For anyone new to vaping, understanding the terminology is key to getting the best product to fit your vaping needs. After all, if you do not understand the terms, it can be hard to find the best products to fit your needs. So let us go through a few of the more standards terms seen with e-cigs. This is also a resource as for understanding the parts of your e-cig and how it can be broken down into various parts.
All-Day Vape
This references your favorite e-liquid. While you might experiment from time to time, this is your go-to e-liquid for everyday vaping.
Analog
This is a typical term used to describe the more traditional e-cigarette within the industry.
Advanced Personal Vaporizer (APV)
This is a more advanced version of the traditional e-cig. It has more technical features, including varying voltage or wattage. This version of the personal vaporizer also tends to come with a larger battery.
Atomizer (ATTY)
This is the key part of an e-cigarette, because it actually heats the e-liquid. It is this heating element that produces the vapor for the e-cig user.
Automatic (Auto)
This is a battery that activates the heating element, but only when air is drawn past it. The battery is activated by an automatic sensor, so the user does not need to push a button to activate their vaping process.
Battery
This provides the power to the e-cig’s heating element or atomizer. Without the power source, the e-cig will not function or provide vapor for the user. Each manufacturer offers different battery options, so be sure you know the type of battery your device can handle.
Bridge
This is a piece that soaks up the e-liquid and forces it toward the atomizer or heating element to warm it. These bridges are critical to getting the e-liquid from the container to the heating element and without them, the e-cig will not function.
Cartomizer
This is a piece that includes a disposable atomizer and a cartridge. This is particularly effective because then with each new cartridge, a user also receives a fresh atomizer for maximum vapor throughout the day.
Cartridge
Absorbent materials are stuffed into a small plastic tube. The material then holds e-liquid from the container prior to it reaching the heating element.
Coils
This is the actual part of the atomizer that produces the heat need to create vapor. Coils can come in a variety of wattages, so it is important to make sure the coil you choose will fit your device. Additionally, coils need to be replaced regularly, especially for heavy users.
Charger
This device will recharge the e-cig’s battery when it runs down or is completely out of power. Most e-cigs will come with a charging device if you purchase one with a rechargeable battery. Other e-cigs will require that you just replace the battery when they are worn out.
Clearomizer
Like the cartomizer, this device also contains a cartridge and an atomizer. However, this particular one is see-through, thus allowing a user to see how much e-liquid they have left in their e-cig. It can also come with measurement lines down the side to indicate the actual amount of e-liquid available. These also have wicks that deliver the e-liquid to the coil. The coils themselves might be on both the top and bottom. These devices are also made of a more delicate plastic and can break easier than other cartomizers.
Cut-Off
This is a safety feature on many standard e-cigs. It will automatically turn your e-cig off after a significantly long draw on the e-cig. Thus, it preserves your battery and eliminates the unnecessary wear and tear on your heating element. Additionally, this cut-off prevents your heating element from overheating. Those e-cigs with this feature will have an indicator to let you know that cut-off is in effect.
Dripping
This is a different type of vaping experience. The e-liquid is dropped by the user directly onto the heating element. No typical e-liquid delivery system is in place when a user choses to use the dripping method. Those who use this method claim it provides the best vapor and throat hit, but it can get messy.
Drip Tip
This is a device used with an atomizer or a cartomizer that has a slightly wider tip or larger opening than traditional equipment, thus allowing the user to drip more e-liquid directly on the atomizer or heating element.
Drip Well
This is a bowl shaped piece designed to catch excess e-liquid not heated by the atomizer during the vaping experience. It is typically hooked to a modified e-cig in the female connector available on the atomizer itself.
E-Liquid or E-Juice
This is the liquid or juice that the atomizer heats to turn into vapor. The e-liquid can be made in a variety of flavors based on the user’s preferences. Nicotine can also be added and those looking to quit smoking may find it an easy way to reduce their nicotine consumption over time by reducing the amount of nicotine in their e-liquid. The liquid usually includes a propylene or vegetable glycol as well.
E-Cig
This is a common abbreviation or acronym for an electronic cigarette or personal vaporizer device.
Electronic Cigarette
This is the device that heats the e-liquid, allowing a user to create vapor by drawing on the electronic cigarette. These devices are referred to as e-cigs on many websites.
Flooding
This term describes what happens to the atomizer when too much of the e-liquid is applied to it at any one time, but the amount of airflow is reduced. When the liquid to air ratio is out of balance, the e-cig cannot produce quality vapor.
Heads
This is another term used to describe coils, which are part of the liquid heating process. As mentioned previously, they need to be replaced on a regular schedule to maximize their effectiveness within the e-cig or personal vaporizer device.
LED
This is an abbreviation for Light Emitting Diode. LED typically provides the light source for the tip of the e-cig, thus making it appear as if the e-cig was lit, similar to a traditional cigarette. It can also be used to indicate when the e-cig has experienced cut off due to a longer than usual draw on the e-cig.
Low Resistance
This type of atomizer has a low Ohm, which means that the atomizer’s heating element warms up faster to produce vapor quickly.
mAh
This is a term depicting the measurement of the amount of energy which your battery can store at any given point. Those that can store more energy typically can go longer between charges or even replacements. This is particularly important for heavy users who need a battery with a high mAh for frequent use throughout the day.
MG
Short for milligrams, this is the typical measurement used for the amount of e-liquid available in a container, cartridge or other device.
MOD
This also refers to an e-cig or personal vaporizer, but the difference is that these devices have been modified either by the user or purchased already modified. They will not resemble the typical cigarette, which more traditional e-cig attempt to look like.
Ohm
This is a term that describes the measurement of electric resistance in a device. When the resistance is lower, typically the device will heat up faster and produce vapor in large quantities more quickly.
Propylene Glycol (PG)
A type of base within the e-liquid that assists in carrying the nicotine itself.
Passthrough or Passthru
This can be a standalone device or part of the atomizer or cartomizer. This device allows for the e-cig to be used while charging, either in the wall or through your computer using the USB port.
PVs
This term is used to describe devices that provide vaper for inhaling through a device operated by pushing a button on the device.
PCC (Personal Charging Case)
This is a device that can be charged and then used to charge your e-cig at a later time. Handy when a user is not close to an electrical outlet to charge their device. Also helpful for heavy users that can run their batteries down quicker through frequent use.
RBA
This term refers to an atomizer that can be rebuilt. The parts of the device may vary, including the type of wick and overall tank. These are meant to be easy to fix and cost saving because they can be reused over and over.
Starter Kit
This is the first kit for a new e-cig user and will contain the elements necessary to start vaping. The kit usually includes the e-cig device with battery, atomizer and e-liquid. It may also include a charging cord depending on the type of e-cig. Starter kits will vary depending on the manufacturer, but typically allow a user to start vaping when they first receive their kit.
Tanks
These are clear cartomizers that show how much e-liquid is still left for vaping in the device cartridge. These cartomizers are typically larger than the average cartridge, so they tend to hold more e-liquid.
Thread Adapters
These adapters allow a user to operate their device with a different model’s battery or power source. Most manufacturers will indicate if their device can be used with thread adapters or not.
Throat Hit
This term describes the sensation a user feels on the back of their throat after inhaling the vapor from the e-liquid that contains nicotine. E-liquids that do not contain nicotine will not produce a throat hit for their user. For hard core smokers switching to e-cigs, finding the best throat hit is key to keeping them from returning to traditional cigarettes.
Vape
This term refers to the actual action of drawing on an e-cig device and producing the water vapor. It can also be referred to as vaping.
Variable Voltage
This term describes how a user can control the amount of voltage being produced by their device. When an e-cig has the option of variable voltage, the user can switch the voltage using a button on the device itself. Voltage settings can be typically adjusted in 0.01 increments.
Vapor
This is what the user produces as they draw air through their e-cig device. This term is also used to describe someone who vapes.
Variable Wattage
This term describes the ability of the user to control the wattage of their e-cig or personal vapor device. The wattage typically can be adjusted regardless of the level of resistance from the voltage of a device.
Vegetable Glycerin (VG)
A compound typically found in vegetable oil and part of the e-liquid itself. It can retain moisture and is also typically sweet. This compound is used to increase vapor production and provide the user with a sweet taste as they draw on their e-cig.
Vent Holes
These holes are found on the bottom or other areas of an e-cig. They are meant to vent or allow the release of various gases should any part of the e-cig fail, particularly the battery component.
Wick
This term describes the method of delivery for e-liquid to the atomizer. Most wicks are made of a thin string. You can find the wick inside a standard cartridge.
Wire
For vapors who choose to build their own atomizers, this is the key component to produce it. Without the wire, they will be unable to create heat through their coils.
As always, this is an industry that is growing and changing. Yet while this is not an exhaustive source of terminology, it does provide a solid base for understanding what the various parts of an e-cig are and can help you to be a savvier consumer. Learn more about vaping at E-Cig Brands.