When it comes to your vape, the battery is a key component for both function and safety. And understanding more about the battery will help you come to grips with the safety more easily.
The lithium-ion batteries in your vape are the same as the ones in your phone and medical devices. They are perfectly safe, but only because the user takes care of them.
Unfortunately, some media coverage has created the idea that vape batteries are like unstable sticks of dynamite ready to blow up in teenagers’ pockets.
But in reality, lithium batteries are everywhere, there’s probably a handful just beside you. And if you take the appropriate safety measures, as with any electrical device, your batteries are completely safe.
So, what are the common battery types and how do you ensure their safety?
Let’s answer those questions now.
Vape Battery Safety: What You Need to Know
Common Vape Battery Types
Most vapes take a battery that looks like a tall, chubby cousin of the usual household AA battery - typically 18500, 22500, and alike. The numbers on these batteries are quite simple to understand, the first two numbers are the diameter (18mm), then height (65mm) and a zero to indicate the shape is cylindrical (0) 18650.
The best advice we can give you is to never buy your vape batteries from DHGate, shady eBay/TradeMe sellers or AliExpress. The reason for this is that counterfeit batteries are hard to identify. Sellers could cover an unsafe battery with the wrap of a reputable brand like Samsung and market it as such for a high markup.
To avoid a nasty surprise, always buy from a trusted retailer to ensure your battery and devices are going to be safe – VAPEBOX has a selection of authentic OEM batteries to check out.
The Best Way To Charge Your Batteries
A lot of people think charging wires are universal: Simply pick up any charger you have around the house, stick it in your vape and charge it. This is not the case. The voltage of your charger needs to be equal to the voltage of the battery inside of your device.
For example, if using the typical 18650 batteries, you want a charger that is capable of providing a voltage of 4.2. Over time, if given a higher voltage, this can cause a battery to short.
Using the charging port to charge your battery while it is still inside your device is completely fine, and most popular brands of vape devices have adequate safety measures to allow for this. However, using an external charger to charge your device is not only often easier and faster, but it can be safer.
The NiteCore i4 Charger is an example of one of these external chargers. Typically, external chargers will monitor the charge on the cell and what power it is entering the batteries. It checks for specific guidelines, and cuts the voltage absolutely when the charging cycle is complete. Not only that, but the Nitecore i4 device also allows you to charge four batteries in parallel, ideal if you’re not going to be home most of the day.
How To Protect Your Vape Batteries
The truth is, a lithium battery can still explode if you don’t take care of it. No, they’re not going to randomly pop in your pocket one day. With appropriate user precautions, your vape device batteries will be perfectly safe. Here are some of our best vape battery safety tips:
Marry Them
A good habit to get into is marrying your batteries. If you use a device that takes a pair of batteries, make sure they’re of the same type, and NEVER MISMATCH batteries. Doing so will create an unstable voltage that can damage the internals of the batteries. If you have several batteries, it might pay label each with the type of battery and the date manufactured so it makes it easy to always marry your batteries.
Store Them
Store your batteries appropriately – especially if you have more than two you interchange. Don’t leave your batteries in your car unless they are somewhere cool. Excess warmth will damage the batteries, as well as peel away the protective wrapping surrounding them – eventually leading to further damage.
Plastic vape battery cases are a good way to keep batteries safe from any physical trauma such as dropping them. If you live in a colder part of the country, you might want to keep your batteries tucked in at night. Having batteries below freezing temperature for a prolonged period can lead to permanent damage of the internal chemistry. This can result in an unstable reaction once thawed out.
Be Vigilant
If you notice anything unusual about your batteries, such as a peeling wrapper, denting or bubbling chemicals underneath the wrap, don’t use them! Batteries are typically inexpensive compared to a house fire, so get to browsing, and maybe upgrade to a better-quality battery to treat yourself.
What To Do If You Have A Vape Battery Problem
Do your batteries feel hot when you’re using your device? Then they’re not doing their job properly and something is making them leak heat. And the truth is: If you think you have some sort of vape battery issue, they’re too hot or the wrapping is coming undone, then simply dispose of them responsibly.
It’s better to be safe by getting rid of faulty batteries and purchasing new ones rather than trying fixes to hold onto them. Batteries hold flammable chemicals and are best left untampered with.
So, if you think you are having vape battery issues, the first thing to do is to check that the issues are actually stemming from the battery. The first step is to clean the contacts of your vape and battery, and make sure they’re appropriately saddled in your box mod. Then if the problem remains, check the wraps aren’t damaged, make sure they aren’t touching unintentional conductive material, and then try to fire the device.
If the problem persists, it is best to simply replace them – VAPEBOX has a selection of great batteries available, ready for you to take steps in replacing any unsafe batteries.
