Battery safety concern

[Andy1087]

Hi Everyone,

I bought a Wismec Motiv Pod earlier this week and I am enjoying using it so far. I did read a review the battery on this model explodes at a drop of a hat that it burned her boyfriends leg when it exploded even though it was turned off at the time. Needless to say I am now concerned about it exploding on me. Am I being overly concerned about this? Are a lot of the stories I hear about explosions and fires missing details? Are there specific causes of these issues? Sorry for sounding paranoid.

Thanks much,

Andy

 

[AzPlumber]

Burned his leg, sounds like the boy friends mod was in his pants pocket which is never a good idea.

 

[Coastal Cowboy]

Burned his leg, sounds like the boy friends mod was in his pants pocket which is never a good idea.

Beat me to it.

I will carry a device in my pants/shorts pocket, but always turned off.

I'm sure there are occasional incidents of a battery deciding to go postal, but every accident I've seen or heard of were due to user error or carelessness. Even a dollar store AAA can be dangerous if it's mistreated.

 

[Baditude]

@Andy1087 That Motiv Pod uses a LiPo class lithium battery. The mod has an over-sized fire button which bulges slightly from the mod. The manufacturer literature states it has "two sets of circuit protection system applied, realizing the overall protection of overcharging, over-current and over-discharging."

Technically, LiPo chemistry batteries are not safer chemistry batteries like IMR or INR hybrid batteries used in external battery mods. They are considered volatile when stressed or abused, and must be used only in electronic mods with protection circuitry. Lipo batteries are very commonly used in regulated mods with internal batteries, as well as in the remote control toy industry.

Theoretically, the protection circuitry in the Motiv Pod should have prevented a short circuit from battery over-discharging, which is more than likely what happened to the individual who burnt his leg. However, sometimes electrical circuits fail.

My guess is the individual put the device in his pants pocket when he wasn't vaping and didn't turn it OFF. The over-sized fire button got compressed continuously so that the battery over-discharged into thermal runaway and burst into flames. The protection circuit failed, but had he turned his Pod off this incident would not have happened.

Instructions state that the device can be turned on and off with 5 clicks of the fire button. I suggest that you turn the mod OFF religeously when this device is placed in a pocket or purse. You should be fine if you do that. Nearly all battery accidents are caused by carelessness or user error.

Deeper Understanding of Mod Batteries Part 1