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VAPE BATTERY SAFETY GUIDE

Our Vape Battery Safety Guide

Charging, using and storing your vaping hardware safely will help to prevent fires and injuries. This is your comprehensive guide to vape battery safety.

Vapes are powered by lithium-ion batteries. These deliver impressive energy for their size which is why they feature in virtually all portable electronic devices. Alternative power sources would need to be so large that the devices certainly wouldn't be portable!

A lithium-ion battery can power your computer or phone all day, and a bank of lithium-ion batteries will allow an electric car to travel for hundreds of miles between charges.

You might not be aware that lithium-ion batteries are far more powerful than disposable alkaline batteries and so should be treated with caution.

The potential dangers of vape batteries

Lithium-ion batteries are more dangerous than alkaline batteries as they store a greater amount energy, they are more sensitive to extreme temperatures, and they are prone to short circuits.

In the event of a short circuit, a lithium-ion battery releases its stored power instantaneously, causing enormous internal heat.

When the interior of a lithium-ion battery becomes too hot, the battery can enter a condition called thermal runaway. The battery begins to vent sparks and hot gas, causing severe burns to anyone and anything nearby. Thermal runaway can occur if a battery overheats due to improper charging.

Once a lithium-ion battery enters thermal runaway, nothing can halt the chemical reaction. The only remedy is to move the battery to a safe place, if it's possible to do so.

In the United Kingdom, most vaping-related fires occur due to improper battery charging. However, it is also possible for a vape battery to short circuit and enter thermal runaway during use or when it's carried in a pocket.

There have been many vaping-related fires. At least two of these incidents have resulted in fatalities. However, vaping technology has continued to evolve. Batteries and devices are now safer than ever. Modern vape batteries are designed to vent. This means that gases are released before they can cause an explosive event.

Troubling incidents are extremely rare these days and you can greatly reduce any danger that remains by handling and charging your batteries advisedly.

Smoking is more dangerous than vaping

Before you become overly concerned about the risk of a vape battery fire, it's important to remember that smoking is far, far more dangerous than vaping could ever be. Not only will smoking ruin your health, cigarettes remain the leading cause of domestic fires in the UK.

How to charge vape batteries and devices safely

It is best to charge vape batteries from your computer's USB port using the charging cable supplied with your device.

You should avoid charging any vaping device with a car charger unless it is one supplied by the manufacturer of that device.

If your vape is powered by removable batteries, you can safely charge the batteries in a battery charger.

Although they're rare, lithium-ion batteries with manufacturing issues do exist. In addition, the materials and separators in a battery can degrade over time. Sometimes, this can lead to a situation in which a battery becomes thermally unstable during charging.

If you're present when a battery encounters an issue during charging, you'll notice the signs such as a spark or an unpleasant smell and so can act before a fire occurs.

It's always safest to charge a battery while you're present and awake. Don't charge batteries while you're sleeping or when you are not present.

When charging a battery, it is best to place it on a stable a fire-resistant surface.

Don't charge vape batteries with a tablet or mobile phone charger

Have you ever wondered how you can charge a completely dead mobile phone to a usable battery capacity in just a few minutes? It's because a mains adapter for a tablet or mobile phone uses a stronger charging current than a USB charger generally would. The batteries for mobile devices are certified to handle those stronger currents without overheating, but the battery in your vaping device won't be.

How to use vaping batteries and devices safely

Most vaping devices boast built-in safety features that can detect issues including battery instability and short circuits. A regulated vaping device should shut itself down if it detects a potential safety issue.

A mechanical mod, on the other hand, has no such features and should never be used in a high-amperage vaping scenario or by those who don't understand the basic principles of ohms and battery safety.

Mechanical mods have been the causes of many vape battery incidents.

Here are four ways to enhance battery safety:

1. Always test resistance when building your own coils

A regulated vaping device can test the resistance of the connected tank or atomizer. That's how the device determines the appropriate operational voltage for the wattage that you select. It's also how the device detects a short circuit or unsafe current.

But if you build your own coils, would you be willing to trust your safety to your vaping device? It's far safer to use a resistance tester and check the resistance of every coil before using it.

2. Don't use any batteries that have contacted water

Wet batteries are always dangerous batteries. Most batteries will cease to function after contact with water thanks to their built-in safety features. But if you have dropped your battery into the sink or a puddle, don't attempt to use it, just in case.
3. Know the capabilities of your batteries

Every battery has a maximum discharge rate that it can safely support. This rate is expressed in amps. If your vaping device has a built-in battery, the maximum discharge rate isn't something that should greatly concern you because your device automatically limits the operational current to whatever the battery supports.

If your device has a removable battery, though, you should always acquaint yourself with the limits of your battery and you should not use an atomizer coil that would cause an unsafe discharge. In most cases, vape batteries have maximum discharge rates printed on their outer wrappers.

4. Never use batteries with visible damage

If your vaping device is powered by a removable battery, it's wise to inspect the battery periodically to confirm that it has no visible damage.

You shouldn't attempt to use a battery if its outer wrapper is damaged. The wrapper is there to ensure that no metal objects touch the battery. The entire metal casing of a battery is conductive and a portion if this casing will be exposed if the wrapper has split.

Any damage to a battery including dents and bulges could be signs of trouble and so a damaged battery should not be used and should be recycled.

How do you transport vaping batteries and devices safely?

Do not carry removeable vape batteries in your pocket! Accidents are rare but could happen. If a battery experiences a short whilst in your pocket, you could sustain a serious injury. A battery could touch metal objects in your pocket such as keys, causing a critical failure.

Transport vaping batteries in dedicated carriers

When you transport removeable batteries, place them a carrier that protects them from damage and prevents the terminals from touching other metal objects. Padded carriers and hard plastic cases for battery storage are inexpensive and easy to find.

Always turn off your vape

When transporting vaping hardware, turn it off before placing it in your bag or pocket. If your device remains switched on, you could accidentally fire it.

What about flying with your vape?

Most airlines do not permit lithium-ion batteries to be transported in checked luggage, in case the batteries cause fires. Vaping hardware should be packed in your hand luggage as any issues with batteries in passenger cabins will be easily detected and dealt with.

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