Last month, a video circulating on the internet depicting an electronic cigarette exploding caught media attention. The video footage from a CCTV camera shows a barmaid behind a counter serving a customer when all of a sudden an explosion happens. The explosion was indeed caused by an electronic cigarette battery that was being charged, and of course media hyped it up spreading fear. Here is the video;
The server was right in front of the battery as it blew up, catching her dress on fire. Enough to scare the bejesus out of anyone. This is not the first incident with e-cig batteries catching fire, but what happened here? Let’s look at the facts.
Lithium Ion batteries are much more advanced than ever and one must follow manufacturer guidelines when using chargers. It turns out the e-cigarette owner had mismatched a charger for a different type of battery with the battery being charged. It caused an overcharge and of course blew up. This has happened with cellphones many times and almost every time, involved an incorrect charger for the device. When Lithium Ion batteries first hit the market with laptops, numerous incidents of fire and explosions had been reported due to either faulty hardware or due to misuse.
Nowadays lithium batteries are much more advanced and safer, but they still contain lots of power in a small space, as opposed to old alkaline batteries which would never hold enough juice to even properly operate electronic devices. It remains a fact that there are many non-trustworthy brands of e-cigs out there. Cheap knockoffs and hardware can be purchased for a low price, but what you pay is exactly what you get.
It is as equally important to purchase good quality electronic cigarettes. We advise all the time that it is much safer buying directly from the manufacturer online. Have a look at our Top 10 electronic cigarette reviews to find a reputable brand that will match your needs. This way you don’t have to be concerned about the safety of the product, only with using the right charger for the right battery. Additional safety precautions are needed such as storing batteries at room temperature, keeping the out of the sun or charging them in cold weather.
Last year about 9 e-cig battery incidents had been reported in the United States. All of which we’re caused due to modifying vaporizing devices or using the incorrect charger. Overall, they are no different than any other electronic device that has a portable charging battery. So there’s really nothing to be concerned about. So stop being afraid, and keep on enjoying your vaping.
SEE ALSO:
General Safety Guidelines when Charging Electric Cigarette Batteries