Battery noob

Hi Flavoor,

Welcome to the wonderful world of external batteries. The amount of information available is overwhelming, as is figuring out whether it's accurate and up-to-date. Fortunately, ECF is a great resource.

I suggest you start your journey with Baditude's blog post here:

• (9) Battery Basics for Mods; the Ultimate Battery Guide | E-Cigarette Forum

If you like watching videos, you could also try Mooch's Battery Basics for Vapers playlist here:

• Battery Mooch

I'll give you a few key points and outline the general process of identifying the right batteries for your needs.

• The goal is to get authentic batteries from one of the actual battery manufacturers (Sony/Murata, Samsung, LG, Sanyo/Panasonic). The batteries you don't want are:
  • Counterfeits. If you get your batteries from Amazon, Aliexpress or EBay, you have a very high chance of winding up with fakes. Both Batitude, in the blog I linked above, and Mooch have lists of reliable vendors.
  • Rewraps. A lot of companies get batteries from poor-quality Chinese manufacturers or sub-par batteries from one of the big manufacturers and put their own label on them. They usually exaggerate the specifications, so you don't know what the battery you have is actually capable of. Additionally, they can change the battery under the wrap at any time, so even if you had one that worked well in the past, the next one you get could be completely different.

• Selecting a battery:
  1. Calculate what CDR (continuous discharge rating) you need. It will depend on the maximum watts you use. Both Baditude and Mooch cover this. I'll note that you can't currently go over 90 W/ per battery - when the mod manufacturer says they're selling a two battery, 200 W mod, they mean the board is rated for 200 W - it does not mean there are any batteries that can safely provide that much power.
  2. Look at the options. Again, Mooch and Baditude list good, vaping-suitable battery models from the main manufacturers. Along with CDR, you'll also see capacity (XXXX mAh) for each battery. mAh more-or-less means how long the battery will last between charges. Key point: First look at CDR, then at mAh. If your CDR isn't high enough, the battery may not function well and will not be safe, so you won't get the full capacity (and could possibly blow yourself up) if you don't have the proper CDR.
  3. Order selected batteries from a reliable supplier recommended by Mooch or Baditude (or someone else who's very familiar with the battery industry).

• Safe handling:
  • It's better to use a good external charger than to charge batteries in the mod with a USB. Often recommend chargers include:
    • Xtar
    • Nitecore
    • Efest LUC line
    • There are others, but they're less well known and often more expensive (although they may have more features).
  • Never carry a battery loose in your pocket or anywhere else. Buy some battery cases when you get your batteries.
  • Before putting your batteries in your mod, always check the wrap (plastic covering). If it's at all damaged, do not use the battery (and store it safely) until you replace the wrap. Rewrapping is cheap and easy. It's a good idea to pick up some battery wraps when you order your batteries so they're on hand. If you want to know more about rewrapping, search the forum or check out Youtube for rewrapping videos.
  • If a battery gets too hot or physically damaged or if it just does something weird, do not use it. Consider it dangerous and replace it immediately. This applies to internal batteries as much as replaceable ones.