There’s nothing worse than getting your vape pen out for a nice hit, only to realize that it’s completely run out of charge. And if you’re not at home? It can be hours before you’re back to enjoying a relaxing vape.
In today’s guide we’ll let you know how to properly charge your vape pen, to ensure you’re never caught out with a flat battery again. We’ll also give you a few tips to help you care for your battery and ensure that it runs smoothly for a long time into the future. Let’s dive in.
Charging Your Vape Pen
Although you might think charging a vape pen is as easy as just plugging it into the wall, it isn’t always that simple. There are some common mistakes that nearly every pen owner makes when they charge a vape, which can actually be pretty damaging to the battery in the long run.
Note: It’s important to point out that every vape pen is different and some will have different charging methods than others, meaning it’s always worth checking the instruction manual to get an understanding of how your particular vape pen works. That being said, most pens will charge in a similar way, which is what we’ll be talking about below:
#1: Check if your vape batteries are removable or integrated
When you’re trying to charge a vape, the first step is always to work out which
the pen uses. Some vape pens will feature removable batteries, while others will have them integrated/built-in.Typically, a vape pen with integrated batteries will come with a wall outlet and a charging cable. For these the charging wire is nearly always a micro-USB cable, which are extremely common; if you didn’t get one when you bought your vape pen, odds are you’ll be able to find one lying around the house somewhere.
However, some smaller vape pens with integrated batteries are charged by screwing them into a USB adapter. Unless you own other vape pens, it’s unlikely that you’ll have one of these chargers already. If you do buy a vape pen that charges in this way, the manufacturer really should be including a charger in the package; if the vape pen requires a screw-in USB charger but doesn’t come with one? We recommend buying a different vape pen.
Removable batteries are usually charged via an external charger. One good thing about removable batteries is that you can swap out an old battery for a new one straight away, without having to wait for a recharge. This is great if you’re going on a long journey – Simply throw a few battery packs into your bag and you’re good to go!
#2: Plug your vape pen into the charger with a micro-USB cable
If your vape pen has an integrated battery that uses a micro-USB cable you can plug it straight in and get charging (the other end of the micro-USB cable can be plugged into a wall adapter or into the USB port of a laptop). If possible try to use a new micro-USB cable, since the connections can get quite unreliable as they age and could lead to spotty charging.
If your pen screws into a USB adapter make sure you screw it all the way down. It can sometimes be hard to know when the vape is in the right position but most pens will let you know when they’re charging by displaying a flashing red light; again, reference your model’s user manual for more detailed instructions.
#3: Allow the pen to charge fully
When you’re charging up an integrated vape pen battery, it’s important to always let it charge up fully before taking it off the charger. Regularly removing the pen prior to it reaching a ful charged can cause it to drain faster and may generally damage its health.
However, it’s also important to make sure that you’re not keeping your vape pen on charge for too long. Leaving a battery charging when it’s already full can have a similar effect to undercharging, reducing its capacity and damaging it in the long run.
Although it’s really tempting to charge your vape pen battery overnight, it’s best to avoid this if you can. It’s not going to destroy your battery straight away, but the lifespan and capacity are likely to suffer if you do it regularly.
Looking after the batteries of your device is especially important when they are integrated into the vape pen, since they cannot be replaced. If the battery gives out? You’ll probably have to replace the whole pen.
#4: Remove batteries from the vape pen
If your vape battery is removable the charging process is a little different. The first step is to remove the batteries from the vape pen; the way you do this will depend on your vape pen model, but will typically involve unscrewing the battery from the main cart.
If you have a secondary battery pack you can simply switch out the old one and carry on vaping. We always recommend vapers own multiple batteries – That way they never have to miss out on a vape whilst they’re waiting for their kit to recharge.
#5: Charge batteries using an external charger
As mentioned earlier, removable batteries typically come with their own dedicated battery charger that plugs straight into the wall. Once you hook this up to your battery an LED light should indicate that charging has begun.
Again, make sure that you’re giving your batteries a full charge before using them. This is one of the golden rules of vape pen charging, and is one of the best ways to make your batteries last longer.
#6: Reload batteries into the device
As mentioned earlier, removable batteries typically come with their own dedicated battery charger that plugs straight into the wall. Once you hook this up to your battery an LED light should indicate that charging has begun.
Again, make sure that you’re giving your batteries a full charge before using them. This is one of the golden rules of vape pen charging, and is one of the best ways to make your batteries last longer.
Our Top Vape Pen Charging Tips
We’ve already mentioned a few different things you can do to improve the charging process and ensure that your vape pens and batteries are kept in great condition. Now let’s take a look at some of these ideas in more detail.
Don’t charge vape pens too often
Charging a vape pen battery too often can quickly reduce its capacity and limit its lifespan. If you can, you should use a battery until it’s at least half empty, and then fully charge it back up. Of course this isn’t always possible, and sometimes you won’t be able to avoid a recharge.
By getting into the habit of only giving your batteries full recharges, you’ll start to notice better performance and you won’t have to buy new batteries as often. This can save vapers a load of money in the long run.
Use your batteries regularly
Even though we’ve just said you shouldn’t charge your vape pens too often it’s also a good idea to keep the batteries in use as much as possible. Regularly powering the batteries will help them maintain charge and provide the correct output.
If you’ve had an extended break from vaping and are getting back into the concept, we’d recommend picking up some fresh batteries for your existing vape pens. This will guarantee a great vaping experience and avoid any annoying issues that can result from using old batteries.
Keep it away from water
This should go without saying, but you should keep your vape pen charger well away from water and moisture. Electricity and water really don’t mix – At best a wet environment will damage your batteries, and at worst it could cause electrocution.
Luckily, these problems can be easily avoided by charging your vape pen batteries in a cool and dry environment; a resealable plastic container works well in our experience.
Don’t charge vape pens for too long each time
As well as keeping the number of charges to a minimum, you should also try to avoid leaving your batteries charging for a long amount of time. Doing so can cause some of the battery acid to evaporate, reducing their capacity.
This is a
. By regularly leaving their phones charging overnight, cell phone users found that the battery wasn’t lasting as long throughout the day. Reducing the amount of time that your batteries remain charging after they are fully charged is one of the easiest ways to extend their lifespans.Don’t completely drain the battery
Draining a battery right until it’s completely dead before recharging is considered a bad idea if you want to keep it running smoothly. The best time to charge is when your battery dips just below 50%.
We completely understand that you won’t always be able to do this, especially if you’re away from home and using your vape throughout the day. When possible, though, try to avoid letting the battery get down to 0%.
FAQs
How long does it take to charge a vape pen battery?
This will depend on your vape pen and the size of the battery that it uses. It will also take much longer to charge a battery that is half-full compared to one that is fully drained. Generally, expect a vape pen to be charged up in under 2-3 hours.
If you’re charging a new battery for the first time it might take a little longer for it to be fully recharged. This is because the battery has probably been sitting around in the box for a while and will need some time to “loosen up” and properly hold a charge.
Most vape pens will have a green LED indicator to let you know when it’s reached a full charge. Remember to take the battery off charge as soon as you can after you see the green light.
How can you tell when your vape pen is fully charged?
The majority of vape pens or batteries will display a green flashing light when they’re full. While charging, a flashing red light is usually displayed. This LED display makes the user’s life much easier, and there’s less chance of them damaging batteries by leaving them on the charger for too long.
We recommend always waiting until your vape pen shows the green light before removing it from charge. As said above failing to regularly charge your batteries up to the max can cause them to deteriorate faster, and you don’t want your vape pen running out of power midway through a vaping session.
Can I charge my vape battery without a charger?
If your vape pen uses a micro-USB connection to recharge, then you can use any micro-USB cable that you have lying around; it doesn’t have to be the one that came with your vape pen. These wires are probably the most common mobile phone charging cables in the world, so definitely have a look around your living room/work station see if you already have one before buying.
If your vape pen uses removable batteries, then you’ll likely only be able to recharge them with the dedicated charger that they came with.
Why is my vape pen not charging?
A lot of vape pens with integrated batteries use a screw-in charger to get their power. If your vape pen isn’t charging, then make sure you’ve screwed it all the way into the charger. This design can be quite fiddly, so it might require a bit of trial and error to get it working.
If you’re trying to charge a vape pen with a USB cable, then any problems you’re having are probably coming from the cable itself. In this case, it’s worth trying out a different USB cable and wall plug to see if that changes anything.
Wrapping Up
Charging a vape pen isn’t rocket science, but there are a few little details that can help you get the most out of your vaping device. We hope our article has given you a bit more insight on how to keep your vape pen at it’s best (IE: a full charge level). Happy vaping!