Tutorial: Best Batteries for Mods and Vaping Safety

What is the best 18650 battery for your mod? And what is the right battery to use in your mod? It's actually the most important questions someone can ask before vaping on a new device. All personal vaporizers utilize high discharge lithium batteries. These batteries are by far the most crucial part of your device. When handled properly they are quite safe but if mishandled can be dangerous (especially in a mechanical mod). Below you will find everything you need to select the best battery for mods as well as tips to keep it working in tip top condition for the duration of its lifespan.

Size, Does it matter?

Yes, Most mods will only fit the size battery it is intended to use and it is strongly recommended to use only the size specified for your device. In some cases multiple smaller batteries can be stacked to fit in a device. Battery stacking should be avoided. Stacking batteries increases the batteries voltage and can cause the batteries or the device to fail.

Brand, Does it matter?

Absolutely, using an authentic battery from a reputable brand will ensures your battery will operate safely and as intended within its rated specifications. Your safety matters, so we recommend the following 18650 battery brands: Sony, Efest, Samsung, and Orbtronic. Other reputable brands include MXJO, EH, MNKE, Panasonic, LG, and AW . Using low quality batteries runs the risk of damaging your device and potentially injuring you and others. A little extra money spent on quality batteries can save a lot of money and headache in the long run. Our top recommendations are  Efest IMR 18650 LiMn 3000 mAh Battery Purple and Sony VTC6 18650 3000 mAh Battery batteries

Best Batteries for Mods

What types are there and what should you use?

There are several lithium batteries on the market today but only a few suitable for vaping safely. Typically the three main types are ICR (LiCoO2 or LiCd) , IMR (LiMn) , and Hybrid. It has been established that IMR batteries use safer chemistry than ICR's. This is why ICR's are commonly sold with protection circuits. Typically IMR batteries lack protection circuits and will allow higher amperage discharge rates compared to ICR's and are much more suitable for low resistance builds or mechanical devices. ICR's although usually rated for a higher storage capacity (mAh) are often unable to safely deliver the amperage needed for high power, low resistance, or mechanical devices. Hybrid devices often utilize a “safer” chemistry than your average IMR batter while maintaining some of the increased storage capacity of an IMR. For safety's sake we recommend using either an IMR or Hybrid battery unless your device specifically instructs you to use a specific battery type (i.e. Provari requires use of a protected ICR or you will void your warranty).

Battery Ratings, they are not all created equal.

Lithium batteries are measured and rated by voltage, amperage and storage capacity. For vaping purposes all batteries in use are rated for a Voltage of 3.7v. This rating is the nominal or average voltage meaning the battery is considered fully charged at 4.2v and considered dead at 3.2v. Then you have the Amperage rating. More specifically the amperage rating determines the maximum continuous discharge rate of the battery. This is can be measured a few ways but usually a number followed by either an “A” or a “C” (i.e. 15C or 30A). The storage capacity is measured in milliamp hours indicated by a number and “mAh” (i.e. 2100mAh). The higher the mAh the longer your battery should last. It is absolutely crucial that you do not exceed the your batteries limits if you do it is most likely that your battery will fail possibly resulting in a fire, explosion, other damage to your device, or worse yet it could injure you or someone else. So always try to pick the best batteries for mods, to avoid such failures.

Using battery ratings and coil resistance to vape safely

Now that you know about your battery ratings we need to know how to use the battery ratings with your atomizer coils resistance to ensure you’re vaping safely. If you do not know your resistance you can purchase an ohms reader almost anywhere vaping supplies are sold. Now that we have your resistance in ohms as well as all 3 ratings your voltage or “v” your storage capacity or “mAh” and your Amperage rating in either “A” or “C”. We will use these numbers to figure out your maximum continuous discharge of your battery and how much current your device will discharge. If your battery has an “A” amperage rating then you already know your maximum continuous discharge but if your battery uses a “C” amperage rating you will need to convert the “C” rating into an “A” rating. To do this is quite simple. Take your batteries “C” rating and multiply it by the storage capacity in mAh. For example if your battery is rated 10C, this means the battery is rated for 10 times the capacity of the battery measured in amps. So a battery rated at 1600mAh equals 1.6 Ah will therefore have a max continuous discharge rate of 10 X 1.6 = 16A. Now that we know the continuous maximum discharge rate of the battery we need to figure out how much current your device discharges and is it at a rate that is safe to vape. We can then take your batteries amp rating. You can then take your batteries voltage (4.2v fully charged) and divide it by your atomizer or coils resistance to get your actual discharge rate. Now compare the two. The current your device draws must be lower than your batteries amperage rating. For example 4.2v / 1ohms = 4.2A discharge rate while 4.2v / .5ohms = 8.4A. Remember your devices discharge rate must always be less than your batteries amp limit.

Chargers and charging your batteries

Of the several chargers available to vapers the best and safest chargers are “smart chargers”. Smart chargers typically have multiple charging modes, safety features like over-voltage protection, over-discharge protection. Aside from various safety features some can also identify Li-ion, Ni-MH and Ni-Cd batteries and select the right charging mode for you. It's important not to overcharge your batteries above 4.25v or over discharge your batteries. Although most batteries for vaping can be discharged down to 2.8v or until they fail. For safety reasons it is never recommended to discharge 18650 battery below 3.2v. To keep your battery working properly as long as possible it is recommended not to discharge your battery below 3.3v doing so will diminish both your batteries capacity and number of charging cycles before it no longer useable.

Battery tips and tricks

By following these guidelines you can be sure to select the right battery and battery charger for your device. More importantly, you can be sure you're using it safely.

Recommended Links:

• Best Variable Control Vape Mods
• Best Variable Control Vape Kits
• Best TC Vape Mods