot so I called back and the owner answered and told me to bring it back and they'd give me a new one.

So my questions are:
1) Are these batteries pretty safe? I've heard they are, but I am PARANOID by nature, I have 3 kids and honestly, I've already caught my house one fire once (a WHOLE other story that is COMPLETELY unrelated to vaping) and I've been in a few other house fires, one that completely ruined my sense of safety (it started on the wall my daughter's crib was on and only 5-10 mins after I got her out of said crib from her nap), it completely engulfed my kids' rooms and I've never been the same since, I don't think you could ever imagine how much it will ruin you to see your children's beds, where they could have been sleeping, and all their things, burned to the point they're nearly unrecognizable! (I have the military to thank for that one! Again, another story!)

2) Is there a safer battery I could be using instead?

3) What is a good charger? I don't like this charger, even before knowing about the heating issue. I heard there are some that are digital and automatically shut off when the battery hits 4.2V, but what are they and where can I find them?

Thank you in advance for all the advice I know I'm about to get. You guys are such a HUGE help to me, I don't think you'll ever understand how much I appreciate EVERYTHING that ALL of you have done for me (that you probably don't even know about!).

 

[HeiSINberg]

First off, I am sorry to hear about your fire experience, I cant begin to even imagine what thats like. I use efest batteries myself and sonys and aw's in my mech mods. I have 2 chargers a nitecore i2 and I just bought an xstar vp1. Pretty good chargers from the research ive done. I would suggest definitely getting a different charger. It shouldnt be getting hot like that and for the guy to tell you he wouldnt be concerned is just ridiculous. About the 4.3 volts, im not a battery tech or anything so someone else is gonna have a better answer for you but I dont really think it should be doing that either, none of my batteries meter in at over 4.2.

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[Baditude]

You are wise to consider getting a better charger. That Trustfire charger is a bottom-of-the-barrel type charger and not to be trusted (no pun intended) IMHO.

If cost is not an issue, the Pila and Xtar VP1 are the top two chargers available to us.

Pila battery charger

Xtar VP1 charger

If on a budget, one of the other Xtars or Nitecore Intellichargers will suffice:

Battery Chargers @ RTD Vapor

Your Efest batteries are IMR (Li-mn) batteries, also known as a safer chemistry batteries. Another safe chemistry brand are AW IMR.


Battery Basics for Mods

Deeper Understanding of Mod Batteries

Always buy the best batteries and charger that you can afford. They are the most important (and potentially dangerous) items in your vaping gear setup. Practice safe battery habits and use common sense and the likelihood that you will have a battery incident will be extremely unlikely.

Charge your batteries on a flame-proof surface, such as a stove top or in a glass/metal pan/dish should there be flame while charging. Do not leave batteries charging overnight, remove soon after completing a charge. Do not charge when outside the house or away from home. Use brand-name IMR (Li-Mn) safe chemistry batteries such as AW and Efest batteries. Avoid any battery with the name "fire" in its name (ie Trustfire).

 

[MrsP0721]

I took that charger back and they switched it out, they said they have a 'smart charger' but they're out of stock, but the guy offered me his newest personal one if I wanted it. It was late and they were closing so I'll go back and see which one it is. They freaked out over the 4.3V battery. Said it was overcharged and of course scared me even more! I set up my new TrustFire charger and noticed immediately that it's not making that loud humming noise the first one was, Idk if that's a good or bad thing, but it's better on the ears for sure! Either way, this is only temporary, I am DEFINITELY buying a better charger. I am so over-protective as it is, I can't sleep next to this thing scared it might blow up lol. They asked me how long I let that one battery set on the charger! I NEVER charge my batteries without me being right there to watch as the light turns from red to green and I immediately unplug the charger when I'm done so I KNOW it wasn't ME on this one.

As for the fire, I slept in my living room for at LEAST a year after, scared something was going to catch on fire and I wouldn't be able to get to my kids in time. I would have nightmares every single night, I would wake up every night smelling smoke. When I say I've never been the same, I mean, NEVER been the same. My life was changed forever and I don't know if I will ever be able to be as secure as I was before that.

 

[Baditude]

MrsP, it sounds like you had a Life Changing Event. These are experiences that have had a strong impact on our lives, and either affect us positively or negatively, or a little of both.

My Life Changing Event had something to do with e-cigarettes. The very week that I purchased my first disposable e-cigarette, I found out that my mother had cancer. Within a few days after this discovery, the family learned that her cancer was un-treatable, and she peacefully passed away a couple of days after that. I'm thankful that she was ready to meet her Maker and didn't suffer in the least.

However, her untimely illness and death had a major impact on me. It made me realize my own mortality. This was my Life Changing Event. I had been coughing up a lung every morning for about 5 years from smoking. I had tried all the usual methods to try to quit, and of course all of them failed miserably. Something made me buy that disposable e-cigarette, and although it was "meh", it made me seek more information about them. A Google search lead me to ECF and the rest is history. Over 14,000 posts later and still going strong, and no cigarettes in almost 2 years. E-cigarettes saved my life.

I sincerely hope that you are able to use your Life Changing Event in a more positive way and not allow it to become a hinderance to your peace of mind.

 

[MrsP0721]

I'm really sorry to hear about your mom. I haven't quite figured out how to make it positive yet, but I'm working on it.

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[Baditude]

I can understand your fear and caution concerning battery safety. I had a battery explode in a mechanical mod because I did not practice safe battery habits and used an inferior battery. This experience prompted me to learn about battery safety and is why I promote this on this forum. This is why I only use IMR safer chemistry batteries now, and not protected ICR batteries. I also use regulated mods because of their protection circuits, which mechanical mods do not have.

...I haven't quite figured out how to make it positive yet, but I'm working on it.

My advice is to buy the best and safest batteries and charger you can afford. Choose the right battery for the application that you will be using them. When in doubt, always choose the red AW IMR (Li-Mn) batteries. These have been judged over time as the safest batteries available to us. - http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/ecf-library/129569-rechargeable-batteries.html



Battery chargers from RTD Vapor Pila, Xtar, and Nitecore brands

Battery Basics for Mods: IMR or Protected?

You are using regulated mods, which have built-in protective circuitry to avoid short circuits during use.

Charge your batteries on a fire-resistant surface. I use my stove top. Other use a metal or glass baking pan. Yet others use a battery charging bag. Only charge your batteries when you can give reasonable attention to them; never charge them when out of the house. Just to be safe, keep a fire extenguisher nearby. Using these measures should give you confidence that you have prepared for the worse, but expect for the best.

The chances of a battery incident is extremely small if you use top quality equipment and use safe battery habits.

 

[Kemosabe]

Baditude, we all appreciate the effort you have put forth learning and in turn teaching us about batteries and chargers. i personally find battery knowledge very interesting and take it upon myself to actively learn things. yet, amidst my learning, i always seem to snag a new piece of knowledge from you. i often find myself referencing your blogs. ultimate kudos.

 

[MrsP0721]

I agree, I've learned A LOT from you, I read your blog and have gotten a lot of good advice from that. I too truly appreciate your effort to help educate us noobs and even more advanced users on safety!

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[MrsP0721]

I just left the B&M and the charger was an efest luc v4... never heard of it so I told them I'd research it and let them know if I wanted it or not. Any thoughts?

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[Rickajho]

I just left the B&M and the charger was an efest luc v4... never heard of it so I told them I'd research it and let them know if I wanted it or not. Any thoughts?

Frying pan into the... frying pan? Sigh.. It depends on what version of a luc you have there. The first generation was tested as not acceptable for (wait for it...) overcharging batteries. Review of Charger Efest LUC V4

TrustFire is out because "quality control" means - you the customer try it and see what happens. Efest and Nitecore are out - because they have to make a v2 model to correct major design flaws that should have never made it into v1 versions to begin with. No company manufacturing Li-On chargers should be this half fannied in their design execution or quality control.

That only leaves Pila and Xtar. If you can't afford the high end models you can get an Xtar WPII 2 for twenty bucks that will work properly and is backed by Xtar for two years. If you get that model it does use spacers for 18350 batteries. It comes with two spacers, but you will need to buy two more for that size battery. Extra spacers cost 45 cents each at RTD Vapor.

 

[Baditude]

Efest and Nitecore are out - because they have to make a v2 model to correct major design flaws that should have never made it into v1 versions to begin with. No company manufacturing Li-On chargers should be this half fannied in their design execution or quality control.
...If you can't afford the high end models you can get an Xtar WPII 2

So what version is the WP II 2? Version 4?

 

[MrsP0721]

Ok, Baditude, I'm going to tell you what I want and you tell me what to get lol. I would PREFER a 4 bay charger, I can go up to about $40 or so, but would really prefer to only spend about $20-$30 tops. IF it has the digital read out and a lot of functions/features that make spending that extra $20, I will, especially for a 4 bay. I really can't afford a lot, but for safety, I will.

The biggest thing is that it prevents over charging and overheating!

 

[MrsP0721]

What are your thoughts on this one?
http://www.amazon.com/Nitecore-Inte...8&qid=1393542152&sr=8-7&keywords=Xtar+charger

 

[MrsP0721]

This is the one they had...
4 Bay Efest LUC Multi-function Smart charger - 101 Vape

 

[1buda]

I have personally PM'd Baditude about batteries & chargers. I went with his advice and I feel safer now after reading all his blogs, posts about batteries.

 

[Baditude]

What are your thoughts on this one?
http://www.amazon.com/Nitecore-Inte...8&qid=1393542152&sr=8-7&keywords=Xtar+charger

Rickajho is going to have a stroke , but that's the charger I use now. I also have the 2 bay Nitecore i2 as a backup, as does my daughter. We've had no issues with these chargers.

To pacify Rickajho, if you can find an Xtar XP4 (4 charging bays), that's an equally good charger, too.

The Xtar VP1 has a digital readout, but is only a 2 bay charger. It, along with the Pila charger (also 2 bay) are the top two full-featured chargers available.

I've never been comfortable recommending Efest products quite honestly. I believe they overstate their battery's specifications. I saw pictures on one of the flashlight enthusiast forums of four identical model Efest batteries which were de-skinned only to find four different types of cells within. What's up with that? My own personal experience with Efest batteries has been very disappointing and I'll probably never buy another one. With this, I'd never buy an Efest charger, either. That's my

 

[MrsP0721]

Thank you Baditude, you have been a huge help! I have seen a lot of people recommend the Nitecore chargers, that's the only way I even knew about them honestly, so I'm glad you approve lol.

 

[Rickajho]

So what version is the WP II 2? Version 4?

The WPII 2 has the added USB port that allows the charger to be used to charge other devices with an 18650 battery installed in slot one. The WPII lacks this feature.

 

[Rickajho]

Not having any stroke over it. Not surprised either when reports come in about problems with Nitecore chargers either. Unfortunately - not surprised at all.