Venting a battery

[Altaire Versailles]

SO every video Ive seen of someone causing a battery to vent it took a few minutes of the battery sizzling and popping and heating up, smoking, etc. So why do people talk about a battery venting like its an imminent threat? As if say you built a 0.1 ohm coil and didnt know it, fired it and it would blow up in your face? I've never seen it happen or heard of that. Not saying it cant, I'm just wondering where the idea that a battery can just instantly combust without notice is coming from.

 

[Baditude]

It may only take several seconds to occur. You may get a warning something bad is about to occur if your mod gets too hot to touch. If it happens to be autofiring in your pocket, you might have trouble getting it out of your pocket before the mod finally explodes, like what happened to this fella at a vape meet:

What's left of an exploded mechanical mod after a vented battery

Another exploding mod:

A IMR safe chemistry battery may not vent flames or explode, but it can vent extremely hot gas. If the mod does not have adequate ventilation for the gas to escape, the mod becomes a pipe bomb. Thermal runaway is impossible to stop once it starts.

Even if there is so-called vent holes in the mod, a battery in thermal runaway can expand to such size that it blocks the vent holes from doing their job. Below is an AW IMR battery which went into thermal runaway and whose physical size quadrupled -- imagine that occurring in a mod.

AW IMR battery after thermal runaway

 

[four2109]

Any questions? I think Baditude summed it up nicely. This thread could probably be closed now.

 

[Semiretired]

In simpler words than Bad's post - do not take it for granted. Do not be scared of them, but do have respect for them.

 

[Thrasher]

Yea, its not the cell, the battery venting is working as intended. Its what happens should all that expanding gas get trapped inside the mod somehow. Instant pipebomb.


Theres similar pics over on cpf from flashlights exploding as well

 

[SissySpike]

there was one that blew op in a guys face in San Diego this spring He got burns lost some teeth and shrapnel in the face. Its best to know what your playing with and how to use it safely and properly.

 

[edyle]

SO every video Ive seen of someone causing a battery to vent it took a few minutes of the battery sizzling and popping and heating up, smoking, etc. So why do people talk about a battery venting like its an imminent threat? As if say you built a 0.1 ohm coil and didnt know it, fired it and it would blow up in your face? I've never seen it happen or heard of that. Not saying it cant, I'm just wondering where the idea that a battery can just instantly combust without notice is coming from.

What type of batteries were involved in the videos that you have seen?
The safer chemistry batteries vent less violently.
Some batteries have a protection circuit and if that protection circuit fails, you can get an explosive event taking place.

With the common ego type batteries, there is the issue of liquid getting down inside through the 510 connector and messing up the electronics, causing problems, including venting of the battery - I had an ego batt back in 2013 that vented on me, and I believe it was due to liquid getting inside the electronics.

 

[Altaire Versailles]

Are there cases of this happening in a regulated mod? What would cause an AW IMR to vent? Firing too long at too low resistance?

 

[sonicbomb]

Yes it can happen in regulated mod, but it's much more likely in a mechanical mod.
Can be caused by short circuiting the battery, or by over stressing it by pulling too many amps.

I have had personal experience with a battery in thermal runaway, and I can assure you no video on youtube even begins to get close.
I shorted a Purple Efest 2500mAh 18650 which uses IMR chemistry. From button press to being too hot to hold took about 2-3 seconds, 3-4 more and it was ejecting smoke sparks and flames. The pressure it was venting was great enough to propel the mech around the floor like a bottle rocket. The room was filled with toxic smoke and it burnt a hole in a wooden floor. The tube was too hot to touch even after being doused with water.

Now, Imagine these forces contained in a sealed metal tube.

 

[Baditude]

Are there cases of this happening in a regulated mod? What would cause an AW IMR to vent? Firing too long at too low resistance?

istick50wattexploded

Now, the iStick is the first regulated mod that I recall that had a battery vent in thermal runaway. However, these use LiPo batteries, which are not safe chemistry. Generally speaking though, a regulated mod is far safer than a mechanical mod because of protection circuitry. It's not known why the protection circuitry has failed in several cases of the Istick 50.

The AW IMR battery which I linked the story likely came into contact with something metallic in a book bag, causing the battery to rapidly overdischarge into failure. Therefore, always store batteries in a plastic battery case, never in a pocket or purse where they can come into contact with coins or keys. It doesn't have to be firing for too long at too low resistance. A mod autofiring at normal resistance can cause a battery to fail, too.

I too have had batteries vent. The first was an ICR battery in a mechanical mod whose fire button autofired in a pants pocket; it scorched the pants pocket and the mod had to be repaired by the manufacturer. This occurred in a locker at work. I've also had a loose IMR battery vent in a pants pocket which I was unaware had a coin in it. I had just enough time to remove it before it became too hot to touch.

 

[SissySpike]

Are there cases of this happening in a regulated mod? What would cause an AW IMR to vent? Firing too long at too low resistance?

From what I see the problem in regulated mods happen when someone ueses a onboard charger and Vapes at the same time. These mods are not pass threw you are taxing and charging your battery at the same time it was never meant to under go theses conditions.

But regulated mods have limits such as temp, amp draw, but if you stuck some bunk low amp batteries in a regulated mod and vaped a .2 ohm set up you might have some trouble.

 

[Altaire Versailles]

So I got a Kbox coming in the mail and I want the safest battery I can get. Are the AW IMR 18650's rated at 20 Amps good to go? Is there something safer? I see there are some theyre selling for around 23 at RTD vapor which are sup[posed to be rated at 35 Amps and 3400mah. They have thier own protected circuitry supposedly. Will that make a difference firing a regulated mod at 0.5 ohms?

All the 18650's I have now are Panasonic cgr grey ones and I read theyre rated at 10 AMps max and Kanger recommends something at least 20 amps even though firing a 0.5 ohms coil shouldnt cause it to go over 10. Ive never concerned myself with this battery stuff before but now that Im using a mech and getting into subohming I feel like I should cover my bases.

 

[Baditude]

There are no 18650 batteries made with more than 30 amps continuous discharge rate. If they claim to be 35 amps or more they are misadvertising or stating the pulse discharge rate, which we as vapers pay no attention to. Never use a protected or ICR battery in a mod -- wrong chemistry.

Please read my blogs on batteries here: Baditude's Blogs

 

[SissySpike]

You would be good at 20 amps but if you spend a few more dollars and get 30 amp batteries you cant go wrong thats for sure
Here are some links to some trusted battery vendors in the vaping community
Authentic AW Batteries - RTD Vapor
Batteries-Chargers-Flashlights-Only The Best

Now lets talk chargers I would suggest an Xtar VC Series if you have any thoughts of having more than one mod, most do or end up getting more than one sooner or later.
better to spring for the 4 bay charger

 

[Semiretired]

You have been provided some fantastic info. The only thing I did not see and maybe just missed it is that one of the events that have caused batteries to vent is to start vaping off a batt that is fresh off a charger. You need a rest period for your batts between charging and vaping - some recommend 30min other 1 hr - me I have enough in rotation it is at a minimum the next day before I am using it... Usually a few days.

 

[SissySpike]

It seems like alot at first when your confronted with all of this information but it becomes habit and routine. Your doing the smart thing and asking lots of questions so you get a big atta boy from me!

 

[Semiretired]

Your doing the smart thing and asking lots of questions so you get a big atta boy from me!

I would bet a dime to a dollar - those that have had problems never asked questions or just ignored advice...

 

[SissySpike]

I would bet a dime to a dollar - those that have had problems never asked questions or just ignored advice...

Most likely I see lots of people ask questions after something happens.
another thing if you leave your batteries unattended I do it all the time put them in a pyrex dish then if the worst happens you just have a smelly house for a few days.

 

[motordude]

I would like to thank you guys for informative posts like above. Most of the research that I have done is archived here on batts and chargers, so I have not needed to ask questions. Threads like this are very good for other's to learn.

 

[ReigntheGamer]

Most likely I see lots of people ask questions after something happens.
another thing if you leave your batteries unattended I do it all the time put them in a pyrex dish then if the worst happens you just have a smelly house for a few days.

Very true, as a rule of thumb if you're venturing into the unknown best to ask questions and do research before you head out. Not wait till **** hits the fan and then go looking for answers.

And a charger bag is never a bad idea especially for people like me who put batteries in the charger and then leave the house to run an errand and forget about them. No matter how many times you repeat in your head,"Don't forget your charging batteries."