COME IN AND SEE WHAT
“Badly designed…. badly made… potentially dangerous batteries” LOOK LIKE
If you don’t take my word for it…, you tell me what you think!
First, let’s talk about good “Quality” (more expensive) gear (vapes, phones, toys) which should have a better chance of being better designed, and better made, with fewer manufacturing defects. This means it will be a lot less likely to have a defect – which means less likely to short circuit, burn or explode.
At this suggestion, you might (un)reasonably say “Yeah, yeah! – heard it all before – I’d rather save the money!”
OK! OK…. Save your money, but are you sure you can save ‘Face’? “Huh?” Well, to keep you focussed on it for a minute, you really should have a look inside a few batteries to make up your own mind. (These are bigger than Vape batteries but they tell the same story).
The story and images coming up are from just two videos, where 5 imported, brand-new 12.8 volt, Lithium-Ion car-sized batteries and one scooter battery were cut open and torn apart on camera. No cheating – why would I cheat to make a point? I don’t vape – its a problem for you, not for me – although I do care!!
At this suggestion, you might (un)reasonably say “Yeah, yeah! – heard it all before – I’d rather save the money!”
OK! OK…. Save your money, but are you sure you can save ‘Face’? “Huh?” Well, to keep you focussed on it for a minute, you really should have a look inside a few batteries to make up your own mind. (These are bigger than Vape batteries but they tell the same story).
The story and images coming up are from just two videos, where 5 imported, brand-new 12.8 volt, Lithium-Ion car-sized batteries and one scooter battery were cut open and torn apart on camera. No cheating – why would I cheat to make a point? I don’t vape – its a problem for you, not for me – although I do care!!
What I want you to see is what I mean by –
“Badly designed…. badly made… potentially dangerous batteries”.
-so I am going to go into them in some detail.
When you look at this short section I think you should be SHOCKED …..remember, this is from a random Youtube that I found…. there are MANY like it.
There were enough defects to keep you awake at night! Only TWO out of SIX Batteries were relatively defect-free. Yes, Just TWO. All the batteries were inexpensive imports into the US, provided by the importers for assessment and comment.
There were enough defects to keep you awake at night! Only TWO out of SIX Batteries were relatively defect-free. Yes, Just TWO. All the batteries were inexpensive imports into the US, provided by the importers for assessment and comment.
#1
#1A the Conductors were less than half the right Gauge (thickness). Regular current passing through wires that are too small, means HOT WIRES – (that is how a heating element works, except heater wires are designed to glow red hot!).
#1A the Conductors were less than half the right Gauge (thickness). Regular current passing through wires that are too small, means HOT WIRES – (that is how a heating element works, except heater wires are designed to glow red hot!).
#2
the Main Conductors in this battery were the ‘right’ gauge (size), fitted with insulating sleeves and were attached properly.
the Main Conductors in this battery were the ‘right’ gauge (size), fitted with insulating sleeves and were attached properly.
#2
the Main Conductors in this battery were the ‘right’ gauge (size), fitted with insulating sleeves and were attached properly.
the Main Conductors in this battery were the ‘right’ gauge (size), fitted with insulating sleeves and were attached properly.
#3
Here the Main Conductors were not screwed but soldered to the busbar. The Battery cells were almost certainly overheated when making a huge solder blob…. damaged before the Battery was even completed…. then sold to you….how would you know until way too late!?
Here the Main Conductors were not screwed but soldered to the busbar. The Battery cells were almost certainly overheated when making a huge solder blob…. damaged before the Battery was even completed…. then sold to you….how would you know until way too late!?
#4
In another, a screw tab was not used and the wire was soldered directly to the Busbar right beside the unused threaded tab. This indicates – total absence of real Quality Checking…. what else could be dangerously incomplete or just wrong? Obviously the Main Conductors’ connections are of critical importance – all the power flowing in or out, is through these connections.
In another, a screw tab was not used and the wire was soldered directly to the Busbar right beside the unused threaded tab. This indicates – total absence of real Quality Checking…. what else could be dangerously incomplete or just wrong? Obviously the Main Conductors’ connections are of critical importance – all the power flowing in or out, is through these connections.
#4
In another, a screw tab was not used and the wire was soldered directly to the Busbar right beside the unused threaded tab. This indicates – total absence of real Quality Checking…. what else could be dangerously incomplete or just wrong? Obviously the Main Conductors’ connections are of critical importance – all the power flowing in or out, is through these connections.
In another, a screw tab was not used and the wire was soldered directly to the Busbar right beside the unused threaded tab. This indicates – total absence of real Quality Checking…. what else could be dangerously incomplete or just wrong? Obviously the Main Conductors’ connections are of critical importance – all the power flowing in or out, is through these connections.
#5
In another Battery the Main Conductor bolt was Superglued to the Battery plate. This meant, NO metal-to-metal contact – which means a VERY small contact area, if at all! This would get hot very quickly – possibly causing a fire. This is a catastrophic build error (brand-new battery!).
In another Battery the Main Conductor bolt was Superglued to the Battery plate. This meant, NO metal-to-metal contact – which means a VERY small contact area, if at all! This would get hot very quickly – possibly causing a fire. This is a catastrophic build error (brand-new battery!).
In the same Battery, #6 the Balance Current Lead just fell off the Busbar
…. and #7 ONE of the FOUR cells had a bulge all down the length of the cell – ready for a catastrophic failure.
…. and #7 ONE of the FOUR cells had a bulge all down the length of the cell – ready for a catastrophic failure.
In the same Battery, #6 the Balance Current Lead just fell off the Busbar
…. and #7 ONE of the FOUR cells had a bulge all down the length of the cell – ready for a catastrophic failure.
…. and #7 ONE of the FOUR cells had a bulge all down the length of the cell – ready for a catastrophic failure.
There were many other small but still significantly hazardous defects, in all of them.
#8 Masking tape covering pressure relief valves
#9 No low temperature cut off
#10 Low temp cut off calibrated incorrectly
#11 Parts held together with masking tape
The Scooter battery
#12
Three connections were not attached at all, so 6 cells were not connected
#13
4 cells were defective cells had to be replaced,
#14
the tab that should have been spot welded was free to bounce and make occasional connections. This would mean intermittent power, and the remaining connected cells would be overstressed, possibly causing internal breakdown.
#14
the tab that should have been spot welded was free to bounce and make occasional connections. This would mean intermittent power, and the remaining connected cells would be overstressed, possibly causing internal breakdown.
#15
The BMS (Battery Management System) was faulty and had to be replaced for the battery to work at all.
The BMS (Battery Management System) was faulty and had to be replaced for the battery to work at all.
If you bought 1 cheap battery you may have bought 2.5 significant defects, on average.
So – if you bought these SIX new (cheap) batteries (five car batteries and one scooter battery) you would have bought at least 15 identifiable major defects. Some of the batteries had defects that might mean that they could not supply any power at all, and many probably would not have lasted very long. One battery had defects that could lead to a fire.
The bottom line?
A good battery with a well-known name and a guarantee, bought cheaply? Go for it.
An unknown manufacturer, (probably imported), no guarantee, bought cheaply? Think twice….
If the battery is in an appliance outside the house, or in your car, you can decide to take a risk, I guess…..
But if you put the appliance in your pocket or in your mouth ….. ?
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One Response
It is a bit of a challenge to help people to be safe when they choose to put an explosive device in their face (for pleasure). OK, the odds of your vape exploding are not high, they DO explode, and not only when you are puffing…… Just be aware of where you are charging, how close it is to you when charging, and is the charger legit or a mashup? Every smart thought and action increases your odds of survival.