Subox Mini Starter Kit KangerTech - Issues

[Still Frenzy]

EDIT: I've just bought this battery after you guys suggested I scrap the ICR. That's all I could find - is it any good / safer?

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Hey guys, here's what I have:

• KBOX Mini
• SubTank Mini
• OCC 0.5 Sub Ohm X 1
• OCC 1.5 Ohm X 1
• rba coil X 2
• rba Mini Plus Base X 1
• Battery: icr18650 samsung 26fm sdiem tfu2
• 70 VG Potions
• USB cable (I charged it today via USB)

Disclaimer: I'm pretty much a noob when it comes to sub ohm vaping. I've watched like 8 hours of tutorials on YouTube and read 2-3 different forums.

Notes:
- Purchased Kit yesterday.
- I used both OCCs and primed it, plenty of juice, juiced the holes, let it sit, incremented in .5 W, 1 W steps from 15 to 30W, still nothing.
- I also used the RBA and the wire literally burnt and fell apart!
- I tried making small holes in the cotton with a very thin needle, still not working.
- I replaced cotton, wire, cleaned everything, repeat the whole process. Nada.
- It only "worked" for the first 20-30 minutes just after I bought the kit, with the 0.5 and under 25W but after the battery discharged and I charged it via USB, everything went south from there.

1. Is it safe to use the ICR18650 Samsung? (I heard it's dangerous with sub ohm vaping, need something like IMR)

2. Why do I get burnt taste / dry hits / f*cks my throat / it's basically impossible to vape no matter what W I set?

3. Is it possible to be related to the ICR18650 battery?

4. Is it okay to charge from USB?

Thanks guys!

 

[dcfluegel]

howdy - and welcome!

1. I don't believe that is a vape safe battery - Samsung 25r or Samsung 30q would both be good for that mod...

2. first issue is really getting a decent, safe battery, then can figure the rest out - would also recommend getting an external charger

3. yes

4. okay - sorta... recommended, no...

 

[dcfluegel]

if i am not mistaken, most of issues could be directly related to battery...

would recommend NOT using those - get some INR type (like the samsungs I listed or lg hg2)

i believe the ICR are not high drain, high amp batteries - but will tag @Mooch and @Baditude for better info

 

[Still Frenzy]

@dcfluegel thanks for your replies!

One thing I don't understand though is why it did work when the battery was at 15-20% (when I purchased it with the kit)? After charging it everything went south..

Also, is it legal to sell unsafe batteries like that? Is it a serious enough offense that I could potentially sue?

Just wondering #angry.

 

[dcfluegel]

honestly, i don't know enough about battery chemistry specifics to answer that - I can only share with you what info I have gleaned from some of the forum's battery gurus - and I trust those two guys pretty implicitly...

keep in mind, even with a regulated device, with built in safety features (like your subox), it is still important to make sure you have batteries capable of supporting high drain/ high amperage operation safely - and for myself, i have stuck pretty much to the suggestions I have been given regarding batteries and it is one area that I don't cut corners on... if you are in the US, check out Illumn.com - great vendor for both authentic, reliable vape-safe batteries and chargers (nitecore d2 charger is a great, inexpensive external charger) with good prices and excellent service

not sure about legality of them selling em - unfortunately, people working at a vape shop don't always know what they are talking about - i have been fortunate, the two i frequent have pretty knowledgeable staff

on the plus side, besides being out some money and aggravated, you have avoided any catastrophic battery issues - and you're in the right place - I would again suggest NOT using those batteries until we can get some confirmation from one of the fellas tagged or someone else with more extensive knowledge

I CAN tell you that the samsung 25r or samsung 30q would be GREAT batteries for that kit

keep it safe

 

[Two_Bears]

Hey guys, here's what I have:

• KBOX Mini
• SubTank Mini
• OCC 0.5 Sub Ohm X 1
• OCC 1.5 Ohm X 1
• RBA coil X 2
• RBA Mini Plus Base X 1
• Battery: icr18650 samsung 26fm sdiem tfu2
• 70 VG Potions
• USB cable (I charged it today via USB)

Disclaimer: I'm pretty much a noob when it comes to sub ohm vaping. I've watched like 8 hours of tutorials on YouTube and read 2-3 different forums.

Notes:
- Purchased Kit yesterday.
- I used both OCCs and primed it, plenty of juice, juiced the holes, let it sit, incremented in .5 W, 1 W steps from 15 to 30W, still nothing.
- I also used the RBA and the wire literally burnt and fell apart!
- I tried making small holes in the cotton with a very thin needle, still not working.
- I replaced cotton, wire, cleaned everything, repeat the whole process. Nada.
- It only "worked" for the first 20-30 minutes just after I bought the kit, with the 0.5 and under 25W but after the battery discharged and I charged it via USB, everything went south from there.

1. Is it safe to use the ICR18650 Samsung? (I heard it's dangerous with sub ohm vaping, need something like IMR)

2. Why do I get burnt taste / dry hits / f*cks my throat / it's basically impossible to vape no matter what W I set?

3. Is it possible to be related to the ICR18650 battery?

4. Is it okay to charge from USB?

Thanks guys!

You need an INR battery.

I use Samsung25r and LG HG2.

 

[Two_Bears]

@dcfluegel thanks for your replies!

One thing I don't understand though is why it did work when the battery was at 15-20% (when I purchased it with the kit)? After charging it everything went south..

Also, is it legal to sell unsafe batteries like that? Is it a serious enough offense that I could potentially sue?

Just wondering #angry.

18650s are used in Vaping, flashlights, and cordless drills and saws.

For Vaping you need a high drain INR battery

 

[Still Frenzy]

@Two_Bears @dcfluegel I just bought a new battery - what do you think?

 

[Still Frenzy]

Also got this external charger (again, all I could find at my local shop) - is it safe?

 

[Two_Bears]

Also got this external charger (again, all I could find at my local shop) - is it safe?

I always recommend external chargers. Sometimes things happens to batteries such as vent, get warm, etc. I would rather ruin a charger than ruin my mod and force me back on the Stinkies till I get another mod.

I looked at the battery it may be OK but the battery says IMR not INR as I recommended.

@Mooch and @Baditude are the battery experts. I'm just smart enough to listen to good advice when I hear it

 

[Still Frenzy]

@Two_Bears Thanks! So the external charger is okay right? What's the different between this cheap/standard one and nitecore for instance?

Also, is IMR as bad and unsafe as ICR?

If @Mooch or @Baditude could drop in that would be great!

 

[Two_Bears]

@Two_Bears Thanks! So the external charger is okay right? What's the different between this cheap/standard one and nitecore for instance?

Also, is IMR as bad and unsafe as ICR?

If @Mooch or @Baditude could drop in that would be great!

It would be best for one or both tell you all about your battery and charger. I'm not even a good facsimile of a battery expert.

If you want to learn coil wrapping or Great wicking of coils then I can help you.

 

[Mooch]

@Two_Bears Thanks! So the external charger is okay right? What's the different between this cheap/standard one and nitecore for instance?

Also, is IMR as bad and unsafe as ICR?

If @Mooch or @Baditude could drop in that would be great!

Here's a bit of battery chemistry info..
Li-Ion Battery Chemistries - What are the differences in their safety? | E-Cigarette Forum

Chargers I don't know about.

 

[Still Frenzy]

Here's a bit of battery chemistry info..
Li-Ion Battery Chemistries - What are the differences in their safety? | E-Cigarette Forum

Chargers I don't know about.

Thanks @Mooch !

So basically you're saying it's okay / safe to use, right?

I've also found this test you did for my battery: LG HE4 20A 2500mAh 18650 Bench Test Results...good, but not as good as the 25R

 

[Mooch]

Thanks @Mooch !

So basically you're saying it's okay / safe to use, right?

I've also found this test you did for my battery: LG HE4 20A 2500mAh 18650 Bench Test Results...good, but not as good as the 25R

The HE4 is a very good 20A battery and should be safe to use in your Subox.

 

[suprtrkr]

That battery, assuming authentic, is an LG HE4; it's a solid 20 amp cell. I recommend them all the time. The wrap is the right color and the printing looks like other LG cells I have. I see nothing about it that screams "counterfeit." The charger is an off brand, it might be ok, or maybe not great. I would use it, but not unattended.

 

[Still Frenzy]

@Mooch @suprtrkr thanks a lot guys!

I will give it a shot with a brand new .5 OCC before I build the RBA, see how it goes.

Battery is almost discharged, does it matter when and how much I charge it?

 

[suprtrkr]

@Mooch @suprtrkr thanks a lot guys!

I will give it a shot with a brand new .5 OCC before I build the RBA, see how it goes.

Battery is almost discharged, does it matter when and how much I charge it?

The mod will stop working when the battery gets too flat. It lengthens battery life to charge them up full before they get all the way empty, but it won't hurt to run the machine until it stops.

 

[TheMike21]

I'm not sure if it applies in vaping but full battery cycles are usually a good thing

 

[Still Frenzy]

The mod will stop working when the battery gets too flat. It lengthens battery life to charge them up full before they get all the way empty, but it won't hurt to run the machine until it stops.

Thanks, makes sense. I will let it fully charge.

Unfortunately, can't use the external charger as it doesn't fit my wall #cheapstandard. I will use the USB cable for now.