Battery Charging Safe?

[varalMCheelflip]

I was wondering if it would be safe to leave my 14500 batteries charging over night when I sleep, I know that they are protected but im still worries as I hear a few horror stories from time to time...

sorry if this is the wrong place for this question BTW, thought about putting it in general e-cig disscusion but thought I would be better off in the hands of a modder who understood the way in which these batteries and their chargers work.

thanks in advance,
varal

 

[Shortstuff116]

My understanding is that the protected batteries prevent themselves from overcharging, however it is recommended that you remove them from the charger as soon as you see that it is done charging. Leaving them on for a few extra hours shouldn't be a problem, but no one can guarantee it either.

 

[Dubs58]

I wonder and agree with both sides...I Hate leaving anything unattended but sometimes it happens, so then I get to thinking did it overcharge, did I just screw up something I cant even see ?? I mean for real...whats the deal ? We buy these batterys for "Our" use, but many others buy them for cameras, camcorders...just plug them into a charger & never look back ! Are we looking into this wayyy too much ? (I know many engineers are lol)

 

[DenniZ]

Everyone who is familiar with these batteries will hesitate to give you a firm answer.

For instance, I gave an acquaintance a pair of 14500 protected batteries and a charger, both brand new still in the package. He called me a week later telling me that while he was using them, a battery got really hot and the protection circuit board got so hot that it melted through the heat-shrink wrapping. He swore to me that he didn't short the battery, drop/pierce it, or expose it to high temps.

Any number of things can go wrong, even with a protected battery. I have heard of low/medium quality CHARGERS bursting into flames. Imagine placing your batteries into the charger, the charger overheats and ignites, the flames reach the batteries, the batteries pop and vent, an ember lands on something else...

That being said... I have been known to charge overnight occasionally.

My advice is if you choose to charge them unattended, do so in a safe manner.

What I do is place the charger on a fire-resistant surface, (the tiled floor of the bathroom), and cover it with an old flower pot I have lying around. I run the wire though the hole that is in the bottom of it. Clean up the immediate area surrounding it, (I don't leave the garbage can filled with tissues next to it), close the door (and make sure you have working fire detectors). If these things don't stop a fire from occurring, at the very least they will give you a bit more time to avoid having to visit the burn unit. Having a fire extinguisher close by wouldn't be a bad idea either.

I'm not saying that you need to be terrified of charging them, I just feel that promoting awareness, vigilance,and safety is the best policy. No one wants to hear about the very first e-cig related fatality ever being caused by a lithium fire.

Take care and be safe,
-Dee

 

[Dubs58]

I think its best to;
Never let them get below the threshold they are rated for. (Goggle the specs if unsure)
Charge them "before" they get below that specific limit since;
Li-Ions like to be charged at 50-100% vs. 0-100 % (unlike other re-chargables)
Keep an eye out while they are on charge (just in case)
I know (about) how long it takes to charge my usuals since they are plugged right near where I sit and I see when the light turns green (I Use to pull em' and read the voltage) but I hate having to be soooo .... about batteries !!!
I havent & wont leave them overnight (even though I think its perfectly safe!!)

PS. What Denniz says is auful true too. I wouldnt want what I said be the rule, its just the way I roll. Like anything dealing with electric/power, dont assume !!