Battery Guidezzzzzzzz - the build

[VapingBad]

Minor changes to the eGo section

eGo & Cigalike batteries that charge via the atomiser connection

This guide will tell you the difference between the these types link. You should ALWAYS follow the manufactures instructions and this guide is not intended to replace them. This guide has been prepared by forum members who have taken care to accurately research the information provided, but it is provided for use at your own risk and neither the forum or the members who contributed to this guide accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy of the information or advice nor for any consequence that result from following the advice.

Do's and Don'ts
• ONLY use the charger made specifically for the battery and just because the connection fits does not mean it is compatible with your battery. You could colour code them with nail varnish or tape to help identify which goes with witch.
• NEVER leave a Li-ion battery charging unattended or charge while sleeping (these batteries do not have a memory effect so just disconnect and charge them again later).
• NEVER leave an e-cig or e-liquid where pets or young children can get to it.
• NEVER leave your battery in direct sunlight or in other hot locations like your car or near the cooker.
• NEVER charge in temperatures below 5 Celsius, this will affect the long-term safety of you battery.
• NEVER charge in temperatures above 35 Celsius, this risks starting a fire.
• NEVER charge with a lead, power supply block or charger that is damaged.
• NEVER charge near heat sources like a hob, dishwasher or strong light source.
• NEVER charge near flammable items like curtains, soft furnishing or paper.
• NEVER charge where your battery or charger could get wet E.G next to the kitchen sink.
• ALWAYS remove your battery from the charger as soon as it is charged E.G. light turns green, and unplug the power supply from the mains.
• ALWAYS charge on a non-flammable surface like a ceramic plate or in a LiPo safety pouch.
• ALWAYS wipe any e-liquid or dirt off your battery and charger connection before charging, an old tea towel or some kitchen roll is ideal.
• ALWAYS use your battery's on/off or lock function when you put it in a bag or pocket, before storing or charging and especially when small children are about.
• ALWAYS dispose of old or damaged batteries safely. Do no bin them. Ask your local council where to take them, usually it will be one of their own facilities.
• NEVER over tighten your battery to your charger or atomiser.

ALWAYS dispose of your battery if:
• It becomes unusually hot, they can get warm especially when you keep them in you hand during use.
• It has been damaged I.E. dented or punctured, leaks any liquid or emits any strange odours.
• It has been submerged or dropped into water, DO NOT charge the battery even if you have dried it out.
• It does not hold a charge overnight.
• It has lost capacity.


Tips
• Store your batteries in a non-conductive container in a cool place away from flammable materials, ideally at around 40% charge for longer term storage, but never store them when fully discharged for long.
• Keep a record of the date you obtained each battery, label them ideally as it will help you predict when they are coming to the end of their life.
• Unscrewing your atomiser adds an extra level of safety over locking your battery when carrying in a bag or pocket.
• Let your battery rest for an hour or two after charging.
• Your batteries do not like the cold, they will not work well in freezing conditions.
• Having more than one battery not only gives you a backup but allows more flexibility and makes it easier to find a convenient time to charge the spare while you can be there in case anything goes wrong.

Charging set up
You need 3 things to charge these:
1) the battery, which contains a battery cell, a switch and a small circuit that provides some protection.
2) the charger, which the battery screws into and normally has a USB plug to connect to a power supply and and LED that changes colour when it is charged
3) a power supply, this could be a USB socket on your computer, a USB hub or a USB power supply that plugs into the mains (sometimes called a wall wart) or into a car cigar lighter socket. Some include the Micro USB cable.

The charger (#2) and power supply (#3) do different jobs and it is important not to confuse the two units to be able to understand this next bit. The most important thing to remember with these batteries is to ONLY use the charger (#2) supplied with your battery. If you look closely in the picture below of 3 charges that look the same, have the same fittings, but are very different electrically. The small circuit inside your battery may share the control of how the actual battery cell inside is charged with the charger unit or it may be quite dumb and accept anything its given. This could cause the battery cell inside your battery to overheat and vent gases, vent flames or even explode.



Techie detail about the picture
Unlike e-cigs that charge directly with a USB cable these devices do not have a standard output voltage, in the picture the top two output 5 V and the bottom one only 4.2 V, DC on the label stands for direct current and all batteries will be DC. Plus they all have different values for the output current in mA (mili amps, thousandths of an amp) generally the smaller the battery the smaller the amps. The battery cell inside your battery should never be given more than 4.25 V or be given too high current (amps or mili-amps) both can cause it to overheat.

These batteries are all quite small and there is no need to use a high current (amps or mili-amps) USB power supply, if you have a decent quality e-cig & charger combo in good working order it is OK to use a higher current USB supply like the one that with your SmartPhone as the battery & charger combo will only take what it needs. But you can give yourself an extra level of safety by sticking to a standard USB supply rated at 5 V DC, 500 mA or 550 mA output which should be clearly printed on the label, computer sockets can vary because later USB standards can go above this. Beware of cheap and fake USB power supplies and only buy from a reputable vendor who will only sell CE marked UK specific units.

Charging your eCig
Chose a sensible location away from any heat sources like radiators, washing machines or direct sunlight and put your battery on a flame proof surface a ceramic plate before you start. If you have the manufactures guidance on charging then follow that, but usually you turn off your battery, connect it to the charger and connect that to the power supply and turn on the mains power. Various LED lights will come on and maybe flash for a few seconds before charging starts. Typically the LED on the charger will be red while charging and turn green or blue when finished, some batteries also have an LED, sometimes in the fire button or the tip of a cigalike which also have a meaning. The exact meaning of the colour codes and flashes varies form model to model and there should be information from the vendor or manufactures about what means.

If you need to leave the room where your charging for more than a few minutes it is safest turn the mains to the charger off and disconnect the battery, you can resume charging when you get back and it won't shorten the life of your battery. If you are unwilling to do this then consider a LiPo Safe or Lipo Guard charging pouch that will provide some protection in the event the battery vents, flames of explodes.

Once charging is complete disconnect everything and ensure your battery is turned off, if you have another battery that is only half empty it may be more convenient to charge that now if you are going to be out and about later.

Some cigalike kits have a Personal Charging Case, Portable Charger Case or PCC that you can charge with while you are out and about, if this is going to be out of sight a LiPo Safe or Lipo Guard charging pouch would be a good idea.


Thermal runaway in Li-ion batteries
Li-ion batteries are pressurised, contain flammable material and can store very high levels of energy. If overheated or overcharged, Li-ion batteries may suffer thermal runaway and cell rupture. They have a pressure valve that will allow the extremely hot flammable gases and possibly liquid to escape, known as venting and even flames in extreme cases flaming. If the pressure valve fails to open an explosion can result. If venting occurs the hot spots inside the battery can potentially continue to heat until the battery combusts or dissembles (explodes). Manufacturing defects and poor design can also cause thermal runaway at any time so it is important not to risk using low quality batteries and always purchase from trusted vendors to avoid counterfeits. There are other potential factors that can cause thermal runaway mentioned in the do's and don'ts section above.


If your battery does get too hot take it outdoors and leave it in a safe place to cool if possible and keep pets away from it, then dispose of it once cool. If your battery flames or catches fire use a dry content fire extinguisher if possible or if not available water (be careful of electrical hazards such as a charger still connected to the mains). The FAA recommend immersing it in water too cool a burning battery, but RCHARGE warn of electrical hazards from large battery packs and surrounding equipment.


Maintenance
Before charging wipe any excess e-liquid from the battery connection with a dry tissue. Every couple of weeks inspect the battery, charger and connections for dirt, corrosion or physical damage. If the connections are corroded or battery or charger (including the cable) are damaged you should dispose of them safely. If the connections are dirty you can clean them with a cotton bud or similar and a solvent like Isopropanol Alcohol (IPA) or Mentholated spirit.

There are more usage tips in this thread and around the forum.

Further information
How to Prolong Lithium-based Batteries
Safety Concerns with Li-ion Batteries – Battery University

[VapingBad]

First draft of the USB charged battery section

USB charged batteries

This guide is for batteries that charge via a USB socket on your device. You should ALWAYS follow the manufactures instructions and this guide is not intended to replace them. This guide has been prepared by forum members who have taken care to accurately research the information provided, but it is provided for use at your own risk and neither the forum or the members who contributed to this guide accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy of the information or advice nor for any consequence that result from following the advice.

Many people like to use a separate USB power supply and these are often incorrectly refereed to as chargers, we will only refer to them as power supply if this guide.

Do's and Don'ts
• NEVER leave a Li-ion battery charging unattended or charge while sleeping (these batteries do not have a memory effect so just disconnect and charge them again later).
• NEVER leave an e-cig or e-liquid where pets or young children can get to it.
• NEVER leave your battery in direct sunlight or in other hot locations like your car or near the cooker.
• NEVER charge in temperatures below 5 Celsius, this will affect the long-term safety of you battery.
• NEVER charge in temperatures above 35 Celsius, this risks starting a fire.
• NEVER charge with a lead or power supply that is damaged.
• NEVER charge near heat sources like a hob, dishwasher or strong light source.
• NEVER charge near flammable items like curtains, soft furnishing or paper.
• NEVER charge where your battery or power supply could get wet E.G next to the kitchen sink.
• ALWAYS disconnect your battery from the power supply as soon as it is charged E.G. light turns green, and unplug the power supply from the mains.
• ALWAYS charge on a non-flammable surface like a ceramic plate or in a LiPo safety pouch.
• ALWAYS use your battery's on/off or lock function when you put it in a bag or pocket, before storing or charging and especially when small children are about.
• ALWAYS dispose of old or damaged batteries safely. Do no bin them. Ask your local council where to take them, usually it will be one of their own facilities.

ALWAYS dispose of your battery if:
• It becomes unusually hot, they can get warm especially when you keep them in you hand during use.
• It has been damaged I.E. dented or punctured, leaks any liquid or emits any strange odours.
• It has been submerged or dropped into water, DO NOT charge the battery even if you have dried it out.
• It does not hold a charge overnight.
• It has lost capacity.


Tips
• Store your batteries in a non-conductive container in a cool place away from flammable materials, ideally at around 40% charge for longer term storage, but never store them when fully discharged for long.
• Keep a record of the date you obtained each battery as it will help you predict when they are coming to the end of their life.
• Unscrewing your atomiser adds an extra level of safety over locking your battery when carrying in a bag or pocket.
• Let your battery rest for an hour or two after charging if possible.
• Your batteries do not like the cold, they will not work well in freezing conditions.
• Having more than one battery not only gives you a backup but allows more flexibility and makes it easier to find a convenient time to charge the spare while you can be there in case anything goes wrong.

Charging set up
You need 3 things to charge these batteries:
1) the battery or device, which contains a battery cell, a switch and a circuit that provides some protection and maybe power regulation.
2) the cable, a USB cable almost all devices use a standard Micro-B-USB male to USB-A male cable the same as the EU have standardised for mobile phone charging.

3) a power supply, this could be a USB socket on your computer, a USB hub or a USB power supply that plugs into the mains (sometimes called a wall wart) or into a car cigar lighter socket. Some include the Micro USB cable.

These batteries now come a large range of sizes and all should only be charges from a USB socket or power supply rated at 5 V DC, the voltage should always be rated at 5 V for USB. Some of the newer and larger batteries can use more than the standard USB 1 & 2 current (amps or mili-amps) of 500 mA or 0.5 A (USB 3 is 0.9 A standard and 1.5 A for dedicated charging ports). These will charge more quickly with a higher current USB power supply like the one that with your SmartPhone a reasonable quality battery will only take what it needs. Beware of cheap and fake USB power supplies and only buy from a reputable vendor who will only sell CE marked UK specific units.

Can I use any USB power supply to charge my e-cig?
Yes, in an ideal world any reasonable quality USB power supply should safely power your reasonable quality e-cig for charging. Obviously if either is faulty this is not the case. You can give yourself an extra level of safety by sticking to a USB supply rated at 5 V DC and a close to the max charge current quoted by your devices manufacture, this should be clearly printed on the label of the power supply. I always check how much current my devices are using with a USB metre available for 1 to 4 pounds on the WWW, a popular cheap one is the "USB Charge Doctor" (blue one in the photo).

These are extremely easy to use and can give you piece of mind that the battery is not using too much current when attached to a higher than standard current supply, well worth a pound or two especially with cheap devices that may be copies. Note the battery should only draw the max current for the first phase of charging which could be 3/4 or more of the total time then the current should lower to zero over the last 40 minutes to an hour. One of the most import things is that it stops charging when full as continuing to provide current to the cell will damage it and can cause thermal runaway (dangerous see below).

How do I know what current (amps) my battery should be charged at?
If you don't know how much charge current your device is rated at go by the manufactures information and if you cant find this ask the vendor you obtained it from and as a last resort ask on the forum or search the WWW. If you still can't find it assume it is 0.4 times the mAh rating (0.5 C rate adjusted for 5 V) so a 1000 mAh battery should draw around 400 mA from USB.

Pass through mode
This is using your battery to vape while being charged and should only ever be done if the manufacture states your battery supports it. When used like this power is still being taken from the battery as USB is only 2.5 W and this can shorten the life span of your battery.

Charging your eCig
Choose a sensible location away from any heat sources like radiators, washing machines or direct sunlight and put your battery on a flame proof surface a ceramic plate before you start. If you have the manufactures guidance on charging then follow that, but usually you turn off your battery, connect it to the power supply and turn on the mains power if it is mains powered. Some devices have a screen that will show the charge progress in a battery graphic and some just have a multicoloured status LED. The exact meaning of LED colour codes and flashes varies form model to model and there should be information from the vendor or manufactures about what means.

If you need to leave the room where your charging for more than a few minutes it is safest turn the mains to the charger off and disconnect the battery, you can resume charging when you get back and it won't shorten the life of your battery. If you are unwilling to do this then consider a LiPo Safe or LiPo Guard charging pouch that will provide some protection in the event the battery vents, flames of explodes.

Once charging is complete disconnect everything and ensure your battery is turned off, if you have another battery that is only half empty it may be more convenient to charge that now if you are going to be out and about later.


Thermal runaway in Li-ion batteries
Li-ion batteries contain flammable material, store very high levels of energy are some are pressurised. If overheated they can suffer thermal runaway producing a dangerous build up of extremely hot flammable gases. Cylindrical metal cased Li batteries normally feature a pressure release safety valve that will allow these gases and possibly liquid to escape before the casing ruptures, known as venting and even flames in extreme cases flaming, but if the pressure valve fails to open or is not included a rapid disassembly (explosion) can result. Flat LiPo batteries as used in many integral battery devices do not have a safety pressure relief value so will not explode, but can vent quite large flames and they could cause the device to explode if it does not have sufficient venting provision. If venting occurs the hot spots inside the battery can potentially continue to heat until the battery combusts or dissembles (explodes).

Thermal runaway can be caused by drawing too high current from the battery this could be a short circuit or running at too high wattage, charging the battery at too high current, charging the battery above it's maximum voltage, heating the battery, physical damage or shock to the battery amongst other causes. Manufacturing defects and poor design can also cause thermal runaway at any time so it is important not to risk using low quality batteries and always purchase from trusted vendors to avoid counterfeits. There are also features the best manufactures build into LiIon batteries that reduce the risks. There are other potential factors that can cause thermal runaway mentioned in the do's and don'ts section above.

If your battery does get too hot take it outdoors and leave it in a safe place to cool if possible and keep pets away from it, then dispose of it once cool. If your battery flames or catches fire use a dry content fire extinguisher if possible or if not available water (be careful of electrical hazards such as a charger still connected to the mains). The FAA recommend immersing it in water too cool a burning battery, but RCHARGE warn of electrical hazards from large battery packs and surrounding equipment.

Further information
Charging the Lithium Ion Battery
Charging the Lithium Polymer Battery
How to Prolong Lithium-based Batteries
Safety Concerns with Li-ion Batteries – Battery University
EEVblog #176 - Lithium IonPolymer Battery Charging Tutorial - YouTube

[Ripshod]

I think this is ready for publishing in the guides VB. The timing is just about right as relevant questions are being asked. You'll be able to add to it at any time.

[VapingBad]

I'm still working on the bare battery one, done 2750 words and it's not complete. I was hoping that someone with ego experience could check the description of what the LEDs mean.

[Ron]

Is this any use to your guide?

[VapingBad]

Thank's Ron, but I doubt it, maybe as a link at the bottom to the short version link there a few out there but how they vent or explode depends on the chemistry and it would be hard to explain all that plus we can't verify the videos. There is a good video of an ego venting due to the wrong charger from Staffs Fire Service that is only on FB that I considered IIRC ITV used it recently. Do let us know if you come across anything else interesting.

[keepitgoin]

Prob worth checking with Staffs Fire Service, if you think it IS decent advice then I don't think they'd mind a Link to it (our local Fire Brigade are more than up for helping out with Safety issues)

[keepitgoin]

Just wondering about Single Cell Batteries (18*** etc) advice. DONT PUT ONE IN YOUR POCKET or BAG unless it's in it's own case (or other insulating carrier)
Personal advice after experience with an 18650 2000mAh £1. 83 in loose change and my car keys!

[VapingBad]

Jan 14, 2015 23:12:09 GMT keepitgoin said:

Just wondering about Single Cell Batteries (18*** etc) advice. DONT PUT ONE IN YOUR POCKET or BAG unless it's in it's own case (or other insulating carrier)
Personal advice after experience with an 18650 2000mAh £1. 83 in loose change and my car keys!

This is the 4th item in do's & dont's

• NEVER carry your battery loose always carry in an insulated container.

I am struggling to keep the length of these down so did not add the detail.

E: just remembered not posted the current version of this as it in not content complete, so you wouldn't know.

[VapingBad]

Jan 14, 2015 23:08:21 GMT keepitgoin said:

Prob worth checking with Staffs Fire Service, if you think it IS decent advice then I don't think they'd mind a Link to it (our local Fire Brigade are more than up for helping out with Safety issues)

Shropshire posted it and referred me to Staffs, will have to try and contact them.

[keepitgoin]

Cut away VapingBad!!! This thread will be a great asset to new AND more experienced Vapers!

[VapingBad]

This was the one I mentioned for the eGo section showing what happened using the wrong charger


ITV story about the same link

[VapingBad]

The following posts are the final drafts for Batter Safety & Charging Guide  I was asked to do, sorry it has taken so long but I'm a statemented dyslexic with a Grade 3 CSE in English and find this sort of thing very challenging.  Anyway I took the day off Friday to get it finished and here it is

It has been put up in draft form for any corrections needed with spelling, grammar or structure and the required changes will be made on this first page to avoid confusing and make it easier for the mods to move when it's ready.  I have reserved the second post for things that I am aware need doing and intend to do.  I reserved the 8th post because it's late and I can't count.

So please proof read and post what needs fixing, feel free to quote a page and make corrections to the quote.

[VapingBad]

Thing that will be changed:
links added to the other battery guide & mech mod guide. done

[VapingBad]

Thank you very much for taking the time to review this.