Vape Batteries: A Comprehensive Guide – II

What kind of battery life can you expect?

It is almost impossible to predict accurate battery life because it depends on:

• the length and frequency of your inhales
• how you charge and maintain your device
• individual battery sizes and makes
• the voltage or wattage you use (variable voltage/wattage batteries only)
• the coil you are using in your tank

For example, a battery will last a lot longer for someone who takes short drags than for someone who takes very long drags. If you maintain your device better, the battery will last longer between charges. And if you use a lower-resistance coil, you’ll use more power and the battery won’t last as long.

The huge range of possible settings makes it virtually impossible to estimate how long a battery will last. There is such a big difference between vaping at 20W and 80W that the variation in the number of puffs would be massive. 

However, you can safely assume you will be able to vape for the best part of a whole day on a single charge of any modern variable wattage mod or pod mod. You may be able to use your device for longer than a day with higher-capacity batteries .

9 ways to maximize the life of your vape batteries

1. Storage: Store your battery in a cool, dark place, especially if storing for a long period of time. If you do plan to store the battery for a lengthy period, try to make sure it has at least a 40% charge. This allows for some discharge while ensuring enough power is retained to keep the protection circuit alive. Some sites recommend fully charging batteries before storing.
2. Use Regularly: Most vape batteries are designed to be used daily.
3. Charge Before Fully Drained: Battery Universityargues that a partial discharge stresses the battery less than a full discharge. If you can charge your battery before it is completely empty (ideally when it is around 20%) capacity you should improve its lifespan.

 With variable wattage devices, vaping at very high wattages (close to the maximum on your device) will also put strain on the battery if it’s nearly empty. This is another reason to charge sooner rather than later if possible.

4. Don’t fully charge the battery

The opposite is also true, and not fully charging your battery may also extend life. However, many manufacturers display fully charged when the battery is at 90% of capacity for this reason.

5. Don’t charge the battery too often

In the same vein, charging too often (i.e. putting a little bit of charge and then vaping till the battery is dead) can reduce life span quickly. Try to keep within the parameters above (don’t fully charge, don’t allow the battery to fully discharge.  

6. Take Care of your Battery: See maintenance tips below.
7. Turn off when not using: This is especially important if you are carrying the battery in a bag or in your pocket, as pressure can cause device to vape. This not only drains your battery but could also ruin your coil.
8. Keep out of high temperatures and direct sunlight. If your battery gets too hot this can contribute to wear and tear.
9. Use a case to protect your battery: Batteries can get banged around and pick up fluff and dust in pockets. For the best possible care, carry your battery in an vape case. If you’re carrying a separate battery for a mod, it’s very important to keep it in a plastic case so it doesn’t touch something metallic in your pocket and cause a short.

Battery safety

Lithium ion batteries are highly effective at producing power despite their small size.Unfortunately, the properties and chemicals used in a Lithium ion battery also mean that any lithium ion battery has the potential to explode.

Lithium batteries contain lithium, sodium, potassium and other highly flammable and volatile elements. If you tossed these into water on their own you would get an explosion. When a cell does overheat, it can lead to a chain reaction which can cause either battery swelling or explosions.

Fortunately, modern design means that explosions are very rare (an estimated one in ten million according to Battery University). 

However, an overheating battery can still cause problems. This can be caused by a defect, such as a short circuit or improper insulation between the cells of the battery, or by mishandling.

If there is a short circuit inside the battery, this allows current to flow.  This produces heat and damages the insulation, and making the problem worse. After the battery reaches a certain temperature, this breakdown can’t be stopped and the battery could go into “thermal runaway” and either explode or vent hot gas. 

Again, though, it’s important to stress that this is a very rare occurrence, especially if you use your battery safely. Even when a battery does go wrong, modern vape devices are designed to vent, not explode. It will still make you jump, but damage will be limited. Most standard lithium ion vape batteries have been also designed with overcharge protection. This senses when too much voltage is being pushed into the battery and then stops the battery from accepting any more charge. 

As additional protection, there is a fusing system built into the battery. This is designed to blow should a battery over discharge, and a circuit behind buttons limiting the amount of time the battery can be activated at any one time.

It’s important to note that it’s highly unlikely you will get a battery explosion. Most problems in the past have occurred when vapers have modified their own batteries, and modern vape batteries come with a number of safeguards built in.

However,  despite testing, fuse protection and overcharge protection, there’s always a small chance of a defect with an individual battery. This is very unlikely to occur, but it’s important to remember that you need to take precautions no matter how many safety features are included on the battery. To minimize the risk, take the following precautions:

6 Ways To Maximize Vape Battery Safety

1. Don’t mix and match

Only charge a battery with the charger that was provided with the battery, or which has been specifically supplied for that battery. While chargers may look similar, the voltage output can be different.

Charge a battery from one supplier with a charger from another supplier and you could cause problems. If you don’t have the original charger that provided with the battery, the most important thing to look at is the voltage output of the charger. This has to match the input voltage on the battery you’re charging. The current (in amps) should ideally match too, but since the device you attach only asks for as much current as it needs, having too high an amp rating on your charger isn’t too important (although it may reduce your battery’s lifespan over a long period of time).

2. Buy From A Reputable Source

One battery explosion occurred in the US when a vaper bought cheap batteries online to use with his vape kit. Always buy your batteries from a reputable source, and never knowingly use counterfeit products.

3. Safe Charging

Don’t charge your battery overnight or when you are out of the house. For safety, charge your battery on a non-combustible surface.

If you have a manual battery, switch it off before charging.

4. Overcharge Protection

Check with your supplier to make sure your battery has overcharge protection. All batteries on E-Cigarette Direct come with overcharge protection. 

5. Carry Batteries Safely

If you use a mod that takes separate batteries, carrying the batteries safely is absolutely essential. Without a plastic case, keys, coins or other metallic objects in your pocket could touch the terminals of the battery and cause a short circuit. 

The cases are very affordable, but if you don’t use one you risk a battery explosion, so you should always use one when you carry loose batteries in your pocket.

6. Discard damaged batteries

If you see any visible sign of battery damage, including tears in 18650 batteries, discard  them immediately. 

Battery Maintenance

Clean Battery Terminals. There’s nothing complicated here, simply screw up some tissue paper and give the terminals a rub. A cotton bud can be used if harder cleaning is required. For the most effective cleaning, use a cotton swab soaked in rubbing alcohol to clean the terminal. Allow the battery a few seconds to dry before using.

Keep Batteries Charged. As explained above, keeping some charge in your battery can extend the life of your battery, especially if you go some time without using it.

Battery Storage

• Switch the battery off when not in use.
• Disconnect from tanks/cartridges.
• Avoid a full discharge before storage. Aim for around 50% charge if you’re storing for a long time.
• Store batteries at low temperatures.

Troubleshooting

Device Doesn’t Produce Vapour

1. Check the cartridge or tank is not empty. If you are using a tank you can easily see the level of eliquid, if not, you may need to try another cartridge to be absolutely sure.
2. Ensure battery terminal is clean.
3. Ensure tank/cartridge thread is clean.
4. Ensure battery terminal is connecting with the tank/cartridge.
5. Test the battery with another tank to make sure that the issue is with the battery, and not with the tank. If the tank has an issue, try cleaning the tank
6. If using a sub ohm tank such as the Cleito Exo, try changing the coil in the tank.

Battery Light Stays On

1. Gentlytap the led side of the battery on a wooden surface.
2. Remove battery from the tank/cartridge and inhale and exhale from the battery.
3. Blow gently at the LED light (for cigalike devices).
4. Allow battery to completely discharge and then recharge. This should be the last step as allowing the battery to discharge completely is not good for the battery life.

If all troubleshooting steps fail, you may need a new battery. If your battery is relatively new, check your warranty, as most batteries come with a guarantee.

Battery is Dead

Assuming the battery has recently been charged, try leaving the battery for 24 hours at room temperature, and then recharging it. You should also make sure the battery terminal is clean and free from fluff – if not, give it a rub with a piece of tissue, a cotton bud or an alcohol wipe.

Travelling with Batteries

As with storing batteries, you should disconnect batteries from the cartridges/tanks and turn off manual batteries. Most airlines do not allow you to carry lithium ion batteries in your hold luggage, so you may need to place your batteries in your carry on luggage. If unsure, check with your airline.

Disposing of Vape Batteries

All vape batteries eventually come to the end of their life, and it’s important to dispose of them correctly. 

Vape batteries should not be put in regular rubbish. Some councils do collect batteries. If your council doesn’t collect batteries, the best thing to do is either: 

1. Take it to your local recycling centre. Recycle Now can help you find the one closest to you. 
2. Return it to your local vape shop. Most vape shops will take back batteries they have sold under the WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment recycling) scheme.