Batteries are little powerhouses and we could not be without them. That said, we must respect them and only use them as intended. If we short the terminals out instead of connecting them through a resistor, they can overheat and enter thermal runaway. Anything we use close to our bodies needs extra care. And because of this, vaper lithium-ion batteries are not small change either.
A Special Warning Concerning Vaper Batteries
Lithium battery explosions, although rare do occur. Those in vapers AKA e-cigarettes make newspaper headlines occasionally. Especially where the user modifies them to increase battery power. We should never tamper with an electrical device unless we are qualified to do so.
Rechargeable vaper batteries are usually safe provided they are inside an insulated container. This can be in unopened packaging, or within the device itself. If we step outside these rules we can accidentally induce a short circuit. Watch this video of an unfortunate fellow who put an unprotected lithium battery in his pocket with his small change. The date was Friday 24 February 2017, and the place was a convenience store in Calgary, Canada.
Why Lithium-Ion Batteries are Not Small Change
Lithium batteries are not small change in several ways. Even when the device powers down, they still hold a residual charge. In the case of vapers, batteries must be able to raise the vaping fluid as high as 250 °C to convert it to aerosolized vapor. Thus they need high current ratings, high capacity, and the ability to provide a strong surge that delivers fast results.
If vaper batteries do enter thermal runaway and explode, they release intense heat and fire. There have been several instances of quite severe skin burns. We know of incidents where children swallowed lithium penny ones, with tragic results.
There is only one possible workaround to avoid this happening. We should keep unused lithium batteries in their packaging prior to use so they cannot short. And dispose of them sensibly when their task is done. New and used lithium batteries are not small change to keep in pockets. Like we said, they are little powerhouses.
Related
An Introduction to Thermal Runaway
Is This the End of Lithium Battery Fires?
Preview Image: Disposable E-Cigarettes
Video Share Link: https://youtu.be/k1LjSuq0rk8
