Mod getting hot while charging

[ac515]

Hi folks,



Been a smoker for 15 years and in order to quit recently got into vaping.



Purchased a mod with a couple of lg in2 hg2 batteries.



I popped the batteries into the mod and started charging it through the usb cable (which is connected to an Aukey usb charger).



After about an hour of charging I picked up the unit and noticed that it was hot. Not warm but noticeably hot.



I'm getting conflicting information because the rep where I purchased the unit from stated that the mod will get hot if the batteries are in the mod while it charges. She suggested to get a Nitecore or EFect charger or any other charger to charge the batteries.



However, the manufacturer is stating that the mod should not get hot even if it's charged with the batteries inside.



Sorry I'm a noob to this but I don't think the mod should be getting hot when it's being charged with the batteries inside?



Bad battery or bad mod?

Edit: mod is wismec predator

 

[Opinionated]

It's really best, no matter how good the manufacturer says their charging system is that is inside the mod, to charge on an external dedicated battery charger.

Charging replaceable batteries in the mod

 

[Hawise]

The batteries/mod definitely should not get hot while charging. A little warm is OK, but hot isn't. As @Opinionated says, it's always better to use an external charger (Nitecore and Xtar are good), but even so they shouldn't be getting hot.

Where did you get the batteries? LG HG2s should be good batteries, but are a lot of counterfeits around. Our resident battery expert, Mooch, has a list of recommended batteries. Some reliable suppliers are listed at the bottom of the chart:

Mooch's Recommended Batteries | E-Cigarette Forum

I can't say for sure whether the problem is the mod or the batteries, but in my experience batteries are a lot more likely to be counterfeit than mods are to fail (although it does happen sometimes).

 

[r77r7r]

Until you get a external charger, try a half amp (. 5) phone charger. If it gets hot then, I wouldn't be charging it like that.

 

[mongo74]

Out of curiousity, what are you charging it with? (what ac adapter)

Edit: removed (I went and checked and apparently it has a built in balanced charging circuit)

 

[SteveS45]

Just wanted to put this out there that just over 100°F feels hot to the human hand and that would not be a problem in my opinion. I have had my MOD's feel hot in my hands after chain vaping and the tank was "Hot" but after checking the temperature it was still well within safe operating temperature.

 

[ac515]

Out of curiousity, what are you charging it with? (what ac adapter)

Edit: removed (I went and checked and apparently it has a built in balanced charging circuit)

I was using a 5 port 40w/8a usb charger. Looks like it charges up to 2.4 amps per port.

 

[ac515]

Just wanted to put this out there that just over 100°F feels hot to the human hand and that would not be a problem in my opinion. I have had my MOD's feel hot in my hands after chain vaping and the tank was "Hot" but after checking the temperature it was still well within safe operating temperature.

Is there anyway to see whats the temp of the mod is while it's charging?

 

[SteveS45]

Is there anyway to see whats the temp of the mod is while it's charging?

Yes I use and Infrared Laser Temperature Sensor which gives you the surface temperature of whatever you point it at.

 

[mongo74]

I was using a 5 port 40w/8a usb charger. Looks like it charges up to 2.4 amps per port.

2.4a is pretty fast charging which is probably why it's getting toasty. I believe the circuit spilts this into 1.2a per battery whilst marginally increasing and decreasing the current to the appropriate battery. You should be fine, but it's still a better idea to get a standalone battery charger.

 

[r77r7r]

When I want a slow cool charge I use a remote usb hub. My old pc runs that @ half amp I believe.

 

[Tintreach]

Heat and Li-ion batteries = BAD. I'm surprised no one has asked this..... what mod are these batteries in? I'd advise you get a external charger and another set of batteries and only use the internal charging as a last resort. Do educate yourself on battery safety though.

Usually when I buy batteries I label them by date then a number and mark them with a letter if in a multi battery mod. Like 2A & 2B are a set, they get used together and the get charged together. They go in the charger 3A and 3B get used. Helps me keep my singles separate from my dual battery devices so the batteries stay balanced through out their life span. The date just helps me keep track of their age

 

[mongo74]

He stated that the mod is a Wismec Predator at the bottom of his post.

 

[ac515]

2.4a is pretty fast charging which is probably why it's getting toasty. I believe the circuit spilts this into 1.2a per battery whilst marginally increasing and decreasing the current to the appropriate battery. You should be fine, but it's still a better idea to get a standalone battery charger.

I just ordered an xtar vp2. Hope this helps.

 

[mongo74]

Absolutely. I have a VP4 as well as a VP2. Xtar makes excellent chargers.

 

[Imfallen_Angel]

I think most have provided good answers... I just purchased/ordered a couple of Predators (but yet to receive them) so I'll have to see for myself.

But that said, I'm surprised that they did it as a 2A charging rate, as 18650 are better charged at 1A or less, but I guess that they went this way to "appease" those that whine about slow rate of charging as they need their device charged NOW NOW NOW!

Personally I charge most of my mods via the mods' charging ports without issues at all, but I use my computer (0.5A) or my lamp that has a 1A output.

So I would recommend as others did, use your computer or a lower output charger (max of 1A) and see if there's a difference (I would believe so).

 

[Chakris]

Batteries will get warm while charging, but not hot.
I'd save charging through the mod for emergency only situations.

Looking at Wismec's website for this mod, even they recommend using a separate charger to charge the batteries.

 

[MarkyD]

In mods with built-in charge controllers, it is THIS that determines charge rate, not the rate of some external power source. Current is drawn, not pushed. Suggesting to use a lower current power source like 0.5A with a mod that charges internally at 1-2A isn't the best of ideas.

ETA: It's like saying "my coil wants to draw 20A but Im sourcing it with a 10A battery". You're accomplishing two things - current starving the internal charge controller, and exceeding the capabilities of the power source.

 

[Imfallen_Angel]

In mods with built-in charge controllers, it is THIS that determines charge rate, not the rate of some external power source. Current is drawn, not pushed. Suggesting to use a lower current power source like 0.5A with a mod that charges internally at 1-2A isn't the best of ideas.

ETA: It's like saying "my coil wants to draw 20A but Im sourcing it with a 10A battery". You're accomplishing two things - current starving the internal charge controller, and exceeding the capabilities of the power source.

We've been through this in another thread in details, and what you're saying is simply incorrect and simply word to mouth bad info that you must have heard from someone that didn't know what they were talking about.

The charging circuit of any device will simply take what it gets and be "just fine" with it, it is NOT going to be "sucking hard to get more/be starved/force the adapter".

If your lower power adapter gets hot simply because you are using it at it's rated power, it's because it's a piece of crap and you need to buy a new one.

The charging circuit's job is to charge and it will adapt/adjust to the power you give it, and simply block off the extra if you're using an adapter that is over it's set limit.

The situation here is that they went with a 2A setup, which I consider to not be the greatest for 18650. Usually larger tablets get 2/2.1A because they have quite large power packs that can handle this larger amount of incoming power, but the size and structure of a 18650 is quite different.

 

[Eskie]

Just a mention on these 2A charging circuits in mods (at least those properly built). That is split between the 2 cells, so 1A each. 3 batteries, 660 mA each. Charging an 18650 at 1A should be OK and not decrease battery life by all that much..