If you’re a fan of pre-filled vape cartridges, you definitely own at least one 510-thread battery because every vape cart needs a power source – and owning a vape pen battery means that you need to know how to charge it properly. If you don’t, you’re likely to have an experience that’s less than ideal.

Why is it so important to charge a 510-thread battery correctly? It’s because charging a vape pen the right way ensures that it will stay within the correct temperature range at all times and that it won’t overheat. An overheating lithium-ion battery is potentially dangerous because it’s a fire risk – and even if the battery’s temperature never reaches the point of becoming a fire risk, overheating will still shorten its usable life.

In this article, we’re going to explain how to charge a 510-thread battery properly. As you’re about to learn, it’s an extremely simple process; you only need to be aware of a few potentially unsafe conditions to avoid. Let’s jump in.

Charge a 510-Thread Battery Only with Your Computer
The first thing you need to know about charging a 510 battery is that you should charge it only through your computer’s USB port unless you have a wall charger that you know is approved by the vape pen’s manufacturer. Using any other power source is a potential fire risk.

In most cases, a vape pen battery charges through a USB cable. With other USB-powered devices – such as your phone – you’re probably used to connecting those devices to whatever power source happens to be handy when it’s time to charge them. One of the big differences between 510 batteries and other rechargeable devices, though, is that a vape pen battery is often very sensitive to the level of input power that it receives.

Wall adapters for mobile phones and tablets are often “fast chargers,” and they’re designed to work with batteries that support higher charging amperages. Vape pens usually don’t support high-speed charging and could overheat in that situation.

Don’t Use Third-Party Equipment if Your Vape Pen Has a Proprietary Charger
If your vape pen doesn’t have a USB port, it probably has a proprietary charging cable that screws directly into the 510 threading at the top of the device. In that case, you need to take special care of the charging cable because you can’t just replace it with any off-the-shelf USB cable if it breaks.

If your device’s charging cable does break, it’s a bad idea to look for a generic 510-thread charging cable at your local vape shop because a generic charger may not adhere to the same charging standard as the cable included with the device. If your vape pen has a proprietary charger – and that charger breaks – you should only replace it with an identical charger direct from the device’s manufacturer. Although vape pens with proprietary chargers are often cheaper than ones with USB ports, the need to replace a broken charging cable with an identical one is a drawback.

Connect the Battery to Your Computer and Wait for the Light to Change
Now that we’ve gotten some basic safety information out of the way, it’s time to learn how to charge a 510-thread battery properly – and that’s the easy part. Here’s how to do it.

• Connect one end of the charging cable to your vape pen and connect the other end of the cable to your computer.

• Watch the vape pen’s light. It should turn on when you connect the device to your computer. When the battery is fully charged, the light will change in one of three ways. It’ll change from red to green, change from pulsing to solid or turn off entirely.

A typical vape pen battery charges in about 60-90 minutes. When the charging process is complete, you can disconnect the battery from your computer and resume using it.

Learn How to Troubleshoot a Vape Pen That Isn’t Charging
If your vape pen’s light doesn’t turn on when you connect it to your computer, it means that the battery isn’t charging. In most cases, this doesn’t indicate a serious problem with your device and is actually a fairly easy issue to troubleshoot. Here’s how to do it.

• Try charging your device with a different USB cable. The most common reason why a vape pen doesn’t charge is because the USB cable has internal damage that prevents it from transmitting power reliably.

• Check your vape pen’s 510 threading or USB port for contaminations. If the threading is dirty, you can remove the residue using a cotton swab moistened slightly with alcohol. If the charging port is clogged with dust or lint, remove it with a toothpick.

• Use a different USB port. Although it’s rare, it’s possible for a single USB port on a computer to stop working.

Learn How to Handle Removable Vape Batteries
Do you have a vaporizer with a removable battery? If you do, you can charge your device’s battery in two different ways. You can charge it by connecting it to your computer as described above, or you can remove the battery and charge it in a dedicated external battery charger. If you opt to use an external charger, you’ll have the ability to use one battery while charging another – but you need to make sure that the charger is compatible with the type and chemistry of the battery you’re using. If you’re using a lithium-ion battery sold by a vape shop, you should be fine – but it never hurts to double check.

When you remove the battery from your vape pen, it’s important to remember that lithium-ion batteries are extremely powerful and must be transported very carefully. If a battery’s terminals touch other metal objects, a short circuit could result. In that case, the battery could overheat and vent hot gas. To ensure that your batteries are protected, you should always transport them in a protective carrying case. Don’t ever carry a lithium-ion battery in your pocket because doing so creates a very real risk of fire.