I am officially an idiot - Battery Safety

[InTheShade]

A little long, if you want the short version skip to the bolded text below.

This morning packing my vape gear for work, I put my VMOD into a little Ego case I have for it, put the spare battery, atty and a bottle of juice in there - zipped it up, all like I do every other day.
I put that little case in my back-pack and finish getting ready to get out the door.

Well, a few minutes later, as I go to reach for my back-pack I smell something like burnt plastic coming from it. Being an idiot (as I said in the thread title) I think it's my laptop - so I reach in there and grab it, smell it, nothing wrong. I keep unzipping the compartments finally coming to where I put my mod and case.

Reaching in to grab the case I knew something was really wrong. The smell was much stronger and the case was hot to the touch, so I unzip it and sure enough, my VMOD has gone all kinds of crazy and is having a melt-down. Of course the first reaction is to grab it right? Yeah.

Being an idiot, I grab it. It's like touching molten lava*1, it brands the word VAPAGE*2 across my fingertips, so I drop it down on the floor.

Once it cools down I open it up (it's a little stuck together) and I am expecting to see carnage with juice and battery guts everywhere.

Well the battery is hot, but still intact, the spring was still intact but my juice bottle had melted a little where it screws into the mod. So what happened here - I'm confused.

Well, being an idiot, I had forgotten to twist the fire button that stops it firing when I put it away. So the spare battery (in its own plastic carrying case - I'm not an idiot) had jammed the fire button down when I zipped it up.

Thank you ECF for educating me to buy good batteries. I am sure (but of course this is just my opinion) if I had been using a cheap-o battery I would have had a much bigger problem on my hands.

So two things I learned.

1) Buy the best branded batteries for your APV or Mod. I use AW IMR 18650s from RTD vapor.
2) Turn your mod off when you pack it away or put it in your pocket. Then double check you turned it off.
3) Don't be an idiot.

*1 - that was a lie.
*2 - Another lie there, sorry.

 

[Zee2006]

glad it worked out.. like you said, it could have been much worse!

 

[Recon Number 54]

Being an idiot, I grab it. It's like touching molten lava*1, it brands the word VAPAGE*2 across my fingertips, so I drop it down on the floor.

*1 - that was a lie.
*2 - Another lie there, sorry.

Well, if it had been true, you could have probably gotten pictures on their website as a "hardcore customer".

Seriously though?

1) Thanks for sharing. No REALLY. I am thanking you. It's not easy to tell others of one's mistakes/painful lessons, but by sharing it here, you may help others to think a little more and be safer.

2) Most of all? I am glad that it you are okay and that it wasn't worse. It easily could have been. Imagine if your bag had gone into your backseat or trunk and then decided to fully vent or ignite the bag or its contents? While this was a painful and costly lesson (that we can all benefit from), this incident was just a couple of events away from potentially being a very real tragedy.

 

[ShariR]

Thank you SO much for sharing that. It is so easy to do something like that and it shows that experience does not replace repetition and double checking. You have taught me a valuable lesson here. Make sure I turn my batteries off before I put the device away.

I am very glad that you did not get seriously injured. Again, thank you for posting this.

 

[toddrhodes]

I don't always turn off my regulated mods before stuffing them in my pocket. Despite their safety measures, I still kick myself for not doing it every time. I'm almost OCD about disabling my mechs before they go anywhere, in a pouch, pocket, or just in my cupholder in the car. Glad you posted this, it's always good to be reminded of what can happen. I have some eFest batteries and they're fine, but I generally stick to my AW, Sony, or Orbtronics batts. I also picked up several battery cases on Amazon for $6 or something. VaporJoes posted a good deal yesterday on a soft, zippered pouch for $3.50 or something at 101vape.com, holds (3) 18650's. Might pick up a couple...

 

[degnr8]

Yeah, Thanks Shade. We all need these safety reminders, this could have been a total disaster.

 

[Tempesta]

I join in the thank-yous. I am just getting into mode from cigalikes, and I will be extra careful. I appreciate you sharing your experience.

 

[RubyRoo]

Thank you for posting this! Always a good reminder to tun off your devices before putting them in a pocket or carrying case. I had my VV v3 firing in my purse for quite a while before I noticed it. The battery was fine, but I had to throw out the tank because it melted just enough to make it leak. So sad, but a good lesson for all of us. Thanks again! Safe vaping to you!

 

[Truetopath]

Thanks for sharing! Glad you're alright.


CASAA member 2013

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free

 

[Dusif]

I can beat that...

So im sitting at home having a nice and relaxing day... My fiance feeling a little under the weather asks me if i will go grab her something to drink?... Sure, i forget that i have my kts laying next to me in the sofa, goes to the kitchen and grabs her some fluid, gets back and sit down... And after a while i notice a funky smell i havnt really smelled before so i try to locate it thinking its coming from outside i shimmy to the end of the sofa... Nope nothing to see better close the door so i do that and sit back and right about the 17,5 second mark after that i fly up screaming like a goof rubbing my left cheek

Oh yeah... I didnt realise my mod had gone halfway down between the two parts of the sofa so i sat down on it... HOLY COW THAT HURTS! 6.000.005•c is my guess and a pair of thick pants doesnt transfer heat very fast... They sure can hold it tho!

Now that is being a total idiot

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[HzG8rGrl]

Your story reminds me of taking my car into the dealership for service. As I always do, I removed personal items from the glove box and placed them in my purse before handing the key over to the service department. One specific item has a bit of heft.

We go to the holding room (waiting area) and have a seat. I smelled a strange smell, but chalked it up to the smells of the cars being worked on at a dealership. About 10 minutes in I decided to grab a REO from my purse (had 2 in the purse) and go outside. I unzipped my purse and vapor just came pouring out the top~OMG. The ERA was so very hot, the REO surprisingly, was not. I had not locked the button and the afore mentioned hefty item had depressed the fire button.

AW IMR bats are the best. Insulator was fine on the ERA. Such a close call. Check, check and triple check.

The purse is a canvas material-I was able to throw it in the wash and get that horrid smell out.

 

[Rickb119]

More than once in my life I've looked around for the Angels that have protected me from myself. Glad that they were with you too.

 

[jclay1192]

A little long, if you want the short version skip to the bolded text below.

This morning packing my vape gear for work, I put my VMOD into a little Ego case I have for it, put the spare battery, atty and a bottle of juice in there - zipped it up, all like I do every other day.
I put that little case in my back-pack and finish getting ready to get out the door.

Well, a few minutes later, as I go to reach for my back-pack I smell something like burnt plastic coming from it. Being an idiot (as I said in the thread title) I think it's my laptop - so I reach in there and grab it, smell it, nothing wrong. I keep unzipping the compartments finally coming to where I put my mod and case.

Reaching in to grab the case I knew something was really wrong. The smell was much stronger and the case was hot to the touch, so I unzip it and sure enough, my VMOD has gone all kinds of crazy and is having a melt-down. Of course the first reaction is to grab it right? Yeah.

Being an idiot, I grab it. It's like touching molten lava*1, it brands the word VAPAGE*2 across my fingertips, so I drop it down on the floor.

Once it cools down I open it up (it's a little stuck together) and I am expecting to see carnage with juice and battery guts everywhere.

Well the battery is hot, but still intact, the spring was still intact but my juice bottle had melted a little where it screws into the mod. So what happened here - I'm confused.

Well, being an idiot, I had forgotten to twist the fire button that stops it firing when I put it away. So the spare battery (in its own plastic carrying case - I'm not an idiot) had jammed the fire button down when I zipped it up.

Thank you ECF for educating me to buy good batteries. I am sure (but of course this is just my opinion) if I had been using a cheap-o battery I would have had a much bigger problem on my hands.

So two things I learned.

1) Buy the best branded batteries for your APV or Mod. I use AW IMR 18650s from RTD vapor.
2) Turn your mod off when you pack it away or put it in your pocket. Then double check you turned it off.
3) Don't be an idiot.

*1 - that was a lie.
*2 - Another lie there, sorry.

sorry you got injured!! after a couple beers i went to test my RBA aaandyeahh... was too buzzed and forgot the cap wasn't on.. nice little coil blisters