Here's a video of a battery venting! (Controlled experiment)

[treehead]

Hey everybody, I came across this video today and figured it's something that everyone needs to see so that they know the repercussions of not doing a little research on proper battery safety. It's quite a scary sight seeing an 18650 blow up, especially during this FDA "judgement" period, however there's no real reason to fear your battery blowing up in an instant because it's certainly not an instantaneous occurence. Battery safety is something that should be very important, but don't let it scare you into limiting your type of vape. I'm not saying to use it incorrectly, or to "push it's limits", respect the battery, don't fear it is what I'm saying. "Kiss the ring".

Ohm's Law Calculator
~It's ok to sub-ohm, so long as you have something to measure your ohms with, and know your way around ohms law: do some math, and don't go above your batteries amp limit! It's that simple! Even if you were stupid enough to do that, this video below shows that there's certainly a lengthy warning before anything catastrophic occurs. (99% of the time batteries will have protection that will not allow you to do anything dangerous though) Mine as well as many's favorite battery is the VTC4 (sony 2100mah 30amp continuous), and with it's full charge of 4.2 (worst case scenario), you can safely vape above 0.14 ohms, which is very low, and most don't vape that low anyway, not recommended (0.16+ will be worry-free, no heat).

(18650 VTC4's are one of the safest because they are capable of 60amps in bursts, meaning 5-6 second pulses, which is usually longer than most will take a pull for at 60amps, BUT it will degrade your battery quicker, and isn't a good idea to chain vape at, it's a good idea to always go by the continuous rating, however it's nice to know that these batteries are "overkill" in the safety department, plus they last quite a bit longer than many "sub-ohming" IMR favorites)

Here's a vid of a frankly terrible "Ultrafire 18650 4000mah", which was actually an unknown battery wrapped with a fake wrapper, these are usually used in flashlights and aren't recommended for vaping with nearly anything. Very interesting, it shows you'd have to be VERY thickheaded to blow up even a terrible battery with no protection. And this is a ridiculous worst case scenario, where the battery is literally shorted (like a .001 ohm load), and fired for a couple of minutes.



"Why is your mod smoking bro?". "Oh that's just vapor left over brah". "Why's their acid leaking from your mod?". "Oh that's just leaking juice, yeah it's burning my skin because it's an acidic cinnamon juice, that's why plastic tanks crack. I'm telling you .001 is safe to vaBOOOM!"

Long before anything life altering will happen your mod will become too hot to hold, after that battery acid will begin leaking from it , and then a few minutes later, it'll go boom. Most batteries incidents happen on the charger, and it's because it's an unprotected charger, and the battery is forgotten about for a long period of time (vacation, camping, too many batteries in rotation etc.).

Let's all be safe with our batteries so the FDA doesn't have a reasonable excuse to ban vaping, god knows it's not hard to keep the ohms reasonable, and pay attention to your battery status. If it's getting warm, your doing something wrong. If 30amps isn't doing it for your, get a 26650 that can do 50amps continuous, that's enough for ANY human.

Vape'em if you got'em! Cheers!

 

[p7willm]

The only complaint I have about the video is that even a fine battery, such as the Sony VTC4, will fail if you short it out. They imply that the failure is because it is an Ultrafire.

I'm not saying that an unknown battery from an unknown manufacturer is as good as a VTC4. I am just saying that bad things will happen with a VTC4 if you abuse it.

 

[Zach904]

Interesting to watch. Thanks for taking the time to share!

 

[treehead]

The only complaint I have about the video is that even a fine battery, such as the Sony VTC4, will fail if you short it out. They imply that the failure is because it is an Ultrafire.

I'm not saying that an unknown battery from an unknown manufacturer is as good as a VTC4. I am just saying that bad things will happen with a VTC4 if you abuse it.

Oh definitely, Ultrafires don't have a habit of blowing up, in fact this is a pseudo-Ultrafire anyway, it's another unknown battery wrapped to look like one. Your right on the VTC4's if the short protection doesn't work, then they will indeed blow up, and probably hotter because they are capable of more power.

 

[Warpigs]

Neat Video. Pretty cool seeing what a battery can do when it malfuntions. Thanks for sharing that

 

[Laylel]

treehead
Thank you for posting it.
It does't matter what battery you did use, how many "no name" batteries out there, and now days even when you pay right price it doesn't mean you will get what you paid for. So it's good remainder for what can be if "stars line up for you".

 

[Warpigs]

Comes down mostly you get what you pay for, and what vendor you get them from.. My 3 protected IC 3.5 volt 18650 3400mAh 12.2 volt. And 3 IMR 18650 NP 1600 mAh 3.7 volt 30 amp batteries have worked for me for well over a year and counting. When investing in batteries or charger you want quality over expense. If you can't afford it atm, wait until you can and get the good stuff. You be sorry to save a few bucks and see your mod blow up or start malfunctioning.

Just my 2 cents on that

 

[Laylel]

I did return 4 sets of the batteries to 3 vape shops around, because when i come home they look just like FT ones only double priced, but everyone climes as "named". But when i bring them back they just shut up and giving me refund, making sure and do not say all what i think too load, aha. And i really just don't know where to get right ones, even when money are not a problem.

 

[Warpigs]

AW 18650 Protected 3100 mAh Rechargeable Lithium Battery - AltSmoke
EH IMR 18650, 30amp, 1600mAh, Flat Top

 

[Michavan]

Have really wanted to buy some mechs but have only used regulated devices for that concern alone. Always wanted to google that but always forget. Thanks. Puts my mind at ease a bit. Think I'll order a mech.

 

[Baditude]

The battery in the above video was an ICR Li-ion chemistry battery. These are known to be a volatile chemistry battery, meaning that they can vent extremely hot gas, flames, and possibly explode. This is why they have built-in protection circuits, thus are called protected batteries. Should the protection circuit fail, the above explosion can occur. Protected ICR batteries are NOT recommended for use in mods today.

Today, safe-chemistry IMR batteries are recommended. Being a safer chemistry, they are not as likely to vent when stressed. But when they do, they are not as likely to vent as dramatically as an ICR battery.

Always practice safe battery practices when using batteries, regardless of the chemistry. Below is an AW IMR battery, considered one of the safer batteries on the market, which vented in a bookbag. It is thought that the battery came into contact with something metalic (completing the circuit) and the battery went into thermal runaway. Keep loose, spare batteries in a protective plastic case. Do not keep spare batteries in a pocket or purse where they can be in contact with keys or change.



I find the above picture quite interesting. As in the above video, the batteries both vented from the top of the battery (positive end). Most mechanical mods have the vent hole in the battery cap, or bottom; I assume to keep vented gas directed away from one's face.

However, studying the above pic, one can see that the battery can swell to an extreme size and shape during thermal runaway. This could potentially block off any route of escaping gas to the vent holes in the bottom of the mod, allowing the trapping and build-up of gas to the point that the metal tube can become a pipe bomb.

Should a mod become hot during use, you may have a few seconds to remove the battery from the mod before it becomes too hot to hold. This will happen very quickly. Without trying to touch the battery, allow it to fall to the ground and move far away from it. If unable to remove the battery, drop the mod to the ground and move away.

 

[The Ministry]

Moved over to Batteries and Chargers

Scary video! Very interesting though

 

[markaricavp]

What do you do when your battery starts acting up like that? I've heard stories about this going on while in someone's pocket or bag etc. Can you just leave it on the pavement, let it be, and get away from it?

 

[Funk Dracula]

This is what bothers me about super-subohmers who think their < .1 builds are fine because it's only a "pulse discharge" they are asking of their batteries.

What happens when you don't lock your mech correctly and set it down unattended for a few minutes? Or the switch shorts? Thermal runaway.

This is why it's important to stay within a batteries continuous maximum discharge rating, not it's pulse discharge rating. Staying within the continuous amp limit, should the un-regulated device experience a constant firing, the worst thing that will happen is a burnt wick and hot battery that discharges itself dead.

All of my RDAs house coils that are at least below .7Ω, but yeah, these people vaping stuff below .15Ω are friggin' idiots. That is, for all intensive purposes, a hard short. And if you can't far exceed your lung capacity for vapor whilst staying within a high drain battery's continuous amp limit, frankly you're doing it wrong.

I am absolutely positive that there are WAY more vented/ruined battery stories out there than vapers will own up to, due to "egg on their face/embarrassment." The most common one I see slip out of peoples mouths every so often is simply falling asleep with their mechs.

The misconception some brazen super-subohmers is that their mod isn't going to blow up in their face while using it, and they would be right, but that doesn't mean it's kosher. The mod is going to blow up in the unfortunate event when you set it down, throw it in a cup holder, bag, fall asleep with it etc. That potential to "auto-fire" continuously is always gonna be there, so make sure the circuit you build is capable of handling that.

Cheers

 

[Baditude]

What do you do when your battery starts acting up like that? I've heard stories about this going on while in someone's pocket or bag etc. Can you just leave it on the pavement, let it be, and get away from it?

If your mod or mod switch begins to get hot, if you have time remove the battery cap and allow the battery to simply fall to the ground (don't touch the battery to remove it from the mod as it will burn you). Stay away from the dropped battery as it will vent hot gas. Modern technology safe chemistry batteries "should" only vent hot gas and not vent flames or explode, but the hot gas is enough to cause a first or second or degree burn requiring immediate medical attention.

If the mod is too hot to touch, drop it to the ground and get away. The runaway battery will do its business and eventually die after a few minutes.

 

[treehead]

Have really wanted to buy some mechs but have only used regulated devices for that concern alone. Always wanted to google that but always forget. Thanks. Puts my mind at ease a bit. Think I'll order a mech.

No problem, that's why I posted this. As with almost any situation, if you respect your equipment, nothing bad will ever happen to you. I use this motto in Rock/Ice Climbing, Snow-machining, rafting/kayaking, my electrical projects, adding modifications to my vehicle, vaping, and most of all Skydiving. All of these sports may sound extreme like I'm an adrenaline junky nut-case, but it's really all safe because I'm 100% positive all my gear works like it should. When I fold my parachute before a jump, I literally turn off all music, stop talking to anybody, and go into an almost "meditation" while folding it (which sounds stupid almost) but I'm putting my life, in it's hands so I fold it like like my life depends on it.

It's super easy to get into mechanicals, if you have a multimeter (or an easier ohm meter), and the internet you'll be totally peachy. Like I said if you get my favorite battery a VTC4/5 you don't have to worry about anything whatsoever as long as you keep it above 0.3 ohms (you can actually go lower if you know your stuff), but 15 minutes on google like you said will teach you all you need to know. Just get to know ohm's law, and what your batteries amp limit is, and your set to go!

Here's a great ohm's law calculator I've always used, to the point where I can do it in my head now . A quick and easy way to get started is input your max current (amp limit of your battery, for vtc4 it's 30), and then your max voltage (you batteries volts right off the charger, for the vtc4 it's 4.2). Then once you press calculate it'll do the work for you and tell you what the max ohm-age for your battery is, that easy! All you need to do is fill in 2 of the areas on this calculator and it'll tell you whatever you need to know.

(Sorry didn't mean to lecture you, this is more for other's that may be wondering the same thing brother.)

(p.s. if your thinking about getting your first mechanical, I can tell you that the Turtleship V2 is my current favorite, it's got a perfect button that never fails, and is the best performing stainless steel mod out there on the market (for voltage drop), plus it matches everything as a plus!)

 

[treehead]

This is what bothers me about super-subohmers who think their < .1 builds are fine because it's only a "pulse discharge" they are asking of their batteries.

What happens when you don't lock your mech correctly and set it down unattended for a few minutes? Or the switch shorts? Thermal runaway.

This is why it's important to stay within a batteries continuous maximum discharge rating, not it's pulse discharge rating. Staying within the continuous amp limit, should the un-regulated device experience a constant firing, the worst thing that will happen is a burnt wick and hot battery that discharges itself dead.

All of my RDAs house coils that are at least below .7Ω, but yeah, these people vaping stuff below .15Ω are friggin' idiots. That is, for all intensive purposes, a hard short. And if you can't far exceed your lung capacity for vapor whilst staying within a high drain battery's continuous amp limit, frankly you're doing it wrong.

I am absolutely positive that there are WAY more vented/ruined battery stories out there than vapers will own up to, due to "egg on their face/embarrassment." The most common one I see slip out of peoples mouths every so often is simply falling asleep with their mechs.

The misconception some brazen super-subohmers is that their mod isn't going to blow up in their face while using it, and they would be right, but that doesn't mean it's kosher. The mod is going to blow up in the unfortunate event when you set it down, throw it in a cup holder, bag, fall asleep with it etc. That potential to "auto-fire" continuously is always gonna be there, so make sure the circuit you build is capable of handling that.

Cheers

Exactly couldn't agree more brother, and I hope you didn't think that's what I was suggesting. I said in my post to stay within the continuous, because like you said nothing bad will happpen, it'd be just like using a 30 watt flashlight, except with alot of burning wick and bad smell.

I know I've had mine fire in my cupholder in the car, since then I've always used the locking ring (even when your mod can stand up without firing), notably when I'm not vaping in my computer chair un-occupied.

 

[treehead]

You know this needs to be studied empirically, under scientific conditions, not just some kid blowing up a spare battery for fun on cardboard (although I'm glad he did). I have an electrical engineering thesis coming up this semster, hmmm. Might have something good for ya, maybe all of the popular batteries vented under "safe", "borderline safe", and "stupid" conditions.

~Even better I'd love to see a mythbusters episode on this , anybody else mythbuster fans?