If batteries short out with keys and change, why not when I'm unscrewing my mod?

[Niamh]

So I've read that batteries can short out in a pocket with keys or change and it got me wondering about unscrewing telescoping mechanical mods- the top of the battery is against a metal pin and the bottom is against a metal spring, when unscrewing the bottom cap (or even when loosening the middle telescoping section) the metal spring is going to grind against the bottom of the battery to some extent, could this not cause a short in theory? Or am I just being a noodle?
I have other regulated mods as well where the battery is in there pretty tight and the bottom of the battery has gotten marked where the spring has ground against it when taking it out.

 

[WattWick]

The metal pin you are talking about is insulated from the rest of the mod.

 

[slippkidd0129]

No worries. The negative part of the mod is insulted. When u hit the firing button it makes contact with the negative end of the battery completing the circuit.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

 

[Niamh]

Ah I see, it seems it's my lack of electrical knowledge playing havoc with my imagination. Thanks.

 

[crxess]

Or am I just being a noodle?

Yes

A short comes from directly linking the Negative to the positive of the battery.
Unscrewing the Mod does not change the way the battery is sitting and the Positive is never in contact with the main body.
The spring, found in many Telescoping mods, is always in contact with the battery. Turning will not change that fact.

Edit: A word of caution - Over tightening many telescoping mods will result in continuous firing. this is due to squeezing the spring down to the point of making contact with the switch.

 

[Niamh]

Hey, thanks, makes sense, will be aware re the over tightening

 

[CloudZ]

Can someone describe a scenario where keys or change could realistically cause a short? I could see it if the mod was in your pocket with the topper off it (510 connector exposed), a key gets jammed into the 510 connector and the unlocked button gets pressed somehow. Yet, you will probably always have some kind topper on and the button locked. I suppose mistakes can be made... Hopefully not too often with a potential pipe bomb in your pocket.

 

[Thomasis]

If your battery is in the mod not too much of a chance. If your carrying spare batteries by themselves in your pocket with keys, much more likely to cause a short. I would think the battery would get hot and you would notice it before all hell breaks loose but just try to remember to keep your batteries in a safe place.

 

[Scott_Simpson]

Can someone describe a scenario where keys or change could realistically cause a short? I could see it if the mod was in your pocket with the topper off it (510 connector exposed), a key gets jammed into the 510 connector and the unlocked button gets pressed somehow. Yet, you will probably always have some kind topper on and the button locked. I suppose mistakes can be made... Hopefully not too often with a potential pipe bomb in your pocket.

I think the OP was talking about loose batteries, not batteries inside mods. Some folks just drop a spare battery in their pocket, and any "chain" of metal (e.g., keys, coins, knives, etc.) that contacts both the negative and positive posts of the battery will result in a short, and a very HOT pocket! (I have cheap plastic battery boxes to carry my spares in, so there's me with no worries ... )

 

[Baditude]

I think the OP was talking about loose batteries, not batteries inside mods. Some folks just drop a spare battery in their pocket, and any "chain" of metal (e.g., keys, coins, knives, etc.) that contacts both the negative and positive posts of the battery will result in a short, and a very HOT pocket! (I have cheap plastic battery boxes to carry my spares in, so there's me with no worries ... )

This. I once put an 18350 IMR battery in my pocket, thinking the pocket was empty. Unfortunately, it had a couple of pennies in there which made the electrical connection to the positive end of the battery. I felt the heat almost immediately and was able to remove the battery. The battery was ruined.

I've also had a more violent venting incident involving a protected ICR battery while it was inside of a mechanical mod. I use to change into a uniform with a former employer. I kept my street clothes in a locker, and kept my mod inside the pocket of my pants in the locker. One time the fire button got compressed continuously in the pocket and over discharged the battery causing it to go into thermal runaway.

I went to take a quick vape on the mod during a work break, and when I reached into the pocket to retrieve the mod, it was way too hot to touch. I managed to remove the mod with a wet washcloth. Removed the battery. Both ends of the battery had exploded out, vented flames (the pants pocket was badly scorched and the pants had to be thrown away), and the outer plastic wrapping had melted away. The entire locker room had the stench of toxic burnt plastic/electrical parts.

This mod had no on/off feature or locking mechanism for the fire button. No timer cutoff for the firing mechanism. The collapsable hot spring failed to stop the battery from failing. The built-in protective circuit on the battery failed to prevent over-discharge. The hot gases (and flames ?) vented through the fire switch as it was designed to do with this mod, but the switch was ruined and had to be repaired/replaced by the manufacturer.

This shows how important it is to always practice safe battery habits. Mechanical mods require more attention to battery safety than regulated VV/VW mods because they have no built-in protective circuitry. This is also why safe chemistry IMR or hybrid batteries are now recommended over so-call protected ICR chemistry batteries. Safe chemistry batteries can still vent, but not as violently as ICR batteries will.



Battery Basics for Mods: IMR or Protected ICR?