so with the discussion of exploding batteries...

[New_World]

so what about the charger that PS carries? is that not good enough?

and if i were to get the tenergy 3.0v with 900 mAh, would that be the same as the batteries they carry, but it'd survive more charges or does that mean it'll hold a charge longer??

first I reccomened you read up on Li-ions so you understand how the chemistry works, how to take care of them, ect.

The ps charger is okay, but I prefer the pila. Some people think the tenergy or ultrafire multi-charger is fine and don't want to spend more than that.

BUT I think whats most important is, like I said, knowing about li-ions, their sefety, how to get the most life out of them, ect.

pick up a multimeter for sure.
Even if its a cheap one, it will work. fine for testing batts.

 

[KonaNeil]

...pick up a multimeter for sure.
Even if its a cheap one, it will work. fine for testing batts.

Would suggest getting one with a digital readout. They're much easier for a novice to read. I only mention this because a forum friend had me look at what Radio Shack was offering. Their cheapest had an analog meter only. That said; everyone who plays in this sandbox needs a meter.

 

[New_World]

Protected 14500s, unprotected 10440s and LifePo4 CR2s in my 3.0 charger. To be accurate, my latest Trustfire Protected stop charging at 4.21. Don't know why they're different.

Do all Pila chargers stop at 4.15 or do you think yours is a fluke? While I prefer the batteries when they are over 4v, I too would be willing to throw away five hundredths of a volt for longer life/safety.

Does anyone here use battery testers? If so, what do they test?

All Pilas stop at 4.15 to my knowledge. thats a big reason I got it.

From my experience it can be a little off 4.15. It may hit 4.16, 4.14 but real close in there.
I use a fluke multimeter to test and have tested with my cheapie multimeter.
the cheapie is .01 off from the fluke so it seems I'm in there real close.

I read probably 100 reviews before I bought the darn thing.
I only saw one bad review where one guy said it charged to 4.2 when he tested it.
He was ...... about that b/c he bought it to only go to 4.15
I think maybe his multimeter was inaccurate or maybe he got a bad unit?
who knows. everyone else says they go to 4.15 or real close to that.


*sorry I didn't get to your post sooner, I think I skimmed over it.

 

[New_World]

Would suggest getting a one with a digital readout. They're much easier for a novice to read. I only mention this because a forum friend had me look at what Radio Shack was offering. Their cheapest had an analog meter only. That said; everyone who plays in this sandbox needs a meter.

+1

digital readout.

 

[RamShot Rowdy]

What common sizes of PV batteries can the Pila charge? Like CR2, CR123, 10440, 14500, 18650? I have magnet spacers I use in some of my chargers now...would those work in the Pila?

Also, is the Pila 3.7V only or will it do 3.0V?

 

[New_World]

What common sizes of PV batteries can the Pila charge? Like CR2, CR123, 10440, 14500, 18650? I have magnet spacers I use in some of my chargers now...would those work in the Pila?

Also, is the Pila 3.7V only or will it do 3.0V?

it comes with 2 spacers for the 14500's.
you may need to buy spacers to charge some batts.
some use a dummy cr123a as well.
"The Pila charger comes with a spacer that screws in and then you can purchase a 15mm spacer from Lighthound and this will work." -found this quote on another forum about the cr123a's.

From what I've read it does cr123, 17670, 16340, cr123a, 18650, 14500, etc.
It does NOT do the 10440. don't quote me on this but I believe it doesn't do anything under 600mAh.

this charger is highly reccomened on the candle power forums.
From my experience, this charger chargers faster than my multi-fun tengery/ trustfire chargers.

Get this charger and some AW's and you'll have a sweet setup.
I don't need anything better.

I'll see you on the forums DJ.

 

[Hurricane Eric]

That's all interesting and all, but all I've been looking for is how bad a battery explosion would be if it happened mid vape? Has anybody had it happen to them yet? And if there's a million stories on here I'm sorry I didn't find them, but I have been searching threads for the last hr or 2, read lots of discussion on it but nothing about possible injuries from it happening. Which is all I really care about......... My house burns down ya that sucks......but I lose half my face..that sucks a lot more.

 

[jova3]

That's all interesting and all, but all I've been looking for is how bad a battery explosion would be if it happened mid vape? Has anybody had it happen to them yet? And if there's a million stories on here I'm sorry I didn't find them, but I have been searching threads for the last hr or 2, read lots of discussion on it but nothing about possible injuries from it happening. Which is all I really care about......... My house burns down ya that sucks......but I lose half my face..that sucks a lot more.

i believe there's only been 2-4 incidents. it seems like the common denominator in all of them were people using batteries they shouldn't have been using with their vaporizer - charging non-rechargeable batteries and try sticking it in your mod. using unprotected batteries.

correct me if i'm wrong.

 

[BrockJ]

Wow!! this has come back around again?

 

[lotus14]

That's all interesting and all, but all I've been looking for is how bad a battery explosion would be if it happened mid vape? Has anybody had it happen to them yet? And if there's a million stories on here I'm sorry I didn't find them, but I have been searching threads for the last hr or 2, read lots of discussion on it but nothing about possible injuries from it happening. Which is all I really care about......... My house burns down ya that sucks......but I lose half my face..that sucks a lot more.

Very unlikely. If a battery gets hot enough to actually explode (very very rare) you're going to notice your hand is burning before you get the PV up to your mouth!

 

[New_World]

Wow!! this has come back around again?

yeah, I just bumped it again. doh!

lol

btw yeah, don't charge non-rechargeables.
I did read one incident where someone charged non-rechargeable batts.

 

[Scarab30]

Add another to the list...my close friends wife just called me to tell me he is in surgery. His prodigy just exploded in his mouth mid hit. It blew most of his teeth out, burnt his eyes, and the drip tip is lodged in his cheek! Prodigy v3.1 6v two months old. Batteries two months old. Believe me...he wasn't using oddball batteries, he wasn't doing anything other than what is intended! Hes 60 yrs old, long time smoker turned vaper. I turned him on to vaping as well as the v3! He was using the tenergy lifepo4 batts...I have no idea what caused this, but to say I'm deeply concerned, for my friend, for my wife and I (we both have v3's) and anyone else using this, is an understatement. I'm frantically seeking answers!

 

[KonaNeil]

Add another to the list...my close friends wife just called me to tell me he is in surgery. His prodigy just exploded in his mouth mid hit. It blew most of his teeth out, burnt his eyes, and the drip tip is lodged in his cheek! Prodigy v3.1 6v two months old. Batteries two months old. Believe me...he wasn't using oddball batteries, he wasn't doing anything other than what is intended! Hes 60 yrs old, long time smoker turned vaper. I turned him on to vaping as well as the v3! He was using the tenergy lifepo4 batts...I have no idea what caused this, but to say I'm deeply concerned, for my friend, for my wife and I (we both have v3's) and anyone else using this, is an understatement. I'm frantically seeking answers!

Hope you'll keep us posted on specifics. From your mention that he was using Lifepo4s, it seems likely that he was stacking them. Unequal charge between stacked batteries has been known to cause battery failure though "word on the street" has been that the Lifepos wouldn't violently out-gas.

The flashlight and airplane hobbyist forums have had occasional stacked battery tragedy stories for years.

 

[CaSHMeRe]

Hope you'll keep us posted on specifics. From your mention that he was using Lifepo4s, it seems likely that he was stacking them. Unequal charge between stacked batteries has been known to cause battery failure though "word on the street" has been that the Lifepos wouldn't violently out-gas.

The flashlight and airplane hobbyist forums have had occasional stacked battery tragedy stories for years.

Same Here ... Kona, from what I've seen ... If a Lifepo4 has an uneven charge (as compared to the 2nd battery being used) -- The battery itself almost "shuts off" and has to be charged just to "Reset" the battery. I've had this happen on a couple less than stellar batteries I've used over the past several years.

The worst I have seen Lifepo4's fail in my 3 years of selling Lifepo4's is a repair I just got back a couple days ago.

The spring was completely warped, and the batteries shrink wrap shrunk (as most do as the batteries get hott) and that was the worst I saw. (The user had pounded the adapter -- hammer marks on the stainless steel -- thus causing the unit to short atomizers.

I tried googling other Lifepo4 failure's, and haven't seen or heard of a single one. Tenergy even tested trying to explode their large Lifepo version battery:

Tenergy LiFePO4 Battery Safety Test - YouTube

I also contacted Tenergy and they have never heard of one of their Lifepo4's failing like what was described.

What I also don't understand about this story is how the "user" was using it and mid hit, the batteries exploded. If the batteries were shorted (and over discharged to cause a failure of this nature) -- it wouldn't activate the atomizer. The atomizer would be stone cold & not producing vapor. It would take a good 30-60 seconds to heat up to the point where you couldn't hold the tube (I've tested this myself).

So, there are a couple questions I have about the story.

1) Were they indeed Lifepo4's that failed? I could see Li-Ion batteries (Perhaps even the AW17670 - if the protection circuit failed)
2) In a post of yours, you state the user had this happen "mid hit" -- To go from working 1 second, to exploding the 2nd, doesn't seem to make sense to me.
3) Assuming a short caused this to happen -- The user wouldn't even be able to handle the V3 since it would be so hot, just to the touch. Were there any
4) Did the user drop his V3 or do anything prior to this even happening?

Keep us posted!

 

[Scarab30]

I'm still bewildered myself. He is still in ICU. The "mid hit" was my words...was there vapor being produced? I don't know. His wife told me that they had just finished eating dinner and he went into the living room, he sat on the couch with his v3, She said she heard a big bang and ran in and saw his face and mouth on fire. I'm still yet to speak to him in person. As I mentioned, he's still in ICU and only family can visit. They operated on his throat to remove shards of metal and plastic. They put a breathing tube in because they were worried about his throat swelling shut. The tube was removed Tuesday morning and he is able to talk. He has two fat lips, and no teeth. They eye doctors have examined his eyes and believe that there is no permanent damage. But only time will tell.
She told me that the "shiny thing on the top" (adapter) was blown to pieces, as well as both batteries, and of course the cartomizer and tip. I asked her to send me pictures. When I get them I will post them here. I can assure you he was using the tenergy lifepo4's. I ordered them for him.
If his prodigy was dropped, submerged in water, or anything else? I have no idea yet. I was thinking the same thing, one would think if the battery was cooking, or shorting, it would be hot as hell, or smell...something!
One thing worth mentioning, the week earlier he complained to a mutual friend that his batteries didn't hold a charge for very long. Also his cartomizers didn't last either. A warning sign? Perhaps.
I'm still cautiously using my v3, checking my batteries for heat etc many times per day. My wife has sworn off vaping.
Everyone be careful.

 

[CaSHMeRe]

One thing worth mentioning, the week earlier he complained to a mutual friend that his batteries didn't hold a charge for very long. Also his cartomizers didn't last either. A warning sign? Perhaps.

This has me worried as well. We've had several clients go to Batteries + (Plus) or similar local battery stores and purchase over the counter Li-Ion Batteries (Non Rechargeable & Not Protected) -- They then use, go home, and stick them on the Tenergy charger. Non Rechargeable & Non Protected batteries stacked is not a safe thing to do by any stretch of the imagination.

Keep us posted Scarab.

 

[DaHurt]

Just posting to verify that Scarab30 is a personal friend of mine as is the man with the injuries. I have been a E-cig user for a few years now and have both a V2 & V3. I really have no clue as to how this happened but I do verify that this did happen.

 

[warlike36]

If this is true, prayers to the injured, although I have reservations. No warning..no heat... Anyway, keep us informed.

 

[Scarab30]

I was trying to reply with your quote

 

[Scarab30]

If this is true, prayers to the injured, although I have reservations. No warning..no heat... Anyway, keep us informed.

I never said there was no warning or no heat. There may have been, or not? I honestly have no idea.

The reason I posted this information is to give a heads up to the other members. I am absolutely not making any accusations as to whos fault this. I posted on here because I use the same PV and I was looking for answers. More importantly, I dont want anything bad to happen to anyone else. All of my posts regarding this accident are me relaying the facts that I recieved second hand to the best of my ability. Any opinions I express are simply that...my opinion! I still have not personally spoke with my friend. Until I do, anything I post on here is speculation.