Vaping Dictionary

Atomizer

This heat resistant part houses one or more resistance wire coils and its wick(s) often with some form of reservoir to hold e-liquid. There are many different styles, atomized cartridges (obsolete), Cartomizers, Clearomizers, Rebuildable Tank Atomizers, Rebuildable Dripping Atomizers, Hybrid Atomizers (rebuildable dripping tank atomizers and Genesis Atomizers). Each with their own unique sets of advantages and disadvantages

Coil(s)

These are small pieces of resistance wire that is made into a coil shape resembling a spring. The type of wire used, the diameter of the coil and the number of wraps will all effect the coil’s resistance. It’s resistance is what determines the amount of electricity it will need to power it and the amount of heat it will produce. Coils are commonly made from Kanthal and NiChrome.

E-liquid

Also known as e-juice, this is a solution consisting of propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, food flavorings, and sometimes nicotine. This liquid can come in a variety of PG/VG ratios and nicotine strengths. Typically most cigarette smokers switching to e-cigarettes will start using high nicotine juices and move towards lower strength juices over time. It is common for most people to start out using strengths as high as 18mg/ml (heavy smokers as high as 24mg/ml) but often will soon switch to 12mg/ml e-liquids for their improved flavor (as nicotine content drops flavor increases) We do not recommend use of e-liquid with a nicotine strength above 18mg/ml. In fact we recommend using the minimum nicotine strength needed to sate your nicotine cravings because as nicotine content is decreased flavor is improved. It is important to note advanced users using devices that produce more vapor will typically use lower strength nicotine because when more vapor is produced and inhaled, the overall nicotine concentration stays the same. The need for higher nicotine concentrations is exclusive to devices producing smaller amounts of vapor. Those using advanced devices will typically favor liquids in 3mg/ml or 6mg/ml. 

Wicks

Made from various materials including cotton, twisted silica cord, eko-wool, ceramic, and stainless steel mesh the wick(s) carry e-liquid to the coils. Wicking material acts as delivery method e-juice from tank directly on to a coil itself, where it is vaporized.

Adapter

Used to allow a specific style of atomizer or cartomizer to fit onto different styles of batteries.

AFC

The small dial/screw you can use to adjust the amount you can drag- Air Flow Control.

Airflow

How much air gets introduced into the tank/atomiser.

All Day Vape

The e-liquid that vapers use as their favourite e-juice, eg. “This Apricot is my all day vape!”

Amps

The higher the amps on your battery, the better they can handle lower resistance atomizers without overheating.

Analog

Traditional/classic cigarette.

APV

Advanced Personal Vaporizer, they are basically “modified e-cigarettes” (also  called mods) that are highly customizable, use replaceable batteries, and also have variable voltage, variable wattage, or other mechanical parts.

Automatic

A vaping device where you don’t activate the battery by using a button- the batteries automatically heat the atomize, activated by inhaling on the unit and is commonly called a “cig-a-like”.

Battery

The part that powers your cigarette and heats your e-liquid, thus producing the vapor. There are manual and automatic batteries – when you inhale, an automatic battery will switch on, while you have to press a button on a manual battery.

Blanks

Empty cartridges that can be refilled with e-liquid.

Boost

A box mod that allows you to increase the power instantly.

Box mod

An APV that can house up to four batteries. Box mods are shaped like a box and are larger and more powerful than tube mods.

Cartridge, Cart

A mouth-piece, usually stuffed with absorbent filler material that holds the juice, and that is attached to the atomizer.

Cartomizer

A cartridge and atomizer into one. These generally are disposable, and hold more e-liquid than a regular cartridge.

Charger

A battery charger, to recharge your e-cig battery.

Cig-a-likes

A simple vaping device that looks most like a cigarette.

Clearomizer

A type of cartomiser with a transparent opening which lets users easily check and refill the e-liquid in their device.

DCC

Dual Coil Cartomiser contains 2 coils instead of 1.

DCT

Dual Cartomiser Tank, this tank uses cartomizers and can hold between 3-6ml of e-juice.

Diacetyl

A buttery flavoring some manufacturers still use, that has been known to cause Popcorn Lung (Bronchiolitis obliterans) if a significant amount is inhaled. Most companies won’t use or stock it.

Dripping

Dripping e-liquid directly on the surface of a coil.

Drip Tip

A mouthpiece that can be used in conjunction with an atomizer. These have a larger hole that allows a user to drip E-Liquid directly onto the coil.

Dry Burn

A method of removing dried residue from the coil, done by firing the atomizer without e-liquid on the coil

Dry hit

The really bad feeling when you try to take a drag out of your device when there’s no more e-liquid inside it.

Electronic Cigarette

A device made of primarily a battery and an atomizer that delivers vapor by heating up an e-liquid which contains propylene glycol and/or vegetable glycol, nicotine and flavors.

E-hookah

An add-on for your hookah device which can make it heat up and evaporate e-juice.

Filler

Absorbent material inside cartridges that holds e-liquid.

Formaldehyde

A commonly known carcinogen from smoking and which may appear in much smaller quantities during vaping at very high temperature.

High Resistance

An atomizer with a high resistance coil (high ohm reading) which you need if you like to vape at a higher voltage.

Hot Spot

A part of the coil that starts to glow red, which may be the cause of dry hits. It usually means your coil is not evenly wrapped meaning the coil is not in contact with the wick and can overheat.

Hybrid

An e-cigarette where the battery holder and atomizer are in direct contact.

ICR Battery

A lithium ion cobalt rechargeable battery.

IMR Battery

A lithium ion manganese rechargeable battery, at times called “high drain batteries”.

Isopropyl Alcohol

Isopropyl alcohol is used in order to clean essential parts of a vaping device, such as atomizers or other connections in the device.

Juice

That way e-liquid is sometimes called.

Kanthal

A type of wire out of which heating coils are made.

Leaking

When too much e-liquid is added to an atomizer, or there is potential condensation in the chamber/drip tip.

LED

“Light Emitting Diode.” Many vaping devices have an light-changing LED to emulate the glow of a classic cigarette and let the user know when the battery needs recharging.

Liquid

This is the liquid that is vaporized when using an electronic cigarette, better known as e-liquid.

Lithium-Ion Batteries (Li-Ion)

A high-quality rechargeable battery that is often desired by intermediate/advanced vapers. 

Low Resistance, LR

A low ohm atomizer/cartomizer/clearomizer, usually with 1.5 or lower ohm coils, which is lower than standard. It delivers more vapor, but it will reduce the battery life of your vaping device.

mA

1/1000th of an amp, used to to describe the charger output

mAh

The vaping device’s battery capacity (milliampere-hour).

Manual

Vaping devices which use a button to activate the heating element and produce vapor.

Manual Shut-Off

Procedure used to shut off the vaping device clicking a button a certain number of times.

Milligrams, mg

The amount of nicotine found in your e-liquid.

Millilitres, ml

The amount of e-liquid in your package.

Mini

A small version of a standard vaping device, similar in size to a classic cigarette and short battery life.

Mod

Short for “Modified device”, vapers use mods to modify the performance of their vaping device. Mods change battery type, battery life, the way vapor gets delivered etc.

Mouth-to-Lung Hit

The most used method for inhaling smoke by actual cigarette smokers and vaping beginners. When vaping, the inhale goes into your mouth, then back into your lungs. This means less vapor than in DTL inhaling, but with a better hit and flavor.

Nicotine

An addictive substance that is an ingredient in cigarettes and some e-liquids.

Nicotine Level

Nicotine levels in e-liquids differs based on what you need and is measured in mg/mL.

NRT

Nicotine Replacement Therapy, used when trying to quit smoking, based on replacing the nicotine source in your cigarettes with nicotine coming from a less harmful source (such as nicotine patches).

Ohm

The measurement unit for electrical resistance. A lower number means lower resistance and thicker vapor.

Pass-through

A vaping device with the capability of being used while charging.

Pen Style

Vaping devices shaped like pens, usually used by beginners.

Personal Charging Case, PCC

A case for vaping device storage that also includes an internal battery so you can charge it.

Propylene Glycol, PG

An ingredient found in most e-liquids brands of E-Liquid, used to carry food flavorings, so also used in many foods. It gives a more powerful throat hit.

Protected Batteries

Batteries have a built-in safety chip, to stop the battery over-charging or discharging too much.

Priming

When starting vaping from a new coil, you need to prime it, meaning you need to add a few drops of liquid on the coil and wait a few minutes for the wick to become saturated with the e-liquid, in order to avoid dry hits.

Rebuildables

Tanks (RTA), Drippers (RDA) or others atomizers for which the users can rebuild the coil and the wicking. They are aimed at advanced users.

Resistance

Measured in ohms, depends on several factors such as; the type of wire in the coil, the number of coils and other technical aspects of the coil.

Resistance Wire

A type of metal wire used in coils.

Ribbon Wire

A type of wire used for building coils. With a flat cross-section it allows for better heat conduction to the e-liquid.

Shelf Life & Storage

Conditions needed to store e-liquids. It’s best to store them in a cool environment. However, avoid excessively cold areas, such as refrigerators: cold temperatures tend to breakdown chemicals and cause them to separate, just as heat and direct sunlight will also breakdown flavor molecules and e-juices will begin to taste bland. Shelf life is considered to be two-years.

Series

Certain mods have a dual battery configuration wired serially, which doubles voltage, but drains battery faster.

Stacking

Placing batteries end-to-end to amplify power, however it’s a risky operation that is not recommended by producers.

Starter Kit

A kit that includes basic e-cigarette equipment for vaping beginners.

Sub-ohming

Vapers who love massive clouds (usually advanced users) use sub-ohming with coils that have below 1.0 ohm.

Tailpiping

Inhaling without a drip tip (also called direct drip).

Tank

Clearomizers called tanks that hold larger quantities of e-liquid than standard, with glass, plastic or enclosures made of other materials.

Throat Hit

The feeling the vaper gets when vapor hits their throat. Cigarettes give a stronger hit, so many vapers look to also get that kind of hit from their vaping device, but others like a softer hit.

Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR)

A health policy that acknowledges abstinence rarely works and people will continue to smoke unless they are given less harmful ways to get their nicotine fix, such as vaping devices.

Topping Off

When you add a few drops of e-liquid to a cartridge, cartomizer or tank, to fill it to capacity.

Triple Coil

Triple coils produce much larger clouds of vapor than standards, but drain battery life, usually used in mods or special rebuilds.

Vaping

The action of using a vaping device, where “vap”-ing comes from “vap”-our.

Vapor

The vapor or clouds made after the e-liquid has been heated, used as a way to deliver nicotine, the same way cigarettes use smoke for nicotine delivery.

Vaporizer

A vaping device.

Vegetable Glycerol or Glycerine (VG)

One of the main ingredients in e-liquids, alongside Propylene Glycol (PG). A high concentration of VG will produce massive vape clouds, but less of a throat hit.

Voltage

The electrical potential in your battery.

Watt (wattage)

The amount of power the coil uses. The higher the wattage, the higher the quantity of vapor.

Wire

The wire from which the atomizer’s coil is made.

Wrap

The insulator that covers the battery.