
Vaping technology is advancing every day and so are the
batteries used to power them. Today’s batteries carry a lot of energy stored
and if not treated properly, can become a hazard. Knowing how to store, charge
and use your batteries will prevent this from happening. Considering the
millions of people vaping today, thankfully, the number of problems are low. Most
of the incidents have come from either misuse or low-quality merchandise.
Whatever vape kit you use for vaping, they all contain batteries with the
potential for danger, and should be treated with care. Victorious Vapors is
here to tell you everything you need to know about minimizing the risks when
using the various types of mods available.
Regulated Mods
Regulated mods are a popular option for beginner and intermediate vapers. These
mods allow easy adjustment of the wattage or voltage sent to the coil,
regardless of its resistance level. They have circuitry with various safety
measures, such as preventing electric shorts that could damage your battery.
This doesn’t mean regulated mods are completely safe. As with any electronic
device, they can malfunction, with serious consequences.
Regulated mods can come with batteries that are sealed into
the device, such as the iStick series. These are usually lithium polymer (LiPo)
batteries and can come in a variety of shapes. These are often called
disposable, as once the internal battery reaches the end of its lifespan
(approximately 2-3 years) they cannot be easily replaced.
- Handle your mod with care. The protection around
these LiPo batteries is little more than an aluminum foil case, meaning a knock
can cause serious damage. If you drop your mod, place it in a sealed metal
container immediately, in case the internal batteries vent, then take them to
be recycled as soon as possible.
- Don’t cut corners. Always purchase authentic
items from authorized dealers, and never buy second-hand if you aren’t sure
about the quality. That cheap mod might seem like a bargain but if it hasn’t
gone through the proper tests it could prove to be a costly mistake.
- 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.
- Store safely. Never leave your mod resting on a
pillow or flammable material. For extra safety, it’s recommended to unscrew the
tank from the mod if leaving it overnight. Avoid leaving it in direct sunlight,
such as on a windowsill or car dashboard, as it could heat your device to a
dangerous level.
- Use the correct charging cable. 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. The best option is to use the cable you got with your
product.
- Don’t overcharge. Most well-made mods have a
cut-off point where they stop charging when they reach full power. However,
this function has been known to fail on rare occasions, leading to them setting
on fire. Only charge your device where you can keep watch on it, and never
charge overnight.
- Dispose of dead batteries safely. As with all
kinds of batteries, once the batteries have reached the end of their natural
life they should be put in a dedicated recycling bin. These can be found in
most supermarkets.

Removable Battery
Safety
The other common type of regulated mods comes with removable batteries, as
found with most of the Sigelei and SMOK brands of mods. These are usually the
long cylindrical 18650 batteries. This is more economical than using
disposables, as when the battery lifespan comes to an end they can be replaced
with new ones. Many of the above points apply to using mods with removable
batteries, but there are other issues to be aware of.
- Never exceed the amps of your battery. This is a
fundamental rule of battery safety. Take the discharge rate (the amps) of your
battery, then divide your voltage level by coil resistance (ohms) and make sure
you never exceed your battery’s amp rating. We go into this in more detail in
the section about Ohm’s Law below as this is a vital step in vaping safely with
non-internal batteries.
- Check how your mod charges. Some box mods offer
pass through charging, where you can use your device while simultaneously
charging via USB. However, some mods use the mini USB port solely for hardware
updates meaning the batteries must be removed and recharged using an external
charger. Make sure you know how your mod works, or you could be in for a very
long wait.
- Use the correct batteries. It’s crucial to do
some research and find out what are the recommended batteries for your specific
mod. There are many types of battery, including ICR, IMR and LiPo (Lithium
Polymer), and we will be looking at this in more detail in a future article.
Whatever you decide upon, you should never combine different types of battery
in the same device.
- Use a battery holder. Never carry these
batteries loose in your pocket. If they touch each other, or metallic items
such as keys or coins, they can fail. In worst-case scenarios they can leak or
even explode.
- Charge your batteries safely. Always charge them
on the lowest setting to put the least stress on your batteries, and never
leave them unattended. As soon as they are at full power remove them from the
charger, otherwise you risk battery failure.
- Buy quality products such as the ones here at
Victorious Vapors. Again, don’t scrimp when it comes to something as serious as
batteries. Be especially careful when it comes to Ebay, as many fake batteries
are sold on there. Only purchase from an authorized dealer and stick to trusted
brand names.
Mechanical Mods
Mechanical mods are used by more experienced vapers. They have no circuits, so
wattage/voltage cannot be chosen. All the power from the battery is sent to the
coil and as the battery diminishes, so does the voltage received by the coil.
The only way to affect wattage is to use coils with varying resistances. Many
of the tips above apply, but there are other important things to be aware of.
The most important of these is Ohm’s Law, but first here are some basic safety
tips:
- Make sure the air holes work. These holes allow
gases to escape the mod if the battery if compromised. You can check they are
working by removing the batteries and blowing into the mod from the connection
end. It is vital that they are working in case anything goes wrong.
- Check the charge of your batteries. If you run
the batteries too low for too long, the lifespan will reduce and eventually
fail. Be sure to check the voltage often, and recharge any batteries with a
resting voltage of below 3.7v.
- Use caution when building coils. Always check
the resistance of the coil on an ohm meter before using them on your mechanical
mod. If the build is shorting out, your battery is at serious risk of damage or
catching fire. The resistance of the coil can vary, so use the figure given
plus or minus 0.2 ohms. (More about this in the section about Ohm’s Law below).
- Make sure the firing button can be locked. If
you fire your mod for too long, it can overheat and potentially burst. The last
thing you need is your mod firing in your pocket. All good mechanical mods have
this external safety feature, use it.
Ohms Law
Awareness of Ohm’s Law is arguably the most important part of safely using a
mechanical mod. Ohm’s Law looks at the relationship between power, voltage,
current, and resistance. It’s based around the amp of the battery – this amp
rating is the current of the battery, in other words the ability of the battery
to release the energy stored within it. If the battery is pushed beyond its
limit, the battery can vent, which means dangerous chemicals leak from the battery,
with a risk of it exploding.
Firstly, check the resistance of your coil and work out the
amps the coil will pull from the battery. You can do this by using this
equation: Amps = Voltage / Resistance. Don’t be put off, it’s quite simple. Use
a multimeter to find out the voltage of your battery, and the resistance of
your coil (be sure to work within a ±0.2 ohm range). You can use an online tool
such as steam engine to help with this. The result should never exceed the amp
rating of your battery. If it does, you’ll have to use a coil with a higher
resistance.
Failing to follow this advice and using a mechanical mod at
a level that exceeds the battery’s upper amp limit is known as short circuiting
the battery. It has the potential to burn out your battery, damage the mod and
even explode. If you accidentally do this your batteries are dangerous and must
disposed of safely. Sub ohm vaping on a mechanical mod takes your device close
to short circuiting, but keeps the resistance of the coil is just under the
upper amp limit. Consequently, you should take extra care if sub ohm vaping on
a mechanical mod.
In Conclusion
A little awareness of the basics of battery safety can go a long way. Even the
most basic mods have the potential for serious trouble if used incorrectly. Only
buy battery-related items from respected sellers such as Victorious Vapors. Those
little plastic covered tubes can turn into a pocket-sized bomb if used
incorrectly, so don’t buy substandard products. Mods with removable batteries
and mechanical mods require a bit more user savvy, and it’s advised that
beginners avoid them until they fully understand the fundamentals of how mods
and batteries work.