550mAh Battery – What is it in Vaping?
Definition
A 550mAh battery is a compact lithium-ion power cell rated to deliver 550 milliampere-hours of charge, commonly pre-installed in entry-level vape pens and pod kits across Australia. The “mAh” figure tells you how long the battery can supply one milliamp of current before needing a recharge—roughly analogous to the size of a fuel tank. In vaping, its purpose is simple: heat the coil, turn e-liquid into vapour, and keep the device pocket-friendly. Most 550mAh cells are internal, non-removable, and recharged via USB-C or micro-USB, giving casual vapers a full day of mouth-to-lung puffs without the bulk of larger 18650, 21700 or 26650 batteries.
Technical Details
Internally, a 550mAh battery contains a single 3.7V lithium-cobalt or lithium-polymer cell with a typical voltage range of 3.2V (cut-off) to 4.2V (fully charged). Under average mouth-to-lung load (≈7W), the cell supplies ~1.9A, yielding 8–10 hours of intermittent vaping or roughly 450–500 puffs. Continuous discharge rating (CDR) is usually 5–10A, well within safe margins for low-wattage coils above 0.8Ω. Recharge time from flat is 45–60min at 0.5A USB current; faster 1A charging is possible but shortens overall cycle life (≈300 cycles). Variations include:
- cylindrical “pen” style with 510 thread and bottom micro-USB
- cuboid pod-stick formats with side-mounted USB-C
- passthrough models allowing vaping while charging
Protection circuitry guards against over-charge, over-discharge, short-circuit and thermal runaway, meeting IEC 62133 standards shipped to the Australian market.
Usage & Tips
Prolong the life of your 550mAh battery by recharging when the LED flashes—not when it’s completely dead—and unplugging once full. If vapour feels weak, check that the pod/tank is firmly seated on the 510 thread and the coil hasn’t flooded. A sudden drop to blue or red blinks usually signals a short; remove the tank, clean the contacts, and retry. Avoid chain-vaping longer than 5–6 seconds per puff; the small cell heats quickly and can trigger temperature cut-off. Store the device under 40°C (no cars dashes or beach bags) and never pocket it with keys that might bridge the 510 connection. Finally, when the cell no longer holds a useful charge, take it to a local Australian battery recycler—do not bin it.
History & Context
When cigalikes emerged in the late-2000s, most carried 180–280mAh cells good for a single coffee break. The jump to 550mAh around 2015 coincided with the nic-salt pod boom, giving vapers all-day stamina without entering the removable-battery domain of advanced mods. Today, 550mAh remains the sweet spot for discreet, airline-friendly devices, even as larger formats push 1000–1500mAh in the same form factor.