Dent on the flat side of battery?

[PentiumIIIBaby]

Hello, sorry if this is in the wrong category but I didn't find one for batteries.
Anyways, I just noticed a little dent on the negative/flat side of my LG battery? I dropped my mod a few days ago perhaps that's what caused it. It doesn't look too bad and it doesn't get hot but is it safe to use? I've attached photos. Thanks for any answers.

 

[jfcooley]

I'm gonna leave facts to others, but I personally would just replace it.

 

[ScottP]

Looks like it has a built in vent hole. Might actually be safer that way.

Disclaimer: The above statement is in jest and should not be taken seriously by anyone. By reading the above statement you agree to not hold the poster responsible for any use or misuse of the above statement and absolve said poster of any liability.

 

[Beamslider]

batteries are cheap...don't chance it

 

[PentiumIIIBaby]

Looks like it has a built in vent hole. Might actually be safer that way.

Disclaimer: The above statement is in jest and should not be taken seriously by anyone. By reading the above statement you agree to not hold the poster responsible for any use or misuse of the above statement and absolve said poster of any liability.

If by vent hole, you mean that it's punctured, it's not it may seem that way just because of the lighting.

 

[PentiumIIIBaby]

Batteries are cheap...don't chance it

True, but I didn't really feel like getting 2 new batteries just half a month after I purchased these, but I may reconsider after reading these answers.

 

[jfcooley]

I'm sure you've seen what happens when a battery vents.
.that dent looks deep enough to have damaged it internally.

Consider this: You use it and it vents in your hand, pocket. Worse it vents while taking a drag. Big gamble to save, what, $7-$8.

My 2¢ towards your battery fund.
(Not trying to be mean, but batteries are cheap. Burn units aren't. )

 

[classwife]

There is an old saying about food in the fridge to prevent food poisoning...

When in doubt, throw it out.

I think this REALLY applies to batteries.

(I would not use that battery if it were mine)

 

[optsmk]

If you use mechanical mod, you might want to check the button. Some mech mods like to leave sent a like that on the bottom of batteries.

 

[tedigram]

You have absolutely no way of knowing what happened inside that case, and it is not a situation where there's excess space sitting around to absorb a deformation. Things got moved inside there, so there's zero sense in risking it at all for a $5-10 battery. You should treat it as a high venting risk, wrap and seal it accordingly and take it to a recycler or drop-off ASAP. If a drop-off, I'd wrap it with a note saying Dented Li-Ion, or something. Anything less would be irresponsible IMO.

Not because it has such high odds of being a danger, but because it has real odds at all now, and we need to be good stewards of the dangerous things we use in life.

 

[PentiumIIIBaby]

I'm sure you've seen what happens when a battery vents.
.that dent looks deep enough to have damaged it internally.

Consider this: You use it and it vents in your hand, pocket. Worse it vents while taking a drag. Big gamble to save, what, $7-$8.

My 2¢ towards your battery fund.
(Not trying to be mean, but batteries are cheap. Burn units aren't. )

What do you mean by venting? Sorry, I just don't much about batteries at all.
And if I order a new one is it safe to use this one until my new one comes?

 

[tedigram]

What do you mean by venting? Sorry, I just don't much about batteries at all.
And if I order a new one is it safe to use this one until my new one comes?

Just look up battery venting on YouTube. If the battery overheats the chemicals inside can ignite and vent white-hot flames. If the venting can't happen quickly or efficiently enough you get an explosion. Any damage to the plastic insulation wrapped around the battery is a risk for a shortcircuit, which can cause venting. In that case you'd want to re-wrap the battery ASAP, and ensure nothing metal comes anywhere near the top end (the "button" end).

But in your case, any physical damage to the actual metal of the battery could have disrupted the layers of chemicals and whatnot inside and made it prone to venting. There's no way to know whether it damaged something inside, so you have no choice but to treat it as too risky to use. The same would be true if it had suffered a really severe drop (like out an upper window or something, not out your pocket), even without visible signs of damage.

You should stop using it immediately, seal both ends with several layers of thick plastic tape or some other non-conductive wrapping, and drop it off at a battery recycle point or drop-off box as soon as you're able, with a note if it's a box.

 

[ScottP]

What do you mean by venting? Sorry, I just don't much about batteries at all.
And if I order a new one is it safe to use this one until my new one comes?

Venting is when the battery starts spewing super heated gases. You do not want to be holding it when this happens.

This is what happens when a battery vents too close to you:

 

[madstabber]

Deleted

 

[Beamslider]

Hard to tell from the Pictures but that looks like a major dent with a deep pit

 

[madstabber]

Hard to tell from the Pictures but that looks like a major dent with a deep pit

I’ve since redacted my comments. I clicked again on them and it was a full size pic making my comments void. I tried deleting but couldn’t figure it out so just erased. Yea it’s a big dent

 

[SissySpike]

I would use it as long as the dent did not puncture the metal, but this is a pic of me at work a few stories off the ground. I do not poses the same self preservation instincts most people have : )
So it is very good advice to follow when in doubt throw it out.
I always try the milk it may not be spoild lol

There is an old saying about food in the fridge to prevent food poisoning...

When in doubt, throw it out.

I think this REALLY applies to batteries.

(I would not use that battery if it were mine)

 

[AzPlumber]

If it was mine I wouldn't use it, looks to be more damage than I would be willing to risk, I don't like heights or milk.

 

[ppeeble]

You may want to google how a Li-ion battery is made.
Layers of *stuff* is wrapped like a jam roly poly with an insulator between the *stuff*. If the insulation layer has been compromised then you could potentially get a short circuit which could potentially induce a spontanious release of the stored energy causing a potential fire or explosion. (sorry for all the potentials)...
TLDR;
Buy a new one.

 

[stols001]

Replace it. Don't use it while you are waiting on other batteries. It looks really unsafe to me, but the again, I freak out if I get a hole in my wrap. I don't think that's nuts actually when it comes to batteries I am very much into self-preservation, as if something goes wrong with a battery while in use it tends to be Not Minor.

If you have a backup device use that. Also might want to read up some on care and handling of batteries. Could start here Mooch's blog | E-Cigarette Forum

There are also other pinned links and articles and whatnot re: handling batteries, charging them and in that blog you will find a chart of approved battery vendors. I use IMRbatteries.com and they are inexpensive and deliver quickly. It's not worth taking the risk and batteries really need to be carefully handled. Sorry this happened but I'm glad you asked.

Anna