Battery safety is a serious issue in the vaping industry. Considering the millions of people vaping in the world, problems are thankfully low. However, a number of incidents have arisen from misuse of mods and poor quality merchandise, ranging from fires to devices exploding. It’s important that all vapers understand the importance of battery safety, no matter how long you've been vaping. This is a basic guide to understanding how to care for your vape batteries.

Vapes use rechargeable lithium batteries, similar to the batteries that are used in your other electronic devices such as laptops and cell phones, however, the major difference lies in the amount of power produced by vape batteries and how they are used. Unlike cell phones and laptops batteries which are designed to discharge relatively slow, vape batteries need to create a lot of power in short bursts to heat up the coils. That’s why it is important to adhere to these safety guidelines.

Regulated & Mechanical Mods

Almost all modern vapes come with a number of built-in safety cutoffs such as short circuit protection and overheating protection (regulated mods). While some vapers choose to use mechanical mods (the original vape mod) to optimise their vaping potential. Mechanical mods use direct current and are the stripped of the safety features and circuitry that could save you from a dangerous mishap. This safety guide below is for regulated vapes, it is not recommended to buy a mechanical mod unless you have advanced knowledge of how the batteries work and "Ohms Law".  

Enclosed Batteries & Removable Batteries

Your vape will either have an enclosed battery (battery built into the device) or removable batteries. Vapes with enclosed batteries have a limited life span and need to be disposed of once the enclosed battery dies, however, vapes with removable batteries can last much longer as old batteries can be easily replaced with new ones. There are other advantages to having a removable battery, being able to remove your batteries allows external charging, however, there are extra precautions to take when battery safety is concerned.

Encased Batteries

Charge Correctly: Use the correct charger for your device and avoid overcharging your vape.  If your device charges using a USB cable, make sure the power output match your mod. If your charger has a higher voltage than your battery, you could overheat the battery or short the device. 

Don't Over Charge: A typical vape battery will take around 4 hours to charge. Leaving a battery on charge once it has reached full capacity will cause the battery to degrade. Most vape mods have an auto shut-off feature to protect a battery from overcharging, however, it is the safest practice to avoid leaving batteries on charge for longer than needed. The same can be said for running batteries flat as running a battery until it is completely dead will also cause the battery to degrade. 

Use The Correct Coils: Most mods have a limit to what kind of ohms coil they can use. Check the manual to see the range, and never go below this. This is especially important when it comes to sub ohm vaping.

Safe Vape Storage: Never leave your mod resting on a pillow or flammable material. Avoid leaving it in direct sunlight, such as on a windowsill or car dashboard, as it could heat your device to a dangerous level.

Keep Vape Locked: Always remember to keep your vape turned off/locked when you are not using it, especially when carrying it in your bag or pocket. This will avoid any chance of the fire button going off accidentally which can lead to dry burning and overheating, a real safety hazard.

Don't Let Your Vape Overheat: If vapes are unusually warm, do not use them and wait for them to cool down.

Handle Your Mod With Care: Be careful not to drop your vape, too many big knocks can cause serious damage and lead to battery venting which can be explosive. 

Safe Disposal: You should never throw your used batteries in the trash. Throwing away in the garbage can lead to fires not to mention it’s also bad for the environment. You should dispose of your batteries at your local battery disposal centre. Cosmic Ltd offers a free battery recycling service, so you can drop off your old mods or batteries at any Cosmic shop regardless of where you bought them.

Removable Batteries

Many of the above points apply to vapes with removable batteries, but there are other issues to be aware of.

Only Use Reputable Brands: There are a few major companies that make reliable 18650 batteries. They are Samsung, Sanyo, LG, and Sony. There are a few cheaper brands and knock-offs on the market selling batteries which are not made to the same manufacturing standard and/or have false amperage ratings. Exceeding the maximum amperage of your battery is dangerous, this is why it is vital to only use batteries from reputable brands.

Charge Safely: Most mods allow you to charge your battery internally via a built-in charging port, however, it is recommended to buy an external battery charger. Not only is using a dedicated charger more convenient but it can also extend the life of your batteries. You can buy a range of external chargers here:

Safe Storage: Always keep batteries in dry safe places and avoid extreme temperatures (cold or hot). It is vital that loose batteries are never stored near metal objects, loosely in pockets with metal objects (such as keys or coins) as it could start a fire. You can buy various plastic cases to house your batteries in various shapes and sizes very cheaply to easily carry around with you.  

Check Battery For Damage: On the outside of your 18650 battery, you will have a durable casing called a battery wrap. Under the wrap, is an insulator and bare metal. If your wraps are damaged at all and you can see metal on the sides, they need to be re-wrapped. You can find replacement battery wraps here.

Devices With Multiple 18650 Batteries: Keep multiple battery vape batteries together. In other words, if your mod uses two batteries, do not split these up through various devices. Keep them in use and charge together. You should never combine different types of battery in the same device.