The VAMO battery thread

[Gunner83]

Ordered a Vamo the other day, and since I don't have any unprotected batteries, I just put an order in for these: Elite Vaporworks Panasonic IMR CGR18650CH Button Top 2250 mAh - Batteries and Chargers


Good choice? Are the chances of a rattling battery reduced due to the fact that they are button-top?

 

[meli.]

Ordered a Vamo the other day, and since I don't have any unprotected batteries, I just put an order in for these: Elite Vaporworks Panasonic IMR CGR18650CH Button Top 2250 mAh - Batteries and Chargers


Good choice? Are the chances of a rattling battery reduced due to the fact that they are button-top?

Excellent choice, you shouldn't have any issues with button tops, I have the same CGR's but flat tops and there is no rattling at all. We'll know better when we find out what type of spring you get.

 

[DrDoitchbig]

Ordered a Vamo the other day, and since I don't have any unprotected batteries, I just put an order in for these: Elite Vaporworks Panasonic IMR CGR18650CH Button Top 2250 mAh - Batteries and Chargers




Good choice? Are the chances of a rattling battery reduced due to the fact that they are button-top?

I get a slight rattle with the 2nd version of the spring (had to stretch it) but it's not as bad as the AW 18650s.

 

[Gunner83]

Excellent choice, you shouldn't have any issues with button tops, I have the same CGR's but flat tops and there is no rattling at all. We'll know better when we find out what type of spring you get.

OK, cool. I'll update when my Vamo comes in. It doesn't ship out until the 9th.

 

[shamash]

So I just ordered my Vamo from healthcabin and was told by them to get the joye unprotected li-ion batteries, which I got. I hope I don't die or set myself on fire.

 

[meli.]

So I just ordered my Vamo from healthcabin and was told by them to get the joye unprotected li-ion batteries, which I got. I hope I don't die or set myself on fire.

You'll be fine. I just want to place this post by Kiwivap here, it's probably one of the most informative one's out there, and it saves typing it out all over again.

The Vamo needs IMR batteries and will take 18650 and 18350. AW IMR, EFest IMR and Panasonic IMR are all good. Here's some links for you or anyone needing good batteries:

AW IMRs
AW IMR 18650 2000 mAh
Batteries : AW IMR 18350 3.7V 700mAh

Efest IMRs
Batteries : Efest IMR 18650 Button Top
Batteries : Efest IMR 18350 Button Top

Panasonic IMR
Batteries : Panasonic Hybrid/ IMR CGR18650CH Button Top

You also need a good charger. Exploding battery incidents are often caused by faulty chargers. I wouldn't use the charger from Vapor Break.

Chargers
TR-001s will do the job ok, but take a long time to charge the battery.
The Xstar WPII is a good charger:
Battery Chargers : Xtar WP2 II

Pila also is a good charger:
Battery Chargers : Pila IBC Charger

Kiwivap, I hope you don't mind...

 

[shamash]

They're not IMRs, they're unprotected li-ion. I know I'll be fine as long as I'm careful with them, I just know that a lot of people seem to think my PV will explode the second I hit the fire button.

 

[Aurora-Oblivion]

They're not IMRs, they're unprotected li-ion. I know I'll be fine as long as I'm careful with them, I just know that a lot of people seem to think my PV will explode the second I hit the fire button.

I've been using the same ones for a few weeks without any problems, so you should be fine (I got light blue)
[Joyetech] Joye 2200mAh Unprotected 18650 Li-ion Battery [A-E2 Joye eGo T 2200 Battery] - $6.00 : Healthcabin Electronic Cigarettes - Wholesale and Retail

 

[xpen]

you probably won't, but if I were you I'd rather look for an IMR battery instead of an unprotected Li-Ion. yes, the vamo sports built-in protection circuitry, but still...

my

So I just ordered my Vamo from healthcabin and was told by them to get the joye unprotected li-ion batteries, which I got. I hope I don't die or set myself on fire.

 

[deepdeep]

I opened up a old laptop battery and found some icr18650-26f Samsung batteries, will they be ok on the vamo??
they look exactly like these Amazon.com: Samsung Li-Ion 18650 3.7V 2600mAh-ICR18650-26F Rechargeable Battery-Flat Top: Electronics

 

[larktdl]

I opened up a old laptop battery and found some icr18650-26f Samsung batteries, will they be ok on the vamo??
they look exactly like these Amazon.com: Samsung Li-Ion 18650 3.7V 2600mAh-ICR18650-26F Rechargeable Battery-Flat Top: Electronics

ICR are protected and won't provide the high drain required by the Vamo. You need to use IMR Li-Mn type batts.

 

[kiwivap]

They're not IMRs, they're unprotected li-ion. I know I'll be fine as long as I'm careful with them, I just know that a lot of people seem to think my PV will explode the second I hit the fire button.

Unprotected Li-ions really shouldn't be used. This ECF guide explains which batteries are the better to use:
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/ecf-library/129569-rechargeable-batteries.html

DO NOT USE UNPROTECTED RECHARGEABLE LI-ION BATTERIES IN AN APV

And also from that:

Rechargeable batteries

We now advise that Li-Mn or top-quality Li-FePo4 rechargeables are used in APVs, in preference to rechargeable Li-ions. We suggest the best option, in order, is:

1. AW IMR Li-Mn rechargeables.
2. AW Li-FePo4 rechargeables [Li-FePo4's MUST HAVE A SPECIAL CHARGER]. Note that these batteries are mostly 3 volt nominal so the system voltage will be lower than normal.
3. Good quality (such as AW or Pila) protected Li-ion rechargeables.
4. Branded protected Li-ions come next - such as xxxfire Li-ion rechargeables (for xxx insert Trust / Sure / Ultra-).
5. The least-preferable option is a generic protected Li-ion.
6. Unprotected rechargeable Li-ion cells should not be used.
7. Standard cells (non-rechargeable) should not be used.

Will it blow up when you hit the fire button? Maybe not - but you greatly increase the risk of an explosion by using them.

 

[Mudflap]

For folks using 18650 batteries and wanting to eliminate the battery rattle, I'd suggest using the ShortStop Mod Fuse rather than magnet spacers or stretching the spring. You'll eliminate the rattle and add an extra layer of protection. Win/Win

 

[meli.]

For folks using 18650 batteries and wanting to eliminate the battery rattle, I'd suggest using the ShortStop Mod Fuse rather than magnet spacers or stretching the spring. You'll eliminate the rattle and add an extra layer of protection. Win/Win

This confuses me, aren't these recommended for use on mechanical mods only? If it isn't recommended for use on a Provari, why would it be good in a Vamo?

 

[Mudflap]

This confuses me, aren't these recommended for use on mechanical mods only? If it isn't recommended for use on a Provari, why would it be good in a Vamo?

I'm only speculating here, but I believe the tolerances in the Provari don't allow for this add-on, whereas with the Vamo, a 3mm thick drop-in would certainly fit and shouldn't interfer with function, provided the Vamo doesn't try to draw greater than 5 amps from the battery.

 

[PLANofMAN]

So I just ordered my Vamo from healthcabin and was told by them to get the joye unprotected li-ion batteries, which I got. I hope I don't die or set myself on fire.

I bought the joyetech 18650's from them as well. Great batteries so far!

 

[meli.]

I'm only speculating here, but I believe the tolerances in the Provari don't allow for this add-on, whereas with the Vamo, a 3mm thick drop-in would certainly fit and shouldn't interfer with function, provided the Vamo doesn't try to draw greater than 5 amps from the battery.

I'm only speculating here too, but my thoughts are the Vamo already has short circuit protection built in and If you are using verified IMR batteries And you have the correct sized spring preferably a Hot Spring you really don't need a ShortStop or a VapeSafe 2c. The correct spring will cost you +$2.50~ and no further issues or a ShortStop that might cause the Vamo to not work at optimum level for $15.

I understand how these come in handy when using mechanical mods especially so when stacking batteries but I also understand that when using VV's the danger only appears if the short happens whilst the batteries have just been installed fully charged (no drop off) are totally unprotected (not IMR) or with batteries that do not use safe chemistry Then you would be wise to use a ShortStop or VapeSafe or similar, otherwise it's superfluous to requirement. Yes? No?

 

[xbassman]

I am currently using 2 pairs of 18350 batteries. (2-AW IMR) (2-Efest IMR)
I use them in single battery mode.

In another thread I posted that it seemed that the Efest batteries were holding a charge longer, but after using them a few weeks I am starting to feel the AW's are lasting longer.

I did a little research and found scientific reviews on both. (done within the last 4 months)
In these reviews the AW battery tested as having closer to 800mah (listed as 700mah)and the Efest tested closer to 700mah (listed as 800mah).

 

[shamash]

I bought the joyetech 18650's from them as well. Great batteries so far!

Good to know. Everyone keeps saying not to use unprotected li-ions, but I never really see a thorough reason why. I hear more people say that they use them and it's fine, than people who mention having a problem using them. I dunno, that might just be selective reading ;P

 

[xbassman]

Good to know. Everyone keeps saying not to use unprotected li-ions, but I never really see a thorough reason why. I hear more people say that they use them and it's fine, than people who mention having a problem using them. I dunno, that might just be selective reading ;P

The reason people say not to use them is because of how they fail if a failure occurs.
If a Lion had a failure that wasn't thwarted by a protection circuit it would explode.
If the same were to happen to a Limn (IMR) battery it would vent.