Accumulators are rechargeable batteries for mods or box mods. They are powerful batteries used inside electronic and mechanical mods. The life of a chargeable battery varies from 3 months to 1 year or more, depending on use, the quality of the battery, the charger used and storage conditions.

Capacity (mAh)

The higher the capacity indicated in milli-Ampere-Hours, the greater the autonomy of your battery, and the longer you can vape without recharging the battery.
For example, a battery with a capacity of 3000 mAh is capable of delivering: 3 Amps for 1 hour, or 6 Amps for 30 minutes or 12 A for 15 minutes.

Maximum discharge current (A)

This is the maximum current that the battery can deliver. It is expressed in Amperes and depends mainly on the battery's internal resistance and its chemical composition. Some batteries are designed to deliver a high maximum discharge current in order to indulge in the joys of 'sub-ohm vaping' (the use of very low revery low resistance, less than 1 ohm, requiring a high current, generally in excess of 10 A, and creating large clouds). If you're sub-ohm vaping with a battery that can't deliver enough amps, you won't get the desired effect.

For conventional MOD use (below 12-15W) or for resistance above 1.8 ohm, you won't need a battery with a high maximum discharge current.

Maintenance, charging

To keep your equipment in good condition, it's essential to have 'intelligent' chargers that identify the characteristics of your battery and charge it appropriately. There is a very wide range of battery chargers with or without a control screen. They are particularly recommended for protecting your batteries, extending their life and ensuring their safety.

Voltage (in Volt) decreases as the battery is discharged.

The nominal voltage (normal operating voltage) is 3.7 V. This is because the battery is lithium. All lithium batteries have a nominal voltage of 3.7 volts.

The maximum voltage after full charge should not exceed 4.2 to 4.25 V.

The voltage must not drop too low (2.5 to 3V absolute minimum), otherwise you will not be able to recharge and the battery will be out of order.

If you take spare batteries with you, always store them in a box or case (suitable and non-conductive), to prevent the 2 poles (positive and negative) from coming into contact positive and negative voltages do not come into contact (short-circuit) at the bottom of a pocket through a metal object that might accidentally be found there (keys, coins, etc.). This is an absolute rule that must be observed.

Outgassing

Outgassing is a phenomenon that occurs in the event of a short-circuit, too much power being delivered, or incorrect use with non-compliant or faulty equipment. The battery will overheat, creating gas which will escape very quickly from the battery. This happens very quickly and can resemble an explosion, which can cause serious damage to property and people. Under no circumstances should batteries be left unattended during charging, and ohm law must be perfectly mastered when using a mechanical mod (a mechanical mod has no electronic protection against short-circuits).

Dimensions

The type of battery indicates its dimensions:

• The 18650 battery has a diameter of 18 mm and a length of 65 mm.
• The 18350 battery has a diameter of 18 mm and a length of 35 mm
• The 21700 battery has a diameter of 21 mm and a length of 70mm
• etc.

Types of chemistry

Lithium-Ion IC/ICR batteries: high capacity, low maximum discharge current, resistant to overcharging.

The IC or ICR battery allows up to 500 charge/discharge cycles. This chemistry is widely used in batteries. The internal resistance of these batteries is higher than that of IMRs, so they will have difficulty delivering high discharge currents, with a risk of outgassing and rapid loss of capacity. This is why this type of battery generally includes a small electronic protection circuit (so-called "protected" batteries). Unprotected Li-Ion batteries should be used in safe mods with serious electrical protection, and never in mechanical mods. The protection must be either in the battery or in the mod.

Lithium Manganese IMR batteries: lower capacity, but maximum current discharge can be very high.

The chemistry of the IMR battery enables a much higher discharge current to be achieved without any problems, with low internal resistance. Its chemistry is stable and reliable, making it less necessary to self-protect batteries against overvoltage. IMR batteries deliver all the necessary current quickly, unlike ICR batteries, which are a little slower.

Conclusion

For a beginner electronic MOD (< 12-15 W), take the battery that makes you happy. For a mechanical MOD (without electronic circuitry) or one used at high wattage, choose an IMR battery, which is safer and more powerful.

Ohm's law

Ohm's law tells you what value of resistance you can use with your battery:
U = R x I (U: voltage in Volt, R: Resistance in Ohm, I: current in Ampere)

So, for example, for a fully charged 18650 3000 mAh - 35A battery with a maximum voltage of 4.2 V, the minimum resistance value should be :
R= U/I
R= 4,2 / 35
R = 0.12 ohm

The lowest resistance that can be used with your battery is 0.12 ohm when the battery is fully charged. On an electronic mod, the electronics prevent the battery from overheating, but on a mechanical mod this value is very important. If it is not respected, you risk degassing the battery.

Advice

When transporting a battery, always carry it in a case designed for this purpose. Keys or other metal objects could come into contact with the battery and cause degassing, which could prove dangerous.