That guy was most likely using a mod (home made e-cig) with cheaply made batteries that don't have any safety circuits or vents in them, was using a battery that was damaged from overcharging or charging with the wrong charger, had a short circuit in the cartomizer or simply has the worst luck in the world.

I've read about modified vaporizers blowing up because they don't have vents and use cheap batteries. Lithium batteries vent in the event of a failure and if they're in a tube without vent holes then the gasses leaving the battery will build up in the tube until the tube can't take it any more and then you have a grenade situation.

I've read where they have blown from over charging.

I've seen a couple blow when hooked up to computer usb ports. The chargers are set up to put out a certain amperage for certain batteries and I guess the computer puts out quite a bit more than those batteries could handle.

I have two models that have the same connection for the atomizers so both chargers fit either battery. The difference between the two is that one charger puts out 150mA and the other puts out 420mA. The batteries outputs are 280mA and 650mA. If I hooked the 650mA battery up to the 150mA charger it would be fine although it would take forever to charge. If I hooked the 280mA battery up to the 420mA charger it would destroy and the battery and it would increase the chances of a bang quite a bit.

Lithium batteries can go bad no matter what they are put into and need to be trashed when that happens. If they get warm, vent (makes a hissing noise) or the led lights up when it shouldn't then it's time to toss that battery. Replacing a $15 battery every now and then is much cheaper than a carton of cigarettes every ten days when I was smoking a pack a day.

A little common sense goes a long way. For a comparison to stay true to nature of the forum, would it be advisable to seal the vents in a car battery then hook it up to a 50 amp charger for a day?

The batteries I've been using have a few safeguards in place to prevent a bang. There is a circuit board in the battery itself to cut off power flow in the event of a short, overcharging or rapid discharging. There is also a circuit board in the battery housing that does the same thing along with killing the connection in the event of discharging for more than 10 seconds (holding the button down too long), high power draw, low power draw or a short circuit. There is a circuit in the housing that automatically stops charging when the battery is fully charged. In the event of a short circuit the battery will have the power supply disconnected and will be locked until it is plugged into the charger again. In the event that there is an issue with both circuit boards then there is also a blow out plug on the bottom of the battery that will pop out if the battery begins to vent from overheating.

I actually made a charging box the other day after reading about a persons battery blowing the end off and spilling its guts (along with a 2' flame) while charging on a computers USB port. I use the box when I'm going to charge the batteries while I'm not in the house to feel them every so often to see if they're warm. The battery will get warm, then hot then pop if there is a failure.
Here's my afternoon project that had about 30 seconds of planning and then got started with a couple design tweaks that were thought of while cutting the metal (aluminum).

 

Nice handiwork Sheriff. Now, if you'd just use your powers for Good...

 

Wow, Sheriff! Such caftsmanship and hard work on an "explosion-proof" box. You are really committed to quitting! Good job, my good man!

 

That's pretty Billy. I like it.

 

Thanks. I thought about painting it flat black but then I decided to give the whole think a light sanding with the flap wheel on the grinder to give it the brush mark look and to get rid of the scratches/dull look it had.
I'm thinking about making another one out of 1/8" steel to make it better and so I can have an excuse to play with the welder.
That box has 1/16" on either side of the tray and 1/16" at the top of the tray for venting in the case of a leaking battery.
Since those batteries will push the end cap out and the force is directed out that end (opposite the end that the charger is connected to) I am thinking about making a box that is a little more narrow, taller and sealed at the bottom so there will be more air space for a flame to fill before it escapes the box along with the force of the flame being directed at the sealed end. I didn't think of it when I made that box but the vents on the bottom would allow a flame to shoot out of it a bit.

 

You, sir, appear to have way too much time on your hands since you quit smoking!

 

 

Nah, I just decided to focus on something. I've always got plans and designs for things I want to build/work on/improve jumbling around in my head. It makes it hard to get to sleep sometimes. Some people say I have ADD but I don't believe them. I just need to zero in on one thing every now and then to take up my free time.

 

AHDD maybe, with maybe a little OCD thrown in.......I get that way sometimes.....

 

I might have a touch of OCD. When I get ready to leave I tend to make a round through the house to make sure everything is turned off and tend to open the bedroom door a couple times to double and triple check that everything is off.