Sometimes you find a battery that looks perfect on paper but fails your checks. Or you discover that the supplier's test report is fake. That's when you need to pull the kill switch—stop the order, and don't proceed until you've resolved the issue.

Here are the red flags that should make you hit the brakes:

• The supplier can't provide a datasheet or test report.
• The CDR doesn't match the device's power requirements.
• The battery has no visible protection circuit, and the device doesn't have one either.
• The price is suspiciously low—cheap batteries often cut corners on safety.
• The certification mark looks off, or you can't verify it with the issuing body.

If any of these come up, it's better to walk away than to risk a safety incident. There are plenty of reputable suppliers out there, and your reputation is worth more than a good deal.

For more in-depth guidance, check out our Vape Battery Safety Guide that covers discharge rates, Ohm's law, and thermal runaway. And if you're new to battery safety, our first-time buyer criteria will help you build a solid checklist. If you need to calculate current draws on the fly, use our Coil Resistance Calculator.

Stay safe, and happy vaping.