Vaping Device Teardown, Battery Waste and YouTube Ad Suitability

[edy]

Hi folks,

My dog almost ate a vaping device he found at night in a field. I noticed him holding some green cylinder in his mouth, so I promptly grabbed it. Then I noticed there was blue blinking light! How did it activate? I personally do not smoke or vape and never seen such a device before. After I figured out what it was, I decided to film a teardown to see what goes on inside.

Firstly, I was not aware that Li-Ion or Li-Po batteries were used even in the DISPOSABLE devices. Seems like a waste, as I thought these could be recharged. I thought perhaps a different battery chemistry (non-rechargeable type) that was cheaper may be used. It looks like these DISPOSABLE devices do not allow exchange or refilling of the vaping solution so there's no point to having a rechargeable battery either.

Secondly, I was confused as to the function of that sensor device that looks like a microphone/speaker, but I quickly figured it out after during editing so please forgive the stupid comments. I added text overlay to explain things later. I seems like the air pressure/flow sensor activates the heating element every time someone "draws" from the device and that momentarily vaporizes the liquid in the wick. Otherwise that current through the heating element is off. I believe the blue LED also activates at the same time to indicate when it is on.

Thirdly, I have received limited ad suitability on YouTube for the video which I assume has to do with the fact that it is a VAPING or E-CIGARETTE type of device. It is not directed and does not feature children, and there is no mention of illegal substance use, etc. It is purely a factual scientific analysis of the device and teardown. I do not promote or advocate or even comment on my opinion of whether one should use this or not. I'm assuming YouTube will just mark anything having to do with these more "fringe" things as being advertiser unfriendly. I never knew this, now I know.

Are these things even properly electronically vetted and approved devices or are they generally just made cheaply somewhere and sort of get distributed through some black or grey market? Are there any safety considerations (from the electronic design point of view) and is there any reason why disposable devices would still use what seem to be re-usable batteries? Is it because of the energy density/performance needed to heat up a wick element, or is the cost just that cheap that they can be charged and used once and dropped? Mind you, they do not seem cheap... perhaps the cost of the battery is peanuts compared to the rest of the device. Also, what is the shelf-life of a "precharged" battery like this?

[amyk]

bigclivedotcom has gone through a few of those (some of the later videos he has deliberately avoided the word "vape" or "smoke", presumably for the reason you found out) and also laments the waste of it all. In general I think lithium rechargeables have completely eclipsed primary cells and thus become much cheaper even in a disposable application.

[eti]

Possession and use of "vaping" equipment is a really simple and effective moron detector.

[Gyro]

A couple of bits that could be put to some useful purpose then!

[edy]

The video was opportunistic as I would never normally have obtained such a device. I probably shouldn't have been surprised that YouTube won't merge ads with it. I noticed even some videos by Thunderf00t talking about masks and COVID science were also affected because YouTube is lumping all such videos in the same "basket" of conspiracy theories and it can't tell the difference between proponents and debunkers. There are probably plenty of videos showing off vaping products that look exactly like mine but obviously have a very different intent.

One interesting thought is that compared to vaping, smoking may be better for the environment! Think of all the acres of land devoted to growing tobacco and carbon sequestration. Yes eventually the carbon gets released again but there is a cycle present. With vaping, especially disposable, there has to be tons of waste and energy all used that goes to waste and ends up in landfill.

[NiHaoMike]

In general I think lithium rechargeables have completely eclipsed primary cells and thus become much cheaper even in a disposable application.

Or more likely, a way to "dispose" of rejects that do not perform to specification.

One interesting thought is that compared to vaping, smoking may be better for the environment! Think of all the acres of land devoted to growing tobacco and carbon sequestration. Yes eventually the carbon gets released again but there is a cycle present. With vaping, especially disposable, there has to be tons of waste and energy all used that goes to waste and ends up in landfill.

I wouldn't be surprised if smoking is better than not smoking in terms of carbon footprint because the shortened lifetime makes for less CO2 emissions. That doesn't mean environmentalists should smoke...

[Zero999]

I've recently found a load of these vape devices discarded on a green, near where I work.

I also have a need for a 500mAh battery. I have an old USB rechargeable bicycle light, with a dead battery and the flat Li-ion battery in one of those vape devices fitted perfectly. Unfortunately I've left it on charge at work, so won't be able to tell whether it works, or has blown the place up, until tomorrow.

One word of caution: the batteries used in the disposable vapes don't have any battery protection circuitry. Always make sure you salvage the battery protection board, from the device you're replacing battery, or buy one, if it's for your own project!

[eti]

Possession and use of "vaping" equipment is a really simple and effective moron detector.

Yes. People are extremely gullible to pump chemicals into their lungs, just because they BELIEVE “it’s harmless, unlike tobacco”.

Stupid to the power of infinity. To add to that, they also think they look “cool”, whereas they look like dorks.

[magic]

I wonder what can be said about agreeing with your own posts a year later

[Zero999]

The video was opportunistic as I would never normally have obtained such a device. I probably shouldn't have been surprised that YouTube won't merge ads with it. I noticed even some videos by Thunderf00t talking about masks and COVID science were also affected because YouTube is lumping all such videos in the same "basket" of conspiracy theories and it can't tell the difference between proponents and debunkers. There are probably plenty of videos showing off vaping products that look exactly like mine but obviously have a very different intent.

One interesting thought is that compared to vaping, smoking may be better for the environment! Think of all the acres of land devoted to growing tobacco and carbon sequestration. Yes eventually the carbon gets released again but there is a cycle present. With vaping, especially disposable, there has to be tons of waste and energy all used that goes to waste and ends up in landfill.

What's worse is genuine medical doctors have been censored, for stating things which were widely regarded as true, until recently and have been proven by the Centers for Disease Control, this week.

Possession and use of "vaping" equipment is a really simple and effective moron detector.

Yes. People are extremely gullible to pump chemicals into their lungs, just because they BELIEVE “it’s harmless, unlike tobacco”.

Stupid to the power of infinity. To add to that, they also think they look “cool”, whereas they look like dorks.

What a load of bollocks.

Those who I've spoken to, who  vape, don't think it's completely harmless, just that it's an order of magnitude less harmful, than tobacco.

Anyway, my bicycle light had been charged and is now working. I don't know how long the replacement battery will last. Now, I don't know what to do with the 15 odd remaining disposable vapes. I will probably be in need of a 500mAh battery in the future, but can't see myself using them all, assuming they're all good.

[amyk]

I thought this thread got bumped because bigclivedotcom recently posted another video on the topic:



Not just battery waste...

[Zero999]

Yes, I have seen BigClive's video recently, but I also remembered this thread and the original poster's video and decided to bump it, rather than create a new one.

[thm_w]

Was curious about the costs:
Here they have the aquavape for 6 for $30 ($5/ea): https://www.aquavape.co.uk/product-category/disposable-e-cigarette/smok-mbar-pro/

With a 500mAh battery and 2ml e-liquid capacity, you’ll be able to enjoy up to 550 puffs before it’s time. Plus, the draw-activated design makes using this device easily even if your hands are full!

The cheapest model was $3.50 each: https://www.aquavape.co.uk/product/ultd-puff-bar-apple-blow-20mg/ with a 280mAh cell.

Of course disappointing they are even allowed to sell disposable batteries like this, but also there is no mention, that I see, of responsibly disposing of the electronics. So 99% of people will toss it in the trash.

[Zero999]

Or worse, dumped on a green, or in the bushes, where the nasty chemicals leak out and cause pollution.

The trouble is, they're much cheaper than a packet of fags. There's a huge duty on cigarettes in the UK, whilst I believe vapes are only subject to standard VAT.

Clearly something needs to be done. They could put a huge duty on vapes, but make replacement batteries and refills cheap, or perhaps the single use variety should be just banned. A recycling scheme is another option, but I doubt it's economical to clean, recharge and refill them and many people will be a funny about using a refurbished vape.

[kerencostley]

The idea in that comment about the moron detector made me laugh a lot. I used to vape a couple of years ago, and honestly, I don't trust these devices. The risk of counterfeiting is very high, especially when they are traded like candies. Thus you're putting your health at risk, which I consider not really worthy. At least it's crucial to purchase batteries from trustworthy distributors. Back then, I was dealing with liberty flight https://www.liberty-flights.co.uk/XO-E-liquid/  and was quite satisfied. Nevertheless, I quit vaping and can't recommend anything in this field anymore. P.S.: You've done a great job by studying its composition!

[Zero999]

The idea in that comment about the moron detector made me laugh a lot. I used to vape a couple of years ago, and honestly, I don't trust these devices. The risk of counterfeiting is very high, especially when they are traded like candies.

That's a valid concern, which can applies even more so to cigarettes, which are cheaper to produce and subject to a much more tax.

[eti]

Substance addiction, falling for fads, wanting to "look cool" and "my mates all have them" seem to override uncommon sense. LOL

[AndyBeez]

I saw one of those vape things abandoned in the street yesterday, laying part crushed by the curb. It did cross my mind that there could be a really decent LiPo cell awaiting salvage - a la Big Clive. Then I thought, let's do the right thing and kick it into the drain, before anyone catches Monkey Pox. No, it didn't spontaneously explode on water contact.

A question, how exactly does China/Vietnam/Cambodia manufacture and FULLY charge LiPo cells so cheap for single use? UK wise, a juicey-flava vape is no more than £5 full retail. Bulk discounts available. The LiPo cells must be no dearer than a PP3 cell?

[Zero999]

I saw one of those vape things abandoned in the street yesterday, laying part crushed by the curb. It did cross my mind that there could be a really decent LiPo cell awaiting salvage - a la Big Clive. Then I thought, let's do the right thing and kick it into the drain, before anyone catches Monkey Pox. No, it didn't spontaneously explode on water contact.

If you weren't interested in salvaging anything, the best thing you could have done would have been to pick it up and throw it into the nearest rubbish bin. Kicking it down the drain was a bad idea, because most drains in the street, go into the local lake/river/groundwater, where any nasty chemicals such as those found in batteries, can harm the environment. If you didn't want to pick it up, then you should have just left it, for someone else to dispose of.

A question, how exactly does China/Vietnam/Cambodia manufacture and FULLY charge LiPo cells so cheap for single use? UK wise, a juicey-flava vape is no more than £5 full retail. Bulk discounts available. The LiPo cells must be no dearer than a PP3 cell?

I honestly don't know. Tobacco is highly taxed in the UK, so any alternative will be cheaper to buy, even if it costs much more to make. The government don't want to tax vapes because they're over an order of magnitude less unhealthy, compared to tobacco. Banning the single use variety is a much better idea and would probably even benefit the user more.

[themadhippy]

People are extremely gullible to pump chemicals into their lungs

And these nasty chemicals are?  propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin ,both widely used in the food industry.

[Zero999]

People are extremely gullible to pump chemicals into their lungs

And these nasty chemicals are?  propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin ,both widely used in the food industry.

The counterargument is those chemicals are used in food, rather than inhaled, but it's a moot point, since there are far more dangerous chemicals in cigarette smoke.