AWithZ Safety & Usage Guidelines

Part 1 · Personal protection & work environment

1. Personal protection

Before any lithium-battery work, you must wear:

• Goggles or safety glasses — keep spatter, sparks and electrolyte out of your eyes
• Flame-retardant gloves — protect against burns and insulate you in a short circuit
• Flame-retardant workwear or apron — avoid synthetics so molten material cannot stick to skin

Keep within reach of the work area:

• A dry-powder extinguisher, sand bucket or fire blanket (never use water on a lithium fire)

2. Work environment

• Work in a well-ventilated area, away from paper, cloth, solvents, gas canisters and other flammables
• Work on a non-flammable surface (metal bench, concrete floor); never weld on a wooden table or carpet
• No children or pets within 1 metre of the work area
• Avoid working in enclosed spaces — gases from thermal runaway are toxic
• Keep a sand bucket or fire blanket within reach

Part 2 · Safe operating rules

3. Strictly prohibited

The following are strictly prohibited; violations may cause irreversible harm:

Never use cells that are damaged, deformed, leaking, rusty or have been dropped

Never press the needles too hard on a cell — it can rupture the internal separator and short it

Never weld a cell that is noticeably hot — heat build-up is a precursor to thermal runaway

Never charge a battery pack unattended

Never let a cell's terminals be shorted by any metal object (tweezers, screwdrivers, loose nickel strip, etc.)

Never charge with a non-dedicated charger or at voltage/current above the cell's specs

Never charge or discharge a pack at high current right after welding — let it rest and watch it for at least 30 minutes

4. Spot-welder safety

• Before use, check the needles for oxidation, looseness or bending. Oxidised needles raise contact resistance and generate abnormal heat
• Keep needles off the metal can outside the cell's seal ring to avoid accidental shorts
• Capacitor models must use the original adapter or a matching portable power station; mismatched voltage/current can damage the device or be dangerous
• For battery models, avoid draining to 0%; store at around 50% for long periods
• Start test welds at a low setting and try on scrap before real work

5. Emergency response

If a cell starts to smoke, smell or heat up:

1. Stop immediately and cut the power (unplug capacitor models; switch off battery models)

2. Move away from the work area; do not touch a hot cell with bare hands

3. If there is an open flame, smother it with a dry-powder extinguisher, sand or a fire blanket — never use water

4. Even after the flames are out, the cell may reignite. Isolate it in a non-flammable container (such as a metal bucket), move it outdoors to a safe area and watch it for at least several hours

5. If the fire cannot be controlled, evacuate immediately and call the fire service

If electrolyte gets on skin or in the eyes:

• Skin: rinse immediately with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes
• Eyes: hold the eyelids open and rinse with water for at least 15 minutes, then seek medical help immediately

Part 3 · Using community content

6. Notes for readers

The AWithZ user community is an open platform where users share lithium-battery DIY experience, tutorials and projects. Content uploaded by other users reflects only their personal experience and views, not official advice or technical endorsement from AWithZ.

1. Content is for reference only

In the community you will see users share weld settings, pack-building processes, cell models, techniques and accessory picks. These are essentially “personal experience”, not operating standards verified by AWithZ. Safe settings can vary significantly between cells, batches and conditions. Never apply someone else's settings directly to your own work; always start test welds at a low level and try on scrap before real work.

2. Content to be wary of

When browsing, be especially careful with the following kinds of content:

• “Finished product” showcases without the full process — the real weld quality and safety measures cannot be judged
• Projects using cells of unknown origin or abnormal appearance — the cells themselves may be unsafe
• Videos of work in unsafe settings (wooden tables, carpet, near flammables)
• Demonstrations without personal protective equipment
• Content claiming “completely safe”, “zero risk” or “universal settings”

3. Self-check before copying a project

If you plan to follow a project in practice, confirm:

• Do you have cells and accessories of the same model or spec as in the project?
• Does the project show full protective measures and the work environment?
• Do you understand the purpose and potential risks of every step in the project?
• Can you respond safely if something goes wrong?

If the answer to any of these is no, do not attempt it.

7. Your responsibilities as an uploader

If you choose to share your own lithium-battery DIY content in the community, note:

1. Others may copy your content

Your projects, settings and techniques may be used or copied directly by others. You cannot control how others use your content, nor their conditions and skill level. When sharing, explain the conditions and limitations fully and avoid giving “universal” setting advice.

2. What you must not upload

Do not upload the following kinds of content:

Demonstrations using visibly damaged, deformed or leaking cells

Welding in unsafe conditions (on a wooden table, in an enclosed space, near flammables)

Demonstrations of prohibited operations under these guidelines (welding live packs, short-circuit tests, unattended charging, etc.)

Recommending non-dedicated chargers or charge/discharge plans beyond the cell's specs

Claiming a setting is “completely safe” or “fits every situation”

3. Risk notice for uploaders

If others rely on your content and suffer harm, you as the publisher may face liability. When uploading, we recommend clearly stating: “This content is personal experience only and not operating advice. Assess the risks yourself and start test welds at a low level.”

8. How community content is managed

As the community operator, AWithZ will take the following measures:

1. Content review and handling

• Carry out the necessary formal review of user content, including but not limited to whether it clearly breaches the safety prohibitions or shows dangerous operations
• We do not substantively verify the accuracy, safety or suitability of user content — we cannot check whether every setting fits your specific situation
• On notice from a rights holder or a user report, promptly handle content that may infringe rights or poses clear safety risks

2. Complaints and reporting

If you find content of the following kinds, report it with the in-platform report function or contact support:

• Content that may infringe others' intellectual property
• Clearly dangerous demonstrations that may mislead others
• Projects using cells or accessories of unknown origin
• Other content that breaks platform rules

We will take the necessary action promptly after receiving a valid notice.

3. How this differs from official technical documents

Community content differs fundamentally from AWithZ's official product manuals and these guidelines:

• Official documents: reviewed by the AWithZ technical team; they define what we consider safe operation
• User content: personal experience shared by users, not verified by AWithZ; it may contain errors or risks

Where user content conflicts with official documents, the official documents prevail.

Part 4 · Risk notice & disclaimer

9. Risk notice

Assembling, welding and testing batteries carries inherent risk. These guidelines help you understand and reduce it but cannot eliminate it. Judge for yourself whether your skills, tools and environment are suitable for lithium-battery DIY.

AWithZ accepts no liability for any personal injury or property damage resulting from breaching the prohibitions in these guidelines, using substandard cells or accessories, or working in unsafe conditions. This clause does not exclude or limit consumers' statutory rights.

If you are not sure you can work safely, do not weld.

10. Community disclaimer

Content uploaded to the AWithZ user community (including but not limited to text, images, videos, settings and tutorials) reflects only the uploader's personal views and experience and does not constitute technical advice, operating instructions or a safety commitment from AWithZ.

AWithZ makes no express or implied warranty as to the accuracy, completeness, safety, compliance or suitability of user-uploaded content. AWithZ accepts no liability for any personal injury, property damage or legal consequences arising from your reference to, imitation of or use of user-uploaded content.

This clause does not exclude or limit consumers' statutory rights.

Part 5 · Non-negotiable safety basics

Whatever user content you follow, never cross these lines:

1. Read the official safety documents first — these guidelines are the baseline for any work

2. Start at a low level — test every setting step by step from low to high

3. Test weld on scrap — verify settings on scrap of the same spec before real work

4. Wear protective gear — goggles, flame-retardant gloves and clothing are not optional

5. Work on a non-flammable surface — a metal bench or concrete floor, away from flammables

6. Never leave it unattended — stay present throughout welding and charging

7. Stop at the first sign of trouble — on smoke, odour or abnormal heat, cut the power and step away

Part 6 · Before you buy and use

Before buying an AWithZ spot welder or using community content, please confirm:

• You have read and understood these guidelines in full
• You have the basic knowledge and skills for lithium-battery work
• You have suitable protective gear and a suitable work environment
• The cells and accessories you use meet the relevant safety standards
• You understand that community content is personal experience only, not official AWithZ advice

For more on how to use the product, see the product manual or contact AWithZ customer service.