What would you do?

[dustinmj]

I would like to get some opinions... My gut is telling me 'better safe than sorry' is the correct answer, but I'm also trying to figure out what happened. For informational purposes: I vape at max 80W on my builds, and have spent much time reading about battery safety.

Here's the story:

I've used Nitecore I4 chargers for years; I have two of them (blinking light versions). I pretty much (not completely) resigned to not checking voltage off the charger since I switched from Reo Grands to regulated boxes some time ago. I recently decided to upgrade my chargers to XTAR VP4 and toss the nitecores just for some added peace of mind.

I moved a couple of months ago (October), it was hectic. All my vape gear got packed securely and loose batteries were secured in battery boxes or plastic wrappings. I didn't, however remove the batteries from my Realeauxs, I simply turned them off and packed them securely.

I've since not really set up my vape gear as I've been utilizing my tesla stealth and only using the larger boxes for builds and dry-burning coils and such. I've dry-burned multiple builds using my RX200 without charging the batteries since the move (I'm getting lazy with safety I suppose, assuming the RX would alert me if something was wrong).

A couple days ago I decided to finally open my XTARs and get my RX200 and RX2/3 back in rotation. This is when I noticed something odd.

Upon putting the (3) LG HG2 batteries that were in my RX200 into the XTAR, batteries which the RX200 showed as 'low battery' after dry-burning builds for the past month or so, I noticed the voltage on the cells were as follows: 3.41, 3.42, 2.41... EEEEEEK! These batteries have been with me for a while (year or so), and I have re-wrapped them due to a couple very small nicks that I didn't like. I've had the RX200 for a year and a half or so. It's well used.

The XTAR is currently charging the low cell fine, it's not warm in the least, and seems to be charging without issue (3.43V and climbing).

My first inclination is to toss the batteries and buy a new married set of HG2s from a reputable vendor... but is this necessary? Seems like there's a bigger issue...

Why on earth did the Realeaux allow the battery to discharge that much? Is my RX200 toast? Can I depend on it? Has anyone experienced this? I'm certainly going to watch closely but if it's pulling that much more from one cell, and allowing that cell to drop below the cuttoff, do I really want it anywhere near my face even for testing purposes?

Did the RX200 drain slowly from one cell while it was off? Is this a known issue?

Did the Nitecore I4 that I was charging with previously decided to not charge that cell because it was below 3v or something and I didn't notice it telling me something was wrong? If that's the case, why didn't the Realeaux gripe about uneven batteries?

Releaux RX200 firmware was 4.10, updated to latest today.

Thanks for reading and in advance for any thoughts or opinions. Vape on!

 

[ej1024]

Get new batteries.. 12 months is too old for batteries IMO!


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[Eskie]

Me? I'd charge them, put them back in the mod, and see if they remain matched as you use the box. If when they need to be charged again they are considerably different, I'd toss them and replace. If the new batteries end up considerably different, I'd toss the mod and replace.

 

[b.m.]

I have no idea what causes it,but when i had my Rx200,it did that every time even when the batteries were brand new.2 of them would be very similar voltage,but the 3rd was quite a bit lower every time.I got rid of it quite a while ago,but if i remember correctly,it was always the single battery,not the ones that sit next to each other.

 

[dustinmj]

I have no idea what causes it,but when i had my Rx200,it did that every time even when the batteries were brand new.2 of them would be very similar voltage,but the 3rd was quite a bit lower every time.I got rid of it quite a while ago,but if i remember correctly,it was always the single battery,not the ones that sit next to each other.

Interesting that you've had this experience... I'm really surprised the RX200 would let one battery veer that far off the others.

 

[b.m.]

Interesting that you've had this experience... I'm really surprised the RX200 would let one battery veer that far off the others.

Yeah,i was surprised when i seen it was happening.They may have it corrected now,i got mine shortly after they came out,and didn't keep it very long because i just didn't like the size of it,so not sure if it would of eventually settled out or not.If i remember correctly though,just as an example,the 2 batteries would be say 3.8 and 3.7,then the third would be maybe 3.2 or so,definitely not as big of a difference as your's though.Do you have the Dna version or the other one?Mine was the other one,with the Joytech or whatever chip it is in them.

 

[dustinmj]

Mine is the RX so not the DNA. That said, I decided to retire the old dog since it let that battery get so low... Great device but it's served its time.

Ordered a Triade DNA250 as it's replacement

Gonna give the batteries another trial after i get the Triade, but they are overdue for replacement so I'll likely change out that set too.

Thanks everyone

 

[VHRB2014]

LI batteries do self discharge, its the nature of the chemistry. Give them a year without a top up charge, and they could get down low enough they cant be brought back, depending on what kind of use they`v seen in the past and how good they were to begin with.

Iv taken a few of them into the dreaded 2.5 territory without any real lasting affects. I only use Sony VTC4-5`s and Samsung 25R.

Iv got a few batteries that are going on two, or 2.5 years now and they are all OK, they all get used in rotation and recharged and so far all are running as good as they should at this stage. I wont through them out until they start recharging in half the time it used to take. That`s how to tell how good or bad a battery is, is how long it takes to recharge. A bad battery will recharge entirely too quickly (or wont recharge at all in the case of a broken circuit) and wont have any oomph for any amount of time once it shows a full charge.

EDIT: I re-read your post and see your real concern is with the RX and not so much as the battery's. My suggestion would be to label the batteries and then rotate them through the mod with each charge and see if the low battery follows the rotation and go from there.
BOL.

 

[Kprthevapr]

Buy some batteries... Charge the old ones and use them in a flashlight that runs on 18650's

 

[dustinmj]

Thought I should update this, as I don't want to out the RX for anything it didn't do. Charged all three cells yesterday, all charged up to 4.2 on the XTAR.

This morning's voltage after resting overnight: 4.19,4.18,4.12

Bet you can't guess which was the low cell in the OP? lol

Gonna chuck the bad battery (in the bin at Best Buy) and let the other two be a married couple.

The old RX200 may have been vindicated... still stoked for the Triade DNA250 though

 

[Bunnykiller]

use the low cell in a single battery mod you plan to buy, use the other 2 as a married set in the new mod you plan to buy, no need to throw away a decent battery

 

[dustinmj]

use the low cell in a single battery mod you plan to buy, use the other 2 as a married set in the new mod you plan to buy, no need to throw away a decent battery

It dropped from 4.2 to 4.12 overnight just resting on the charger... seems like a flake to me?