As any vaper knows, keeping your vape’s battery properly juiced up can ensure a smooth vaping experience, especially when you’re out and about. But how long does it actually take to fully charge a vape pen? How can ensure your vape stays juiced up for longer between charges.
The charging time can vary quite a bit depending on factors like the battery capacity, type of charger used, age of the battery. It also boils down to whether you’re doing a full charge or just a top-up.
In this beginner’s guide, we’ll cover all the important information around properly charging your vape batteries so you can keep your device powered up and ready to produce thick clouds whenever you want.
What Type of Battery Does My Vape Pen Use?
The majority of vape pens on the market today use rechargeable lithium-ion batteries as their power source. These can be internal batteries built right into the vape pen device itself, or removable external batteries.
Unsurprisingly, most vape manufacturers opt for internal lithium-ion batteries, especially in sleek vaping pen designs. These are sealed units that cannot be removed, similar to today’s smartphone batteries. Their battery capacity typically ranges from around 300mAh to 1000mAh.
Removable external batteries like the 18650s are frequently used in larger vape mods and some pen-style devices. Their bigger size allows for higher battery capacities, often 2000mAh and up. This gives you longer vape time between charges.
Disposable vapes like DELI 1 usually contain small non-removable lithium-ion batteries, in the 280-650mAh range. But these are not meant to be recharged once drained.
How to Charge a Vape Pen Using USB Cord?
The most common and convenient way to charge up a vape pen battery is via the USB charging port. Nearly all modern vape pens have a Micro-USB or USB-C port that allows you to easily connect the included charging cable.
Simply plug one end into the vape pen, and the other into any available USB port like those found on computers, power banks, video game consoles, and more.
Once connected properly, the vape pen’s LED indicator light should illuminate or start blinking to signal it is charging. Refer to your specific device’s user guide to understand what the different light colors/blinking patterns mean in terms of battery level and charging status.
Some vape pens also allow charging directly through the 510 threaded battery connection instead of a side charging port. For these, you just need to screw on the appropriate 510 threaded charging cable or battery dock. If you’re a visual learner, it might help to watch this video for a step by step procedure.
Charging Vape Pens with Replaceable Batteries
If your vape pen uses removable batteries like 18650s instead of an internal battery pack, you’ll need to get an external battery charger. These affordable chargers have slots to insert the batteries, which are then charged up with the press of a button.
To charge, simply remove the batteries from your vape pen, insert them into the external charger following the manufacturer’s instructions. Let them charge until the indicator shows they are fully charged. Once done, pop those fresh batteries back into your vape pen.
How to Know Your Vape Pen Needs to be Charged?
Most quality vape pen batteries these days have some kind of LED light. They change color or start blinking to visually indicate when the battery level is getting low and it’s time for a recharge.
A blinking or solid red LED light is the most common low battery warning indicator across many vape brands, including Mfused and TRENDI. Some blink rapidly when very low. Other devices may have the light turn yellow when it’s time to recharge soon.
In addition to the LED warning light, you’ll also be able to tell when it’s charge time based on a decrease in vapor production and general performance degradation as the battery gets drained.
How Long Does It Take to Charge a Vape Pen?
In general, it takes anywhere from 1-4 hours for most typical vape pen batteries to be recharged from a completely dead state back to full capacity. But the exact charging time can vary quite a bit based on several factors:
Battery Capacity
The larger the battery capacity (measured in milliamp hours or mAh), the longer it will take to recharge. Smaller 300-500mAh pens charge faster than 800mAh+ mods.
Percent of Charge Remaining
If not completely drained, it will take less time for a partial recharge. Going from 25% to 100% is much faster than 0% to 100%.
Battery Age
Brand new batteries tend to charge more quickly than older, degraded ones nearing the end of the vape pen’s battery life cycle.
Charger Output
Higher amperage USB chargers like 2A wall adapters will charge batteries faster than lower amp sources like computer USB ports.
Generally speaking though, most mid-sized vape pen batteries in the 500-900mAh range take around 1-2 hours for a full charge using a decent quality charger. Higher capacity mods over 2000mAh may take 3-4 hours or more. And smaller disposable vape batteries typically recharge in 1-2 hours.
How to Prolong the Battery Life of your Vape Pen?
Taking good care of your vape batteries and developing proper charging habits is essential for prolonging their lifespan and ensuring reliable performance. Here are some top tips for extending your batteries’ longevity.
Use the Right, Compatible Charger
Be sure to only use the official charging cable or wall adapter that came with your vape pen, or a high-quality replacement from a reputable brand designed specifically for vaping batteries. Cheap gas station chargers not meant for lithium-ion cells may damage or degrade your batteries faster.
Avoid Overcharging the Vape Pen Battery
While it’s generally safe to leave the vape battery charging a bit longer here and there, avoid making a habit of leaving them plugged in for excessive periods after fully charging. This can contribute to decreased lifespan and performance over time.
Recharge The Battery Charge Goes to 0%
Another tip for maximum battery health is to recharge your vape’s battery before it gets completely depleted down to 0%. Lithium-ion batteries do best when recharged around the 10-20% remaining range.
Don’t Expose to Too Much Heat or Cold
Exposing your vape batteries to excessive heat or freezing cold temperatures can damage the cells and shorten their lifespans significantly. The perfect battery temperature range is around 60-80°F. Anything routinely hotter than 90°F or colder than 35°F is asking for trouble in terms of battery longevity.
Rotate Multiple Batteries
If your vape uses removable batteries, it’s wise to have a rotation of multiple sets rather than constantly using the same one or two batteries nonstop. This allows each battery to go through fewer charge/drain cycles over the same time period, reducing wear.
Are All Vape Pens Rechargeable?
No, not every vape pen or device on the market has rechargeable capabilities. While the vast majority of modern vape pens, pod systems, and box mods do use rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, some very basic disposable vape battery products are not designed to be recharged.
Some disposable vape pen models, e-cigs, cig-a-likes out there contain non-rechargeable batteries that are only meant for single, non-rechargeable use. Once the battery is drained, you have to simply discard that unit.
Higher quality disposable vapes these days are starting to buck that trend by including rechargeable batteries and USB ports for easy recharging. This allows you to keep using that same disposable vape for much longer before replacing it.