My Charger just exploded.

[nightshift]

So I finally got a mod. Settled on the SVD and LOVE it. Here's the problem: Got home from work today and opened up the new charger (Which I purchased with the SVD), plugged it in, and put the 18650 in. Yellow light flashed, and then, BANG!! smoke, melted circits, etc. I put it back into the box. I am lucky enough that my local shop is awesome, and I know I won't have a problem tomorrow. For the record, I'm a seasoned Journeyman Electrician and the battery and charger were compatible. I believe the charger to be at fault here, but have no proof at this time. I'll keep you posted. Until then, here's something I do as an electrician who doubts anything from China as far as quality control; Charge your batteries on the stovetop in the kitchen. If they catch fire while you're out of the room or sleeping (God forbid), they will be further from combustible material. This saved my countertop from nasty burns tonight. Cheers, vape on, and be safe.

 

[calico21]

Well this charger was just brought up in another thread, in which it was touted to not use it throw it out the window! Glad u r safe!

 

[State Of Zen]

I have the same product coming for use with my Panasonic IMR 18650 batteries I purchased for my SVD. Thanks for posting, I'll make sure I keep an extra close eye on it and not charge while I'm sleeping.

 

[State O' Flux]

I knew there was a reason I didn't buy an Intelli-sploder.

Seriously, I doubt there's a brand made that hasn't had at least one "issue"... in this case, the accident occurred to a ECF member's shiny new charger... and the whole lurid story gets to go public. ;-)

 

[nightshift]

I knew there was a reason I didn't buy an Intelli-sploder.

Seriously, I doubt there's a brand made that hasn't had at least one "issue"... in this case, the accident occurred to a ECF member's shiny new charger... and the whole lurid story gets to go public. ;-)

Yeah, I almost didn't post this for just that reason, but the message about charging on the stove top is very important to me. The last thing this community needs is one isolated incident creating a big to-do about the safety of e-cigs. Just be smart about Chinese quality and Li-ion batteries in general, I guess. That's what I'm sayin'.

 

[articus]

I knew there was a reason I didn't buy an Intelli-sploder.

Seriously, I doubt there's a brand made that hasn't had at least one "issue"... in this case, the accident occurred to a ECF member's shiny new charger... and the whole lurid story gets to go public. ;-)

I got 4 battery version for over two weeks, works great.
These light's on it driving me crazy at night and I am covering them with my wallet...
Now you scared me, how I am going to sleep tonight!
Shame on you..Lol

 

[D. Waterhouse]

I'd recommend an Xtar or Pila, also some AW or Panasonic batteries. All trusted names in the ecig world, RTDs got a good reputation too.

 

[nightshift]

i got 4 battery version for over two weeks, works great.
These light's on it driving me crazy at night and i am covering them with my wallet...
Now you scared me, how i am going to sleep tonight!
Shame on you..lol

stove top.

 

[State O' Flux]

Now you scared me, how I am going to sleep tonight!
Shame on you..Lol

I scared you? It's not my Intelli-sploder here... I'm just the "humor/keep calm & carry on" guy. ;-)

 

[articus]

I scared you? It's not my Intelli-sploder here... I'm just the "humor/keep calm & carry on" guy. ;-)

Yeah, wrong quote...
Watching my charger for the past 10 min.... I need more whisky!

 

[dhomes]

I would rather sleep on top of that intellicharger naked than using a TrustFire battery

 

[articus]

I am using only Panasonic batteries... and two Samsung from EVIC kit's.
Yea, that's not a charger, that's battery fault!

 

[Fusselkater]

An old trick is to build a little charging place. Take a plastic bag, fill it with sand. Put the filled bag on something like an old oven grate. Place that somehow above the charger/batteries. (Use some bricks or similar to prop up the grate and maybe also as abase under the charger/batteries).

Or built something similar and hide it in a nicer looking (fireproof) container.

If there is a fire the bag will melt and the sand will pour on the fire and extinguish it.

 

[articus]

An old trick is to build a little charging place. Take a plastic bag, fill it with sand. Put the filled bag on something like an old oven grate. Place that somehow above the charger/batteries. (Use some bricks or similar to prop up the grate and maybe also as abase under the charger/batteries).

Or built something similar and hide it in a nicer looking (fireproof) container.

If there is a fire the bag will melt and the sand will pour on the fire and extinguish it.

Not for me
I got a cat... He's smart but what if...

 

[BigBen2k]

An old trick is to build a little charging place. Take a plastic bag, fill it with sand. Put the filled bag on something like an old oven grate. Place that somehow above the charger/batteries. (Use some bricks or similar to prop up the grate and maybe also as abase under the charger/batteries).

Or built something similar and hide it in a nicer looking (fireproof) container.

If there is a fire the bag will melt and the sand will pour on the fire and extinguish it.

Sure, you could build a bunker, or use a charging bag:
Li-Po GUARD 25x33cm Safety Battery Charging/Storing Bag
(on the stove top, of course!)

 

[Jazzi Mike]

A similar thing happened with my Nitecore i4. I ordered it online, so I had to wait a while to get a new charger :-/

I almost just wanted to get a refund and buy a different brand. I was just happy the vendor I ordered it from replaced it.

 

[WarHawk-AVG]

New battery?

New charger?

Did you check polarity?

Not trying to bust your chops, is it the charger or the battery that went kablooey?

Well...not good...I recommend NiteCore based upon others testimony...might have to rethink that

Fooey

 

[Train2]

I've heard "pretty good" things about Nitecore chargers.
Mine is sitting right ON TOP of the LIPO bag I bought (too lazy to put it IN the bag).
And it sure LOOKS like it was the BATTERY that exploded...
How well do you know the folks at the store?
Maybe they're getting a bargain, buying batteries someplace like Alibaba? And I've heard Alibaba gets a bargain on batteries by buying THE FACTORY REJECTS and wrapping a new label on them...

 

[Racehorse]

I knew there was a reason I didn't buy an Intelli-sploder.

I see a trustfire battery there.

OP says they are electrician, may we please see photos of the charger that blew up?

All I see is a {cheap} battery. (I'm gonna assume a journeyman electrician does know the diff between a blown up battery and a blown up charger, so at any rate, since he said charger, I would like to see the charger itself .... did it burn up? )

Been using intellicore charger with AW batts for quite a while, no problems AT ALL. Of course, I only buy the best batteries, and never over-discharge them or overcharge them either.

I did have an ego style wall wart that blew up my wall socket.

 

[Baditude]

I'd recommend an Xtar or Pila, also some AW or Panasonic batteries. All trusted names in the ecig world, RTDs got a good reputation too.

The Nitecore Intellichargers have a good reputation, too. I've bought an i2 for my daughter and an i4 for myself - no problems from either.

I had a brand new Xtar MP charger from RTD. Immediately upon first use, I noticed that the lights were blinking strange. Out of curiousity I reversed the batteries, intentionally putting them in backwards. The battery lights lit as they were supposed. Whoever wired this charger reversed them. I contacted RTD and they sent me a new charger and gave me a coupon code for my next order, no questions asked. Great service.


From the admittedly lacking quality of the OP's pic, it looks like the charger itself is undamaged from what I can tell. It appears it is the Trustfire battery which vented in thermal runaway.

What I'm wondering is why a "seasoned" journeyman electrician is using a second tier battery like a Trustfire?