A typical 510-thread vape pen delivers around 100 puffs on a charge, but that’s little consolation for you if your device’s battery is dead. If you have a 510-thread vape battery that isn’t charging, the situation is even worse because you might not have another device that you can use as a backup. If you can’t charge your device, you can’t vape!
Here’s the good news. Unless your vape battery no longer holds a charge – which does happen to every battery eventually – it should be fairly easy to fix the problem. Vape batteries and their charging cables take a lot of abuse, and that means they require a bit of maintenance. If you’re new to vaping and have been using your device for a while, there’s a good chance that you’ve never done anything to clean or maintain it – so it’s time to learn how. Here’s how to fix a 510-thread vape battery that isn’t charging.
Clean the Battery’s Threading or Charging Port
Depending on its design, your vape battery either has a USB charging port, or the charger screws directly into the threading at the top of the device. With either charging strategy, it’s important to keep your device clean because contaminants like dust, lint and leaked vape oil can restrict the flow of electricity from the power source to the battery. As a result, your device will either charge very slowly or won’t charge at all. Here’s how to clean it.
- If your vape battery charges through the threading, it’s possible that your device isn’t charging because a cartridge has leaked and gotten vape oil on the threading. It’s also possible that you inadvertently transferred oil to your charging cable when connecting the device, so you’ll need to clean it as well. Disconnect the charging cable from the power source and moisten a cotton swab with rubbing alcohol. Use it to remove the oil from the device and charger. If the first cotton swab comes out dirty, repeat the process with clean cotton swabs until they come out clean. Don’t try charging the device again until it and the charger are both completely dry.
- If your vape battery has a USB port for charging, use a toothpick to remove dust and lint from the charging port. Don’t attempt to clean the charging port with a metal tool because you could scratch the gold plating on the port’s contacts. If that happens, the charging port won’t work properly.
Replace the Charging Cable
If your vape battery doesn’t begin charging after you’ve cleaned it – or it wasn’t dirty in the first place – the charging cable is the next most likely culprit. USB cables are manufactured very cheaply, and they often develop reliability issues even under the best of circumstances. Charging a vape battery definitely isn’t the best circumstance, though, because you probably use the charging cable for your vape pen almost every day. It’s going to wear out before long – so if your vape battery isn’t charging, try replacing the cable.
If your vaping device charges through a USB port, replacing the charging cable is easy because you can use any USB cable that fits the port as long as it’s certified for power delivery. If your device charges through the threading, though, it’s a bit trickier because the charger may be proprietary. In this case, it’s always best to replace your charging cable with an identical cable made by the same manufacturer. It’s unwise to use a generic replacement – even if it fits your device’s threading – because the replacement may not use exactly the same voltage or amperage for charging. The mismatch in charging specifications could create a fire risk.
Try a Different Power Source
If you’re unable to get your vape battery to charge after you’ve made sure that it’s clean and replaced the charging cable, the next thing you should evaluate is the power source that you’re using. A computer’s USB port is always the best power source for charging a vaping device. If you’re already using your computer, try a different USB port or use a different computer. It’s possible that the USB port you’re trying to use has an issue.
When it comes to wall chargers, vaping devices can be finicky. Generally, you don’t want to charge a vape battery through a wall outlet unless you have a charging adapter that you’re certain has exactly the voltage and amperage that your vape battery is designed to receive. You can also use a wall adapter that you know is approved by the manufacturer of your vaping device.
Don’t ever attempt to charge a vape battery with the wall adapter for a smartphone, computer or tablet. These devices have batteries that can support higher charging amperages. Most vaping devices, however, don’t support fast charging and could potentially overheat.
When Is It Time to Replace a 510-Thread Battery?
If you’re unable to get your 510-thread battery to charge by following the instructions in this article, it’s time to consider the possibility that your vaping device is due for replacement. Although some batteries do fail suddenly, there’s a good chance that you’ve seen the signs of impending failure for a while. If a vape battery seems to charge more quickly than it used to – or it doesn’t seem to last as long as it used to – those are indicators that the battery’s capacity is permanently diminished. When you notice that a vape battery’s capacity is much lower than when the device is new, you should expect that it will soon stop charging.
Is it time for you to get a new 510-thread battery? If you want to get a vaping device that will last, you need to get one from a well-regarded brand like Rokin Vapes. Good manufacturers make more reliable products – and more importantly, a reliable brand will also stand behind its products with generous warranty terms. If you have a vape battery that dies before its time, you can always expect a good manufacturer to make it right.
