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Vape Shoppers Glossary of Vaping Terms

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510/ eGo adapter - An adapter that you can use to change the threading from 510 to the eGo thread.

510 Thread - The threading at the peak of the mod or battery which the tank fastens into

510 Drip Tip - A mouthpiece that works within any 510 sized tank

810 Drip Tip - A mouthpiece that works with any 810 sized tank

18350 Battery – A small battery that is used in 18350 mods. They usually come with 800mAh

18490/18500 Battery - A medium sized battery normally with up to 1300mAh for use with mods that require an 18500 battery

18650 Battery: The most commonly used vaping battery in the vaping market

20700 Battery: A slightly bigger sized battery than the 18650. Can hold up to twice the amount of mAh and for use in mods that use 20700 batteries

26650 Battery: A bigger battery for use in mods that can use 26650 batteries

 

A

Airflow Control (AFC) - The ability to change the amount of airflow to the coil situated in a tank, usually by turning a band around the outside of the tank

Atomizer - The heating element of an e-cigarette, also known as the coil. This will have a piece of wicking material threaded through it, usually natural Japanese cotton. Over time, these will ‘burn out’ and we recommend that they are changed every few weeks.

Atomizer Head - The metal outer shell that holds the coil and wick inside.

All Day Vape (ADV) – This is an e-liquid which you can comfortably vape all day, every day.

Amperage (Amps) - Unit of electrical current

Automatic - An electronic cigarette that has no button to start the heating process of the atomiser coil/heating element

 

B:

Battery - The source of power the current comes from in order to power your vape.

Bottom coil clearomizer (BCC) - A clearomizer with a single coil located in the base.

Bottom Vertical Coil clearomizer (BVC) - A clearomizer where the coils are located vertically rather than horizontal

Box Mod - A device which is shaped like a box, they usually take up to 4 batteries depending on the design and capabilities. Box mods can either be mechanical (for use with an RDA) or variable wattage giving you the ability to control the power of the device to your tank or rebuildable atomizer.

Building - Making coils and wicking them in a rebuildable tank or dripping atomizer.

Build Deck - The deck where you build your coils. Found underneath the cap in a rebuildable tank or RDA.

Bottom Dual Coil Clearomizer (BDC) - A bottom coil clearomizer with two coils. Produces more vapour and a stronger throat hit, but battery life is poorer than a single coil clearomizer.

Bottom Feeder - Refers to clearomizers where the atomiser is at the bottom of the coil, instead of the top.

 

C

Clearomiser – This is a pen style tank which usually has a capacity of between 0.5ml - 1.8ml of liquid. Normally made from polycarbonate plastic.

Clone - A copy of the original, authentic product made with poor materials which haven’t undergone the standard tests for safety & performance as premium, regulated brands.

Cloud Chaser – This is someone who is looking to produce massive amounts of vapour.

Clouds - The vapour that is produced when a person uses a vape.

Coil - The heating element inside a tank, clearomiser or rebuildable atomiser.

Competition Cap - A cover made for an RDA to increase performance by getting more airflow to the coils.

Connection Pin - A safety feature included on a vast variety of mods that automatically cuts the power after 10 seconds of constant fire.

Chain Vaping – This is when a person constantly vapes.

CASAA (Consumer Advocacy for Smoke-Free Alternatives Association) - A non-profit organisation that campaigns on behalf of electronic cigarette users.

Cigalike - An electronic cigarette that resembles a cigarette.

 

D

Direct Lung Inhale - This kind of inhale is where the vapour is taken directly into the lungs, rather than pausing in the mouth first like a MTL inhale.

Dripper - Another word for an RDA.

Drip Tip - The mouthpiece of your vape. These come in various shapes, sizes, materials and colours.

Dry Burn - Heating your coil to take away extra e-liquid from the cotton. This method can burn your cotton within the coil so please be careful.

Dry Hit - When the cotton is burnt and needs to be changed if you vape with a coil that has burnt cotton you’ll get a really disgusting, burnt taste in your mouth, when this happens change your coil.

Disposable E-Cigarette - Designed to be thrown away after you finish all the e-juice within.

Dripping - Can refer to dripping a drop of e-juice onto an atomiser prior to vaping.

 

E

E-Cig – This is the shorthand for an electronic cigarette.

E-Juice - The liquid that goes into a vape: contains vegetable gylcerin (VG), propylene glycol (PG), flavourings and nicotine if required.

eGo Battery - A small pen style battery which is usually 4.2V in power.

Electronic Cigarette - An electronic cigarette is another name for a vape. The electronic cigarettes can come in all different shapes, sizes, colours and some have the option of fixed or variable wattage.

External Battery - A battery that can be taken out of the device for recharging or to be replaced.

External Charging - Charging a battery outside of your vape using an external charger.

ECITA (Electronic Cigarette Industry Trade Association) - Represent the UK electronic cigarette industry. Members are charged a monthly fee, have to follow strict standards and undergo rigorous twice-yearly audits. They also campaign for fair regulations on behalf of its members.

Electronic Cigar - Similar to an electronic cigarette but with a cigar look and taste.

Electronic Cigarette Starter Kits - Complete kits which usually contain batteries, atomisers, chargers, a manual and cartridges, these kits are aimed at people who are looking to start vaping.

E-Smoking - Smoking an electronic cigarette.

 

F

Flavour Chasing - A vaper who is looking for the best flavour, they prefer a stronger flavour than bigger clouds.

Flooding - This happens when there is too much liquid in the atomiser coil this can lead to a gurgling sound and/or leaking.

Filler Material - A material located within e-cigarette cartridges which soaks up and holds e-liquid.

 

G

Grub Screws - Small screws that are used in the posts of a rebuildable atomiser to hold the coils in place.

Gurgling - This gurgling sound happens when the coil is flooded with too much e-liquid.

 

H

Hot Spot - If the coil is not adjusted correctly when rebuilding, it can heat up incorrectly causing one of the wraps to heat up quicker than the others. This can cause the cotton to burn or sometimes even the coil can snap/melt.

 

I

Inhale - When you take in the vapour when you vape.

Internal Battery – This is when a device has an inbuilt battery which cannot be removed and requires charging through a Micro USB port or more commonly now a USB-C port.

 

J

Juice - Another name for e-liquid.

 

K

Kanthal - A material used to make wire for rebuilding coils.

 

L

Leaking – This is when e-liquid leaks from the tank.

Liquid - The juice or e-liquid used with a vape.

Low Resistance – Is usually any resistance under 0.20 ohms. Low resistance can result in an error warning on a vape and as a result will stop your vape from working.

LED - The light at the tip of an e-cigarette is usually an LED. Depending on the model, the LED may light up when the user inhales. More commonly, the LED may give information to the user about the battery, for example the battery life is low or running out.

 

M

mAh (Milliamps per hour) - This is the charge that a battery will hold and how long a device will run before the battery needs recharging.

Menthol - Alternative name for mint, found in e-liquids. Menthol liquids are commonly used by vapers for a cool refreshing vape.

Mg (Milligrams) - This is the unit that nicotine is measured in.

Micro USB - The most common charging port on the majority of vapes. If your mod uses an alternative charging method such as USB-C then the cable that comes packaged will reflect that.

Mint - Alternative word for menthol which often refers to an e-liquid flavour profile. Some companies also call it "Ice". These flavours normally leave a cold after taste when vaped.

Mod - The mod is the main body of your vape, it holds the batteries and depending on the model it’s where you control things like temperature, wattage etc.

Modders – These are people who make their own mods and are usually advanced users.

Mouthpiece - Alternative word for drip tip.

MTL - Mouth to lung style of inhale, similar to the inhale of someone smoking a cigarette.

 

N

Ni80 Coil - A heating element which is made using a nickel wire

Ni200 Wire - A type of coil made from nickel used for temperature sensing coils

Nic Shot - Shortened name for Nicotine Booster. These are usually added to short fill bottles to add Nicotine to the e-liquid.

Nicotine Booster - A 10ml bottle of nicotine that is used to add nicotine to e-liquids; usually those in short fill bottles. These can vary in strength and VG/PG mix however the most commonly used is a 100% VG based 18mg Nicotine Booster.

Nicotine - Also called "Nic” this is the substance found in cigarettes and some e-liquids. E-liquids have varying amounts of nicotine ranging from 0.2% to 2.0%. Nicotine is very addictive.

 

O

O-Ring - Rubber seals usually found inside tanks to keep them leak proof

Ohm - The measurement of the electrical resistance in your coil

Organic Cotton - This is used within most coils as a wicking material due to its ability to soak up liquid

 

P

Parallel Box Mod - A device with more than one battery. Devices like this only increase battery life and not power.

Pass Through - A vape which can be used whilst being charged

Pen Style - These devices tend to be longer and slimmer than other mods, resembling the size and shape of a pen.

PG (Propylene Glycol) - A mixing agent used in e-liquids. PG is linked with more flavour and throat hits.

Positive and negative posts - These are found in a rebuildable atomizer and are where the legs of the coil are inserted.

Priming – The Process of ensuring the cotton is fully soaked with e-liquid before the device is used for the first time.

Protected battery – This is a battery with a tiny chip. These batteries tend to have a raised top. They don’t work in variable wattage devices.

Pull - When a person inhales vapour through a vape.

Primer Puff - When you take a short drag on your e-cigarette to activate the atomiser. Not usually necessary unless your vape has been standing for a while and the atomiser is dry.

 

R

RBA - Rebuildable atomiser base for tanks with standard coils

RDA - Rebuildable Dripping Atomiser

RDTA - Rebuildable Dripping Tank Atomiser

Rebuildable tank - A tank that uses handmade coils within the tank before use

RTA - Rebuildable Tank Atomiser

Resistance - Refers to the resistance of the coil in the atomiser (measured in Ohms). The lower the resistance the more heat and vapour is produced.

 

S

Series Box Mod - A mod which holds more than one battery. This does the opposite of a parallel box mod (see above for definition) a series box mod will increase power but not the battery life.

Squonking - Using a device with a bottom fed RDA: The mod has a tube which allows liquid to travel up to it when the bottle is pressed (or squonked). These mods tend to be easier to use and save you time of having to drip liquid when you want to vape.

Stacking batteries - A dangerous technique of using more than 1 battery to increase power, we do not advise this and if used should only be done by advanced vapers.

Starter kit - A kit that is designed for a person who is starting out vaping

Stealth vaping - Small devices which can be concealed in the hand to keep things stealthy these devices don’t produce much vapour at all

Steel mesh - An alternative wicking material used in specific RDAs

Steeping - The process of allowing ingredients to blend together. Usually refers to e-liquid and the ageing of e-liquid into its flavours, the term is also used in tea making.

SS316L - Stainless steel wire used when making coils

Sub-Ohm - A coil with a resistance of 0.99 or smaller

Sweet Spot - The perfect resistance and power for any given vaper. This is completely down to the user’s preference although companies will recommend a range of wattage for coils.

Smoke-juice - Another term for e-liquid, however it is not commonly used

 

T

Tank - The object on top of a mod that holds the e-liquid

Temp Control (TC) - A mod that has temperature control can be used with different coils such as nickel, titanium, NiChrome or stainless steel

Throat Hit - The kick in the back of your throat normally felt when smoking a traditional cigarette. High PG e-liquids replicate this. This is also one of the reasons people will add Nic. shots to their e-liquid

Ti Coil - A coil where the wire is made out of titanium

Tricks - Using a vape to perform tricks such as rings or Bane’s mask

 

U

Unicorn Bottle - A bottle with a needle cap that is used to store and transport e-liquids easily and safely

Unprotected Battery - The majority of batteries are now unprotected and have a flat top. This is due to the fact that most vapes now have power protection internally and so it is not as important as it once was.

Unregulated Mod - A mod which has no wattage control and uses the max power possible from the batteries. Used with a rebuildable tank or dripping atomiser

 

V

Vape Band - A tiny rubber ring which goes around the glass tube on your tank to protect it from cracking when dropped

Vape Juice - Alternative name for e-liquid

Vaper - Someone who vapes, most likely you reading this glossary

Vaper’s Tongue - When a person can’t taste a flavour anymore after vaping it for weeks, if this happens to use simply change your e-liquid and use that for a week or so before switching back to your favourite

Vaping - This is the act of inhaling and exhaling the vapour from an e-liquid through the use of a vape

Vapour - The water vapour which is released when an e-cigarette is used

Vent Holes - These are found on most mods and in the event of a battery venting it lets the gasses leave the mod through these holes

Venting Battery - When the battery is used incorrectly it can cause damage to your mod and possibly to yourself.

VG (Vegetable glycerine) - A mixing agent used in e-liquids. Linked with a smooth hit and more vapour (clouds)

Voltage Drop - The loss of power due to variables such as loose post screws or materials and the accuracy of the chip situated inside the device

Volts - The measurement of power emitted by the battery situated inside the mod

VW - Variable Wattage

 

W

Wire - Used for making coils to create the heating element

Wicking - Material used to soak up e-liquid and deliver it to the coil for vaporising, usually cotton

Wrap - The protective layer around a battery or mod

 

Z

Zero Nic - An e-liquid that contains no nicotine

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