How do you know if your battery won't explode?

[Iris Y]

I have seen some news articles about some ecig battery explosions. I currently use some batteries from trustworthy brands, so I don't worry about the ones I have, but I thought I might want to know more about this in case I want another cheap spare battery.
I know that the exploded batteries were cheap clones from China, but how do you know whether what you are looking at is a good deal of a safe battery or not?
If the battery has the CE mark, can I consider it to be safe? Or is there any other verification?

 

[stevegmu]

Buy authentic products from authorized resellers and use the proper charging equipment which came with the ecigs...

 

[edyle]

Use IMR batteries.
The IMR batteries are the Li-MN Lithium Manganese chemistry; they are the safer chemistry batteries.

 

[Rsunderl]

Hi Iris and welcome to the forum!

What Steve said above is good advice. Especially about using the charging equipment (if any) that comes with the equipment.

Other things to keep in mind is don't put them anywhere where they can come in contact with metal sucha as keys in a purse or pocekt. Also dom't put them in your pants pocket. I know a lot of people do, myself included, but I have, on occassion found a turned-off device has turned itself on by bumping around in my pocket and having the switch hit things as I moved around. Not really a safe thing to do, and I should find a better way of carrying them around.

 

[Thrasher]

In the case of egos we never know how they built the cheap ones. Or what's inside.

In the recent cases involving big mods most of them were user error. A few involved not understanding the ratings of the battery and trusting too much in the label of a mystery battery making false claims (there are a few " competition" battery companies that came out of nowhere overrating their cells, which they don't even make)

and the new mechanicals coming out themselves, especially these ones called hybrid top. These mods are proving to be extremely dangerous in the hands of inexperienced users or vapors lacking basic knowledge of how Atty connections work in regards to electricity.
And also mods not designed with proper venting lately are suddenly appearing on the market


Staying with well known brands, not overly abusing batteries ( leave them charging in the car on a hot day, repeatedly dropping them etc) and in most cases you should be OK.

These are the same types of batteries in laptops and phones, they are proven safe but accidents can happen, they are tough but abusing them can and has led to failures.


For Egos there really is only 4 quality brands, joyetech and ovale who invented them. Vision and kanger.

Anything else is an unknown, the CE mark means nothing to chinas clone makers as its just part of the label they are copying

 

[Rickajho]

If you are talking about eGo type batteries the most common reason for a battery explosion is during charging, using an inappropriate charger not designed for the battery. Since you said the "C" word - cheap - that's were a lot of those problem batteries and chargers come from. Really low ball batteries cut the manufacturing to the bone and do the same thing to the charger, resulting in unsafe battery charger combinations when a cheap battery charger is used with a legitimate battery. As a general rule you use the charger designed for the battery, and avoid any eGo battery/kit that comes with a stubby USB "charger" adapter plug - no wire lead on it at all - as in most cases those don't even have any legitimate charging circuitry in them at all.

 

[Kloudz]

IMR =
Is
More
Reliable.

 

[gabrielrrrr]

Use IMR batteries.
The IMR batteries are the Li-MN Lithium Manganese chemistry; they are the safer chemistry batteries.

but hey let me ask you a question, those IMR batteries die faster than normal ones right ? (im a noob)

 

[Thrasher]

300 charges is still a long time

 

[gabrielrrrr]

Always CHECK if your batteries are getting hot or warmer

 

[nevillebartos]

Buy authentic products from authorized resellers and use the proper charging equipment which came with the ecigs...

Yeah +1 - and in my opinion this goes for any other battery equipment, laptops, phones, power tools, whatever. It's not worth risking a chemical fire, because that would suck. With less scrutinized things like our vaping gear I don't even charge unattended.

 

[Kelvin Teh]

In the case of egos we never know how they built the cheap ones. Or what's inside.

In the recent cases involving big mods most of them were user error. A few involved not understanding the ratings of the battery and trusting too much in the label of a mystery battery making false claims (there are a few " competition" battery companies that came out of nowhere overrating their cells, which they don't even make)

and the new mechanicals coming out themselves, especially these ones called hybrid top. These mods are proving to be extremely dangerous in the hands of inexperienced users or vapors lacking basic knowledge of how Atty connections work in regards to electricity.
And also mods not designed with proper venting lately are suddenly appearing on the market


Staying with well known brands, not overly abusing batteries ( leave them charging in the car on a hot day, repeatedly dropping them etc) and in most cases you should be OK.

These are the same types of batteries in laptops and phones, they are proven safe but accidents can happen, they are tough but abusing them can and has led to failures.


For Egos there really is only 4 quality brands, joyetech and ovale who invented them. Vision and kanger.

Anything else is an unknown, the CE mark means nothing to chinas clone makers as its just part of the label they are copying

Had one eGo years ago. That was my first time vaping. There was once when I was vaping, the fire button gone so hot it burned my finger and when I looked at it, there's smoke coming out from the fire button and the connector as well. Basically, the smoke is finding every single possible hole on the battery and come out.

I got nervous that I thought it might explode or something thus I left it at my balcony for weeks. Not sure when its going to explode. Ended up left it there for one year.

I was a newbie back then. Lol

 

[tj99959]

but hey let me ask you a question, those IMR batteries die faster than normal ones right ? (im a noob)

Would you rather charge a battery more often, or use a battery that is incapable of doing the job safely??

Those "long lasting" batteries are ICR (Lithium Cobalt) cells that are normally about a "2c" (4-6 amp) battery, and should they vent, they do so in a violent manor. (fire & explode)

The IMR (Lithium Manganese) cells are 10 -15c (10-30 amp), and should they vent they are far less violent (provided the PV is vented properly)

 

[Completely Average]

but hey let me ask you a question, those IMR batteries die faster than normal ones right ? (im a noob)

Depends on how you define "die" and what you're comparing them to.

IMRs tend to have lower mAh ratings than similar powered Li-ion and ICR batteries. For example you won't find a 20A IMR with higher than a 2500 mAh rating, but you can get 20A Li-ion or ICR in the 4000+ mAh rating range, so you'll have to recharge the IMRs more frequently. IMR batteries also tend to wear out and stop accepting a full charge sooner so you may have to replace them more often.

However, IMR batteries are "safer chemistry" batteries which are designed to vent smoke without ignition or explosion. Li-ions and ICRs can explode like a small pipe bomb if they aren't charged and cared for properly. Only use IMRs in ecigs with replaceable batteries. You don't want to accidentally blow your face off.

 

[skoony]

If you are talking about eGo type batteries the most common reason for a battery explosion is during charging, using an inappropriate charger not designed for the battery. Since you said the "C" word - cheap - that's were a lot of those problem batteries and chargers come from. Really low ball batteries cut the manufacturing to the bone and do the same thing to the charger, resulting in unsafe battery charger combinations when a cheap battery charger is used with a legitimate battery. As a general rule you use the charger designed for the battery, and avoid any eGo battery/kit that comes with a stubby USB "charger" adapter plug - no wire lead on it at all - as in most cases those don't even have any legitimate charging circuitry in them at all.

i don't know where you get your info from. if the connectors on your charger
battery or interconnect work together for your ego type battery they are all
interchangeable. most of the circuitry is standard except for the programmable one's
that will act strangely when they don't recognize devices of other brands.
under normal use these devices do not have a failure rate any higher than
in any other product that uses batteries.power tools,cell phones,lap tops
and tablets,etc... .

mike

 

[tj99959]

Depends on how you define "die" and what you're comparing them to.

IMRs tend to have lower mAh ratings than similar powered Li-ion and ICR batteries. For example you won't find a 20A IMR with higher than a 2500 mAh rating, but you can get 20A Li-ion or ICR in the 4000+ mAh rating range, so you'll have to recharge the IMRs more frequently. IMR batteries also tend to wear out and stop accepting a full charge sooner so you may have to replace them more often.



However, IMR batteries are "safer chemistry" batteries which are designed to vent smoke without ignition or explosion. Li-ions and ICRs can explode like a small pipe bomb if they aren't charged and cared for properly. Only use IMRs in ecigs with replaceable batteries. You don't want to accidentally blow your face off.

That's not correct, there is no such thing as a 20 amp ICR battery.
There is a third category of battery called "LiPo". (Lithium Polymer) LiPo cells also vent in a violent manor, so they should only be used in a controlled environment with PROPER safety features. (regulated PV's) There really is a reason that "LiPo bags" even exist!

i don't know where you get your info from. if the connectors on your charger
battery or interconnect work together for your ego type battery they are all
interchangeable. most of the circuitry is standard except for the programmable one's
that will act strangely when they don't recognize devices of other brands.
under normal use these devices do not have a failure rate any higher than
in any other product that uses batteries.power tools,cell phones,lap tops
and tablets,etc... .

mike

Also not true. Those chargers are not all the same, nor are all the ego type batteries that are out there.
If you play that game, you can easily end up with a charger with no 4.2v cutoff plugged into an ego with no 4.2v cutoff. Overcharge protection is a must with any battery! Or the wrong amp charger for the battery.
https://www.google.com/webhp?source...ttery+explodes+site:www.e-cigarette-forum.com

 

[Completely Average]

That's not correct, there is no such thing as a 20 amp ICR battery.

Bad edit on my part.

I originally only wrote about Li-ion and then came back and added the "or ICR" after I had posted the response. I missed changing the 20A part when I added the ICR. Thanks for catching it though.

 

[Susklahavana]

I'm new to here and to vaping and want to purchase a nautilus kit. Are the cf vv batteries fairly safe? I'm trying to research as much as possible before taking the plunge.

 

[NancyR]

i don't know where you get your info from. if the connectors on your charger
battery or interconnect work together for your ego type battery they are all
interchangeable. most of the circuitry is standard except for the programmable one's
that will act strangely when they don't recognize devices of other brands.
under normal use these devices do not have a failure rate any higher than
in any other product that uses batteries.power tools,cell phones,lap tops
and tablets,etc... .

mike

Many ego style batteries are pass-throughs, as such, most phone chargers can be connected to them but many phone chargers have a higher output, so I disagree with your "if it fits, it works" statement

 

[Thrasher]

That's not correct, there is no such thing as a 20 amp ICR battery.

so. On top of all the other crap nowadays your now saying LG is making false claims as well?,


Taken directly from the lg data sheet
LG ICR18650HE2 2500 mAh High Discharge Flat Top (LGBDHE21865)

LG ICR18650HE4 2500 mAh High Discharge Flat Top (LGBDHE41865)


While they are a hybrid blend to be safer. Make no mistake, they are, in fact, cobalt based batteries
Many vape shops like hiding this fact by using the Mn part to hide this and call them imr's

And they are used world wide everyday in some of the best power tools you can get because of the 35 amp peak.