Has anybody actually had a battery explode?

[withravenoushunger]

I've heard a lot of reports of batteries exploding. Some of them seem pretty bad. What exactly is the cause of this? Using the wrong batteries or using them improperly? Do metal mods prevent them from making a big explosion? I've seen some videos and pictures of exploded batteries but I don't think they could do enough damage to turn a steel mod to shrapnel.

 

[HauntedMyst]

I had a battery explode once. It was the damnedest thing, I was just sitting there enjoying a vape (which ironically was Atomic Cinnamon) when I hear this BOOOM! and my hand was smoking hot. I look down and there is no atty on my mod. The metal of the mod effectively turned it into a shotgun. My wife rushed in and saw the aftermath (pic below). She tells me it blew out half my brain but luckily for me, apparently I wasn't using that half and was sitting on the other half. She opened a pillow and stuffed the insides into my wound (Now when she calls me a Cotton Headed Ninny Muggin, its actually true!) until we could get to the hospital where they put in a stainless dome. It's the damnedest thing, I can't do math well any more but I can tell you the expiration date of nearly any cheese just by touching it. We tried to sell my life to TLC as a reality show called "The Cheese Whisperer" but they said no one would watch.

 

[mommafish]

Guess its not true.

 

[Penn]

Yes, I have heard of verified situations where batteries exploded BUT those all were situations where people were building things on their own. No, I haven't heard of explosions from stuff marketed by a reputable brand and unmodified by the user.

 

[txredxj]

only ever heard of problems where the battery vents and the case blows up from the pressure. all mods have vents now so that wont happen. grooves have problems of the lipo battery melting and have been recalled

 

[wv2win]

Out of the millions who vape, the very few verified instances of batteries malfunctioning in that matter, while in use, is something like .00001%. And those were due to someone using the wrong battery. You are taking a much bigger risk by getting in an automobile.

 

[murphyramone]

I had a battery explode once. It was the damnedest thing, I was just sitting there enjoying a vape (which ironically was Atomic Cinnamon) when I hear this BOOOM! and my hand was smoking hot. I look down and there is no atty on my mod. The metal of the mod effectively turned it into a shotgun. My wife rushed in and saw the aftermath (pic below). She tells me it blew out half my brain but luckily for me, apparently I wasn't using that half and was sitting on the other half. She opened a pillow and stuffed the insides into my wound (Now when she calls me a Cotton Headed Ninny Muggin, its actually true!) until we could get to the hospital where they put in a stainless dome. It's the damnedest thing, I can't do math well any more but I can tell you the expiration date of nearly any cheese just by touching it. We tried to sell my life to TLC as a reality show called "The Cheese Whisperer" but they said no one would watch.

I would watch the hell out of that show!!!

 

[catalyst]

That's funny

 

[fccwpe]

I have seen flashlights with two unprotected 18650's in series go boom. What happens is that when 2 batteries are in series (+ to -) and they are at very different charge levels the higher charged battery will try and charge the lower charged battery. Due to the Li ion technology the current draw is so drastic that the batteries will "run-away." Sort of a mini China syndrome.

To eliminate or at least decrease the probability of an event of this nature, "protected" batteries have a small circuit board on the bottom (negative terminal) that senses an overcurrent situation and will cause an open in the circuit thereby stopping the flow of electrons and ceasing the run away situatiation.

In using 2 unprotected batteries in series, the best case scenario is that they vent and you can get away. If they blow then you are pretty much screwed.

Please if you have a mod with 2 batteries, make sure that they are of the "protected" variety. Although this will limit the amount of power you have available (the cut off for protected batteries is about 2.5 amps) it is FAR safer.

 

[tj99959]

Most of the incidences have happened while charging (over charging), a few have happened by a spare battery making contact with other items in a purse or pocket. Several have happened by a PV being activated in a pocket when not turned off. A couple have happened by the improper use of magnets as spacers, and most severe exploding when being activated. This would most likely happen the first time the PV is activated on fresh batteries or a new coil, atty, etc,etc (short). Most talked about was the Legacy and stacked wrong kind of batteries bought at Radio Shack. The shrapnel associated with exploding batteries is normally the end caps.

So while it has happened it is a long ways from being common, and most of the time human error was the root cause. While they can still vent, safe chemistry batteries almost eliminates the chances of a fire or explosion.

HOWEVER, IMO we will see the day when one of these sub ohm devices blows someones fool head off. Someone somewhere thinks their cheap unprotected Li Ion batteries can push 12+ amps just fine. (is probably even on this forum)

 

[Iron Molly]

I have had one Ego battery overheat bad enough to melt a plastic drip tip to an atty. I had to pick it up with a potholder. Better to be safe than sorry though. Never leave a charger unattended, use a Lipo bag, store your batteries properly (to keep them from touching each other or metal), and test them if you have access to a multimeter. Personally I would not use stacked batteries as I don't think it's worth the risk.

 

[wv2win]

I have seen flashlights with two unprotected 18650's in series go boom. What happens is that when 2 batteries are in series (+ to -) and they are at very different charge levels the higher charged battery will try and charge the lower charged battery. Due to the Li ion technology the current draw is so drastic that the batteries will "run-away." Sort of a mini China syndrome.

To eliminate or at least decrease the probability of an event of this nature, "protected" batteries have a small circuit board on the bottom (negative terminal) that senses an overcurrent situation and will cause an open in the circuit thereby stopping the flow of electrons and ceasing the run away situatiation.

In using 2 unprotected batteries in series, the best case scenario is that they vent and you can get away. If they blow then you are pretty much screwed.

Please if you have a mod with 2 batteries, make sure that they are of the "protected" variety. Although this will limit the amount of power you have available (the cut off for protected batteries is about 2.5 amps) it is FAR safer.

In general I agree with this advice. But when using an APV such as the Vamo, that has a built in protection circuit, it is NOT recommended to use protected batteries. In a mechanical, I would definitely use protected batteries.

 

[wv2win]

I have had one Ego battery overheat bad enough to melt a plastic drip tip to an atty. I had to pick it up with a potholder. Better to be safe than sorry though. Never leave a charger unattended, use a Lipo bag, store your batteries properly (to keep them from touching each other or metal), and test them if you have access to a multimeter. Personally I would not use stacked batteries as I don't think it's worth the risk.

Many of us vets have been using stacked batteries for years without a problem. If your PV has a protection circuit, such as the Vamo, Zmax, etc, using stacked batteries is NOT a problem. If it doesn't, then definitely use protected batteries and there shouldn't be an issue. Driving a car is about 1000 times riskier than using stacked batteries in a protected APV.

 

[Caridwen]

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...9007-warning-rechargeable-batteries-apvs.html

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/battery-issues/8852-li-ion-batteries-truth.html

 

[Fury83]

Many of us vets have been using stacked batteries for years without a problem. If your PV has a protection circuit, such as the Vamo, Zmax, etc, using stacked batteries is NOT a problem. If it doesn't, then definitely use protected batteries and there shouldn't be an issue. Driving a car is about 1000 times riskier than using stacked batteries in a protected APV.

That's not true, protection circuits don't make it magically 100% safe, whether it's on the battery or in the mod. It may not be a large risk but it's still more than a single battery.

 

[fccwpe]

[/B]

In general I agree with this advice. But when using an APV such as the Vamo, that has a built in protection circuit, it is NOT recommended to use protected batteries. In a mechanical, I would definitely use protected batteries.

I agree. The Vamo has only one battery so lining them up in series is not possible unless you modify the original design. Why is it not recommended to use a protected battery in mod that has protection? Is it because of the reduced available power?

 

[Fury83]

I agree. The Vamo has only one battery so lining them up in series is not possible unless you modify the original design. Why is it not recommended to use a protected battery in mod that has protection? Is it because of the reduced available power?

IMR's are of a safer chemistry and handle higher amp draws where ICR's generally do not. Boosting batteries puts a bit of amp draw on them and will generally trip a protected batteries circuit. Stacked batteries in a vamo, the voltage is stepped down. I'd use good quality IMR's in anything over protected batteries. Stick a shortstop fuse in. Its not 100% but good IMRs and a fuse in a mech is a more robust setup than a protected icr imo.

 

[tj99959]

That's not true, protection circuits don't make it magically 100% safe, whether it's on the battery or in the mod. It may not be a large risk but it's still more than a single battery.

I subscribe to the philosophy of not taking a risk (no matter how small) that there is no need to take, so I don't stack batteries. Everything I want to do can be done with a single battery, so why use two. I also only use safe chemistry batteries (IMR), so protected/not protected isn't part of the equation.

 

[JUDGMENT AFFIRMED]

Li-Ion protection technology and possible dangers

 

[AgentAnia]

As a battery-challenged person (electrical-knowledge-challenged, for that matter) I have a question for you battery gurus: Would it be correct to say that problems/explosions/fires caused by mishandled batteries occur across the spectrum of battery-operated devices, such as cel phones, cameras, etc. and are not more common in ecig devices than other appliances?