If you want to use pre-filled vape cartridges, you need a battery to supply the power – and a good vape shop will have no shortage of options in this department. Using a vaping device with a rechargeable battery means that you’ll need to charge it periodically, though, and that means you need to know how to do it correctly. When you research how to charge a vape battery, one of the first questions you might ask is how long a device takes to charge.

Understanding How Long a Cartridge Battery Takes to Charge

So, how long does a cartridge battery take to charge? The answer to this question is actually fairly simple. The charging time for a vape battery is a function of its capacity – measured in milliamps – and the charging current, which is usually expressed in amps. One amp is equal to 1,000 milliamps, so a charger with a current of one amp charges a 1,000-mAh battery in one hour. To measure the charging time for a battery with a different capacity or a charger with a different current, start from that point and adjust the number as necessary.

If you’re not using a wall charger with your vape battery, it means that the battery uses its onboard charging circuitry to negotiate the correct current with your computer. In that case, you can determine your device’s charging current by reading the instruction manual. Most devices and chargers use half-amp increments, making the math fairly simple.

Why Is It Important to Understand How Long a Cart Battery Takes to Charge?

There are a few good reasons why you might want to know how long a cart battery takes to charge. Firstly, it’s a way to be certain that you’re charging your device correctly. You might also want to know how long a battery should take to charge because the process seems to be taking much longer than normal without ever completing. If a device charges for an unusually long time without finishing, it’s a possible sign that the battery has reached the end of its life. We’ll discuss that at greater length shortly.

How Do You Charge a Cartridge Battery Correctly?

The best way to charge a cartridge battery is by connecting it to your computer unless you have a wall charger that you’re certain is approved by the device’s manufacturer. The device’s instruction manual should tell you the required charging voltage and amperage. It’s safe to charge a vape battery with a charger that has a lower amperage than specified, but you should not use a charger with a higher amperage. If a device is designed for a 1-amp charging current, for instance, it’s safe to use a .5-amp charger – but you shouldn’t use a 2-amp charger.

When you connect a cartridge battery to a power source, a light on the device or charger should illuminate. In most cases, the light will either be solid or pulsing, and it’ll usually be white or red. When the charge cycle is complete, the light will turn off, switch to a different color or change from pulsing to solid.

Why Might a Cartridge Battery Take Longer than Expected to Charge?

Now that you understand the correct procedure for charging a cart battery, it’s time for some troubleshooting information that can help you fix the issue if your device isn’t charging as normal. Suppose you’ve done the calculations described at the beginning of this article, and your device seems to be taking much longer to charge than it should. The most likely reason why this would happen is because you’re using a wall charger with a lower charging current than your device expects to receive. If your device has the ability to charge at one amp, for instance, using a half-amp charger will double the expected charging time.

To alleviate this issue, it’s best to charge a cartridge battery through your computer’s USB port. That way, the device’s onboard charging circuitry will automatically communicate with your computer to determine the correct charging current to use.

Don’t attempt to increase the charging speed of a vaping device by connecting it to a high-speed charger like the one included with your tablet. Using a fast charger can cause a vape battery to overheat, potentially causing a fire risk.

Can You Do Anything to Fix a Slow-Charging Vape Battery?

What should you do if you have a vape battery that’s taking much longer than it should to charge, even though you’re connecting it to your computer? Does it mean that the battery has reached the end of its life? That’s a possibility – but before you worry, you should do a little basic troubleshooting to make sure that the charging cable has a solid electrical connection with the device.

• Start by checking the battery’s charging port or 510 threading, depending on how the device charges. If your device uses a USB port for charging, scrape the inside of the port gently with a toothpick to remove contaminants like lint and dirt. If the charger screws into the device’s 510 threading, clean the threading using a cotton swab dipped lightly in rubbing alcohol. Use a dry cotton swab to remove the alcohol, and then try charging the device again.
• Try charging the battery with a different cable. If the wires in a USB cable are stretched or frayed, it’ll diminish the cable’s ability to deliver power and reduce the charging amperage.

How Do You Know if It’s Time to Replace a Vape Battery?

If you’re having issues with charging a cartridge battery, it’s important to understand the signs that the battery may have reached the end of its life. Here are the two things you’re likely to experience when it’s time to replace a battery.

• You can connect the device to a charger for hours, and the charge cycle never seems to finish. This indicates that the battery is no longer able to reach its target voltage.
• When you connect the device to a charger, the light turns off right away – but when you use the device, the light starts blinking after just a puff or two. This indicates that the battery’s capacity is permanently reduced.

The above signs generally indicate that a battery’s usable life has ended. Lithium-ion batteries usually last hundreds of cycles, but it’s not an exact science – occasionally, you might end up with a battery cell that doesn’t quite live up to expectations. If your vape battery no longer charges correctly, you’ll need to replace the battery or the device.