Local NW Floridian with severe injuries from exploding ecig battery

[rolygate]

I disagree with him saying Ego's don't explode.. There is video and photographic proof all over the forums.. I'd say Ego/Ego Clones have failed more than any other battery do to the shear numbers sold and used.

But did they explode or did they melt down? If you can point me to one where it exploded, I'd appreciate that - many thanks. I don't get to see everything, at least till people point me to the links.

I'm trying to point out what causes explosions here, not meltdowns. Meltdowns are an everyday thing and happen to every type everywhere. If it went bang and hurt someone's face, I'm interested.

Thanks.

 

[ambition]

Oh man. I think of this every single puff I take. How stressful.

I don't use mods and I'd like to think the poor fella was using a mod and not an ego or an 808 etc. because why else would he request the battery be returned to him?

 

[sandybeach]

I, for one, am glad this hit the national news. It got my attention. I really didn't understand the importance of using the AW IMR batteries. I still don't really know if my 14500 charger is good enough, though, will keep reading.

This has been good for me. I have read every word of every battery thread I could find here.

 

[Goldenkobold]

But did they explode or did they melt down? If you can point me to one where it exploded, I'd appreciate that - many thanks. I don't get to see everything, at least till people point me to the links.

I'm trying to point out what causes explosions here, not meltdowns. Meltdowns are an everyday thing and happen to every type everywhere. If it went bang and hurt someone's face, I'm interested.

Thanks.

I will probably always, respectfully, disagree with Roly on this. I really don't know if I would rather have a device blow up in my face or potentially start a fire and kill a family member. Its not a choice a sane person could be asked to make and I don't see one as better than the other. This headline would certainly not be any better if it read "Ecig burns down house kills 3 and family dog".

 

[Semiretired]

I do not think he meant it like that. Let me rephrase - I know he did not mean it like that...

 

[rolygate]

@Goldenkobold
Fair enough - point taken.

But if we are talking about e-cigs melting down, then they all do, so there's no point in discussing it. I wouldn't have a clue how to stop that happening, it probably isn't possible.

I'm interested in reducing the likelihood of pipe bombs being made and used. That is more of an achievable goal. Impossible to completely eradicate because there will always be people who can use a drill press but know zero about engineering; because people will always take risks to save money; because you can't stop all possible combinations of faults.

But you can have a good try and that's what we will do.

 

[Batsu]

I, for one, am glad this hit the national news. It got my attention. I really didn't understand the importance of using the AW IMR batteries. I still don't really know if my 14500 charger is good enough, though, will keep reading.

This has been good for me. I have read every word of every battery thread I could find here.

it has to do with how much stress atomizers put on batteries and how much current the IMR high drains put out. less stress on the battery = less risk of failure.

 

[cbrociuos]

all this is going to drive me to smoke...well not really.

i agree these chargers are prob. to blame. i race rc cars and have a lot of good hobby grade chargers. we run lipos (in the cars), these batteries are not "safe" what so ever. when paired with a proper charger the issues are slim. it is important to know what to look for. such as excessive heat, or venting. put it down and move away. id like to find some battery charging cases/boxes that i could use a hobby charger on. i guess i could use a rubber band and aligator clips to charge my mod batteries.

also sites that sell these batteries almost never list "c" ratings. this should be listed on all batteries!

 

[MrJonesJr]

A couple of weeks ago I took my AW IMR 18650 off the charger, put it in my device with a 1.7 carto and it wouldn't fire. A bunch of smoke started coming out of the bottom 2 vent holes. I took the battery out and it was hot and smelled. The spring was also collapsed in the device. Scary stuff.

How close was I to something really bad happening?

 

[SonnyCrack]

How close was I to something really bad happening?

VERY close.. Thank God you're ok.

 

[DynamiteShikoku]

OH PLEASE, exploding cylinders? are you people really that stupid? the front caps and the screw cap would fly out before the actual cylinder would explode. I gaurantee at around 30-40 psi the caps would fly out before anything would ever happen to the cylinder housing. As for venting, the silicon seal where the power meets would blow out first even before teh caps, hell the ego button has enough spacing for venting anyways. again, people are taking things to a hole new level of stupidity. Even on the thin e-cigs you notice the light cap has 2 hole ont he side? that's not just for you to pick open, it's there to vent in the event something goes wrong with the battery.

 

[cbrociuos]

we just have to be aware. any heat, venting ect. put the thing down and move away. wait a minute to check on it. hell im even thinking about slotting the case on all my tube mods, even though im a 3.7v guy.

i really do think its the chargers. if you over charge these batteries they get ....... there is a small window of voltage saftey with these batteries. too low and you damage or kill them. too much and bad things will happen. look on you tube for lipo fires. guys hook old batteries to a charger on nickle metal and over charge them. they swell, vent, and burst into flames. given these cells are much safer but simular rules still apply.

 

[cbrociuos]

OH PLEASE, exploding cylinders? are you people really that stupid? the front caps and the screw cap would fly out before the actual cylinder would explode. I gaurantee at around 30-40 psi the caps would fly out before anything would ever happen to the cylinder housing. As for venting, the silicon seal where the power meets would blow out first even before teh caps, hell the ego button has enough spacing for venting anyways. again, people are taking things to a hole new level of stupidity. Even on the thin e-cigs you notice the light cap has 2 hole ont he side? that's not just for you to pick open, it's there to vent in the event something goes wrong with the battery.

they are talking about tube mods, real tube mods. stainless steel, pipe threads, mechanical switch, get it now?

i have an idea...hows about not jumping on a thread and start calling people stupid!

 

[CrystalClaire]

OH PLEASE, exploding cylinders? are you people really that stupid? the front caps and the screw cap would fly out before the actual cylinder would explode. I gaurantee at around 30-40 psi the caps would fly out before anything would ever happen to the cylinder housing. As for venting, the silicon seal where the power meets would blow out first even before teh caps, hell the ego button has enough spacing for venting anyways. again, people are taking things to a hole new level of stupidity. Even on the thin e-cigs you notice the light cap has 2 hole ont he side? that's not just for you to pick open, it's there to vent in the event something goes wrong with the battery.

Are you really that rude?

 

[dirquist]

@Goldenkobold
Fair enough - point taken.

But if we are talking about e-cigs melting down, then they all do, so there's no point in discussing it. I wouldn't have a clue how to stop that happening, it probably isn't possible.

I'm interested in reducing the likelihood of pipe bombs being made and used. That is more of an achievable goal. Impossible to completely eradicate because there will always be people who can use a drill press but know zero about engineering; because people will always take risks to save money; because you can't stop all possible combinations of faults.

But you can have a good try and that's what we will do.

Please note, I ask you this with no dis-respect. I read your post about batteries and tube mods and it seems like an "official stance" with all sorts of specific information. What is your experience in this field. Are you indeed an engineer? Perhaps you should put a note at the end of that post so we know a little more about the person giving us this information, similar to what you would see in a book. When I read something like this I intrinsically ask the question of "who is this and how do they know, can I trust this source". I would feel much better about your post if I knew your qualifications is this field.

PS, Im not talking about things that have been reported to ecf and in the news, Im talking about all the engineering info and battery info. Is it gained from reading on the internet or in text books or with personal experience gained over years?

Please understand, Im not trying to dis respect anything you have said. I tend to believe you word for word, but like I said I still have that little voice in my head that wonders how you know all this.

Ethan

 

[MrJonesJr]

VERY close.. Thank God you're ok.

I'm still freaked out about it...has this happened to anyone else?

 

[gumchewer]

Are you really that rude?

Yeah, really?

whenever I charge my battery I'm there.
I have one charging now and if it isn't done when I go to bed, well tomorrow's another day.
every once in a while when i think of it I pick it up, check for heat, see if it's done.
If i should feel it hot, it will go in to the trash.

I pay the mortgage here, so I keep an eye on things.

 

[dirquist]

I'm still freaked out about it...has this happened to anyone else?

It hasnt happened to me but I have a tube mod right next to me right now called the Bombshell and in it are two rcr123a batteries and based on your posts and the info Ive been reading I think it is going to be retired permanently and the batteries thrown out. I would not even sell either the batteries or the device to someone else in fear it could hurt someone. I suppose it is fine since it has a vent hole in the bottom hopefully giving enough warning time to release the rocket but thats not good enough for me anymore Im afraid. I think I'm going to stick with mods that have magnets holding on the cover. Either way Im praying for anyone that has been hurt by these.

 

[gumchewer]

I cant help but wonder though;
did he abuse the battery?
did he swizzle a drink with it?
did he drop it in the toilet?
until I know, I just don't know.
One in what five hundred million? well i guess that's not bad?

 

[Semiretired]

Anyone seen any updates? I have googled a little. Seen variations, but no updates...