Small piece of 18650 cover scratched off at the bottom

[Vincevd97]

I recently got some 18650's VTC5a and charge them with the xtar x2.

After they got fully charged and when i took one out, a piece of the wrap scratched off on the bottom of the battery.

Does this battery need rewrapping or can i still use it? The battery pack of the mod is all plastic so i dont think there is any reason for shorting.

But i'm really paranoia about a battery exploding, so any advice what i should do?

This is the inside of my mod (vaporesso Luxe S)

 

[greek mule]

No need to rewrap the battery it is a small dent and it's at the bottom.
If it was at the side of two batteries who are installed in a dual battery mod you must avoid the dent parts touch together.

 

[Jwaterski]

I would say you're fine with that little nick in the wrap, but if you don't already have some wraps available, order some now.. just too cheap and easy to not have them ready,

 

[sonicbomb]

If in doubt always rewrap it.
Wraps are cheap, electrical burns are not.

 

[puffon]

Put a few coats of nail polish over the spot.
Keep an eye on it until you get new wraps.
Any good B&M will carry wraps.

 

[DaveP]

Agree with the above. Wraps are cheap. They are precut for the size of the cell. Cut off the wrap, slide a new one on, and heat with a hair dryer until it shrinks tightly. It's an easy repair.

The common cause for wrap tears happens when you insert and remove the cell in and out of the charger. It's preventable if you fully depress the springs to prevent rubbing from occurring.

How To Re-Wrap 18650 Batteries - Guide To Vaping

 

[Baditude]

The danger is if the exposed metal in the insulating wrap comes into contact with anything else which is metalic, which would cause a hard short. A hard short could result in the battery venting hot toxic gas to a full blown thermal runaway. For a description of both of these events, read Li-Ion Battery Chemistries - What are the differences in their safety?

If you have never witnesses a battery in thermal runaway, watch this video of a security cam. Focus your attention to the window between the living room and kitchen where a battery is being recharged, about 20 seconds in.

 

[HigherStateD]

Cheap wraps can be had from Amazon for 10$ for 100 wraps. 10¢ a piece. They're thinner than the Sony wraps though, but seem more resistant to me. The Sony ones are thin enough to read the print on the can through. They break easily. The Amazon ones are a little tougher, but thinner. The cheap ones also have seams, but again, work well in a pinch.

 

[Beeker]

The nick at the bottom of the battery isn't an issue. On many batteries, the entire outside case under the wrap is the negative terminal...the part you have to worry about is the positive button on top contacting the case causing a dead short. At best it will quickly discharge the battery...at worst it will cause the battery to overheat and vent/leak or explode...

As long as the covering near the top is intact, it should be good to go...

 

[icepickmaker84]

Rewrap that battery.

 

[Tabac man]

I'd re wrap it as well. Leaving it as is just encourages sloppy practice.

 

[Punk In Drublic]

Any damage to the wrap should receive attention and be a re-wrapped. If we start giving exceptions, when do they stop. Small tears can grow to larger ones, and exposed negatives on a cell can present just as much a risk as damaged wrap and insulator at the positive end.

110% agree with @Tabac man. Mitigating risk should not employ sloppy practices!

 

[DarrenMG]

Just another vote, even if negative side damage is less risky than the positive post, re-wrapping is cheap and quick to do. I've got a lifetime of supply of insulators and wraps for 18650 batteries for about $12 off Amazon. Just do it, for your own safety

p.s. you can probably just buy the wraps and skip the insulators, re-use the existing insulator if you want to save a few bucks. In any case, cheap, and all that is needed is a hair dryer (but having an old lighter can be useful to remove any remaining bubbles). No need for an expensive heat gun.

 

[Punk In Drublic]

Many brick and mortar shops will re-wrap for free. But it is beneficial to know how to do this yourself, it is not difficult.

When purchasing batteries, it’s a good practice to throw a half dozen or so wraps and insulator rings in the cart as well. Few retailers just given them away, and those that do not, wraps and insulators are dirt cheap.

The over exaggerated gold prism bling may not be to everyone’s aesthetic tastes, but free wraps are free wraps!

 

[icepickmaker84]

Many brick and mortar shops will re-wrap for free. But it is beneficial to know how to do this yourself, it is not difficult.

When purchasing batteries, it’s a good practice to throw a half dozen or so wraps and insulator rings in the cart as well. Few retailers just given them away, and those that do not, wraps and insulators are dirt cheap.

The over exaggerated gold prism bling may not be to everyone’s aesthetic tastes, but free wraps are free wraps!


View attachment 846305

I now understand my I’ve seen those wraps so many times.


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[Punk In Drublic]

I now understand my I’ve seen those wraps so many times.


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Albert, the mastermind behind BB VAPES and owner of the above store, is just silly when it comes to giving away his branded wraps. Visit his store and he’ll give you a dozen just for saying hi. Purchase a bottle of juice, and he’ll give you a dozen more.

His wraps are of excellent quality (despite the bling), little thicker than normal which may pose an issue with tight tolerances, but super durable.

 

[icepickmaker84]

Albert, the mastermind behind BB VAPES and owner of the above store, is just silly when it comes to giving away his branded wraps. Visit his store and he’ll give you a dozen just for saying hi. Purchase a bottle of juice, and he’ll give you a dozen more.

His wraps are of excellent quality (despite the bling), little thicker than normal which may pose an issue with tight tolerances, but super durable.

That’s awesome! Fastest way to Canada from where I’m at is 7hrs to Windsor lol


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[DarrenMG]

In truth, those plastic sleds (i.e., the battery holder the OP provided a picture of) are safe because they do isolate and insulate the negative from the positive, but personally I'd re-wrap anyway out of caution. It's not particularly logical in this one specific case, but safety is not about pushing edge cases to the edge, it's about good practices to prevent injury that was avoidable. It's my personality, I prefer the later to the risk of the former. If the OP forgets, and puts those batteries into another mod that is less safe, well... avoidable.