How to Extend Your E-Cigarette’s Battery Life

Posted by: Vranks on April 11, 2013 Under: E-Cigarette Troubleshooting

Battery life is a really important factor in the overall performance of an electronic cigarette, and you’ll have a tough time finding an online review that doesn’t mention it in their analysis. Although lithium-ion polymer batteries are a huge leap forward from their disposable predecessors, they can quickly die out if they’re not taken care of properly. E-cigarette battery prices aren’t exactly prohibitive, but with having to regularly buy cartomizers and e-liquid, costs will add up faster than you can imagine. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to make sure you get the most life out of your battery before replacing it.

Use the E-cigarette Regularly: Just like the lithium-ion batteries in your cellphone or iPod,  an e-cig battery is designed for frequent use. The more you use it, the easier power flows through its cells, increasing efficiency and life span. Think of this as our need for regular exercise to remain in “working order”. You don’t necessarily have to use your electronic cigarette every single day, but making a habit out of leaving it unused for long periods of time can definitely affect its performance.

Avoid Fully Draining Your Battery: Most e-cigarette starter kits come with at least two batteries, making it easier for users to switch between them whenever they need to. What most newbie vapers don’t know is that they shouldn’t wait until the LED tip of the battery starts to blink, signaling the need to recharge. Waiting until the battery is fully drained will most certainly reduce its life and increase charging time. Think of your battery as a vehicle – it’s much easier to move a car while it’s still in motion than when it’s stationary. The same principle pretty much applies to your e-cigarette battery. When it’s completely drained, it has to work twice as hard to recharge, which takes its toll in the long run. Some companies recommend recharging the battery when half of its stored energy has been drained, but that can get really frustrating, especially when using mini batteries like the KR808 or 510 models, because you’d have to recharge them every hour or so. Most experienced vapers recommend recharging batteries when you notice a decline in vapor production.

Protect the Battery as Much as Possible: You’ve probably never thought about it before, but even carrying your e-cigarette battery in your pocket can damage it. Dust and pocket lint can easily get inside through any of its small openings and cause the switch to malfunction or prevent air from flowing through it properly. Ideally, you should carry the batteries in a portable charging case or a simple carrying case, but at least make sure your pockets are clean before putting your e-cig in. Keeping the battery in extreme heat can also shorten its lifespan and cause severe damage, so if you happen to forget it in your car on a hot day, don’t be lazy, get yourself out of that chair and get it.

They might be electronic, but e-cigarettes are tougher than your think. I’ve personally dropped my e-cigs more times than I can remember, and they’re still in working condition, but you should definitely be careful to prevent serious impacts. Big hits can move the integrated switch out of place, causing the battery to activate randomly or not activate at all. Another thing you have to be careful about when using automatic batteries is e-liquid leaking inside. Even a small drop can be enough to short-circuit the unit, rendering it useless.

Unscrew the Cartomizer: Few e-cigarette users know that even when you’re not actively vaping, if the cartomizer is connected to the battery, it’s slowly draining it of juice. Disconnecting the cartomizer when you’re not using your device for an extended period of time extends the interval between recharges, ultimately increasing battery life.

Don’t Store Batteries Empty: You’ve probably noticed most electronic cigarette companies ship batteries fully charged. That’s a habit you might want to copy yourself when storing batteries for long periods of time. Just as when you vape batteries dry, they have to work a lot harder to refill their power cells, and storing them 50% full or less will cause them to drain a lot faster. As I mentioned before, repeatedly draining batteries dry significantly reduces their lifespan. So make sure you charge the batteries to at least 70% before storing them.

Unplug Batteries After Charging: Once the battery is fully charged as signaled by the green LED on your USB charger or wall adapter, it’s recommended that you unplug it to avoid overcharging, which can also overwork the device and reduce its lifespan. Leaving batteries to charge overnight might seem convenient but it’s definitely not advisable.

Clean Your Batteries Regularly: When you first get your e-cigarette batteries, they’re all shiny and new, but before long, the threads on its cartomizer-connecting end will get full of dust and gunk. Small amounts of e-liquid can leak from the cartridge and even if it doesn’t actually get into the battery, it can still cause problems. The two tiny air holes under the threading can get plugged, making it harder to draw on the e-cigarette and eventually completely prevent it from functioning. In order to keep the battery in working order, it’s recommended that you clean it often with a cotton swab, Q-tip or alcohol pad, using a toothpick to clear the air holes.

Following all these tips will ensure your battery remains in perfect working condition for longer. Most manufacturers claim their units are good for about 300 charge and discharge cycles, after which you’ll have to replace them with new ones.