Man Suffers Severe Burns From Exploding Cigarette

[Deleted]

Thanks for that info Macca...

things will always be abused....

Seems to be a stacking issue.... I just use 18650 batteries so not worried

jane

[Perpetua]

If it transpires ( will we ever know the full story ), that this gentleman was stacking batteries and using an unvented Mod of some description . . . then it's a recipe for disaster.

[hifistud]

The situation at the moment is that we have no solid facts. None. It's all speculation and guesswork. Nobody actually knows what the poor unfortunate was using, or, indeed, how it was being used. Until solid facts are established, the speculation doesn't help.

However, old stagers will know that there are two "confirmed" and one "rumoured" instance of injurious mis-haps concerning e-cigs over a three year period, and not one specifically tied down to a single battery configuration. That's three possibles out of the many hundreds of thousands of e-cig users. Statistically, the incidents are insignificant, and should give no cause for alarm or sensationalism.

Yes, there are things to be aware of, but there's absolutely no reason for a panic.

[alvoram]

this is VIP's statement, the quick facts bit may interest some, as seems they are saying differently to what some of you guys are saying.

First of all we would like to stress that the articles in the tabloids are unrelated to VIP or VIP products. Our types of batteries, along with 510 and KR808 models do not explode. They all have built-in digital monitoring and protection. All the above mentioned batteries have a blowout plug at the bottom and have dual protection.

VIP batteries are RoHs compliant, CE certified, tested by an independent UKAS accredited laboratory and manufacturing complies with ISO:9001 QMS. VIP Li-on batteries have dual protection (overcharge protection and short circuit protection). There is also a built-in kill switch which activates when the filter is removed during transportation.

The recently published articles have been vague and are nothing more than sensational. Not one of the articles mentions any particular brand of e-cigarette which has caused unnecessary panic among e-cigarette users. E-cigarette companies quickly voiced their concern in response and questioned if the device used was an unbranded hobbyist creation or even the result of a ‘DIY’ kit. According to sources, the incident arose by using a tube ‘modification’ with a series of stacked RC123-size battery cells, and RC123 type batteries and charger were found at the scene. We are still waiting on the official report to confirm that a ‘mod’ was used, and if so, if the mod was commercial or homemade. We will update this post accordingly.

Quick facts:

* There have been up to eight reported cases of exploding batteries
* All involved a metal tube ‘mod’ (using two batteries in series)
* All reported explosions have involved paired RC123-size cells (Stacked)
* Single-cell battery models of any kind have never been implicated in an explosion

Dangers of ‘Mods’

Thousands of ‘mods’ are currently in use in the US, but many do not incorporate safety circuitry. The most common ‘Mod’ involves ‘stacking’. All explosions with e-cigarette batteries have involved the use of a ‘Stacked Mod’. Stacking is the running of two batteries in series inside a sealed tube like chamber, similar in shape to a torch light. Using certain ‘Mods’ carries a risk and if batteries are unprotected, mismatched or not charged in pairs then the risk increases. The biggest danger lies when the battery ruptures and leaks explosive gasses. The build-up of explosive gasses trapped inside the tube has no way to escape and results in the device exploding.

General Battery Safety Tips

* Never leave a battery in a charger overnight
* Never charge a battery for longer than stated
* Never leave a battery charging while unattended
* Never carry a battery in your pocket with keys and loose coins
* Never charge a battery with a damaged adaptor
* Never attempt to modify the battery or E-Cigarette
* Always beware of static electricity
* Always use the adaptor supplied with your E-Cigarette
* Always keep your batteries away from extreme sources of heat

Millions of pounds have been spent on the development of e-cigarettes and they are designed to function without custom modification. We DO NOT recommend customers attempt any DIY ‘Mod’ or follow ‘Mod’ instructions posted on forums. If you decide to purchase a commercial ‘Mod’, make sure it incorporates safety circuitry. Normal electronic cigarettes with single cell batteries have never been involved in any of the reported incidents.

is this true, or misinformation?

[hifistud]

Feb 18, 2012 13:47:45 GMT alvoram said:

this is VIP's statement, the quick facts bit may interest some, as seems they are saying differently to what some of you guys are saying.



is this true, or misinformation?

It's PR spin, is what it is - it's not untrue, but it is primarily designed to limit any damage to them, and also paint their product as being more desirable.

alvoram - As for exploding batteries on charge - that's different to being in use. But the post you link to says "My husband bought an e cigarette from (redacted). He just went to plug it in and it pretty much exploded. The plug socket is black and there is a burning smell. (rest of post removed)"

That doesn't actually tell us much - indeed, it could have been a fuse blowing in the plug, or the charger shorting out and blowing. "Pretty much exploded" is not particularly descriptive.

[alvoram]

wasn't me that linked to that hifistud... :-[ lol... although I have seen that before, whilst I was searching, trying to find out what thread they used, I came across it somehow, but remembered thinking that it may not necessarily be their fault.

What I was wondering originally, was not so much about VIP's product, I wondered if it was true that there has been 8 cases and all have been related to stacking R123 batteries... Is that true?

[hifistud]

Mea culpa - shoulda gone to specsavers. Seriously...

No..., As far as I know - and we wracked our brains about this - we only know of two documented cases and one (recent) rumoured one. The common link is stacked batteries, at least in the two least recent cases, and, if memory serves, unprotected ones at that.

There might well have been eight different reports - on different forums - but none of the VTTV team can bring more than three cases of folks being, allegedly, injured while using an e-cig due to battery issues.

There have been a few cases of batteries going off during charging, but that's an entirely different thing altogether - and still, the numbers are very low, statistically insignificant.

[alvoram]

Thanks for that, I thought it a bit strange that people would carry on doing it if there had been so many cases already.

I have to admit, them going off in chargers is just as worrying to me, I have a desktop pc, it's base unit is down by my legs, under desk, which is where I plug in to charge... My kids use this pc also, I think I'm going to try and be careful not to charge whilst they're using it.

[hifistud]

You stand more chance of having an "adult" night out with both Cheryl Cole AND the ginger one than having an e-cig going postal on you - and pretty much the same applies to charging one from a USB port on a PC. A Mac will shut the USB port down if too much power is being drawn, as will a lot of PCs these days. There's really very little to be concerned about.

Very very little.

Which brings me back to another reason why my night out with Cheryl Cole is never gonna happen...

[dave]

From the little I have been able to discover, the figure of eight mains lead is likely to be more dangerous than the charger - they can be of very poor quality, with fake BS standard stamps on them.

[hifistud]

This got covered in depth last night on VT Talk at www.vapourtrails.tv/?p=3389 - it's well worth a watch, I feel - and there's more to cpme.

[hypnoclown]

Everytime I use my Riva I feel like I'm gonna lose my head lol hope I get over it.