When do you buy new batteries?

[Rossum]

Still seems that this may be some kind of "wearing out" indicator - like it's resisting that last voltage dribble...

I wouldn't call that "resisting" the last bit of voltage. If you watch during the tail end of the charge cycle, you'll see they are at 4.2V until the cycle completes, but they start to drop a bit sometime thereafter. So they're not holding the last bit of voltage. This is normal and does become more pronounced as the batteries age, but I've never seen one drop below about 4.14. It's also my observation that the effect varies a good bit depending on the battery make and model, i.e. the exact chemistry. I've got some VTC5s from 2014 that still show 4.18V or more, whereas some baby blue 25Rs also from 2014 drop down to around 4.15.

That said, I'm still quite curious what's really going on with the ones that you have (had?) that "only reach" 4.0 or 3.9, because I've personally never seen anything like that.

 

[Train2]

And you know - I might have been remembering wrong, thinking more about it.

The substantial pile I recently replaced - they all behave as described - they charge to 4.17 or so. And they'll hit 4.2 if I put them on again, especially if I do so at 1 amp.

Then they drop more rapidly than they did when new. While subjective, that's probably more certain sign of aging. I guess perhaps not quite reaching 4.2 on the initial charge could be "a hint" but I think you may be right about my first description being wrong. I think I've noticed that 4.17 or so "miss" being a sign in the past that prompted replacement - and just remembered it as "less than 4.2" - lol.

Sorry 'bout that!

I wouldn't call that "resisting" the last bit of voltage. If you watch during the tail end of the charge cycle, you'll see they are at 4.2V until the cycle completes, but they start to drop a bit sometime thereafter. So they're not holding the last bit of voltage. This is normal and does become more pronounced as the batteries age, but I've never seen one drop below about 4.14. It's also my observation that the effect varies a good bit depending on the battery make and model, i.e. the exact chemistry. I've got some VTC5s from 2014 that still show 4.18V or more, whereas some baby blue 25Rs also from 2014 drop down to around 4.15.

That said, I'm still quite curious what's really going on with the ones that you have (had?) that "only reach" 4.0 or 3.9, because I've personally never seen anything like that.

 

[DPLongo22]

About every two years, I've been swapping out. No particular reason, and I'm currently about 30 months in.

I may stretch this one to three years, just for S&Gs.

 

[Katya]

I'm a very low wattage MTL vaper and I rotate my batteries often.

Generally, I replace my batteries "When they run for a shorter amount of time or start giving me too many low/weak battery alerts."

Always "when they start running warmer"--either on a charger or in use.

 

[Jwaterski]

Wait, what? You have to replace batteries?

 

[Katdarling]

I'm a very low wattage MTL vaper and I rotate my batteries often.

Generally, I replace my batteries "When they run for a shorter amount of time or start giving me too many low/weak battery alerts."

Always "when they start running warmer"--either on a charger or in use.

↑↑↑ I'm with whatshername.

 

[Katya]

↑↑↑ I'm with whatshername.

I'm flattered, Kat.

 

[AngeNZ]

No, 2 for me as well

 

[Katdarling]

I'm flattered, Kat.

Don't know whether to give you a "wub", or a link to some VS undergarments...