What am I doing to my batteries?

[mayamason]

I have fried two 1-week-old batteries in the last 6 days.

These are (were) both eGo variable voltage batteries (not Joyetech brand), where you click the button three times and it will change from 3.2 - 3.7 - 4.2 volts. I measured the output voltage with a multimeter and the 4.2 setting meters at 4.0 volts, so I just left it there and didn't mess with the other two voltage levels. I use clearos 99% of the time, all stock coils (not rebuilt), heads ranging from 2.1 to 2.6 ohms. The other 1% of the time is a Phoenix RBA that still has the stock coil installed, and measures at 2.6 ohms.

Battery #1: 8 days old, working fine with a vivi nova, best guess is ~ 60-70% charge left on the battery. Took the VN off and put the Phoenix on. Went to fire the battery, and the LED (which should light up red at the 4.2 volts setting) switched to blue (the 3.7V setting) and flashed 8-10x. Instant burning electrical smell. Click the button 5x (as if turning on/off) and the LED responds with 3 blue flashes. No other button-pushing gets any response (holding down as if vaping, clicking 3x to change voltage/LED color). Will not charge.

Battery #2: 10 days old, working fine with a (different) vivi nova, best guess is around 40-50% charge left. Took the VN off because it was losing flavor, was going to open it up and see if it needed cleaning/changing. Nope, just a big pile of juice under the drip tip/on top of the silicone cap. Cleaned it out, put it back on the battery. Same story as above, minus the burning electrical smell. LED (previously red) is now flashing green 8-10 times. Only difference from the first one is, any touch of the button makes it flash green ~10x. No firing, no charging.



Yes, I know they are knock-offs and inexpensive. (But... they're small! And cute! And shiny! Really, a good-looking small battery for out & about.) I know it's *possible* I got two bad batteries back to back, but it doesn't seem likely as their deaths were so similar. So, what on earth am I doing to these poor things? Any ideas?

 

[speedjason86]

some cheap batteries probably just not up to spec to handle low resistance. the circuit simply burns out.
as always, you get what you pay for.
not saying knock-offs are always bad but you just want to get a genuine good brand battery.

 

[Jadesrayne]

honestly I think it is you had it set to the highest volt output for to long.

 

[DigitalDoom]

While I don't agree with the 'you get what you pay for' mindset, in general....I do have to agree when it comes to PVs.

Many things I buy at a bargain because I refuse to go along with the "brand name is better" thinking. I've bought shoes for $30 that outlast my friend's $200 Nikes. I buy generic foods because I 100% know that they are grown, processed and packaged by by the same big name companies.

When it comes to some things (like PVs) I spend a little extra. Of course this is a lesson I learned the expensive way....by first going the cheap route, that ended up costing more in the long run.

I still can't bring myself to buy one of the $150+ units, even if they might last a lifetime☺

 

[rncshow]

Sometimes you get what you pay for unfortunately

 

[D4rk50ul]

It wasn't the same atomizer that fried each one was it? That would be my guess, electrical short.

Sent from my Nexus 4

 

[Empress Dragonfly]

Im hoping I can find someone to work on these batts, have quite a few. Has to be something simple.

 

[mayamason]

Thanks for the suggestions.... I know the whole "you get what you pay for" shindig. And for the most part, I agree. If they had *never* worked, I think I'd understand a little better (in that, I'd accept the fact that they're cheap-o batteries and that is the inherent problem).

However, the fact that I had essentially two identical batteries die back to back, with me performing essentially the same action, makes me think there's more to it than a bad batch of batteries. I'd like to figure out what it is before I kill the rest of my batteries!

I have checked the atomizers that were on those particular batteries (2 vivi novas and 1 phoenix, all with factory coils) with a multimeter and they measure between 2.2 (VVN) and 2.6 (Phoenix). I assume if they're measuring in this range, that means there isn't a short. (A short would just measure "1" like the display reads when the leads aren't touching anything, right?)

 

[graybuck]

It wasn't the same atomizer that fried each one was it? That would be my guess, electrical short.

Sent from my Nexus 4

I would look for a short in one of your attys. I had a relative buy a couple cheap non-name ego batteries and they both died within two weeks. I have several spinners, joye tech egos, and twists and have not had a single issue until I dropped one and broke the switch. Most are close to 5 months old now still working. I do rotate them and recharge frequently as to retain battery life on a LI battery.

 

[patkin]

What battery is it? Do you have a link?

 

[Bullette the Cowdog]

I recall reading a post a few weeks ago where a guy said these batteries were burning out because they were set at the high setting while being charged. It might have been the twist batteries. He said they needed to be turned down to 3.3-3.7 before being placed on the charger.

Anybody recall that? I don't have these type batteries. Would this make sense? IDK

 

[mayamason]

What battery is it? Do you have a link?

This one:
eGo Variable Voltage 650mAh Battery - Stainless w/Rubber Button

And (since I linked to where I bought it) I need to say that Eric at DV has been absolutely wonderful about this and is letting me exchange the first one with a replacement (the second one happened after he already agreed to replace the first, and I don't feel right about asking for another exchange when I'm not even sure that it's not something I'm causing).