Ever charge a battery before it's dead?

[murrajes]

You know how you can just tell when a battery is about to go dead? It just doesn't seem to get as hot or it's "just about time". I wonder if it's hard on a battery to charge it before it blinks. Does anyone do this?

 

[Stefanozz]

Found this info at Tech Republic.
Allow partial discharges and avoid full ones (usually)

Unlike NiCad batteries, lithium-ion batteries do not have a charge memory. That means deep-discharge cycles are not required. In fact, it’s better for the battery to use partial-discharge cycles.

There is one exception. Battery experts suggest that after 30 charges, you should allow lithium-ion batteries to almost completely discharge. Continuous partial discharges create a condition called digital memory, decreasing the accuracy of the device’s power gauge. So let the battery discharge to the cut-off point and then recharge. The power gauge will be recalibrated.

Me:
I charge my e cig batteries at about 20-30 percent remaining, and fully discharge on occasion.

 

[DaveP]

Li-ion batteries don't like full discharge. It shortens their life. Somewhere around 3.4v to 3.5v is the sweet spot to charge for long life in a Li-ion. Nicads and to a lesser extent NiMH, on the other hand need to be discharged fully from time to time or they will develop "memory" and go dead too soon. This has to do with the nickel anode accumulating crystalline formation. Li-ion does not develop memory.

This is a good place to go for the expert opinions on battery care and feeding.
Basic to Advanced Battery Information from Battery University

 

[murrajes]

Thanks for the info! I ALWAYS totally discharged! I bet I get more life from a battery from now on!

 

[B Hick]

I used to change the batteries on my ego every night. They lasted all day and never shut off on me. I personally think its better not to let them drain all the way and charge them before they die. My ego batteries lasted me over 6 months alternating them everyday.

 

[fourthrok]

I try to change things up some...sometimes I let them run down to blinking, but mostly try to catch it when the vape gets"airy" or just isn't giving the "punch" it was. I also make a mental note when I start on a new battery and with knowing the mAh and the type battery it is (KR808 last longer than 510 by a shave) I make an educated guess when I'm getting close to have discharging all the way.

I mostly use vGo-eGo-Go-Go type equipment for the majority of the time...650 mAh up to 1300 mAh. I do have a LT, but use it mostly as an "indulgence" vape when I'm having a little wine in the evening at cocktail hour.

 

[six]

Somewhere around 3.4v to 3.5v is the sweet spot to charge for long life in a Li-ion.

This gets said a lot on ECF. I'm unsure of the accuracy. The AW rep on candlepower forum says 2.5v. And, the instruction sheet that came with some tenergy batts + charger I have also says 2.5v. Most li-on and IMR batts are only in the ~30% discharged range at 3.5v. And most protection circuits that handle over-discharge are set to shut the battery down at 2.5v. I lean toward 2.5v being as far as you should discharge. --> Of course, 2.5v isn't going to provide a very good vaping experience for a single battery, non-regulated PV and most people would prefer the experience a battery at or above 3.5v gives them.

And to the OP - A multimeter or basic voltmeter is a handy tool to have for a vaper. There are some good tutorial videos specifically geared toward vapers.

 

[DaveP]

Some protection circuits will permanently disable a Li-ion battery if it has been over-discharged. I tend to err on the side of caution. I get most of a day from an AW 18650 IMR battery in my Provari, anyway. Sometime in the afternoon I check the voltage using the diagnostic function on the Provari and charge when it gets to around 3.5v and swap to a fresh one. Cutoff is at 3.2v anyway, so I couldn't take it farther without using a different ecig.


Charging Lithium-Ion Batteries

Over-discharging Lithium-ion

Li-ion should never be discharged too low, and there are several safeguards to prevent this from happening. The equipment cuts off when the battery discharges to about 3.0V/cell, stopping the current flow. If the discharge continues to about 2.70V/cell or lower, the battery’s protection circuit puts the battery into a sleep mode. This renders the pack unserviceable and a recharge with most chargers is not possible. To prevent a battery from falling asleep, apply a partial charge before a long storage period.

 

[six]

Some protection circuits will permanently disable a Li-ion battery if it has been over-discharged.

That's true and a great reason to own an Xtar or Pila charger. Only some chargers can wake up a disabled battery. Most of the el-cheapos can't do it and can actually be dangerous if you put a disabled battery in them.