Just vented my first 2 batteries

[Spencer87]

So I am quite aware of battery safety, in terms of ohms law and all that stuff

Popped a couple batteries in my box mod off the charger, popped them in my mech box mod series as I'd done a hundred times before. Only this time I saw a spark and then orange and then smoke. So I ran to the window and tossed it out and watched them 4 floors down smoke and then POP, POP. And that was that.
Any idea what happened? Because I haven't got a clue! The batteries were efest, not the best but I stay above the CDR and there wasn't an atomizer on it anyways....

here are the pics after the incident.

I assume the box mod isnt safe anymore?


ive had it for over a year no problems
Both batts were married

 

[MarkyD]

Ouch that looks bad. Wonder how many charge cycles those cells had on them, I worry about my older cells, the more age the more the CDR drops. Also maybe an unbalanced cell or layer to layer short in one cell and the other one really didnt like that and they both happily went into thermal runaway. I wouldnt use the mod (imo), the negative terminals are toast and it melted them loose from the battery sled.

 

[Lessifer]

You sure you put the both in the right way? Were the wrappers torn before they vented? Did you let them rest at all once you pulled them off the charger?

 

[Spencer87]

Yea I put them in the proper way. The wrappers were not torn and they didn't have many charge cycles on them. I bought them a year and a half ago but soon stopped using them as I moved in to regulated soon after and they say until a few weeks ago when I started using them.

But I didn't let them rest much before popping them in...

 

[440BB]

Perhaps a stray piece of metal in the connector? Sure looks like a hard short. Glad you got through that in good shape!

 

[sonicbomb]

Firstly glad you're mot hurt.
No don't use the mod again it's trashed. From what you describe it sounds very much like a hard short, exactly how that happened is hard to say.
This shows that no mod regulated or mechanical can malfunction dramatically, never get complacent. Also cells will degrade over time even if not used, they have a limited shelf life.

Be aware that the numbers written on the side of those Efests do not represent the true CDR. Efest rewrap cast off cells from the actual companies that manufacture them like Sony or LG and put exaggerated specs on them. Always consult Mooch's list of tested cells before purchasing them.

 

[Spencer87]

@sonicbomb , yes I am aware that the Efests exaggerate and I have taken that in to account, by reading the reports and never pushing past their actual capacity. There wasn't an atty on in this case. It had something to do with putting them in

 

[Nermal]

Well, you reacted perfectly to the situation.

 

[IMFire3605]

First, glad you are alright, even being advanced and as safe as you can, Murphy's Law still ends up sticking its nose into your business. Like others, sounds like a hard short, possibly at one of the positive contacts, could have been a worn contact blade, loose solder joint, almost anything. Probably cut and peeled the wrapper upon insertion, that section arced and dead shorted, 30 second fuse was lit. Could even have been in the 510 connector or switch itself, combination of them all. Battery sled is definitely toast, wiring, 510, and switch I wouldn't trust them, the box itself can be rebuilt if you have the know how and access to the necessary materials.

 

[Spencer87]

Yea I have no idea how to do that stuff and don't really have too much desire to learn

 

[Robino1]

Time to go shopping!

 

[Bunnykiller]

alot of melted solder in the + end of the box.... I would say the issue was at that end ( caused a direct short)

 

[Bonskibon]

Wow! So glad your ok.

 

[bnrkwest]

Glad you are ok! I have read so many times that most vents happen right off the charger and batts should rest off the charger for an hr before use. I wonder if it would have made any difference?

 

[crxess]

Don't think I read it, but it looks like the Shrink tore at the top on installation. Shorted one Battery, which shorted Both. The Orange Flash was your warning it had Shorted. All down hill from there.
Photo 4
Top Battery
Anyway, look for the Burned Metal at the positive end. That one Arched.

 

[Spencer87]

Yea I expect the solder was from the short. There was a bit of fire (kind of) before the venting started. I first three it on my bed, then thought about it. Put it outside on the railing outside my window, then thought if it exploded it could smash my window so I pushed it off the railing....

 

[juicynoos]

popped them in my mech box mod series as I'd done a hundred times before. Only this time I saw a spark and then orange and then smoke.

Ouch, I was just getting ready to build for a series mech and saw you're thread! Well, glad you are unscathed but probably a bit shaken i'd imagine.
Now I hate efest more than before-if that is possible!
You say in series but it looks to me to be a parallel box?
Older cells straight off the charger-again..might be something in that.
Strange how the negative end of the sled seems more burnt than the positive in your picture-suggests major arching.
I'm very curious as to what happened exactly. Please update if you figure it out.

 

[sofarsogood]

If something like this happened on the shop floor where I work they would probably ban vaping which would be a bummer. No mechanical mods for me.

 

[crxess]

Only this time I saw a spark and then orange and then smoke.

+/- touching same Metal point at same time

 

[DC2]

Yea I put them in the proper way. The wrappers were not torn and they didn't have many charge cycles on them. I bought them a year and a half ago but soon stopped using them as I moved in to regulated soon after and they say until a few weeks ago when I started using them.

But I didn't let them rest much before popping them in...

First, glad you are alright, even being advanced and as safe as you can, Murphy's Law still ends up sticking its nose into your business. Like others, sounds like a hard short, possibly at one of the positive contacts, could have been a worn contact blade, loose solder joint, almost anything. Probably cut and peeled the wrapper upon insertion, that section arced and dead shorted, 30 second fuse was lit. Could even have been in the 510 connector or switch itself, combination of them all. Battery sled is definitely toast, wiring, 510, and switch I wouldn't trust them, the box itself can be rebuilt if you have the know how and access to the necessary materials.

Battery safety -- "We learned it all in grade school"
--As quoted by a bunch of people on this forum

Seriously though, after reading those two posts I have to say...
Battery safety is not common sense, and we are not born with it...

Oh, wait, I've been saying that for years.
And some people actually disagree.