Battery Safety for Vapers

Rechargeable batteries can be dangerous. No, we’re not talking about flaming smartphones, we’re talking about the risk involved with a shorted battery. Lithium-ion cells have a 3.6 volt charge. Because of their high voltage and high energy density, lithium-ion batteries carry the highest risk. Flaming smartphones? All due to lithium-ion batteries.

Rechargeable battery safety means storing the batteries in their devices, in chargers, or in a properly designed storage case so there is no chance of a short circuit. Never put rechargeable cells loose in your pocket with keys or change – a short will make them hot and they may burst into flames if the short continues. If you don’t have a case, wrap them together with a rubber band and put them in a plastic bag so the contacts are protected. Loose batteries in your pocket that short can burn you or your clothes.

Be careful not to bend or crush lithium-ion batteries. Some simple precautions will help. Don’t put your device in your back pocket. Sitting on it may bend the device and the battery within it, not to mention the chance of leaking e-juice (and thus nicotine) on you, which is a real hazard. Don’t put them in the front pocket either. You don’t want a burn there or a nicotine leak. For slim devices, a shirt pocket or jacket pocket is a much better bet.

Always examine batteries before and after charging as well as before and after use for signs of wear or damage. Always use proper precautions and handling as they may explode or combust if not properly handled, including when being charged. There is an inherent risk with the use of any rechargeable batteries in any circumstance.