Bornach
Oh no! Free #lithiumPolymer batteries appearing in the wild in Canada too!
https://youtu.be/lidMQu3S2NU
Haven't seen either of those in the UK not even under a different brand name. [pileofstuff] measured 4V on the battery from the rechargeable #eCigarette, 3.3V on the non-rechargeable #VapePen
Free batteries!

YouTube
Apr 21, 2023 at 7:52pmWeb
Show threadBornachApr 30, 2023

Look at how small the #lithiumPolymer battery is in relation to the size of the disposable #VapePen
1.48Wh (400mAh 3.7V)

Might be useful should I need to replace another battery in some wireless device, assuming I can recharge it - voltage is reading very low 1.2V

#eCigarette #litter #BatteryHarvesting #Vape

Show threadBornachApr 30, 2023
Hooked up the tiny lithium polymer battery to a TP4056 PCB to attempt recharge. Note the RProg resister has been replaced to limit current to 230mA. The terminals are so close together I've put masking tape over the positive terminal and clip to prevent accidental short
Show threadBornachMay 6, 2023

That pressure sensing capsule found in most disposable #vape pens can very easily be turned into a #touchSensitive switch that is capable of switching currents high enough to activate small relays and solenoids

Simply slice the top off, exposing the edges of the inner and outer conductive cylindrical walls. Bridging the two walls with something no more conductive than human skin is sufficient to trigger it

#making #electronics #solenoid #eCigarette #VapePen #lithiumPolymer #battery

Show threadBornachMay 6, 2023
Touching only the inner wall with a wire seems to trigger it also. Implies that it is actually a capacitive touch sensor
Show threadBornachMay 6, 2023
14 months worth of salvaged vape pressure sensors - enough to make a capacitive touch keyboard?
Show threadBornachMay 29, 2023

And now Becky Stern has joined the disposable #vape #lithiumPolymer #battery salvaging club
https://youtu.be/qiUyMLdVyfI

Although she hasn't yet suggested anything about what to do with the pressure sensing (aka capacitive touch) switches.

#eCigarette #litter

Can you reuse these batteries?

YouTube
Show threadBornachJun 17, 2023

Found all these disposable #Vape devices by just walking into town and back today. Passed by a few that were little more than shattered remains in the road. Even the run overs might still have salvageable electronics -- the pressure sensor can be repurposed as a capacitive touch switch

At this rate I'll easily exceed the number I found last year.
#eCigarette #VapePen #litter #BatteryHarvesting #LithiumPolymer

Show threadBornachJul 15, 2023

Whether or not these disposable #vape devices get banned, the astonishing level of #shrinkflation that is bordering on scam territory, should be sufficient reason to stop buying these single-use #VapePens

The 550mAh #lithiumPolymer #battery (date code 221101) was found in a discarded Elfbar 600 from earlier this year.

The 360mAh battery (date code 230417) from an Elfbar 600 I picked up from the side of a road today

Show threadBornachJul 15, 2023

Similar #shrinkflation for the Lost Mary BM600 #vape product line as well

550mAh lipoly battery (dated 221114) in one I picked up from the ground a month or so ago

360mAh (230517) in the one I recovered from my walk into town this morning

Atomizer tanks similarly reduced

Show threadBornachJul 16, 2023

Vapers on Reddit noticed the blatant #shrinkflation in Elfbar #vapePens and Lost Mary disposable #vapes months ago

I wonder if this why I have been finding more discarded Crystal brands than Elfbars recently

#lithiumPolymer #batteryHarvesting

Show threadBornachJul 23, 2023

Lipoly battery in this crushed Packman branded vape device was fully charged when I found it in a carpark last night

There is a USB-C port for recharging. The atomizer tank was already missing so cannot tell if it was intended to be refillable. Judging from the vape brand's website it was probably disposable
https://packmanbrand.com/

#vape #vapepen #litter #batteryHarvesting #ecigarette

Show threadBornachJul 23, 2023

Another fully charged rectangular battery found in a discarded vape pen

Note the cheap knock off branding. Had this been genuine (spelt with an "s" instead of a "z") it would very likely be illegal to possess in the UK.

That Packman I found yesterday might also have been a cheap copy -- it too is legally questionable to possess in the UK

Show threadBornachAug 12, 2023

Haven't seen a single-use #vape device in this form factor before. Found discarded in the grass along the side of a public footpath

Internal #LithiumPolymer battery is rechargeable via USB-C but the tank is not refillable. Still has a voltage of 3.7V
I wonder how many times it was recharged before becoming street #litter

#batteryHarvesting #eCigarette

Show threadmike805Jul 16, 2023
@bornach Disposable vape pens with rechargeable batteries are one of the more absurd anti-green products. I can understand people not wanting to deal with juice and cleaning. So separate it into power pack and disposable juice/heat module. Put the temperature regulation in the non-disposable part. Might as well make the power pack double as a phone charger.
Show threadNixieJul 15, 2023
@bornach What is shrinkflation?
Show threadBornachJul 15, 2023
@Nixie
A type of inflation where instead of listed product prices going up, the size of the product goes down with price staying the same. A sneaky contributor to the cost of living crisis
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/shrinkflation-prices-supermarket-products-finances-b1085953.html
What is shrinkflation and how does it affect your supermarket shopping?

An uprising against downsizing has started as shoppers complain about higher prices and smaller products

Evening Standard
Show threadNixieJul 15, 2023
@bornach Thankyou!
Show threadconcretedogMay 6, 2023
@bornach I've never reused these, any simple hook up ideas for them?
Show threadBornachMay 6, 2023
@concretedog
See my earlier experiment
https://fosstodon.org/@bornach/110321666517142531
Bornach (@[email protected])

Attached: 1 video That pressure sensing capsule found in most disposable #vape pens can very easily be turned into a #touchSensitive switch that is capable of switching currents high enough to activate small relays and solenoids Simply slice the top off, exposing the edges of the inner and outer conductive cylindrical walls. Bridging the two walls with something no more conductive than human skin is sufficient to trigger it #making #electronics #solenoid #eCigarette #VapePen #lithiumPolymer #battery

Fosstodon
Show threadZ̈oéApr 30, 2023
@bornach do you have a current limited lab power supply? I think it's a better tool for this resurrection
Show threadBornachApr 30, 2023

@uint8_t
Yup. I have a few modules with current limiting features - those seen on Julian Ilett's channel.

I thought the TP4056 was supposed to charge at a very low current when given a battery below some threshold voltage. At least that's what I've observed from the handful of completely drained batteries I've picked up off the street.

Show threadconcretedogApr 30, 2023
@bornach @uint8_t I believe this to be the case also reading the datasheet.
Show threadZ̈oéApr 30, 2023

@bornach you can generally charge deep-discharged cells if you use very small charge currents (0.05C) it's generally safe with such small cells but to be sure, do it in a flameproof environment (concrete slabs below and around the cell, ceramic floor, etc) and with supervision.

if it holds the charge afterwards, it isn't damaged.

Show threadBornachApr 30, 2023

@uint8_t I've recovered worse - like from 0V. This one is of such low capacity, would a Bigclive "explosion containment pie dish" suffice?

I have so many vape batteries now I'm gonna have to automate this. Shouldn't I monitor the temperature while charging?

Show threadBornachApr 30, 2023

@uint8_t

That said, they still pack a punch when fully charged and then chopped in half with a metal axe
https://youtu.be/7tOsECLvUzs

Precautions when recharging is well advised

Vape Hunter 👀 20220904 will those batteries burn? 🧨🔥🧯🚒

YouTube
Show threadArchieApr 30, 2023
@bornach 1.2V is low!
I must be a chicken. If they're less than 2V I throw them away 😬
Show threadBornachApr 30, 2023

@Archie8
Given where these batteries came, there are several more important reasons than their voltage for why I should throw them all away
See https://youtu.be/KwcnOXxIhPs

I attempt recharge mostly as an experiment. I gain valuable experience without risking damaging expensive battery packs. These have after-all been manufactured for "disposable" applications.

I might try converting charity shop toys to use lithium polymer batteries as shown here:

https://youtu.be/Cx2ogpXkadg

Vape Hunter 👀 20220924 how many?

YouTube
Show threadArchieApr 30, 2023
@bornach I don't pick up ones with any damage and I wear gloves throughout the disasembly.
I'm like you. I'm just playing with them. I could just buy brand new batteries if i wanted.
Show threadBornachApr 30, 2023
@Archie8 I'm not mad enough to try this though😲
https://youtu.be/IAH_Gx7QVag
18 vape batteries each with different histories (vape devices found at different times of year, inconsistent charging regimes, exposed to highly variable British weather) soldered in parallel with no BMS
3S LiPo battery for my Barbie Jeep 🤔

YouTube
Show threadArchieApr 30, 2023
@bornach No! This guy's really pushing the envelope 😲
Show threadArchieApr 21, 2023
@bornach Nice
Show threadBornachApr 26, 2023

@bornach
Didn't see any #VapePens over Easter vacation then suddenly found 7 in the last few days. Is it because their users (kids and parents) have returned from holidays? Or is it coincidental? - the council has just cut the grass where some of these might have been hiding.

#vape #eCigarette #litter #BatteryHarvesting