Building a 2.5kWh battery from disposable vapes to power my workshop [video]

Disposable vapes, regulation, and visible waste

• Many commenters are appalled that “disposable” vapes exist at all, noting they’re now ubiquitous litter, effectively “e‑waste packages” scattered like cigarette butts.
• Legal status varies: banned or restricted in some countries (Australia, UK, some EU states), but enforcement is weak and black markets are common.
• People are disturbed that devices contain not just batteries but also surprisingly capable microcontrollers, all treated as trash.

Safety of DIY vape‑cell battery packs

• Multiple comments warn strongly against building large NMC packs at home, calling it a serious fire risk and recommending only outdoor, separated structures if attempted at all.
• Suggested protections: high‑quality BMS with current limits and thermal probes, thermal fuses, spacing and airflow between cells, strict QA (capacity, internal resistance, self‑discharge), welding instead of soldering.
• Several note that once thermal runaway starts, there’s little you can do except isolate the pack; specialized containers and dedicated sheds are standard in professional setups.
• One detailed critique argues the video’s pack layout, wiring, imbalance between parallel groups, and lack of proper transfer switching are all unsafe; concludes that commercial packs are usually safer and more economical.

Battery chemistries and future directions

• Strong preference for LiFePO₄ (LFP) over NMC for home storage: less prone to combustion, “good enough” energy density.
• Some believe large NMC packs will eventually be pushed outside buildings by regulation, or replaced over time by LFP, sodium‑ion, and possibly solid‑state.
• Debate on whether solid‑state can ever fully replace liquid‑electrolyte chemistries, especially where very high power (current) is needed.
• Lead‑acid is discussed as still useful for specific high‑current, stationary roles, with good recyclability but poor energy density.

Broader e‑waste and “disposable” culture

• Disposable vapes are seen as a symptom of a wider e‑waste problem: working but “obsolete” PCs, forced OS upgrades, and sealed‑battery devices.
• Some argue that reusing old hardware can be environmentally better than building new “efficient” systems; others counter that datacenter‑class hardware is far more energy‑efficient, and labor and space costs dominate.
• There’s skepticism that old desktops could economically replace modern data centers at scale.

Policy ideas: regulation, deposits, and design

• Several point to EU‑style WEEE rules that require recyclability, but note enforcement is weak and “recyclable” often doesn’t mean “recycled.”
• Proposed fixes:
  • Deposit schemes for vapes and small electronics, modeled on bottle/can returns, to virtually eliminate litter.
  • Design standards: standardized vape bases, user‑replaceable cells (AA/AAA/18650‑style), and mandatory take‑back obligations for manufacturers.
• Others suggest disposable products in general should face much stricter regulation.

Hacker culture and scavenging

• There’s tension between “never ever do this” safety warnings and encouragement for hackers to experiment carefully and learn from projects like the video.
• Some enjoy the idea of harvesting microcontrollers from vapes and other devices for post‑collapse or censorship‑resistant systems, referencing projects like Collapse OS and fictional “FreeNet”‑style networks.