First things first, just as is the case with your smartphone, laptop and many other digital gadgets you may own (like an iPod, if you still have one kicking around), the vast majority of e-cigarette devices and/ or mod kits are powered by lithium ion batteries. The reason for this is simple – and pretty guessable – such batteries are terrific when it comes to holding on to and emitting energy once they’re charged; so much so, in fact, they tend to enable portable devices to run on just one cell. Yet, if you’re new to the vaping game, there’s a few things you should know and bear in mind when it comes to using such batteries.
Charging
Lithium ion batteries are (in the main) very easy to charge; that said, it’s critical you remove any attachments you may have connected to the battery before you try charging it. So, be sure that the likes of cartomisers, clearomisers, atomisers, tanks, skins and all and every other type of accessory is removed and put aside in a safe place.
Next, bearing in mind you must only charge the battery with a unit originally included in the e-cig kit as you purchased it and definitely don’t proceed if it’s been modified or damaged (as is the case with chargers and their mobile phones, for instance), it’s also crucial you charge the battery as outlined in the instructions that came with your e-cig device. Additionally, you must ensure you don’t rely on a charger whose mAh (storage) rating exceeds the entire capacity of the battery it’s charging or charge a battery with alligator clips.
Finally, once the battery has been successfully charged, it needs to be removed from the powers source, of course – otherwise, leaving it hooked up to a wall socket, a cigarette socket or a laptop when it’s fully charged could, in very extreme cases, cause an explosion or fire. Better to be safe than sorry!
Storage
Be aware that, however many times you charge it, an e-cigarette battery will eventually expire; usually its between two to three years for such lithium ion batteries. In which case – and to ensure a battery will last as long as possible – it’s crucial you store it properly when it’s not being used in an e-cig device, so with around 40 percent of its power capacity used and having disconnected it from your cartomiser or tank, place it in a cool, dry place, so that it’s definitely not exposed to either water or direct sunlight (heat).
Safety
While it’s important you don’t charge a battery that’s been modified or damaged, for safety reasons, you’re greatly advised not to disassemble, let alone modify it; the batteries’ innards – many of its components – are likely to be toxic, even when they come into contact with skin.
And it’s advisable too not to put an e-cig device in your pocket between use during the day. Why? Because the lint that collects in pockets has a habit of getting into the small openings and linings of electronic devices and, in the case of an e-cig or mod’s battery, this could cause it to malfunction – or even stop the air around it in the device from flowing fully. Again, affixing an airtight skin or jacket to your e-cig could have the same suffocating effect on a lithium ion battery – so don’t do it!
Disposal
Finally, how do you dispose of a lithium
ion battery once it’s reached the end of its life – and no further charges will
prolong its use? Well, what you definitely oughtn’t do is to throw it away
among the normal house rubbish. That’s because much of this waste will simply
end up piled up on landfill; thus, ensuring the toxic components of used
batteries can leak out and, eventually, contaminate the environment, specifically,
soil and water.
Instead then, a smart move would be to check with the manufacturer of your
e-cig device (whichever vape shop you may have purchased it
from) as to whether they have some sort of prearranged recycling scheme in
place. Failing that, you should, of course, seek out your local authority and/
or council to find out about their policy on recycling lithium ion batteries.