My Chuck Blew Up---LITERALLY

[PVPuff&Stuff]

I'm glad to hear you are OK!!!!
750+ CHUCKS out and this is the first inident I have heard of.
While it sucks, it definately reinforces the importance of protected batteries.

Now, here is what I am proposing to you...
I want to examine your CHUCK! I have tried to induce a battery venting at least a dozen times for testing and they would never cooperate.

If you send it to me, I will build you a replacement... NO CHARGE.

Once again, glad you are alright!

That kind of response is what will keep me buying Chucks.

With all the exploding mod threads that have turned up, that thought crossed my mind today. If not for the Chuck's solid build...it would have been shredded like the other ones we've seen here.

All that being said....these mods are bombs. No matter how strong the material is, a sealed container cannot contain rapidly expanding gasses. That's the entire concept behind high explosives...fireworks, pipebombs...

Vent that rear cap with a nice big hole...it won't impact the function of the Chuck will it? Of course, with one hole to vent all the rapidly expanding gasses...it may turn into a battery powered rocket...but it's better than an atomizer through the teeth at 40mph.

 

[Poeia]

Understood. However, I used the same naming scheme Jeff uses on his site, meaning the "R" at the beginning is implied. Most do not put "R18350" when describing those batteries, or when referring just to the size. Also, it was my impression that all Lithium Ion batteries were rechargeable.

As I wander around battery sites and battery information sites, one of the few things I've figured out for sure is that they're not. Most of the primary/non-rechargeable lithium batteries seem to be a different combo (lithium manganese, lifepo4, etc.) but I've seen some that are li-ion.

That said, the initial "R" for rechargeable is definitely not always there. The only size that ever seems to have it is the CR123A and even they only have it sometimes.

For example, here's the page for Li-ion Rechargeables at Battery Junction where the only initial R is for the "16340 / RCR123A." And, if we click through to that battery we find that it's the "Ultrafire 3.6V 880mah Protected Li-Ion Rechargeable Battery RCR123A CR123A 16340 CR16340 (as low as) $3.25!" Out of 4 names for the same battery, only one starts with an "R."

IMO, the only real mistake TheBigD made was that he didn't notice that the website he bought from had sent him batteries that were not protected.


And I find the two or three "serves you right," "it was your fault" and "I hope you learned your lesson" posts quite disturbing. My gut tells me its some sort of superstitious "If I blame the victim it will never happen to me because I'm much smarter than that" thing done instead of knocking on wood, crossing fingers and throwing salt over the shoulder. I find that attitude unseemly and distasteful.

 

[Debbie]

Also, it was my impression that all Lithium Ion batteries were rechargeable.

And it's been my impression that all Li-ion batteries are protected. True/False???

I think a lot of the problem is that there are so many batteries out there that many of us wonder if the batteries that we have are truly protected, especially after hearing of accidents like this.

As I asked before, I don't know if my ICR123a's are protected or not. It does not 'state' that they are protected on the batteries themselves. Does that mean they are not?? Again, I bought them on the website from which I bought the mod.

As D stated, many of us aren't electrical engineers with a full knowledge of battery workings.

I try to purchase the batteries that are for sale on the website through which I purchase my mod. But I've come to question even THAT way of purchasing batteries.

If there could be a sticky for all types of batteries that might be used to vape (3.7v, 6v, etc.) with a certain recommended 'absolutely guaranteed protected' battery with a graphic of exactly what the battery looks like and a few sites from which to buy said battery, that might be very helpful to a lot of us.

Until then, I'm still left with doubts about the batteries I use, as are many others.

In the meantime, I'm sure if my mod blows up tomorrow, I'll get the lecture about the stupidity of my using 'unprotected' batteries.

And I'll answer this way: If I'd known they were unprotected, I WOULDN'T HAVE USED THE DAMN THINGS IN THE FIRST PLACE!!!

Debbie

 

[raqball]

That is great Jeff!

I might just have to order me a little chuck with that kind of customer service and commitment....

Now..... What design.... I'd love a LA Angels one.....



Kris

 

[Poeia]

Debbie, before I settled on the awesomeness that is Chuck, one of the mods I was really interested in was the Sparkplug. The batteries they sell with it are unprotected. I wrote to the company asking if there were any protected batteries that fit. The answer was that the protected ones are usually 1-2mm longer and wouldn't fit.

I wouldn't waste the money on protected batteries but that's me. If you look at all the people who had problems it was always with a unit that was plastic or thin metal that shorted, got hot and the battery gases had enough room to expand when it shorted hence it exploded. You really have to go to a lot of trouble to get that to happen.

He linked me to some that I could use. They were unprotected. I stopped looking at that mod.

ETA: Yeah, Chucks and GGs are known for being made out of flimsy metal and plastic.

 

[~Jo~]

And I find the two or three "serves you right," "it was your fault" and "I hope you learned your lesson" posts quite disturbing. My gut tells me its some sort of superstitious "If I blame the victim it will never happen to me because I'm much smarter than that" thing done instead of knocking on wood, crossing fingers and throwing salt over the shoulder. I find that attitude unseemly and distasteful.

That about sums up my feelings, too. There's been a number of times in my life when I've thanked God that a mistake I made wasn't as costly as it could have been. We are none of us perfect.

 

[redrhino]

I'm glad to hear you are OK!!!!
750+ CHUCKS out and this is the first inident I have heard of.
While it sucks, it definately reinforces the importance of protected batteries.

Now, here is what I am proposing to you...
I want to examine your CHUCK! I have tried to induce a battery venting at least a dozen times for testing and they would never cooperate.

If you send it to me, I will build you a replacement... NO CHARGE.

Once again, glad you are alright!

Very nice gesture Jeff

 

[Quick1]

IMO, the only real mistake TheBigD made was that he didn't notice that the website he bought from had sent him batteries that were not protected.

How do you know they weren't protected?

I think the general assumption is that protected batteries can't explode? How about venting? How about venting very quickly and is that any different than exploding? "Explode" is a pretty loose term. How about venting "gradually" in an enclosed pipe? "slow" venting still might mean within a fraction of a second.

I think a lot of the problem is that there are so many batteries out there that many of us wonder if the batteries that we have are truly protected, especially after hearing of accidents like this.

See above. Does "protected" mean they won't/can't vent?

If there could be a sticky for all types of batteries that might be used to vape (3.7v, 6v, etc.) with a certain recommended 'absolutely guaranteed protected' battery with a graphic of exactly what the battery looks like and a few sites from which to buy said battery, that might be very helpful to a lot of us.

There may not be such a thing? Then you still need to be aware of knock offs. Your solution might be to find a vendor you trust to make those decisions for you.

And I'll answer this way: If I'd known they were unprotected, I WOULDN'T HAVE USED THE DAMN THINGS IN THE FIRST PLACE!!!

You're assuming that "protected" is the same "protected" you think it is...

 

[Debbie]

I haven't heard of anyone claiming, thus far, that the batteries that caused their mod to explode were 'protected' batteries. Either they have admitted they 'knew' they were unprotected when they used them or, like D, they assumed they were protected and they were not.

If I'm wrong on this, please show me where someone has had a problem with a definitely 'protected' battery.

I'm not saying it's not possible to have a problem with a protected battery. It just seems that it's only happening lately with 'unprotected' batteries.

Thus, I can logically assume that the odds are not in my favor if I vape with unprotected batteries, rather than protected. I like having better odds.

I would like to be SURE that I am vaping with PROTECTED batteries. And that seems to be a question many of us have and can't confidently get answered.

Debbie

 

[Debbie]

Now that I think about it, it might be a great enterprise for someone who REALLY knows something about batteries to open a website that just sells protected batteries for ecig mods. They would likely do a very good business, assuming we felt we could trust their choices.

Debbie

 

[mpetva]

Here is a 14500 that IS protected!!. I have been using protected 14500's for over a year:

Sun

Where can one buy this protected 14500? Will it fit a Protege?

 

[Drozd]

what I don't understand is when someone spends that much money on a mod...and then cheaps out on batteries...sorry, I don't intend to offend...but bottom line is that if I buy a mod I see it as an investment of sorts and as such, I'll spend more for the best most trusted batteries I can find...I just dont see how someone can spend $80 on a mod and then turn around and lok for the cheapest battereis they can find expecially when safety is involved...

As such all I'll buy is AW batteries when I can find them....bare minimum are actual labeled ultrafire protected...

 

[DaMulta]

AW 14500 Protected Rechargeable Lithium Battery

Here is a protected AW 14500

 

[ChuckDragon]

Wow.... Now that is customer service!!!!



Kris

That is one of the reasons we own a Chuck. BigD, I'm glad you were not seriously hurt! Thank you for all your input and unfortunately your trial and error. I can say some of us learned a bit. I just ordered my "protected" batteries from MadVapes. Take Care

 

[raqball]

Add me as another who only uses AW batteries... They are top notch and lighthound ships fast and are located in Texas...

Kris

 

[Sun Vaporer]

Where can one buy this protected 14500? Will it fit a Protege?

MPetve--right here. See Protected UltraFire 14500 AA sized 3.6V Li-Ion Rechargeable Battery 900 mAh CR14500 Lithium Ion

 

[Drozd]

OH and the protection on the PCB and the way they do the venting on the AW button top batteries is different and I think superior...if it overheats to the point that it's going to vent the button top itself breaks/unfuses itself internally..so it prevents you from trying to draw any more current from them..

 

[Quick1]

OH and the protection on the PCB and the way they do the venting on the AW button top batteries is different and I think superior...if it overheats to the point that it's going to vent the button top itself breaks/unfuses itself internally..so it prevents you from trying to draw any more current from them..

Yes. They imply that's different than "normal" pcb operation implying that you can heat a pcb protected battery to the point of venting?

 

[Drozd]

Yes. They imply that's different than "normal" pcb operation implying that you can heat a pcb protected battery to the point of venting?

Not really sure exactly what they were implying...I just found pictures somewhere on the AW and how their protection works...and compared it to how other PCBs work..
And well I just personally feel more comfortable trusting a link that will melt away rather than just some tiny little circut board that I have no idea what's going on on it..

I don't intend to imply that I understand all the delicate intricacies of all batteries...just something about the AWs that make me feel safer and more trusting of them...and looking at the high end flashlight enthusiasts they seem to be the most trusted and loved..so that speaks volumes to me as well

 

[JamBandPhan]

AW 14500 Protected Rechargeable Lithium Battery

Here is a protected AW 14500

is this the equivalent of the 10440?