Whether it’s for your phone or your vape kit, batteries never seem to last as long as we need them to.
Vapes devices bought from a vape shop or online are usually either fitted with a built-in battery that can be charged through a USB port or has a battery that can be removed and recharged or replaced.
In this handy guide, we’re going to give you some helpful little tips on how to keep your vape battery lasting longer.
Why Is My Vape Battery Running Out So Fast?
Before you jump to something being wrong with your vape battery, bear in mind that the average vape battery is usually 900mAh (900 milliamps in one hour) and tends to last anywhere between 8-10 hours before they need charging.
So, if you find your vape needs charging more often than this, it may be that your battery simply isn’t powerful enough to handle the level of use.
If your vape has a removable battery, then you have the option to upgrade it to a much stronger one. Some vape batteries even go as far as 4,000mAh.
Much like with phones, how fast a vape runs out depends on how much it’s used. If you’re happy just to take a few puffs every couple of hours, then your battery is going to last longer than if you use it every five minutes.
However, If you find that your vape is running out quicker than usual and nothing has changed regarding how you use it, then your battery may be damaged. In this case, you should replace your battery with a new one.
How To Make Your Vape Battery Last Longer
If you’re happy with the power of your battery but still want to make the most of your vape without having to charge it, then there are some things you can do.
Turn Off Your Vape When it’s Not in Use
Like any electronics, just because it’s not in use doesn’t mean that your vape isn’t using power. Most vapes have a ‘standby-mode’ which means it’s ready to use when you are. For it to be ready, it’ll be using charge.By turning your vape kit off entirely, you can save that charge and prolong your battery life. Obviously, this isn’t the most convenient option, but neither is your vape kit being drained when you need it most - pick your poison.
Don’t Overcharge Your Vape Battery
Anyone who has ever owned a chargeable device has committed this sin at least once. Plugging in your vape and leaving it to charge overnight may seem like a stellar plan but can cause you more problems in the long run.Batteries have a limited capacity for how much power they can take on. By leaving your vape plugged in when it’s reached its capacity (fully charged), that extra power doesn’t do anything. Well, nothing good, anyway.
Overcharging your battery can lead to problems like:
- Capacity loss, meaning your battery will lose its charge a lot faster.
- Battery explosions because of overheating or over-discharge.
- Battery breakdowns. This can ultimately lead to the external battery casing cracking and hazardous chemicals breaking down.
How Do You Fix An Overcharged Vape Battery?
Simple answer? You don’t.
If your battery is overcharged to the point of needing fixing, then you should dispose of that battery appropriately and replace it with a new one.
Even if you’re super careful with charging it from here on out, your battery may still be prone to leaking or exploding as well as causing damage to the rest of your vape kit.
You’re always better to buy a new one and treat this one better than the last.
Don’t Let Your Vape Battery Get Cold
Technology is notoriously bad for not liking the cold. Your vape is no exception!
If you’re somewhere with low temperatures, turn your vape kit off and keep it in a protective pouch or pocket when you carry it with you.
You should also be wary not to leave your vape in a cold place. This is bad for the battery and can also cause damage to the E-Liquid, which can begin to break down or separate when kept at inappropriate temperatures.
Don’t Let Your Vape Get Hot
You also shouldn't let your vape get too hot. Don’t leave your device near a roaring fire or on top of a radiator, as this could do just as much - if not more - damage to your device.
Keep Your Vape Battery Clean
Your vape is like a car. You need to take optimum care of it, including regular cleaning.
Vape are designed, by nature, to be portable. They fit in your pockets, in your bag and in your glovebox with ease. But these places are also prone to be contaminated by bits of fluff or dust, remnants of food or drink, oil and just general gunk.
If your battery gets dirty, then the connection with the vaporizer is going to get weaker. This can cause poor discharge, which leads to a whole host of other problems from the battery working harder than it needs or wants to.
By keeping your vape clean, you’ll notice that not only will it charge better, but the overall performance will be improved too.
If you’d like more information on caring for your vape, check out our beginner’s guide.
Use Your Vape Batteries Regularly
This may sound counterintuitive but bear with us.
Batteries are made to be used no matter what device they’re in. By leaving a battery idle, their performance is going to be far worse than if you’d used it the entire time - like how a car left for months in a garage might not start.
Even when not in use, the materials used in the internal cells of your vape battery are degrading. By leaving your vape in a drawer or on a shelf gathering dust, these cells are degrading faster than if you were using it.
Even if you only use the vape for a short time, you’ll be helping it to last longer than if you weren’t using it at all.
Store Your Vape Batteries Fully Charged
If, for whatever reason, you’re not going to be using your vape or a particular battery, then make sure it’s fully charged before you store it. A battery that is left dead for too long is unlikely to want to charge again.
As we noted earlier, batteries left unused are going to degrade, so make sure you store them in a cool, dry place and don’t leave it too long.
Charge Your Vape Battery When It Needs It
The advice for this varies - some say you should let your vape drain entirely before charging; others say quick, sharp bursts are the way to go. The truth is it depends on the battery.
An older battery that relies on a chemical reaction to discharge its energy is better left to run down to almost empty. This is because by charging the battery, you throw the chemical reaction into reverse and doing this too often could lead to a build-up within the battery.
Newer batteries, on the other hand - particularly lithium-ion - have a ‘less busy’ chemical reaction going on inside. It will keep working great whether you discharge it fully or only a tiny bit.
Be it half full or running on empty, charge your vape when it needs it.
Remember that batteries don’t last forever. Even if you follow all of our tips and tricks, eventually, your battery is going to break down. We hope that our guide helps you make the most of the time you have.
It’s recommended that you fully replace your vape battery every 6-12 months, depending on its power and how often it’s being used.
If you’re changing your vape’s battery, why not look at mixing up your E-Liquids too by checking out some of our great deals.
