Have you ever seen a headline like “Man Seriously Injured After E-Cigarette Explodes” in the news? These headlines are all over the internet, with scary headline descriptions and bloody pictures. It’s an easy way to get a few likes and some heated comments about vaping from people who know and those who don’t know anything about it.
The problem is that news like this will scare away many people like smokers who are considering switching to vaping and parents.
Vapers don’t want these rare accidents to discourage people who want to quit, so they’re always willing to explain to new users how to use them safely. The explanation for the accidents above is that the vaper was using a mech mod with a custom-built coil that exceeded the safe resistance. Mech mods don’t have the safety mechanisms of regulated machines, and if you don’t know what you’re doing with one, you can get yourself into trouble without even realizing it.
“If you use a regulated mod and a good battery,” we say, “your device won’t explode.” We’ll criticize shoddy manufacturers and re-packaged batteries. But most vapers agree that a quality mod is as safe as your phone or laptop.
But are we really right? Do you really feel safe just because you think you're using a regulated machine and not a mechanical one? Are regulated machines as safe as we think?
With and without control mechanism
Before talking about the safety of regulated mods, users must understand the difference between a machine with a regulated mechanism and a machine without one.
Basically, a Mech mod just transfers the battery current directly to the atomizer and has no safety features or minimum resistance limits. If the user uses a coil with extremely low resistance and the battery is not compatible, there is nothing to prevent the power supply from causing the battery to go straight into heat and explode.
Regulated mods or mods allow you to adjust the wattage (or directly control the voltage) or just operate at a preset wattage. They also have safety features, including a minimum resistance limit and a maximum current limit, and will shut the mod off if it runs too long or if the coil resistance goes above or below the mod’s limit. Modern mods can do everything a mechanical mod can do, but much safer.
This is also why regulated mods are considered a safe choice for casual users. While mech mods are not too dangerous if you know what you are doing, there are still certain dangers if you do not know what to look for when using them.
The problems of regulated mods
Problem with the machine starting up automatically
This is a pretty big issue that has plagued the once popular iStick 50W and more recently the iCare, as well as most other vape pens and mods, called auto-start. This is when the device starts running without you even noticing, without the switch being pressed.
This error can cause many harmful effects such as quickly running out of essential oils and causing the cotton wick to burn, affecting the battery. So if you see a regulated mod of yours automatically turn on even for a few minutes, immediately "retire" that device, because if this happens when you are not present to prevent it in time, it can lead to a fire or explosion with serious consequences.
Problem of using inappropriate battery
With regulated mods that don't use internal batteries, they run into problems if you use a battery that can't keep up with the wattage you're drawing. Batteries are only safe to operate within their voltage range, and if you try to draw more than the battery's maximum voltage, you can damage the battery.
Most battery problems are heat related. Once batteries start to overheat and fail, they continue to heat up. This is called thermal runaway, and it can lead to serious problems with lithium batteries. They will release hot gases rather than explode, but if your phone doesn’t have a vent hole, it can cause pressure to build up in the battery chamber.
While there are many other causes of heat buildup (such as battery age), the biggest one is that drawing more current than the battery's safe limit can cause heat to build up and damage the battery.
Regulated machines try to mitigate this by increasing the amperage limit in their safety mechanisms, but if the battery still can't deliver that amount of power, you're still at risk. The safest bet is to choose a battery with a slightly higher amperage rating.
Users should choose batteries from reputable manufacturers, avoid using batteries of unknown origin, and minimize the use of re-wrapped batteries.
Expose the battery to high temperatures
Heat is the mortal enemy of batteries, so leaving your device in direct sunlight all day can cause problems. While you should generally avoid leaving your battery in extremely hot or cold places, high temperatures are more likely to cause problems.
Charging circuit error
Even simple fixed wattage regulated mods like the eGo can explode. Often the cause is charging issues, like poor charging circuits on low-quality devices. For example, the circuit draws too much power from the charger or doesn’t stop when the battery is full. The problem is subtle, so the best advice is to stick with devices from reputable companies that are recommended by many vapers, rather than going for the cheapest one you see.
Use regulated mod safely
If you have a regulated mod and want to use it as safely as possible, you can follow the steps below to ensure you minimize the risks.
Don’t be stingy. Choose a machine from a reputable manufacturer with good quality. A Kangertech or Wismec device is more affordable and guaranteed than a cheap machine of unknown origin.
Choose the right battery. Choose batteries with high continuous current from reputable manufacturers such as Sony, VTC...
Remember to turn off or lock your device when carrying it outside. The device may restart by itself due to a problem with the internal circuitry, but most of the time it is due to user error. Always remember to lock or turn off your device before putting it in your bag.
Don’t carry batteries around. Batteries left lying around in your bag can come into contact with metal objects and cause a short circuit. This is the cause of most e-cigarette explosions. When you carry batteries around, keep them in a plastic or silicone container.
Do not leave your device in direct sunlight. Your battery may overheat if it is exposed to sunlight or other heat sources.
Regularly check the battery to detect damage as soon as possible.
Don’t drop your phone. Accidental drops happen, but remember that every time you drop your phone, the battery inside can get damaged. Handle your phone with care and have it checked if you accidentally drop it.
Conclusion: Don't panic too much
Regulated mods are generally not something that vapers need to worry about. As long as users always remember the rules of vaping safety, vaping devices are no different from other household appliances.
