When to charge Li-Ion and IMR batts?

[Vaporologist]

For the past four months I've been using the Tornado/Ego. As you know, it's pretty simple: when the battery is dead, the light blinks 30 times, charge it and you're good to go. Yesterday, I received my Chameleon. I purchased two AW RCR123 Li-Ion 3.7V and two AW 16340 IMR High Drain 3.7V batteries to test them and see which ones I like better before I purchase a larger stock. I have not used them in pairs at HV yet until I fully understand how to use them properly and be safe. Therefore I've only used a single cell at 3.7V with LR atty and need some guidance before I move up. I'm anxious to try my XHV 801 atty.

I'm not exactly sure when is the battery officially dead and needs recharging. I obviously notice a decrease in performance but how far do you go. I purchased a multimeter and have tested them. When they come of the TR-001 charger they test at 4.18 and 4.19V. After using them for a few hours, they have tested as low as 3.47V. I'm not sure if it's OK to let them drain that low especially when they will be used in pairs for HV vaping.

Also, while they are new, should they get drained completely, will doing that help or hurt their longevity and performance?

Is it advised to take them of the charger as soon as the light turns green or can they stay there for a while? I remember that with my Tornado it was suggested that when charging batteries for the first time to leave them on the charger for 8 hrs even if the light turned green sooner and not recharge them until they are completely drained.

Along with answering my questions, if you could also suggest some specific threads to read, it would be appreciated. Thanks a lot for your help in advance.

 

[Houdini]

First off you can leave them on charge after the light turns green without hurting anything. The charge circuit turns off and they stop charging so you get no benefit leaving them on but it won't hurt either. They don't need to be drained completely new or old. I've been using 2 3v lipo's for 5 months. When the throat hit and vapor start decreasing I always put the atty near my ear and listen for any crackling from it and when I hear nothing is when I charge the batteries. I've had mine down under 2 v. before charging without problems. If they are protected you should'nt have any problems.