Quick battery question.

[Crooklyn111]

Hey guys my name is Mike. About 2 months ago i dropped cigarettes and picked up a KBox mini 50w. Yesterday a friend gave me a battery that i'd like to use as an extra. It is an 18650 2500mAh 3.7v. My question is, would there be any issues using this battery? ie: charging usage etc. When i charge, i use the mini USB that came with the device plugged into my PC at home. The place i bought it from told me this is the best way to charge. I've heard a few horror stories and i'd like to avoid being one of them.

Thanks in advance.

 

[r77r7r]

NAme of the battery?

 

[IMFire3605]

I like many others stress not to use onboard mod charging ports as much as possible, though they work, some have had issues, and those issues can become safety issues if not treated properly. Short term, tight for cash, you can hold off on getting a dedicated external charger a pay check or two, but the investment in a proper charger is an investment well worth an even more expensive trip to the hospital or a house fire. The description of your battery is a little vague, is it a Samsung 25R revision 2 or 3 (light baby blue wrapper) or 25R revision 5 (light green wrapper), LG HE2 (wine red wrapper) or LG HE4 (yellow wrapper)? Even a phone photo pic will help narrow things down next time.

In the meantime if you do not mind doing the research yourself, the link in my signature links to a blog post I've done on batteries, take a gander and peruse over it a bit as well as some of the links within it, details a little bit of how to identify many of the authentic name brand batteries out there, links to authentic retailers, as well as what to look for in a charger.

 

[Two_Bears]

Hey guys my name is Mike. About 2 months ago i dropped cigarettes and picked up a KBox mini 50w. Yesterday a friend gave me a battery that i'd like to use as an extra. It is an 18650 2500mAh 3.7v. My question is, would there be any issues using this battery? ie: charging usage etc. When i charge, i use the mini USB that came with the device plugged into my PC at home. The place i bought it from told me this is the best way to charge. I've heard a few horror stories and i'd like to avoid being one of them.

Thanks in advance.

I would never use my mod to charge the battery.

Sometimes things happens when charging the batteries. Suchb as getting too hot or venting that could damage your mod.

If you kill your mod you will find yourself back on Stinkies till you replace the mod.

You can get a good charger for $20 or less.

 

[suprtrkr]

The key thing to think about is the amp rating of the battery. Your mod needs high-discharge, 20A battteries; and that's CDR (continuous duty rating), not the pulse rate. Nor are the figures printed on the label necessarily trustworthy. Let me suggest you consult @Mooch's blog here for a list of batteries and their bench tested discharge ratings. Alternatively, tell us the printing on the label, or post a photo, and we can help make the determination. I am also one of the people who does not trust onboard charging. I recommend a stand alone charger. Nitecore and Xtar are good brand names.

 

[Baditude]

Yesterday a friend gave me a battery that i'd like to use as an extra. It is an 18650 2500mAh 3.7v. My question is, would there be any issues using this battery?

Honestly, we need more info than that to answer the question completely.

As said before, not all 18650 batteries are created equal. Some are ICR chemistry and some are IMR/INR chemistry. You want to use the IMR/INR chemistry batteries for vaping purposes. ICR (Li-Ion) batteries should not be used in vaporizors.

If you can not identify a battery by brand and model number, then you shouldn't use it. The 18650 battery industry is not the most reputable business, and some manufacturers actually advertise over-rated specifications to get your sales. The most reputable brands are AW, Lg, Samsung, and Sony.

I'm also not a fan of on-board chargers in mods.

Battery Basics for Mods

Deeper Understanding of Mod Batteries

18650 Battery Safety Grades -- Picking a Safe Cell to Vape With

 

[pappcam]

I would never use my mod to charge the battery.

Sometimes things happens when charging the batteries. Suchb as getting too hot or venting that could damage your mod.

If you kill your mod you will find yourself back on Stinkies till you replace the mod.

You can get a good charger for $20 or less.

I still don't understand this line of thinking. There are many internal battery mods out there and you have no choice but to use the on-board charger. I assume these devices use the same battery technology except the battery is connected or soldered permanently inside the mod. I could maybe see a multi-battery mod using an external charger but why do people keep saying that you need an external charger for all mods including a new single battery mod like the Kbox or VTC Mini. If you have a good brand name battery that's well taken care of what is so wrong about using the mod for charging the battery? Is it because some dodgy old mod had issues with the on-board charger?

 

[Sir2fyablyNutz]

Where to buy quality name brand 18650 batteries in USA
Illumn.com - Flashlights, Batteries, Carry Gear, Intelligent LED Lighting, and More! (California)
Authentic AW Batteries - RTD Vapor
Liion Wholesale Batteries | Li-ion battery distributor (Pennsylvania)
18650 Batteries | Rechargeable Li-ion | Battery Chargers
Earth's #1 source for IMR 18650 Batteries, Chargers, Cases & Wraps | IMRbatteries.com

You can get an independent battery charger (like a Nitecore i2)for under $15

 

[Baditude]

..why do people keep saying that you need an external charger for all mods including a new single battery mod like the Kbox or VTC Mini. If you have a good brand name battery that's well taken care of what is so wrong about using the mod for charging the battery? Is it because some dodgy old mod had issues with the on-board charger?

The issue is the battery chemistry of internal battery mods. They use LiPo chemistry, which is not a safe chemistry and can flame or explode, as opposed to external batteries (IMR/INR) which are safe chemistry and merely vent gas when they go into thermal runaway.

The reason that mods with internal batteries get away with using LiPo batteries is the electronic processor has protection circuitry for the board. However, that protection circuitry has no effect whatsoever concerning the on-board charger mechanism. Should the on-board charger have a defect, fires are usually the result because the LiPo batteries are flamable.

 

[Completely Average]

The issue is the battery chemistry of internal battery mods. They use LiPo chemistry, which is not a safe chemistry and can flame or explode, as opposed to external batteries which are safe chemistry and merely vent gas when they go into thermal runaway.

The reason that mods with internal batteries get away with using LiPo batteries is the electronic processor has protection circuitry for the board. However, that protection circuitry has no effect whatsoever on the on-board charger. Should the on-board charging have a defect, fires are usually the result because the LiPo batteries are flamable.

But how is that any different from a phone? Do you have an external charger for your phone battery?

 

[djsvapour]

I still don't understand this line of thinking.

It's a good discussion. I try to avoid on-board usb charging as much as possible.
The main reason, for me, is that there have been many incidents of problems charging, but relatively few using a quality charger. (Talking about independent battery mods, here)
These days, it's fair to presume the risks are less and less, I guess.
Having said that, I'd rather face a problem with my battery in a charger than in an expensive mod if I was going to suffer such a thing.

 

[djsvapour]

But how is that any different from a phone? Do you have an external charger for your phone battery?

Another good point.
Millions of smart phones have been recalled for charging issues (Li-ion, via usb), the companies behind them are keen not to upset their customers so take these things very seriously. Protecting customers is not quite as high up the priority ladder for Cloupor and Eleaf, I guess. QC in e-cig mods isn't quite up to Apple or Samsung might be another way of looking at it.

 

[Baditude]

But how is that any different from a phone? Do you have an external charger for your phone battery?

No, because because they are not offered to the best of my knowledge. I'm sure you know, cell phone batteries catch fire, too.

 

[pappcam]

The issue is the battery chemistry of internal battery mods. They use LiPo chemistry, which is not a safe chemistry and can flame or explode, as opposed to external batteries which are safe chemistry and merely vent gas when they go into thermal runaway.

The reason that mods with internal batteries get away with using LiPo batteries is the electronic processor has protection circuitry for the board. However, that protection circuitry has no effect whatsoever on the on-board charger. Should the on-board charging have a defect, fires are usually the result because the LiPo batteries are flamable.

I'm still unsure of what you're saying. Should all internal battery mods be banned? What about external battery mods that have a USB port and are not firmware upgradeable? That USB port has no other purpose other than to charge the battery. Should those be banned as well?

I only ask this because I keep on hearing you "need" an external battery charger for mods that need external batteries. I have 3 different iSticks and I have never once thought about any danger when I charge them. I'm not going to base my decisions on some picture on the internet of some burnt mod when no deatilas or firm reason is given for these mods melting or burning.

 

[Baditude]

I'm still unsure of what you're saying. Should all internal battery mods be banned? What about external battery mods that have a USB port and are not firmware upgradeable? That USB port has no other purpose other than to charge the battery. Should those be banned as well?

Let's just say that external batteries and box chargers are generally recognized as having less safety hazzard risks than internal batteries and onboard charging mechanisms, and leave it at that. This recognition comes from the number of reported cases on this forum and the difference in battery chemistry. The battery chemistry differences are the gamechanger in my way of thinking...safe chemistry (gas venting) vs not safe chemistry (flames and explosion).

Lipo battery flaming
Lipo battery flaming

IMR battery venting gas

 

[suprtrkr]

I still don't understand this line of thinking. There are many internal battery mods out there and you have no choice but to use the on-board charger. I assume these devices use the same battery technology except the battery is connected or soldered permanently inside the mod. I could maybe see a multi-battery mod using an external charger but why do people keep saying that you need an external charger for all mods including a new single battery mod like the Kbox or VTC Mini. If you have a good brand name battery that's well taken care of what is so wrong about using the mod for charging the battery? Is it because some dodgy old mod had issues with the on-board charger?

I simply don't trust them. I'd charge my cell battery on an external charger if could.

 

[pappcam]

I simply don't trust them. I'd charge my cell battery on an external charger if could.

So just a "hunch" and nothing else. Interesting.

I'm sure I could find a case where an external charger has caused a meltdown or fire and then what? Are LiPo batteries basically a ticking time bomb?

Again, how many cases of iSticks blowing up from being charged? How many of these issues with on board charging of external batteries is because of user error (incorrect or damaged battery)?

 

[Foggy Road]

When i charge, i use the mini USB that came with the device plugged into my PC at home.

Internal or external charging aside. I'll be darned if I would ever plug the electronics of a $20-40 Mod into a $500-2500 computer to charge it! At least get a freaking wall wart!

 

[r77r7r]

Again, how many cases of iSticks blowing up from being charged? How many of these issues with on board charging of external batteries is because of user error (incorrect or damaged battery)?

I only remember the Cloupor having a charging problem. Maybe the Provape Radius also.

 

[Two_Bears]

I still don't understand this line of thinking. There are many internal battery mods out there and you have no choice but to use the on-board charger. I assume these devices use the same battery technology except the battery is connected or soldered permanently inside the mod. I could maybe see a multi-battery mod using an external charger but why do people keep saying that you need an external charger for all mods including a new single battery mod like the Kbox or VTC Mini. If you have a good brand name battery that's well taken care of what is so wrong about using the mod for charging the battery? Is it because some dodgy old mod had issues with the on-board charger?

The sealed internal batteries you don't have a choice but to charge them in the mod.

The mods with 18650 batteries you do have the choice and I would rather fry a battery charger that cost $20 or less than ruin my mod forcing me back on the Stinkies until I replace my mod.