Why The Summer Heat Is Bad For Your Mod Batteries

We are well into summertime, everyone is spending a lot of time outdoors barbecuing, sitting poolside, hiking and splashing around in the ocean soaking in the rays of the sun. Most of today’s society is quite tech savvy, armed with tablets, laptops, smartphones and now your e-cigarette—so you tend to take these items with you wherever you go, including outdoors and that is not always a good thing.

All of these items utilize lithium ion rechargeable batteries, which are sensitive to heat no matter what product they are used in, may it be your smartphone or your LAVATUBE 3 regulated mech mod.

So while you are out there soaking in the sun and basking in its warm rays, the batteries in your e-cigarette next to you aren’t having as great of a time. As leaving any type of rechargeable lithium battery like a LAVACELL 18650 out in the sun or exposed to heat can greatly reduce its lifespan or put it into greater risk of battery failure in the long run.

According to the US Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE), lithium batteries will perform best if kept at an operating temperature between 14° F - 86° F. As we’ve mentioned in a previous post, if any type of battery is kept too hot or even too cold, it can greatly reduce its lifespan or have it stop working completely.

Too Much Heat Is Really the Problem

The battery experts over at Battery University have said that the main cause of battery failure to occur is due to too much heat. When a battery becomes too warm it will cause the unit to drain its power faster than it normally would. Just with this reason alone, you should never leave your batteries in your car, especially during the summer months. Like how you wouldn’t leave your baby or a pet inside a hot car, you also don’t want to leave your e-cigarettes and batteries to roast inside.

Batteries operate best if kept at cooler temperatures between 14° F - 86° F, if a battery gets too cold it is recommended to let them get back up to room temperature before using, otherwise the battery will not drain correctly. But when it comes to heat, a hot battery will drain too fast and may even lead to battery failure if used.

As according to findings from the EERE, batteries that are exposed to hot temperatures lose their ability to store energy and the hotter the temperature, the faster they lose their overall ability to store energy.

Signs Your Battery Was Exposed to Too Much Heat

- Quit working completely

- Melt (case or wrapping)

- Bulge or bubble up in certain spots

- Smoke

- Warping

- Venting

Humidity can also affect your batteries and other ambient weather extremes. It is best to keep your e-cig and mod batteries in places like the bathroom if you are showering, inside your vehicle on a hot day or in a sauna or steam room.

Tips to Keep Your Batteries Cooler Side

- Never leave your batteries inside an unattended vehicle, especially on a hot day

- Never leave your e-cig case (e-cig / batteries inside) outside or exposed to the sun for long periods of time

- Avoid using your device for a long time under the hot summer sun. Grab some shade underneath a palm tree or an umbrella instead while you sit back and enjoy your vape.

- Don’t take your e-cig or batteries inside humid spaces like a bathroom (if the shower is on), or a sauna / steam room, etc.

For more safety tips on batteries check out our Do’s & Don’ts of Battery Use Infographic

Remember that even if a first accidental exposure to an extreme temperature doesn’t damage your battery repeated exposure definitely will take its toll. These tips may seem like common sense, but it never hurts to err on the safer side of vaping so that you can always keep your batteries and e-cig devices in good working condition and away from the possibility of damage.

Don’t forget to keep your e-cig and mod batteries in the nice cool shade while you are out enjoying the warm summer sun.  That way you will always have a great working and satisfying vape for a long time.