Dangerous DIY Charging of E-Cigarettes Warned by Experts

Nov.28.2022
Dangerous DIY Charging of E-Cigarettes Warned by Experts
Master Electricians warn DIY charging of disposable e-cigarettes may result in exploding batteries, posing a serious risk to users.

Master Electricians warn that young people who use DIY methods to charge disposable e-cigarette devices are at risk of their hands exploding. A school in Taranaki has issued a warning to parents this week to be aware of this practice.


Within our community, a small number of young people have been taking old electronic cigarettes with depleted batteries, opening them up, exposing the battery, and recharging it so that it can be used again.


This is very clever, but also very dangerous," the email stated when referring to this hasty charging method, but did not provide detailed explanations of potential issues.


Bernie McLaughlin, CEO of Master Electricians, expressed great concern over this practice.


My initial reaction is that these individuals are actually circumventing many of the built-in safety features of the product. By doing so, they are actually putting themselves at risk of a lithium battery exploding in their hands.


When lithium is ignited, it becomes extremely unstable, and attempting to charge these devices with charging methods that are far from the safety standards of the industry really concerns me.


We have seen it numerous times, whether it be cars, electric scooters, or e-cigarettes - in reality, lithium is an extremely unstable product. Once ignited, it is very difficult to extinguish.


According to McLaughlin, using a charging cable without short-circuit protection means that it may explode or overheat and melt. But the real danger is overcharging the battery.


Early on we observed that electronic cigarettes, in particular, are prone to explosions which can cause severe burns to the legs or arms of individuals, should they explode in a person's pocket. This is perhaps the biggest danger as it is associated with the lithium used in electronic cigarettes.


McLaughlin said that it was his first time hearing about this practice, but he wasn't surprised that ambitious individuals were looking for ways to reuse disposable items.


The concerning issue is that the payment methods for these items are not the ones truly designated by the manufacturers, hence, although they are ambitious, they can be very dangerous.


McLaughlin advises against anyone opening devices not designed for repair, whether they be electronic cigarettes or household appliances.


Once it has access to electricity, it no longer cares whether or not you are its owner; instead, it may potentially harm you.


He issued a warning to his family.


If parents discover any damage to the charger, it's not worth keeping it around. The best option is to ensure that it's unplugged and then permanently cut the wire and dispose of it so that it can't be used.


Of course, if you discover that the e-cigarette is not designed for multiple uses and appears to be charging in a non-compliant manner, I strongly advise you to handle it properly.


Statement:


This article is compiled from third-party information and is intended for industry communication and learning.


This article does not represent the views of 2FIRSTS and 2FIRSTS cannot confirm the truth or accuracy of the article's content. The translation of this article is only for the purpose of industry communication and research.


Due to limitations in the translation process, the translated article may not fully express the original text. Please refer to the original text for accuracy.


2FIRSTS fully aligns with the Chinese government on any domestic, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and foreign-related statements and positions.


The compilation and ownership of information contained herein vest in the original media and author. In case of copyright infringement, please contact us for prompt removal.



Disclaimer

This article is provided solely for professional research, industry discussion, and informational purposes. Any references to brands, companies, products, technologies, or policies are made for factual reporting and analytical purposes only, and do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, promotion, or advertising by 2Firsts.

Nicotine-containing products, including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, carry significant health risks. Readers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions, including age restrictions and access limitations.

The information contained in this article should not be regarded as investment, legal, medical, regulatory, or commercial advice. While 2Firsts strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its content, it does not assume liability for any direct or indirect loss arising from errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or reliance on the information contained herein.

This article is not intended for individuals below the legal age for accessing tobacco or nicotine-related information in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright Notice

This article is either original content produced by 2Firsts or content reproduced, translated, summarized, or adapted from third-party sources with attribution where applicable. The intellectual property rights of the original content remain with 2Firsts or the respective original rights holders.

No individual or organization may copy, reproduce, distribute, republish, modify, translate, or otherwise use this content without prior authorization. Any unauthorized use may result in legal action.

For copyright-related inquiries, corrections, or removal requests, please contact: info@2firsts.com.

 

AI-Assisted Translation and Editing Notice

Portions of this article may have been translated, edited, or reviewed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency and readability. Due to the limitations of AI-assisted translation and editing, discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies may exist when compared with the original source.

Where applicable, readers are advised to refer to the original source for the most complete and accurate information. If you identify any errors or believe that any content infringes upon your rights, please contact us at info@2firsts.com, and we will review and address the matter promptly.

China’s Jiangsu Tobacco Monopoly Bureau and Drug Regulator Target Illegal Vape Sales Disguised as Medical Devices, Define Six Violations
China’s Jiangsu Tobacco Monopoly Bureau and Drug Regulator Target Illegal Vape Sales Disguised as Medical Devices, Define Six Violations
China’s Jiangsu Tobacco Monopoly Bureau and Jiangsu Provincial Medical Products Administration have issued a joint notice targeting illegal production and sales of vape products disguised as medical devices. The notice identifies six categories of violations, including obtaining medical licenses through false materials, misusing medical device credentials, expanding production beyond approved scopes, and using medical device-related online platforms to promote or sell vape products. The action is based on China’s tobacco and medical device regulations and aims to strengthen vape oversight and consumer protection.
Aug.04
U.S. Ninth Circuit Upholds FDA Denial of MH Global’s Flavored Vape PMTA Applications
U.S. Ninth Circuit Upholds FDA Denial of MH Global’s Flavored Vape PMTA Applications
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld the FDA’s denial of MH Global LLC’s applications to market flavored electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). The court ruled that FDA’s comparative-efficacy framework, which requires applicants to show that flavored products provide greater cessation or switching benefits than tobacco-flavored alternatives, is consistent with the Tobacco Control Act’s “appropriate for the protection of the public health” standard. The court also found that FDA was not required to establish the framework through notice-and-comment rulemaking.
Aug.26
South Korean Lawmaker Jeong Jin-wook Pushes Synthetic Nicotine Vape Probe, Highlighting Supply Chain and Tax Concerns
South Korean Lawmaker Jeong Jin-wook Pushes Synthetic Nicotine Vape Probe, Highlighting Supply Chain and Tax Concerns
South Korean lawmaker Jeong Jin-wook has again called for stronger government action against liquid synthetic nicotine vape manufacturers and sellers, alleging that some businesses may have avoided regulation through product labeling changes and corporate restructuring. According to Newsworks, JNILBO and other Korean reports, Jeong has held his third press conference on the issue, calling for a government-wide investigation. The dispute involves whether synthetic nicotine products should fall under tobacco regulations, tax implications and supply-chain transparency. South Korean government agencies have previously said some estimates of potential tax losses cannot be verified due to limited sales data.
Jul.27
PMI Global R&D Chief Meets Chinese Tobacco Regulator as China Advances Heated Cigarette Standards
PMI Global R&D Chief Meets Chinese Tobacco Regulator as China Advances Heated Cigarette Standards
Philip Morris International’s global R&D chief Michele Cattoni met Liu Sanjiang, deputy director of China’s State Tobacco Monopoly Administration, in Beijing on Aug. 27. The meeting comes as China advances mandatory standards for heated cigarettes and nicotine pouches, laying groundwork for their domestic introduction. Cattoni has held senior roles in PMI’s heated tobacco development, while China’s draft standard covers multiple heating architectures, including systems similar in principle to PMI’s IQOS ILUMA technology.
Aug.27
Smoore Wins Three Heated Device Supply Lots in China Tobacco Jiangsu’s Overseas Market Project Covering Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asia
Smoore Wins Three Heated Device Supply Lots in China Tobacco Jiangsu’s Overseas Market Project Covering Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asia
China Tobacco Jiangsu Industrial Co., Ltd. (JSIC) has completed its 2026-2028 heated device procurement project, with Shenzhen Smoore Technology Limited securing final supply contracts for three lots: U1, C1 and C2. The project was launched through a public tender in June 2026 to support overseas markets and involved heated tobacco devices carrying JSIC’s “iRod” trademark. Candidate supplier results published on July 13 showed Smoore ranked first for the three awarded lots, while Shenzhen Yunxi Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. and Shenzhen Bodi Technology Development Co., Ltd. participated in the bidding process.
Aug.03
UK HMRC Plans 30,000 Retail Enforcement Actions as Illegal Tobacco and Vape Sellers Face Tougher Crackdown
UK HMRC Plans 30,000 Retail Enforcement Actions as Illegal Tobacco and Vape Sellers Face Tougher Crackdown
The UK government has announced that HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) will carry out more than 30,000 interventions targeting businesses and retail premises during the 2026-2027 financial year. The actions will focus on tax fraud, illegal goods sales and businesses involved in unlawful activities through retail channels. The government said illegal tobacco and illegal vape sales remain areas of concern. The move shows that UK enforcement against illegal nicotine products is expanding from import and supply channels toward retail-level oversight, alongside the upcoming introduction of the Vaping Products Duty.
Jul.24