How to Safely Charge an E-Cigarette

While it may seem like a simple task, there are a few important things to take note of to ensure you are charging your e-cigarette safely.

Different vape kits have different needs, and your run-of-the-mill plug could be putting your vape kit or, worse, yourself, at risk. All vape kits use Lithium-Ion batteries capable of being recharged, but doing so correctly is the key to staying safe.

In this quick guide, we explore the best practices to follow when it comes to safely recharging your vape kit.

In the world of vaping, there are two main battery types: internal and external. Knowing the difference between the two is a very important step towards knowing how to safely charge your chosen vape kit.

External batteries are as the name suggests: batteries designed for an e-cigarette that are removable from the rest of the vape kit. They are sometimes called 18650s - a name referring to their particular size and shape.

They are increasingly rare, often being reserved as the power source for only the most advanced kits or those with very high wattage output. They require an external charger to get the most out of them properly, as charging them via a cable connected to the kit they are in has been noted to reduce their lifespan significantly.

Pros:

• Longer lifespan and greater power output than smaller internal batteries, ideal for sub-ohm vaping with HVG e-liquid.
• Available in a range of mAh ratings, meaning you can upgrade your device's battery capacity wihout buying a new kit.

Cons:

• They require an external charger for optimum use, meaning extra investment is needed and reduced convenience, and confusing sizes open up the risk of wasting money on a non-compatible cell.
• They are prone to damage, can degrade quickly if charged internally, and are of varying quality depending on where you buy them from. 

Internal vape batteries are the most common type available and are built into the vape kit itself. To charge, the user must simply connect a micro-USB or USB-C cable to an appropriate power source.

They are available in a huge range of mAh capacities, largely dictated by the size of the vape kit, although technology has advanced a lot, and even smaller units can now boast a significant lifespan.

Pros:

• Convenient and easy to charge with many kits allowing you to vape while they recharge via pass-through technology.
• Durable and well-protected while housed within the body of the vape kit, maximising safety, with no issues of compatibility.

Cons:

• No opportunity for upgrading or replacement if issues occur as they are sealed within the vape kit's housing.
• Knowing how to charge them safely can be challenging if you no longer have the original cable that came with the vape kit.

While modern vape kit technology has made leaps and bounds in safety and user-friendly battery charging, there are a few general rules you need to follow when safely charging your e-cig. Using an incompatible charger, for example, can mean that too much current goes into the battery, causing it to overheat and eventually, explode.

Reports of exploding vapes, while extremely rare, show just how important it is to make sure you use the right charger for your device - so resist the impulse to buy from a discount retailer, and always use a compatible charger from the same vendor you purchased your vape from!

All of our e-cigarettes come with safety precautions such as overcharge protection to prevent such issues, and cut-offs to make sure you don’t get a dry burn while vaping. We’re a proud vendor of safety-certified vape kits, but to make sure you get the best advice available, read on to make sure you’re safely charging your device and minimising any risks.

While modern vape kit technology has made leaps and bounds in safety and user-friendly battery charging, there are a few general rules you need to follow when safely charging your e-cig. Using an incompatible charger for example can mean that too much current goes into the battery, causing it to overheat, and eventually, explode.

Reports of exploding vapes, while extremely rare, show just how important it is to make sure you use the right charger for your device - so resist the impulse to buy from a discount retailer, and always use a compatible charger from the same vendor you purchased your vape from!

All of our e-cigarettes come with safety precautions such as overcharge protection to prevent such issues, and cut-offs to make sure you don’t get a dry burn while vaping. We’re a proud vendor of safety-certified vape kits, but to make sure you get the best advice available, read on to make sure you’re safely charging your device and minimising any risks.

While most vape kits don’t come with wall socket plugs, some are compatible with wall socket adaptors. Just becuase they are compatible, however, doesn't mean you can connect the cable to any old plug. Cheap USB wall sockets have no voltage control and so send the full mains current to the vape kit, which can be dangerous, especially if not using the device's original cable.

External batteries are not a consideration here, as they use specialised external chargers for the removable 18650 cells - the below advice applies to internal battery vape kits only.

As stated in the previous section, charging your vape kit overnight is not necessarily the best practice, but it can be perfectly safe depending on the safety features of your chosen device. Most modern vape kits have safety features as standard, but not all - so check your manual if you are in any doubt.

Understanding these features can help you decide whether or not to charge your vape kit overnight. If it has fast charging capability, then it is best to plug it in whilst awake, as it won't take long - equally, though, if your kit is protected against overcharging in most cases it should be safe to leave plugged in as it will stop accepting charge once full and go dormant until you use it again, reducing any risk.

The answer to this is entirely dictated by your chosen vape kit. Some devices will be dormant while charging, meaning you cannot use them at all until unplugged.

Others, like the Argus P2, for example, have a feature called Pass-Through Charging. Pass technology is becoming increasingly common, and essentially means your device will allow a current to pass through the battery while plugged in. This means you can use it to vape while it charges.

This is a very convenient feature, and minimises downtime between vaping, so you can always feel confident should a craving arise while your device is on charge.

The idea of liquids and electricity being in close proximity understandably triggers survival instincts in most of us, hence the common question "can I charge my vape with juice in it?".

Thankfully the answer is yes, in most cases you are safe to charge you vape kit while it contains your chosen e-liquid. No matter if it's High-VG, Freebase or a Nic Salt - vape tanks and pods are designed to be leak resistant and in most cases shouldn't cause you any issues while recharging.

For absolute safety, you can always remove the pod or tank from the device and set it aside until the battery is recharged. In some cases, the design of the vape kit might mean it has to sit at a funny angle while plugged in. If this is the case, then it can sometimes be better for your vape coil health to detach it and leave it upright, but this is not always necessary.

The vape kits below can be safely charged with vape juice in them, and also feature fast charging technology:

Quality, Safety, Price - these are the three best reasons to choose the LiQuid brand as our trusted vape supplier, whether you are looking for vape juice or indeed any vaping product.

We have been proudly serving hundreds of thousands of customers every month for ten years, selling millions of bottles of e-liquid and constantly evolving our ranges through extensive testing, R&D and customer feedback. When you buy a bottle of e-liquid from LiQuid, you get the benefit of a decade of industry expertise, dedication to quality, and a commitment to low prices. You simply won't find a higher quality e-liquid for less in the UK.

We have developed an end-to-end manufacturing process that gives us unmatched control over the quality of our raw ingredients and e-liquid blending. This is combined with our full scope of laboratory testing that allows us to ensure the strictest standards are upheld at every stage of production to guarantee your satisfaction.

Beyond our promise of quality and value, becoming a member of the LiQuid community gives you access to unique benefits as a vaper, including our subscription service and LiQuid loyalty point scheme to help you get even more from your vaping journey.