Is it better to rotate among batteries or use until they are worn out?

[sandybeach]

I have a VariCool Variable Voltage Box Mod from smoktek. It uses two 14500 batteries. I have ten matched sets of batteries. I label them with a marker to keep the sets together when I use them.

Is it better to alternate among the sets, or just use two sets until they are worn out, then start a new two sets?

 

[CountSmackula]

10 sets? Wow. Don't know how to tell the 'shelf life' on them. Maybe someone with more experience will chime in. I'd rotate through them all... This might help you decide.

I have 3 sets for my MadVapes VV box mod & I rotate through them all. I do the same for my 3.7v box.

 

[sandybeach]

Probably 10 sets - I rotate em; some are almost dead tho and I should toss em

 

[nebulas]

I am pretty sure it is better to rotate and use them rather than just having them sitting around.

 

[NickZac]

If you do 'store' some of them, be sure to store them at about a 40 to 50 percent charge. If you store them fully charged, you can shorten the service life and if you store them with no charge, then they are usually unusable afterwards.

 

[sandybeach]

what about keeping them in the original packaging until I'm ready to use them?

 

[NickZac]

what about keeping them in the original packaging until I'm ready to use them?

The majority of rechargeable lithium batteries are shipped with a partial charge. However, they can sometimes sit in a warehouse for years and so the loss of charge may be of concern with companies that do not rotate their stock well. If they are expensive or a pain to replace, you may want to open them from the package and every so often check their voltage. Then, if need be, charge them up partially. I keep my batteries in an actual battery box. These boxes prevent them from shorts and spills, and keeps their outer casing in good condition in the event of a drop.

 

[sandybeach]

What's a battery box? I've seen the little 2-battery plastic cases -- is that it?

 

[NickZac]

Yes, that would be it. Or you could get something like a Plano organizer that you use for fishing tackle, and set the inside up so that the battery is kept away from anything else that may be metallic and cause it to complete a circuit.

battery case for e-cig mod


Some people store lithium batteries inside of a lithium charging bag as well. For the cases of what we do and the batteries used on these mods, this is not a must but more of an extra safety precaution. I personally do not do this, but I am using the AW and Pila batteries, which almost never explode.

 

[sandybeach]

I do have a charging bag, I can use that. I keep them in a cute little carved wooden box now. Oh! I also have a bullet case I use for storing cartomizers upright, that would work. But I love my little carved box

 

[NickZac]

Provided they cannot make contact with anything metallic and that the ends do not make contact with other batteries, you are probably fine as a sitting battery is unlikely to just explode randomly. Explosions are most common when charging, generally occurring due to overcharging. The only thing is that the box is wooden, and a lithium explosion would probably ignite the box as lithium explosions are violent. Again, an explosion from a sitting battery it is (very) unlikely, especially if they are in working order and not overcharged. I personally do not store them in a charging bag or containment box, but instead in a small battery box. If they were to explode, they would probably light the stuff on my desk on fire...however, I am not really concerned about this given the AW IMRs are very solid designs and I am confident they are not overcharged. So I wouldn't let this scare you, but act as a heads up of the unlikely, but possible.

 

[DaveP]

If you are using 14500 batteries, you are probably using them in pairs in your mod. Checking voltages after charging them and before installing them is important. Two batteries in series, one at a different voltage than the other, can result in one battery reverse charging the other. Lithium batteries don't respond well to rapid charging and the result is heat. The heat casued by reverse charging can cause the battery to go into thermal runaway and result in an explosion.

A single battery mod is the safest with Li-ion batteries. There's no companion cell and no chance of reverse charging problems. IMR batteries are also safer than Li-ion since the failure mode is high heat, but not venting or explosive discharge. They can also withstand higher discharge rates without thermal runaway.

 

[sandybeach]

Provided they cannot make contact with anything metallic and that the ends do not make contact with other batteries, you are probably fine as a sitting battery is unlikely to just explode randomly. Explosions are most common when charging, generally occurring due to overcharging. The only thing is that the box is wooden, and a lithium explosion would probably ignite the box as lithium explosions are violent. Again, an explosion from a sitting battery it is (very) unlikely, especially if they are in working order and not overcharged. I personally do not store them in a charging bag or containment box, but instead in a small battery box. If they were to explode, they would probably light the stuff on my desk on fire...however, I am not really concerned about this given the AW IMRs are very solid designs and I am confident they are not overcharged. So I wouldn't let this scare you, but act as a heads up of the unlikely, but possible.

Thanks, NZ. That was a good explanation. They are lined up next to each other. Some are AW IMR, the others are Trustfires.

 

[sandybeach]

If you are using 14500 batteries, you are probably using them in pairs in your mod. Checking voltages after charging them and before installing them is important. Two batteries in series, one at a different voltage than the other, can result in one battery reverse charging the other. Lithium batteries don't respond well to rapid charging and the result is heat. The heat casued by reverse charging can cause the battery to go into thermal runaway and result in an explosion.

A single battery mod is the safest with Li-ion batteries. There's no companion cell and no chance of reverse charging problems. IMR batteries are also safer than Li-ion since the failure mode is high heat, but not venting or explosive discharge. They can also withstand higher discharge rates without thermal runaway.

Wait a minute. I am using 14500's in pairs. But they are labeled. I always use the same pair together. I just write A, B, C, D, etc., with a sharpie on them. Wouldn't they always have the same charge if I charge them together? I use an Xtar to charge them, and take them off as soon as the light turns green. Why do I need to test the charge?

 

[NickZac]

Wait a minute. I am using 14500's in pairs. But they are labeled. I always use the same pair together. I just write A, B, C, D, etc., with a sharpie on them. Wouldn't they always have the same charge if I charge them together? I use an Xtar to charge them, and take them off as soon as the light turns green. Why do I need to test the charge?

One battery can 'age' faster than another, meaning you wind up having two batteries with two different charge capacities, which is really bad and potentially dangerous. Using them as 'bonded' pairs (using the same two batteries for each run and not mixing them with others) is the way to go, but even ones in pairs that are used in the same device and have the same number of charge cycles can behave differently, especially as they age. The only way to confirm this is with a multimeter. Its ideal to always measure your batteries off of the charger. If they are over 4.25 volts, you have a major overcharging issue and should not use them. If they are over 4.22, this is gray area but not good. If when they are charged the capacity is drastically less than 4.2, then you may have a defective battery.

Occasionally, mid usage through the 'drain' (using your device), you should pop the batteries out and measure them. The reason you do this is to ensure the batteries are discharging at a similar rate. If they are 'healthy', the remaining voltages will be very similar to practically the same. If they are not, it is a probably a good idea to replace the entire pair. I have read that because of this, the expected service life (as in how many times you can charge and discharge) of stacked batteries is less than a single battery of the same type in devices, with the reason being you can use a single battery for a longer period (service life-wise) as the capacity decreases, because you do not have to ensure it matches with another battery. It makes sense on paper but I cannot say if it is true either way.

 

[sandybeach]

<----- eyes cross