Seeking Battery Advice - Minuscule Dent

[Binigo]

Hello,

I recently purchased a Sony VTC5 about 2 weeks ago. I had charged it several times already with no issues. Unfortunately I dropped it and found a small dent on the side of the battery. Looking down on the dent it's very small, so small that when you're looking at it from the side with the dent facing up you cannot even see a depression in the skin. Although....

I placed it on my charger it at 3.81 V's. Watch some news, continually checking for bad signs, or if it's getting hot. The battery didn't get hot but charged unusually fast (1 hour to 1.5 hours max) for a 2600 mah battery. Voltage read out to 4.23. At this point I'm a little suspicious.

Stubborn as I am I place it into my mech. Take 3 drags, take battery out, Voltage reads 4.21V. Starting to think this is dropping too fast. Place battery back in, take 5 more drags, battery voltage reads out 4.16. Definately dropping too fast for a new VTC5.

Time to throw this battery away?
Should these type of IMR batteries be thrown away when there are visible signs of damage to the can, despite how small they appear?
I've read that "damaged" batteries should never be used, but this is a bummer if something this small might be serious damage.
I guess I have to be more careful....

 

[Ryedan]

Unfortunately I dropped it and found a small dent on the side of the battery. Looking down on the dent it's very small, so small that when you're looking at it from the side with the dent facing up you cannot even see a depression in the skin.

Can you post a picture of it? I've had a couple of batteries dent slightly and am still using them. Had one dent worse and recycled it.

Get it in focus so we can see what it looks like and FWIW, I will give you my opinion.

Having said that, I'm no battery engineer, so you'll still have to take it like any free advice ... with a grain of salt

 

[Switched]

Have you ever monitored your battery voltage drop before as you mentioned here? In my experience and backed from a battery analyzer voltage drops rather quickly from 4.2. You are dropping 1/100s of a volt, I think you may be a tad paranoid here.

 

[Binigo]

I haven't monitored my battery voltage drop from 4.2 in awhile. But I agree with you that I am pretty paranoid. I'm discouraged that after searching for an answer about dented batteries I kept reading that they should probably be discarded. I also have no prior experience with dented batteries. My VTC4's and AW IMR's have none.


Finally got some pics up. Hope this helps.

BTW, I was too embarrassed to mention the other dented VTC5 which has worse dents... represented by #'s 2 & 3
The initial dent I'm talking about in OP is dent #1 here they are

 

[Ryedan]

Good pictures.

I wouldn't worry about #1.

I would recycle #2.

I wouldn't worry about #3.

I'll say it again though. I'm not a battery engineer. These are my opinions and what I would do if they were mine. If one of these batteries blew up on me I would blame only myself for being wrong.

Let us know what you will do and how it works out.

 

[Cloud Junky]

I dropped a VTC4 and it tore up the corner a bit, I re-wrapped it and it is fine.

I would fire it on it in a mech for a while and see how fast it drops below 3.7. The Sony VTC5 is a nominal runner at 3.6v so it may drop from full charge down to the 3.7 range and hang for a while.

This was the extent of damage to my battery when I dropped it. It is about six months old now and still works fine:

 

[Little White Cloud]

It's best not to chance a dented battery. Explosions can be pretty crazy and completely destroy stuff.

 

[Rat2chat2]

Thank you for posting this information. I've never really thought about this but good to know. Thanks.

 

[Binigo]

Good pictures.

I wouldn't worry about #1.

I would recycle #2.

I wouldn't worry about #3.

I'll say it again though. I'm not a battery engineer. These are my opinions and what I would do if they were mine. If one of these batteries blew up on me I would blame only myself for being wrong.

Let us know what you will do and how it works out.

Yea the battery with dent #2 & #3 , I'm too sketched out to even charge it. The battery explosion threads I've read on other forums have sketched me out too much. Although I found that people on RC forums tend to use dented batteries more often if the damage wasn't so severe, while those on candlepowerforums tend to advise against it. Already charged Battery with dent #1 and vaped on it. I'll continue using it with caution since the dent is so shallow and let you guys know if anything goes wrong.

 

[OldtimeRocker]

Those seem like very small dent on all 3 to me. Can someone explain to a noob vaper what in a batteries design makes them so touchy to denting.

thanks