Scary, but we all should read

[MrJonesJr]

I just had a problem with my pv, AW IMR 18650, 1.7 carto and found this thread. Now I am completely freaked out. I have been vaping for close to 3 years and never had a problem.

Tonight, with the setup described above, the cartomizer wouldn't fire and gas started escaping from the pv's 2 vent holes on the bottom. The battery (1 week old) was hot and smelled. I tried another battery and the bottom of the pv literally started vibrating. Very scary.

Does anyone know what could have caused this? I am sitting here ready to throw out every mod I have not named Buzz Pro or Infinity.

Any advice on this is much appreciated.

 

[six]

Does anyone know what could have caused this?

You have a short. It's probably the carto, but without information like what mod you are dealing with, if it has encountered any moisture, if its spring seems to be where it belongs, if its switch seems the way it's supposed to, etc, it's tough to troubleshoot. 18650 and 2 holes in the bottom... rough stack or a bolt? You might take your question to madvapes forum section if my guess is right.

 

[MrJonesJr]

Thanks Six...I was using an Omega. It looks like the spring has collapsed. Should I be worried about the batteries and throw them out?

 

[six]

Thanks Six...I was using an Omega. It looks like the spring has collapsed. Should I be worried about the batteries and throw them out?

Yes. The one that vented hot gas is most certainly done for. The vibration you experienced with the other was probably venting too. Maybe take your multimeter to that one and see if it's still a working battery.

 

[CraigHB]

That is scary stuff.

Even protected batteries can fail. It's a lot less likely, but the protection only covers external things. Li-Ions can also fail internally. I think the number one safety point is proper venting. If there's any doubt, add it. Even a lot of production e-cigs do not have proper venting.

If a metal tube mod is not vented, it can easily turn into a pipe bomb. Sounds like what happened with this latest incident. I read about something similar that happened to a guy who put a Li-Ion battery inside a waterproof metal flashlight. I feel for the guy, but he should have known better.

Electronically, the main thing is that your mod has protection either by using protected batteries or externally through some circuitry. It's not that uncommon for cartos/atties to short out and a short circuit is usually what causes a battery to go up in flames aside from a charging fault. I just had a carto short on me yesterday. My mods shut down instantly with a warning code when that happens, but they also have a fuse as a back up. I've mentioned several times in the modding forum you should add a fuse if using any unprotected Li-Ion. None of them are safe without short-circuit protection at the least.

I would stay away from LiFePO4 batts totally. Even though the chemisty is called "safe" no Li-Ion is perfectly safe. It's a relative term. They typically are not protected and are usually over-loaded. They're sucky batteries anyway, crappy charge density and only 3.2V. People stack them because you can get a good voltage that way. If you want to vape at higher voltage, use a mod with a regulator so you can stack the protected 3.7V cells.

 

[moorea]

I hate to bring this up again, as I asked a while back and thought I new the answer. I am in no ways worried about using my BP. I trust Mike and my BP 100%. I am however using powerizer batteries and charging them in the charger that was sold with the BP when it was first offered. I thought I had asked back then if the non protected batteries were safe on the charger and further more safe to keep on the charger after they have charged. I thought the answer was yes. Recently someone told this is not the case that Mike told them the batteries were safe in the BP, but would not commit to whether or not they were safe in the charger. I didn't think much of it at the time, but with this new post I have to ask the question again...

 

[FranC]

Pretty scary stuff but any battery can explode. Over the years I have seen several car batteries explode.
I only use the batteries Mike sells for our pv's. Dh had his BP in a position that held the button in a few days ago. It got very,very hot. Rather cooked the juice in his tank but no damage to the BP or the batts.

 

[MrJonesJr]

Thanks again! I threw out both batteries and just bought a mutimeter (can't believe I haven't gotten one yet). I'm not using any mods without built-protection from now on. Not worth the added risk for me but to each his own.

 

[Big Screen D]

I must admit, I am VERY bad about leaving batteries, both eGo's and my IPro batteries charge overnight in the kitchen. Figure that's what a smoke detector and German Shepherd are for.

But I do like my handsome face, so I always fire the button the first time after charging away from my face regardless of the PV.

 

[FreeFire]

I must admit, I am VERY bad about leaving batteries, both eGo's and my IPro batteries charge overnight in the kitchen. Figure that's what a smoke detector and German Shepherd are for.

But I do like my handsome face, so I always fire the button the first time after charging away from my face regardless of the PV.

One would think this day and age, putting batteries in a charger overnight wouldn't even be an issue...is it? I have numerous rechargeable batteries for my cameras and have always had a couple chargers going the night before an event shoot. Never have any problems. I charge my cell phone at night along with my eGo's (one hooked to the laptop, the other to the wall adapter).....so, am I taking a "risk" doing so?

I don't fully understand batteries and how they work, why they work or what not to do other than don't try to recharge non-chargeables or some that won't take a charge. Any input is appreciated. Last thing I want to do is worry about whether or not an e-cig is going to blow my face off, let alone burn down my house.

 

[CraigHB]

It actually depends on the charger. A good one will shut down when charging is complete, but that's not always the case. There's no way to tell on any particular charger without some electrical testing, specifically a current test.

When Li-Ions fail catastrophically, it's more often during charging. The best thing to do is charge them in an area where if a battery does go off, it wont catch anything on fire. A good place is in the kitchen or bathroom on a tile or a glass tabletop. Also, remove batteries when charging is complete. Don't leave them in the charger all the time.

It's actually pretty rare for Li-Ions to fail, but when it happens, it's big news so you hear about it, especially if someone gets injured. Keep in mind, there are billions of Li-Ion batteries are out there in the world that have not damaged any property or person. They're in cell phones and portable computers too. If you take reasonable precautions, you should not have to be overly concerned about it.

 

[BuzzKill]

I just had a problem with my pv, AW IMR 18650, 1.7 carto and found this thread. Now I am completely freaked out. I have been vaping for close to 3 years and never had a problem.

Tonight, with the setup described above, the cartomizer wouldn't fire and gas started escaping from the pv's 2 vent holes on the bottom. The battery (1 week old) was hot and smelled. I tried another battery and the bottom of the pv literally started vibrating. Very scary.

Does anyone know what could have caused this? I am sitting here ready to throw out every mod I have not named Buzz Pro or Infinity.

Any advice on this is much appreciated.

OK you have a BIG problem !! do NOT put batteries back in what ever it is that causes this problem there is a SHORT @!!! bad stuff man ! .
Be safe and do not push it , Li-Ion batts can be dangerous in these conditions , use devices that have protection built into them !! and if it is an unprotected device ALWAYS use protected batts.

 

[BuzzKill]

I hate to bring this up again, as I asked a while back and thought I new the answer. I am in no ways worried about using my BP. I trust Mike and my BP 100%. I am however using powerizer batteries and charging them in the charger that was sold with the BP when it was first offered. I thought I had asked back then if the non protected batteries were safe on the charger and further more safe to keep on the charger after they have charged. I thought the answer was yes. Recently someone told this is not the case that Mike told them the batteries were safe in the BP, but would not commit to whether or not they were safe in the charger. I didn't think much of it at the time, but with this new post I have to ask the question again...

MOO I have never had any problems leaving the Powerizers on chargers , we have 5 sets sitting in my building right now charging over the weekend !! If I thought at all that it was a hazard I would take them out of the chargers !!!

 

[BuzzKill]

Thanks again! I threw out both batteries and just bought a mutimeter (can't believe I haven't gotten one yet). I'm not using any mods without built-protection from now on. Not worth the added risk for me but to each his own.

Smart move ! listen to your batts !! they will tell you when they are toast LOL ! !!!!!

Any excessive HEAT or shrinking of the protective cover and they are DONE ! TOSS THEM !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[BuzzKill]

One would think this day and age, putting batteries in a charger overnight wouldn't even be an issue...is it? I have numerous rechargeable batteries for my cameras and have always had a couple chargers going the night before an event shoot. Never have any problems. I charge my cell phone at night along with my eGo's (one hooked to the laptop, the other to the wall adapter).....so, am I taking a "risk" doing so?

I don't fully understand batteries and how they work, why they work or what not to do other than don't try to recharge non-chargeables or some that won't take a charge. Any input is appreciated. Last thing I want to do is worry about whether or not an e-cig is going to blow my face off, let alone burn down my house.

All of those batts are Li-Ion type batts , the real problem is OVER DISCHARGING !!!!!!!!!! and if by chance over charging them ( short circuits in both cases )

 

[evilfrog]

I never charge batteries unattended. I know someone who was charging his Echo battery while he slept, and it vented flame and smoke all over the place. Fortunately nothing caught on fire. I've been a little paranoid about batteries ever since. You can see his thread about it : http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...ew-echo-battery-vented-flame.html#post3671147

I would imagine Powerizers and other removable batteries are safer to charge overnight because of the higher quality charging system, and you can see and feel signs of failure before anything catastrophic happens?

 

[moorea]

MOO I have never had any problems leaving the Powerizers on chargers , we have 5 sets sitting in my building right now charging over the weekend !! If I thought at all that it was a hazard I would take them out of the chargers !!!

That is what I thought, but first someone outside of this cozy corner of the ECF (you know the rest of this big scary forum ) told me you told them differently, and then there was this post. Just wanted to make sure I understood correctly the first time.

I don't think there will ever be a day I could remember to take my batteries off the charger. If I didn't need to switch them out once every few days they would likely charge forever!

 

[CraigHB]

I would imagine Powerizers and other removable batteries are safer to charge overnight because of the higher quality charging system, and you can see and feel signs of failure before anything catastrophic happens?

Well, cells don't always show any signs of an issue before they fail catastrophically, but they do bloat sometimes before a failure. I had a LiPo bloat on me once. It was probably getting ready to fail in a big way. I got rid of it quick.

If you get a bloated cell, discard it in a safe manner immediately. I've read serveral accounts of people asking if their battery is okay if it's a little swollen. A bulging battery is like a hot potato. Don't hold on to it.

 

[MrJonesJr]

OK you have a BIG problem !! do NOT put batteries back in what ever it is that causes this problem there is a SHORT @!!! bad stuff man ! .
Be safe and do not push it , Li-Ion batts can be dangerous in these conditions , use devices that have protection built into them !! and if it is an unprotected device ALWAYS use protected batts.

Thanks Buzzkill! I still can't believe I was dumb enough to put another battery in after it happened. The vibrating completely freaked me out and I still can not get it out of my head.

I just ordered an all chrome VVPV to go along with my Buzz Pro and Infinity and will be selling everything else I have. Can't wait!!

 

[dopeh]

Thanks for posting this , however ( and do NOT take this the wrong way !!! ) this type of thing has been posted before and it was BS ! I am NOT saying this is BUT it has been done before as a way to get back at a supplier.

IF this is true it is NOT GOOD ! for the industry and for the USER ! as you all know Notcigs has ALWAYS had protection in ALL of its mods BUT batteries do go BAD from time to time regardless of what we do so always take care and be smart about what is happening , the BEST defense is YOU !!!!!!!!! If a battery gets HOT GET AWAY from it or toss it away from you ! .

Do NOT use batts with broken or torn Outer wrapping !! throw them AWAY , NO protection can help you in this case !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There are several reasons why I do not buy these postings yet ,
1. The posters are NEW members
2. they gave very little info
3. they have not replied to the ?'s from Steve at PS
4. the posts are now dead , no reply no more info , nothing from the actual Wife of the person etc,

In ANY case I NEVER want to see anybody get hurt using a PV !

when I got into this business SAFETY was our first concern , not to boast but Notcigs made the FIRST protected device on the market and ALL of out devices are protected and will always be protected.

Anyhow I hope we get to the bottom of this and that everybody is OK !

Smells like BS to me too. Also, 2 of my Powerizer batts came to me with a couple scratches on the wrapper, haven't had a problem, they are superficial - you saying you want 'em back?