E-cigarettes: how to handle the battery safely
After the email, the e-bike, and the e-ID, the e-cigarette and vape have now become the new normal for (ex)-smokers. Since such a cigarette operates on batteries, it is wise to take some precautions before you start 'vaping'. This eliminates the risk of a faulty device.
How does an e-cigarette work?
A regular cigarette works through a simple interplay of air and fire. When inhaling, oxygen flows through the cigarette causing the tobacco to burn. With an e-cigarette, it's different: a battery provides power to a coil, which heats up and thereby vaporizes a liquid.
What batteries are in an e-cigarette?
The batteries you find in a vape are mostly lithium-ion batteries. These have several advantages, including being rechargeable and being able to store more energy. The major disadvantage is that they can swell, catch fire, or even explode if used incorrectly.
E-cigarettes often use built-in batteries that you can charge with a cable. Some models operate on removable batteries that you can take out and replace. There are various sizes of batteries and the capacity can also vary (expressed in mAh, milliampere-hour, or in A, amperes). The more mAh a battery has, the longer it lasts before needing to be recharged. Always match the battery to your vape. The number of amperes represents the maximum peak load. If your device pulls currents of 40A? Then definitely do not put a 20A battery in it.
Disposable vapes: don't just throw them away!
Disposable vapes are more popular today than ever. Especially among teenagers, they have become a real trend, undoubtedly because of the fun colors and tasty flavors. Unfortunately, the term 'disposable' too often leads to confusion, because you absolutely should not just throw away that colorful e-cigarette. The lithium-ion battery it contains can indeed pose a danger if it ends up with the regular trash. Moreover, it still contains many scarce resources that need to be recycled.
The battery of the disposable vape is built-in. Therefore, you cannot remove it to take it to a Bebat collection point. So, what should you do? Take the entire device to a Recupel collection point. At Recupel, the battery will be removed by professionals and sent to Bebat. This way, it will definitely end up in the right place for recycling!
Prefer not to have a defective e-cigarette? Here are our 13 tips!
There can be various reasons why a battery fails, or in worse cases, overheats or even explodes. These tips can prevent a lot of mishaps:
- If you're buying a new vape, choose a model with built-in safety features against overheating, ventilation openings, and a lock function for the button.
- Do not experiment by modifying your e-cigarette or using batteries that are unsuitable for your e-cigarette. Do not remove or disable safety mechanisms.
- Only charge the batteries of your e-cigarette with the original charger. Do not use your smartphone charger or another device’s charger, even if it seems to fit perfectly. Other chargers can send much more power to the e-cigarette, increasing the risk of overheating. Do not charge the batteries overnight next to your bed or when you are not at home.
- Only use the batteries intended for your e-cigarette. Not all vapes work on all batteries. Not just because they don't fit, but also because some batteries are much more powerful than the vape can handle. Ask the seller for advice if you need new batteries. Small batteries can last about 200 to 250 charging cycles, while larger batteries can last about 300 to 350 charges.
- If your e-cigarette has two separate batteries, replace them simultaneously. Combining batteries that are not from the same brand, type, capacity, wear, and age can lead to overloading one of the batteries.
- Ensure the battery does not get wet from the vapor liquid. Keep it dry and clean. A battery that gets wet can cause a short circuit.
- Do not charge the battery at high or low temperatures, but at room temperature. Remove the battery from the charger when it is charged. It is best not to charge the battery to full capacity, but that is not always feasible.
- A lithium-ion battery should not be discharged too deeply. If this happens, permanent damage can occur. Almost all types of e-cigarettes have a safety mechanism to prevent this.
- Keep the battery and battery contact points clean. Always check the battery for leaks in the electronic cigarette. Especially in the threading, a drop of moisture can sometimes occur, moisture that is not immediately visible to the naked eye.
- Do not store your battery or e-cigarette in direct sunlight. Do not leave them in the car or on the windowsill in front of the window during summer, otherwise, they can explode. Store batteries cool, dry, or at room temperature.
- Always ‘lock’ your e-cigarette when placing it in the bag. This prevents you from accidentally activating the vaper when it is not intended.
- If you are traveling by plane, keep your batteries in the carry-on luggage. Make sure to pack your loose batteries so that they cannot come into contact with other objects in your carry-on (or in your pants pocket), such as coins and keys. A short circuit is quickly made. You can buy handy sleeves in stores to store your loose batteries in.
- Do not use damaged batteries. Even if only the label appears damaged, it is advisable not to use the battery anymore. Never remove a label from a battery, but buy a loose label that you can slide over the damaged one and shrink around the battery with a hairdryer.
If the batteries of your e-cigarette are definitively empty or worn out, bring them, like all other used batteries, to a Bebat collection point.
