Practicing good battery safety is essential to keeping your vaping journey a safe one. The 18650, 20700 and 21700 batteries used in vaping devices are powerful cells and they receive a lot of negative attention. We’ve all heard the stories of vapes exploding and causing injury. But the fact is that vaping batteries are actually extremely safe when cared for and used correctly.
The batteries used in vaping devices are the same composition as batteries used in cellphones and laptops: lithium-ion. Lithium ion batteries have long been used for their performance and safety in nearly every battery powered device that has come out in the last few decades. Why then, do vaping batteries get so much hate?
You see, it’s in how they’re used. The batteries in major electronics are tested to meet the highest levels of stress that the device can demand. For instance, cell phone batteries are tested to ensure that no matter how much power the cell phone demands, it will never exceed the battery limit.
Vaping batteries on the other hand are used in different devices with different coils and with different amperage demands. This means that from one device to the next, the stress being put on a vaping battery can be very different and the demands can very well exceed the limits of the battery. This is when explosions happen and you hear about it on the news the next day.
There’s no need to be alarmed though — explosions are 100% avoidable if you properly treat and take care of your batteries. When you hear horror stories of exploding batteries, it almost always comes down to user error.
Follow these battery safety tips for vaping and you’ll never have a problem. Keep in mind that if you’re using a mechanical mod, you should also have a firm understanding of Ohm’s Law.
#1. Stay Within Amperage Limits
Staying within the amperage limit of your battery is especially important when using a mechanical mod. All batteries have a limit on the amperage that they can safely output without becoming overstressed.
Always stay well within the amperage limit of your battery. Most batteries are only rated up to 20-25A so be sure that you’re not pulling more amps than your battery can handle. If you’re using a mechanical mod, check out our guide to Ohm’s Law for safe vaping to learn how to calculate the amount of amps that your build will pull from your battery.
Also, don’t trust the amp limit printed on the battery itself as this is often overstated. Instead, check out our list of best batteries for accurate ratings.
#2. Use Authentic Batteries
Using authentic batteries is a must. Counterfeit batteries will often be rewraps of cheaper and less capable batteries. To ensure that you’re buying a genuine battery, only buy from reputable vendors like the ones on our list of best online vape stores. These vape shops only sell authentic batteries so you can be sure that what you’re getting is the real deal.
#3. Check Your Wraps
Damaged battery wraps can cause your batteries to malfunction. Regularly inspect your battery wraps for damage and if you find any knicks or tears, replace the wraps immediately. You can purchase replacement battery wraps online or from most brick and mortar vape shops.
Rewrapping a battery is easy. All it takes is a hair-dryer or hot air gun and a few minutes of your time. If you don’t want to do it yourself, most vape shops are happy to help and will do it for you. Just remember to say please and thank you!
#4. Don’t Carry Loose Batteries
Never carry your vaping batteries loose in your pocket or bag. If the battery comes into contact with a metal object it can cause a short-circuit. This can cause the battery to vent and explode. Instead, purchase a battery case to carry around your batteries. This will keep your battery wraps intact and keep you safe too.
#5. Don’t Charge Batteries Unattended
Although it rarely happens, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Like any electronic device, battery chargers can sometimes malfunction. Don’t leave your batteries charging overnight or while you’re out of the house. Keep an eye on charging batteries and store them safely in a battery case when you’re not around.
#6. Use a Dedicated Charger
The majority of vaping devices have a charging port built-in — but that doesn’t mean that you should charge your batteries in the mod. It’s okay to charge your batteries in a mod sometimes, like if you’re stuck without your charger, but don’t make it a habit.
Vaping mods are built to vape with, not to charge. Charging through your mod can lead to uneven battery charging and this can reduce the lifespan of your batteries.
The best way to charge your vape batteries is using a dedicated vaping battery charger. These chargers are relatively inexpensive and are built for one purpose and one purpose only: to safely and evenly charge your batteries.
Using a dedicated charger will prolong the life of your batteries and ensure that they charge safely, too.
#7. Replace Old Batteries
If you’ve been using the same batteries for a while then it might be time to change them. If you’re noticing that you’re getting less vaping time than you used to or that your batteries just don’t hold a charge, it might be time to buy new ones.
Batteries lose their ability to hold a charge after a while and they also become less stable. Purchasing a new set of batteries will give you longer vaping times and keep you safer. Check out our list of the best vaping batteries to find out which batteries are right for your needs.
#8. Marry Batteries
No, they won’t need an official ceremony! Marrying your batteries is when your pair two or three batteries to be used together. For a dual battery device, you’ll want to purchase two new batteries rather than pair two batteries that have been used in single battery devices.
Pairing batteries is essential because it means that the two batteries will have the same charge and discharge rates. If you mix and match batteries, one battery may discharge faster than the other and this can cause undue stress on the other battery.
Once batteries are paired, only use them together. Don’t separate paired batteries to use them in single battery devices and then pair them again.
#9. Avoid Extreme Temperatures
Batteries are not meant to be stored or operated in extreme cold or hot temperatures. If you’re storing your batteries, take care to use a battery case and make sure that they aren’t in direct sunlight or an otherwise hot place. Likewise, don’t store your batteries in extremely cold places like your basement or garage.
Extreme temperatures can degrade and even damage batteries which can make them unsafe for use.
Conclusion
It’s easy to stay vape safely when you know what to do and what not to do. Hopefully our list of battery safety tips helped you and taught you something that you didn’t know. Vape on, stay safe and stay Versed!
Make sure you use the batteries and chargers recommended on this site (don’t buy protected batteries as they won’t fit) and read the section on Ohm’s law. Unprotected batteries can be safe but you have to be vigilant. Don’t go off and buy whatever battery you feel like and even though this article says you can wrap your own batteries, don’t do it unless you are experienced with electronics.
One thing that should be mentioned here is the difference between protected and unprotected batteries. I often buy powerful flashlights that use 18650 batteries, except those require protected batteries, which feature onboard chips and other safety features that prevent the batteries from drawing too much power and overheating (or exploding). Unprotected batteries don’t have these safety features, so manufacturers create battery packs (for laptops, power tools, etc.) that use several unprotected batteries wrapped together with PCBs attached that can monitor current and power and stop the battery from overloading/overheating. Vaping mods lack this safety feature because they require unprotected batteries. Do your homework!
Hey Jason,
Thanks for the comment and for the additional information.
While you’re correct that mods use regular, ‘unprotected’ batteries, the job of a good, regulated mod is to provide these additional safety features and act like that protection pack.
99.9% of regulated (non-mechanical) vape mods have a chipset that prevents overcurrent, overheating, reverse-polarity, etc… However, you’re definitely correct that vapers should use a battery that can handle the kind of amperage that they will be drawing from their mod, and that vapers should know their Ohm’s law to be able to calculate what kind of battery they need and how much power that battery can support for the resistance of the coil that they are using.