11 Battery Safety Tips to Keep You Protected
by Spyros Papamichail (vaping360.com)
Vape batteries are not like your remote-control AAs. They
are much more powerful cells that need to be handled carefully. And while
battery safety tips may seem like common sense to those who are in the know,
new vapers are often handed a vape mod and a couple of 18650s without any
advice on how to properly handle them.
Read on to find out the basics of battery safety, but bear
in mind that this is not a mechanical mod safety guide; for that, you will need
a solid understanding of Ohm’s law and much more info than what can be covered
in this beginner’s guide. But if you own a regulated vape mod that is powered
by batteries such as 18650s or 21700s, this guide is for you.
Keep wraps intact
Always make sure that the wraps of your batteries are in
pristine condition. If you notice a nick on the battery wrap, the safe thing to
do is to re-wrap it. Battery wraps are cheap and very easy to put on. If you
don't have wraps, visit your local vape shop. Most shops will wrap your
batteries for free and it won't take more than a couple of minutes. Check out
Mike Vapes’ video on how to quickly and easily rewrap your batteries.
Use the right batteries
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Use battery cases
Never throw batteries in pockets or bags when not in
use.
Get yourself some cheap plastic
battery cases instead, as unprotected batteries might short circuit when they
come in contact with metal objects. This may cause your battery to vent and
potentially explode. Battery cases are a great solution for carrying your cells
and they come in a variety of materials and designs.
Watch out for counterfeits
Counterfeit batteries are unfortunately a thing, with the
big three (Sony, Samsung, Panasonic) being the most commonly counterfeited
brands due to their higher price tag. Always buy batteries from reputable
vendors, as those will go out of their way to make sure their batteries are
authentic.
Don't leave your batteries charging unattended
Even when using a charger, having your batteries charging
unattended is never a good idea—especially overnight. Although very rare,
battery chargers are electronic devices and failures are not unheard of. Always
keep an eye on your charging batteries and place them in battery cases when you
are not around.
Don't over-drain your batteries
If possible, try to not completely drain your batteries —
lithium-ion batteries tend to lose more capacity the further you let them
discharge. Most mods will come with some form of battery level indication.
Taking your batteries out to charge before they are completely drained will
prolong their life, i.e. the number of cycles you will be able to get out of
them.
Avoid extreme temperatures
Vape batteries can tolerate low and high temperatures, but
you wouldn’t want to test their limits. Higher temperatures will strain your
batteries, making them age faster (or even vent), while colder temperatures
take a toll on battery capacity. Make sure you store them in a cool place away
from sunlight and never ever leave them stored in places like the glove
compartment of your car where temperatures might exceed their safety range. If
you live in an area where the temperatures frequently get extreme, consider
carrying your vape device and batteries in a small insulated lunch cooler—but
remember that your batteries should always be carried inside their own battery
case.
Use married batteries
If you are using a mod that takes more than one battery, always use the exact same batteries (for example, a pair of Sony VTC5s) and keep them married, i.e. use them in pairs and always together—it’s a safe practice. This will ensure that the cells get the same number of charges/discharges and help delay imbalances in capacity and performance
Replace old batteries
Batteries are only good up to a certain number of cycles
(full charge to full discharge). Lithium-ion batteries will start losing
capacity and strength when used extensively for long periods of time. If you
sense that your battery takes less time to discharge, just replace it. Even if
you haven’t noticed something out of the ordinary, replace your batteries after
six months to a year, depending on how often you use them..
Recycle old batteries
When replacing old batteries, always recycle them instead of
throwing them away. A lithium-ion cell can easily short-circuit in the trash
can, which is a serious hazard risk. On top of that, recycling batteries is
good for the environment. Keep an eye for battery disposal boxes and follow
safety instructions when recycling your old batteries.
