i bought a new battery today...

[nemesis8733]

So I bought a new battery from my favorite b&m today. it's a high quality 18650 and thus far it's performing great. But this has little to do with my point lol.

The guy that sold it to me told me that they come 50% charged and the best way to start it up is to use it down until it doesn't work anymore and then charge it the first time. He even went as far as to say that this is how the manufacturer suggests starting up the battery.

Now I'm in no way shape or form trying to say that my guy doesn't know what he's talking about. This is my tried and true local b&m I'm talking about and this particular employee has helped me so many times in my 2 years of vaping it's ridiculous.

BUT. I had always heard that discharging a battery to the point of it not working anymore is a no no. You might brick the battery and make it useless, or even worse it might become unstable. I have a box and a tube, and I know boxes safeguard the battery from draining too far. But this battery is exclusively for my tube and I made that known before purchase.

So I guess I'm just here for a second opinion. Is it ok to drain the battery completely before you charge it the first time? If its not, what's the proper practice?

 

[State O' Flux]

S
The guy that sold it to me told me that they come 50% charged and the best way to start it up is to use it down until it doesn't work anymore and then charge it the first time. He even went as far as to say that this is how the manufacturer suggests starting up the battery.

 

[nemesis8733]

So obviously this is incorrect information as I thought and I was right to look here for a second opinion lol

But all captain Picard facepalms aside, what should I be doing?

 

[State O' Flux]

So obviously this is incorrect information as I thought and I was right to look here for a second opinion lol

But all captain Picard facepalms aside, what should I be doing?

Sorry... it just bugs me no end when I hear the BS that vape shop employees blather on as gospel.

If you read the various MFG specs (or Battery University), the recommended minimum discharge value for an IMR battery is 2.5V. "50%" of a full charge... that'd be 0.4V below the minimum value.

 

[nemesis8733]

Sorry... it just bugs me no end when I hear the BS that vape shop employees blather on as gospel.

If you read the various MFG specs (or Battery University), the recommended minimum discharge value for an IMR battery is 2.5V. "50%" of a full charge... that'd be 0.4V below the minimum value.

So, just to be clear, a new battery from a shop should be charged right away before vaping? and the battery shouldn't be dropped below a 50% charge in general? I'm charging the battery as we speak...

I've been vaping for a couple years now but most of my batteries haven't been bought straight from a shop brand new so I don't have a lot of experience with best practice for a fresh battery. I appreciate the help.

 

[ElConquistador]

I always check my new batteries and they seem to be at around 3.9 to 4.0 volts. Sometimes I'll use them for a while, sometimes I'll charge them before I use them. I never run mine below about 3.7 volts anyway, often I'll charge them at 3.9 volts. I don't think it makes a whole lot of difference whether or not you use new batteries right away as long as they have a reasonable charge on them, but I would NEVER run a battery below 3.2 volts.

 

[mcclintock]

If a regulated mod, it should cut off at 3.3 or so. Otherwise no.

Everything I've seen from the non-vaping world says avoiding extremes is the best thing for lithium batteries. Partial charges not only don't hurt them but are better. Best lifetime keeping between 30% and 80% power. Up to 1200 charge cycles when charging to only 4.0 volts.

 

[State O' Flux]

So, just to be clear, a new battery from a shop should be charged right away before vaping?
Yes sir.

and the battery shouldn't be dropped below a 50% charge in general? I'm charging the battery as we speak...
Well... it's likely that you'll notice a drop in vaping performance well before you get down to 2.5V. I typically change out batteries at around 3.3~3.4V.

I've been vaping for a couple years now but most of my batteries haven't been bought straight from a shop brand new so I don't have a lot of experience with best practice for a fresh battery. I appreciate the help.

No worries... if you look up Baditude's blogs here in ECF, he's probably got more time invested in vape specific battery research than anyone else. There's also good info on PBusardo's YouTube site, and you'll find a few other good links if you click on the 3rd sigline hyperlink below.

 

[r77r7r]

Kinda makes me question that " high quality battery" he sold you.

 

[State O' Flux]

Kinda makes me question that " high quality battery" he sold you.

Hopefully, the words "trust" and/or "fire" are not found in the brand name.

 

[nemesis8733]

Thank you guys for all of your help. I have a much better understanding now.

the battery is a samsung he4. So I know it's decent. I knew what I wanted going in, it was just the upkeep I was questioning

Edit: LG he4

 

[Baditude]

... if you look up Baditude's blogs here in ECF, he's probably got more time invested in vape specific battery research than anyone else. There's also good info on PBusardo's YouTube site, and you'll find a few other good links if you click on the 3rd sigline hyperlink below.

The research (Battery University) that I've come across says it doesn't really mattery if you charge a brand new lithium battery or not, but I always do myself, because they don't ship fully charged. The NiCad batteries once used in camcorders had to be drained all the way down before recharging, so this caused confusion about using other chemistry batteries for some people. And what the others above say about more frequent charging of a partially discharged battery is better than draining it down all the way is true for longer battery longivity.

Battery Basics for Mods: IMR or Protected ICR?

Rechargeable Batteries

Deeper Understanding of Mod Batteries

PBusardo's Battery Information