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Our mission is: Advocate (for vapers and consumers), Inform (the public and government) and Educate (smokers and other members of the public) about electronic vapourisers and e-cigarettes.
Battery Safety
The voice of Vapers for Vapers in New Zealand
Vaping batteries are extremely safe when used correctly. There are a few handy tips and things you need to know to ensure you're using your vaping batteries correctly. It is very important to look after the batteries you use for vaping - battery safety is paramount. Both built in(internal) batteries and removable batteries must be treated with care to avoid unnecessary stress on your vape batteries which can lead to problems such as overheating and in rare cases venting. Vape batteries, like any rechargeable battery (e.g.mobile phones), will only have problems ifthey are not treated correctly.
INTERNAL BATTERIES:
Built in are very safe batteries when used correctly. They are similar to the batteries in mobile phones actually. The most important things to bear in mind when usinga mod with anintegrated battery:
Charge correctly- use the correct charger for your mod. Each modcomes with a charging cable. It isvery importantto connect your charger to a suitable wall plug. DO NOT USE HIGH AMP WALL CHARGERS. Wall chargers such as those used to fast charge Samsung phones are NOT suitable for charging mods. The amp output on the wall plugshould be no more than 1-2 amps depending on what mod you are using. Check your mod instruction manual to ascertain the level of amps it can handle.
MECHANICAL MODS AND BATTERY SAFETY:
In vaping, “unregulated mods”, also known as mechanical mods have no circuitry or safety protections. They are simply metal tubes into which a vaping battery is inserted. This means you should take extra safety precautions when using a mechanical mod. Common vape devices we see that are considered “unregulated mechanical tube mods” are single 18650 tube mods, single 26650 tube mods, serial box mods, and parallel box mods. THESE ARE FOR ADVANCED USERS who have knowledge of Ohms Law and Battery Safety.
Storage- always leave your mod in a safe place away from flammable materials. To be safe we recommend removing the tank from the mod before leaving it overnight. Do not leave your mod in direct sunlight as this can lead to overheating.
Handle with care- keep your mod safe. Dropping your mod can cause internal damage that can lead to venting. We recommend using a silicone sleeve with your device to minimise the possibility of damage.
Do not overcharge- most mods have auto shut off function that stops the mod from overcharging. This is the same for phones and most rechargeable devices. Despite these safety features we do not recommend leave ANY electronic device on charge for an extended period of time. Taking your mod off charge once it is full is the safest practice and we recommend taking this course of action.
REMOVABLE BATTERIES:
The other style used in vaping mods is the external battery mod. These are mods that utilise rechargeable, removable battery cells. The advantage of this style of mod is that when a battery loses capacity, as all batteries lose capacity through time, it is easily replaced with a new battery. The most common style of battery is the 18650 size.
Charge your batteries safely- some mods offer on-board charging meaning you can charge the batteries within the mod itself. Check to see if your mod offers this as some mods have USB inputs purely for firmware updates only, not charging. Attempting to charge through firmware update ports can damage your mod. We highly recommend purchasing an external battery charger regardless of whether your mod can be charged internally. A dedicated battery charge is not only safer and more convenient but it also extends the life of both your batteries and your mod by putting less stress on them.
Check your batteries for damage regularly - your batteries must be kept in perfect condition. Any damage to the outside cover of the battery (like tears) means your battery needs to either be repaired or replaced.
Use a battery case- if you are travelling with your batteries we highly recommend using a battery case to keep your batteries safe. The worst possible thing is to put lose batteries in you pocket with things like keys which, if angled in the wrong position,can cause your battery to short and potentially vent in your pocket! Battery cases ensure your batteries are held in a position where they are safe.
Buy quality batteries- there are a lot of counterfeit batteries available. Buy batteries only from reputable NZ Vape Vendors (vtanz.org.nz) and only buy brand name batteries, such as SONY (VTC range), Samsung and LG as these are reputable brands and their batteries are great. Treat any unknown brand or any battery with unusually high capacity/amps with caution as it is likely they are poor quality and/or have been intentionally mislabelled.
AVCA would like to thank Vapo () for their assistance in putting together this battery safety booklet for your reference. Use of this information does not infer any liability upon either AVCA or Vapo and is provided for information purposes only.