Battery problems question

[dustandbullets]

Hi,

Hope someone is able to help please

I've been using the smok Zmax 18650 (non telescopic version) and it was working fine until it needed to be recharged.

After charging, I put the battery back in the tube and the unit is completely dead, no error messages, no way to check the menu just nothing. Tried it with another battery, same thing happened, was working fine until the battery was charged (using a 2nd charger) and then nothing.

Tried the batteries in the smok SID 18650, unit completely dead so it appears the problem is with the batteries.

I'm new to 18650 batteries so don't know the tech spec of the but it says ICR18650-26F Samsung SDI 2D63 on the battery and they have flat tops.

Is anyone aware of this problem or have any suggestions of what could be causing the problem?

Thanks in advance for any help

 

[dice57]

hmm, what kind of charger were you using? Some are known to overcharge batteries, and if that happens, could fry your control chip. Have you tried cleaning the contact points of you device and ensure everything is clean and getting good contacts? Are you installing the battery with the positive post up? Sometimes it's the little things that can cause problems.

 

[WarHawk-AVG]

http://www.smoktek.com/assets/images/ZmaxUserSettings.pdf

have you tried seeing if it turned itself off after you pulled the battery (5 rapid clicks)

multimeter to make sure batteries do in fact have 4.2vdc on them?

 

[The Ocelot]

Hi,

Hope someone is able to help please

I've been using the SMOK Zmax 18650 (non telescopic version) and it was working fine until it needed to be recharged.

After charging, I put the battery back in the tube and the unit is completely dead, no error messages, no way to check the menu just nothing. Tried it with another battery, same thing happened, was working fine until the battery was charged (using a 2nd charger) and then nothing.

Tried the batteries in the SMOK SID 18650, unit completely dead so it appears the problem is with the batteries.

I'm new to 18650 batteries so don't know the tech spec of the but it says ICR18650-26F Samsung SDI 2D63 on the battery and they have flat tops.

Is anyone aware of this problem or have any suggestions of what could be causing the problem?

Thanks in advance for any help

Hi and welcome

I don't know about the SID, but the with the Smok Zmax (like my Sigelei Zmax, Vamo, etc.) you should be using IMR button top batteries.

 

[dustandbullets]

Hi,

Thanks for the replies and the welcome

The charger came directly from SMOK, it doesn't have any branding on it, the label on the charging part says:

18650 battery charger
Model: HX-101
Input: 100-240v ac 50-60Hz
Output: 4.2v DC 650mA

The label on the plug of the charger says:

Switching AC/DC poweradapter
Model: 43
I/p: AC/100-204v 50/60gz 0.3a
O/P: DC5V1000mA
L.T.E. Power supply L.P.S.

My suspicion is that the problem is charger related but as I said previously I'm new to these batteries/chargers so not sure, I just presumed they'd provide the correct charger with their own products!

The battery is definitely in the right way up, starry end first, same as the battery in the SID.

I've cleaned the contact points and done the 3 and 5 clicks, still nothing. I don't have a multimeter to check the batteries unfortunately.

These are the battery and charger I have:

 

[DaveP]

I second the 5 click turn on, but that would only work in my Segelei Zmax Telescope if the logo appears in the display when you insert the battery and begin to screw on the battery cap.

Did the charger light up and indicate charging, then change colors to indicate completion of charging? Most charger LEDs turn red when charging and green when through. I think you are going to have to visit Walmart and buy a voltmeter for under $10 to provide us with some information.

The battery should read 4.1v to 4.2v DC right off the charger.

 

[dustandbullets]

Hi DaveP,

When I screw the end on, the logo doesn't appear on the screen at all. These are usually activated by 3 clicks but this doesn't do anything.

When I first put the battery on charge, the lights on the charger and the plug were both red, after about 4 hours the light on the plug changed to green, I presumed this meant it was charged.

Now when I put the batteries in the chargers, the plug light goes straight to green and the charger light remains red, this doesn't change regardless of how long it is left on.

I have just ordered a multimeter (I'm in UK so we don't have Walmart), so I'll wait and see what this shows.

Thanks for your help everyone

 

[H Niemand]

Sounds like it's charger related. Get a better charger first. Low end chargers can cause a host of problems. If the batteries are showing a charge on the multi, it's the unit.

 

[Txaggiesaunt]

Hi and welcome

I don't know about the SID, but the with the Smok Zmax (like my Sigelei Zmax, Vamo, etc.) you should be using IMR button top batteries.

Same batteries should be used in the SID also

 

[Txaggiesaunt]

You need IMR batteries. The ones you are using are not good for your units. Look up Baditude's blog here on batteries. Also get a better charger. Good luck & VAPE ON

 

[Baditude]

The charger came directly from SMOK, it doesn't have any branding on it, the label on the charging part says:

18650 battery charger
Model: HX-101

My suspicion is that the problem is charger related but as I said previously I'm new to these batteries/chargers so not sure, I just presumed they'd provide the correct charger with their own products!

These are the battery and charger I have:

View attachment 272034View attachment 272035

This looks like the same battery and charger that was included in this mod kit: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/general-e-smoking-discussion/490245-steam-stm-1-a.html

http://www.steamecig.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/STM-1-manual.pdf

The battery is a Samsung ICR18650-26F, a mixed Co/Ni/Mn cathode.. Having manganese (mn) in the chemistry makes this a safe chemistry hybrid battery. It is also a high drain chemistry, so is appropriate for a regulated mod. Samsung 18650 2600mah question - there are 2 versions, 26D and 26F
It has a similar chemistry to the new Panasonic NCR18650PF (LiNiCOMnO2) INR/ICR/IMR 2900mAh hybrid.
_____________

The charger though is a different story. This is a cheap inexpensive charger of around $5 - 9. Being that you generally get what you pay for I would not suggest using this charger for e-cig batteries. The instruction manual even states that it could take 6 hours to charge an 18650 battery. According to some bench testing done by folks at CandlePowerForums there appears to be some variance in manufacturing quality/consistancy with reports of over-discharge of batteries and variances in voltage of fully charged batteries. - resource link KD all-in-one charger

I would not use this charger myself. Spend some money on a decent Xtar or Nitecore Intellicharger to replace the HG charger. It appears to be a strong possibility that this cheap charger malfunctioned and ruined your good Samsung batteries. You can't trust the Chinese vendors to supply safe and quality batteries or chargers with their mod kits.

Battery Basics for Mods: IMR or Protected?

 

[DaveP]

Hi DaveP,

When I screw the end on, the logo doesn't appear on the screen at all. These are usually activated by 3 clicks but this doesn't do anything.

When I first put the battery on charge, the lights on the charger and the plug were both red, after about 4 hours the light on the plug changed to green, I presumed this meant it was charged.

Now when I put the batteries in the chargers, the plug light goes straight to green and the charger light remains red, this doesn't change regardless of how long it is left on.

I have just ordered a multimeter (I'm in UK so we don't have Walmart), so I'll wait and see what this shows.

Thanks for your help everyone

You have all the right indications, yet your mod won't turn on. Now, you are down to halfsplitting the problem by measuring the battery voltage. If you get 4.1v or higher, it's likely the mod has died. There's always the possibility that the battery fools the charger by showing it voltage rise, but the battery can't perform under load. Now would be a good time to have several batteries that exhibit the same symptoms.

I second Baditude's suggestion that you get a Pila, Xtar, or Nitecore charger and try again. You can also talk with the vendor to see what they suggest. On my Zmax, I get the Segelei logo when I screw on the battery cap and I get the Segelei:On display when I give it 5 clicks to turn it on.

If the battery is charged as the charger indicates, you have a failed mod. You did say these batteries once worked in the mod, didn't you?

 

[dustandbullets]

Hi all,

Yes, the batteries did work in the mod until they were charged and then nothing. I have checked the batteries with the multimeter and I'm getting a reading of 0.19 on one and 0.38 on the other so definitely the batteries that are the problem.

I tested the battery that's in the SID and it's giving a reading of 3.67 and this battery in the Zmax is powering the mod fine.

My suspicion has always been the charger especially since it's unbranded, I'm just surprised that they would provide this charger with their kits if they're going to kill the battery after 1 charge. They state they've never come across this problem before.

The only way to be 100% sure I guess is sacrificing the good battery and charging it to see if it kills it.

Definitely going to look at different chargers though.

Thanks everyone for your help, I've certainly learn a lot more about batteries and chargers because of this problem!

 

[dustandbullets]

Just to update on this, we purchased some new chargers and this seems to have resolved the issues. New charger charges the (new) batteries and they still work afterwards.

Thanks everyone for your help