Battery & accumulator of an electronic cigarette - What you need to know

What is an electronic cigarette battery?

Every electronic cigarette must have a battery to function. There are two types of battery: integrated or removable (called an accumulator). The integrated battery is the device that supplies energy to the resistance of the atomiser and then produces the vapour to be inhaled. This battery is essential to provide you with a pleasant vape experience.

But first, let's refocus on the anatomy of a battery. A good knowledge of all the elements that make up a battery is essential for a good understanding of how it works. Whatever the model, a battery will always include the same elements:

  • A Lithium-ion battery: equipped with a protective circuit to avoid excessive discharges and overloads, it is placed under the shell of the electronic cigarette.
  • A switch button: this is the battery switch that activates the battery so that the current is delivered to power the resistor.
  • A luminous LED: this diode is frequently connected to the switch button and acts as an ignition indicator. More and more models allow the LED to display other information by changing its colour, such as the current charging voltage or the charge level.
  • Connections: specially designed to accommodate the atomizer, the connection corresponds to the thread type 510 or eGo.
  • An adjustment ring: this small knob will be used to modulate the output voltage of the battery. This element is integrated only on products with variable voltage.

It is much more common to encounter built-in batteries than rechargeable batteries. And this is no coincidence, since they are much easier to use. Indeed, it does not require any particular technical knowledge.

Batteries on the market generally have a voltage around 3.5 volts, which is the optimal value to start vaporization. Its capacity, i.e. the amount of electrical energy, is set between 100 and 3000 mAh. It is possible to acquire even greater capacities, but this range is the most reasonable. If the notion of milliampere-hour is a bit obscure for you, this little memo could help you:

  • 350 mAh: corresponds to an autonomy equivalent to 5 cigarettes
  • 650 mAh: approx. a capacity of 10 cigarettes
  • 1000 mAh: more or less 15 cigarettes
  • 2000 mAh: an estimated autonomy of 25 cigarettes
  • 3000 mAh: you will be able to consume the capacity of 35 cigarettes on average.

These values are estimated and may therefore vary depending on the voltage and the resistance value.

How to choose your electronic cigarette battery?

In order to make sure you make the right choice in terms of battery, it is essential to take a number of parameters into account. It is these elements that will determine the style of the vape provided by your battery, so the importance is great.

Autonomy

The battery life capacity is expressed in mAh (milliampere-hour) and refers to the length of time your battery will be usable before it shuts off. The link between autonomy and format is tight because the more capacity you want, the larger your electronic cigarette will be. The frequency of use, the value of the resistance and the voltage chosen will have a direct impact on the actual life of a battery. It is therefore delicate to mention that a battery with any capacity will provide a certain number of hours of autonomy.

The output voltage

It is important to remember that the power delivered by an electronic cigarette depends on two factors: voltage and resistance. Thus, the higher the output voltage will be, the more the resistance will heat up. This equation will have an impact on the density and temperature of the steam propelled, but also on the perception of the hit.

The diameter

While this feature may seem trivial, it still has an important role to play in the choice of battery. The felt vape experience is of primary importance, but the aesthetic aspect should not be neglected. On the market, there are as many models as there are different diameters. The most traditional batteries have a diameter equivalent to 14 mm, while those from the new generation are more like 16 mm. This growth in size thus makes it possible to increase the autonomy of the battery.

In addition to these settings, your choice can be made according to the type of battery in use. There are two different types of batteries on the market: variable or constant voltage.

Variable voltage battery

The purpose of this type of battery is to be able to supply the desired output voltage, frequently between 3.3 and 4.8 volts. The presence of a rotating ring at the base of the battery makes it possible to carry out this adjustment. The interest is clearly to be able to adjust the rendering of steam and flavors in accordance with your desires.

From an aesthetic point of view, variable voltage batteries, also known as variable voltage (VW) batteries, are longer and more sensitive to possible drops.

Constant voltage battery

The output voltage of this type of battery is generally 3.7 volts. It offers more compactness than a variable voltage battery thanks to a more accessible composition. It will also be more robust and reliable over time thanks to the total absence of mechanical parts, except for the activation switch button. With the constant voltage battery you won't be able to modulate the output voltage, but it is quite possible to reduce the resistance by replacing it with smaller values.

What is a battery?

Un accu est un abrégé du terme « accumulateur » désignant la pile intégrée dans une batterie. Cette pile fait office d’alimentation à la cigarette électronique. Pour faire simple, il s’agit d’une batterie rechargeable s’utilisant le plus souvent avec un Mod mécanique.

The anatomy of a battery pack

Like the integrated battery, the rechargeable battery has its own composition. This means that each model has several components, all of which are written on the battery body.

One negative and one positive pole

Situés en bas et en haut de l’accu, il s’agit du même système qu’une pile traditionnelle.
Une tension nominale indiqué en volts
La tension nominale désigne la tension de référence de l’accu, et non la tension maximale à prendre en compte pour le recharger. Cette tension de référence est en moyenne équivalente à 50% de l’état de chargement.

The dimensions of the battery

Each battery has a value, e.g. 18650, which you can find out the battery size by looking at the symbol. The "18" indicates the diameter in mm, the "65" indicates the length and the "0" indicates the cylindrical shape. For information, if this "0" is replaced by a "1", the shape of the battery will be that of a parallelepiped.

The energy capacity of the battery

It is no more and no less the most important feature of his anatomy. This corresponds to its autonomy in mAh. This capacity is often related to the size of the battery; the larger the battery, the greater its autonomy.

Its chemistry

It is available in two different ways, as AMT or Li-ion.

IMR (Lithium-Manganese) chemistry is the most common on the market, partly due to its stability. Discharge currents will be rather high with an IMR battery, i.e. between 5 and 25 charge cycles.

As for Li-ion (Lithium-ion) chemistry, its unreliability is solved by the addition of PCB protection by manufacturers to avoid the risk of explosions. The ratio between its weight and capacity is worth knowing, but its discharge current is quite low, between 1 and 2 charge cycles.

Its discharge current

This parameter corresponds to the continuous discharge current of the battery, symbolized in amperes, which determines its limit of use. The most common is the 18650 battery that can deliver up to 35 amps, but a wide range of models is available to suit all vaporizer profiles. Originally, this feature was important for mechanical Mods, but now tends to be just as essential with electronic Mods and Boxes.

Recharging the battery

There are two ways to recharge the battery: with a Micro USB cable or with a suitable charger. The second option is the most recommended to preserve your equipment as well as possible. Indeed, a classic Micro USB cable will optimally charge your battery if it is integrated in the Box, but a battery taken out of its Box will be much better charged with a specific device.

Each battery is different from another with its own charge, and must operate with a specific maximum charge current. Here is a short reminder to know the charge limits according to its value:

  • 18650 battery: the recommended charge is less than 1A.
  • Battery 18490: your battery should be charged below 0.5A.
  • Batteries 18350, 16340, 14500: These types of batteries will require a charge of 0.25A or less.

It is common to find a battery charger that offers a choice of charging current to be applied. And the higher the current, the faster your battery will be recharged.

How do you choose your battery?

The choice of the battery is very important as it will determine the feeling of your vape. Whatever the type of equipment you use, never neglect the investment of your battery!

For a mechanical Mod

The main specificity of a mechanical Mod is its lack of protection, it is thus doubly essential to choose this battery. This type of Mod generally works with a low resistance (0.4 ohm on average), as well as with a reconstructible atomizer or a dripper.

The discharge capacity of the rechargeable battery should be the first parameter to be taken into consideration at the time of purchase. The maximum voltage is a good basis for determining this capacity. Here is a small reminder of the voltage produced by a mechanical Mod according to the value of its resistance:

  • With a resistance in 0.2 ohm: discharge greater than or equal to 21A.
  • With a 0.4 ohm resistor: the discharge of the battery should be at least 10.5A.
  • With a 0.6 ohm resistor: your battery should have a minimum discharge of 7A.
  • With a resistance in 0.8 ohm: the minimum discharge of the battery will be fixed at 5.25A.
  • With a 1 ohm resistor: the discharge used will be greater than or equal to 4.2A.

To avoid the risk of short circuits, it is advisable to measure the resistances of your mechanical Mod with an ohmmeter. This will allow you to check that the resistance has a higher value than the one submitted by the battery.

For a Mod or an electronic box

This type of equipment has no risk of short-circuit since the integrated system makes it possible to instantly cut off the power if the Mod or the Box encounters the slightest problem, such as a leak. It is therefore not advisable to use batteries with protection, as this may cause a conflict with the functionality of the Mod or Box.

A Lithium-ion battery (IMR) will be ideal to make the most of the technology of your Mod or Box. The current delivered will be very intense without any risk to your battery.

For Sub-Ohm hardware

As a reminder, the Sub-Ohm consists of a valve with very low resistances (less than 1 ohm). The amateurs of this type of valve will have to have a rechargeable battery able to withstand very high electrical voltages. It is thus essential to respect the value of the maximum charge current. Opting for batteries outside these recommendations could lead to a short circuit, outgassing or even the exposure of your battery.

To reach the intensity limits, the Mods or Boxes in Sub-ohm now have a double battery. By choosing a 18650 battery, you can be sure that you won't suffer from voltage problems. For more reliability, it is also advisable to acquire a specific charger of the same brand as your battery.

As a general rule, it is important not to buy a battery at too low a price, which often reveals hidden problems. The quality of a battery and charger is a point that should never be overlooked when making a purchase. Using recognized brands with tangible traceability will be a safe way to avoid finding defective products or products with poor performance.

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