Charging is the part of vaping where mistakes carry the most risk. An overcharged or mismatched battery can fail badly, and in the worst case a vape pen can explode. The four habits below keep a vape battery charger working the way it should.
The audience for this advice is large. One estimate puts regular adult vapers in the United States at 9 million, up from roughly 2.4 million across 2012 and 2013.
Stick with the cable and charger your device shipped with
Most devices arrive with their own charger and a matching USB cable. Use those. Some batteries have built-in protection against overcharging and short circuits, but plenty do not, so you cannot count on the battery to save you from a poor match.
The confusion usually starts when the original cord goes missing. A vape charger often fits other electronics, a phone for example, and it is tempting to assume that any charger with the right plug will do in return. It will not, and the results of getting this wrong can be dangerous.
Pick the lowest charge setting and stay nearby
If your charger offers more than one setting, choose the lowest. A slower charge is the one that stresses the battery least. Do not walk away and leave batteries charging unattended, because even a small amount of overcharging can end badly.
Unplug as soon as the battery is full
Phones and many other modern gadgets can sit on a charger overnight, well past 100 percent, with no real harm. A vape battery is different. Leaving one connected after it is full overcharges it, and that raises the chance of an explosion considerably. Take it off the charger once it reaches a full charge.
Recycle batteries that have reached the end
A dead battery does not belong in the trash alongside your empty e-juice bottles. Recycle it instead. Most supermarkets have battery recycling bins, and using one is the safest way to get rid of a worn-out cell.
In short
- Use the supplied charger and cable.
- Charge on the lowest setting, and never unattended.
- Disconnect when the charge is complete.
- Take spent batteries to a recycling bin.
For more background reading, see our article on what goes into vape juice.