Basic Guide to Vaping - Part 2. - Equipment and its care

Part 2 – Equipment and its care

A more detailed look at the components of an e-cig and their maintenance requirements.

Battery
This is the power for the e-cig. 901 batteries usually have led lights at the end, one colour will indicate the battery is in use and a different flashing coloured light will indicate that the battery has timed out (a 'auto-cutoff' timer to prevent the atty from overheating) or run out of charge.

Batteries come in two types:-
Automatic
These come with a switch which is activated by the air being drawn thought it when you inhale. The can be quite sensitive and a few people have reported that they can be turned on by impact or sound causing the battery to discharge. Simple to use so perfect for novices. Also good for hands fee operation.
Automatic batteries have a hole in them to allow the air to flow thought them. Care should be taken so that e-liquid does not get into the battery and gum up the switch. Try not to overfill your cartridges or flood the atty. Because of this they are not recommended for dripping (see dripping section in part 3).
(Tip: a starter puff, puff n blow, helps to warm up the atty and thus produce more vapour)
Manual
This type of battery has an external switch which the user has full control of. It is a popular option with experienced vapers as the user can determine how much to preheat the atty and for how long (Tip: turn on 1-2 seconds before inhaling and release the button just before you finish inhaling).
Manual batteries are normally sealed, that is they do not have a hole for airflow. This means they can be used for dripping with no risk of getting clogged up with e-liquid.
Manual batteries may not have a timeout setting so can be used for longer draws
(Tip: The switch on a manual Battery can be activated by accident when the e-cig is not in use i.e. whilst in the pocket it can lead to a burning sensation of the leg!).

Other battery options
Some e-cig models have an option for longer lasting batteries. These are usually longer than the standard models and may not fit in some e-cig cases. Check vendor sites for details (Tip: the KR808D-1 380mAh manual battery will fit the 901 and charge in a 901 charger, this gives better vapour control, a longer lasting battery and a sealed battery for dripping so is a good first upgrade for the 901 user)

USB passthroughs
These are battery alternatives where the power is taken from a USB power source. They may or may not have a battery. They also come in manual and automatic.
Those without batteries normally run at 5V and can be powered by a suitable USB adapter (normally an output of 5v and 1A is required), the USB port of a computer or a USB power pack (a storage battery with a USB port, again 1A output is usually required).
Those with batteries usually run at the battery voltage and use the USB power to charge the battery and, if necessary, top up the power when vaping. These types will also work when not connected to a USB power supply as long as the battery has sufficient charge.

Life expectance of batteries
E-cigs were designed as a NRT and as such are disposable. On average a 901 battery will last 2-5 hours before needing a recharge and can be recharged in about 2 hours. They can be recharged many times and will last approximately 2-4 months before the recharging becomes less effective (Tip: Whilst the battery is connected to the atty they will slowly discharge, unscrew overnight so the battery lasts longer. If possible keep disconnected when not in use during the day).

Maintenance of batteries
Periodically wipe the exterior of the battery with a damp cloth to remove any spilt e-liquid.
Clean the battery contact about once a week with a damp cloth (Tip: place paper towel between the battery and atty and screw together, repeat until paper is clean when removed).
(Tip: automatic batteries can be drained by standing LED side up on paper towel to help prevent the build up of e-liquid on the switch)
(Tip: gummed up batteries might benefit from being sucked out to try to remove any surplice e-liquid. When a battery is totally gummed up (i.e. dead) it might benefit from a clean with a cleaning agent such as alcohol, lemon juice, vinegar or proprietary cleaning liquid, drain well and keep fingers crossed)

Atomizers

The atomizer (atty) is basically the heating element that turns e-liquid into vapour.
It connects to the battery and the cartridge. Looking inside the atomiser you can see the bridge, a wire mesh, which draws the e-liquid from the cart filler to the fibreglass wick which has the heating element wrapped around it.
The wire bridge of atty come in different shapes and care should be taken not to damage it when inserting a cart.
Different models of e-cigs usually have different types of attys and as such they are not normally interchangeable. The different types of attys are not only different shapes and sizes the have different specification concerning their voltage and resistance. A lower resistance means they burn hotter and thus can produce more vapour, but this is usually at the cost of flavour.
The 901 atty is generally known to be good for vapour production and very good for flavour retention.
(Tip: you can get adapters that allow you to try out different types of atty ie a 901 to 510 adapter will allow you to use a 510 atty on your 901 battery. The 510 atty has less resistance and thus more warmer vapour)

Life expectance of Attys
The life expectancy of an atty varies greatly depending on the build quality, maintenance, frequency of use and the type of e-liquid used. An atty will usually last at least 2 weeks but some have been known to last for 6 months. Note higher voltage will normally shorten the life span of an atty.
An atty nearing it end of life will produce less vapour, become harder to draw on and may give of a harsh/burnt taste.

Maintenance of an atty
Most manufactures guides suggest that attys need cleaning by compressed air. Whilst this is the recommended method most users use many other methods of cleaning.

Common cleaning methods used by users.
Clean the outside of an atty with a damp cloth to remove any spilt e-liquid.
Clean the battery end of the atty with a damp cloth to remove any grime from the threads. (Tip: place paper towel between battery and atty and screw together, repeat until paper is clean when removed).
Daily (or when required) blow through the battery end of an atty onto a paper towel to remove any leftover e-liquid.
Drain the atty overnight by standing it battery side up on paper towel.
(Tip: have at least two attys in use and rotate each day as this is said to extend an attys life)

Other cleaning methods
The following cleaning methods are at users own risk; they have reportedly worked for some (please read user forums for more details and success rates). I suggest you only try them on poorly performing attys.
Hot water rinse, dry for 1 day
Overnight soak in alcohol, coke, denture cleaner, lemon juice or vinegar. Rinse well before use, dry for 1 day
Boiling in water for 2-10 minutes, dry for 1 day
Dry burn for up to 7 seconds ie use battery only with no cartridge in place, repeat until no vapour is produced.

Some supplier sell vapour cleaning liquid which can be used to clean attys.

After an atty has been cleaned it must be primed with 1 or 2 drops of e-liquid before use or it may burn out.

Cartridges

The cartridge is the device that holds the e-liquid and allows the passage of the vapour to the mouth of the user.
Carts came is several shapes so this section will deal with the general principal applicable to all 901 carts. (Different models of e-cigs have different sizes and designs of carts. For information on carts specific to other models see the user forums)

Most 901 mouthpieces are flat and known as whistle tips, but some may be fully round ie like a cigarette. The other end of the cart is open and has a hollow chamber which contains the filler/filling (if you buy empty carts they will usually come with a filler but if not see the section below on suitable filling materiel).
The filler soaks up the e-liquid and automatically wicks it to the atty bridge as required.
When vapour is produces it travels around the hollow chamber and into the mouth piece, it does not go through the filler.

Cartridge filling
Cart filling is usually polyester fibre. Replacement fillers are not commonly sold, but the most commonly used materiel for replacement can be bought from pet/aquatic suppliers. Fluval foam pads (A222 or A224) are the most commonly used but other types of aquarium filter media (polyester based) or 100% polyester stuffing can be used. The pads can be cut to size or small amount of the stuffing torn off as required (Tip: examine the size of the filler you are replacing to get the size right)

Maintenance of your carts and filler
The filler will usually perform perfectly for 1 day with regular topping up or refilling, after that its ability to wick efficiently will reduce and the filler must be cleaned (filling can usually be cleaned 5 or 6 times before they need replacing). Carts should last at least a week before becoming loose or the plastic starts to show signs of wear.
To clean a cartridge (best done with several) remove the filler materiel (with a pin or tweezers) place the filler inside a syringe (take plunger out first). Wash cart in warm water and leave to dry. Replace syringe plunger and depress it until it is nearly in contact with the fillers, any remaining e-liquid can then be squirted into an empty dropper bottle for reuse. Remove filler from syringe (tip: tap on hard surface to get the fillers out) and wash the fillers in warm water until clean. Dry on paper towel. Inspect filler for any signs of burning and discard any that are. Store clean carts and filler for later use.

Cart Mods
There are numerous modifications that can be done to carts and their filler which may or may not improve the performance. See the forums for details of the mods, but note some mods are best suited to specific ways of using e-cigs e.g. higher voltages.
Below are the most common mods and a quick description.

Straw Mod. The use of a small straw (eg cotton bud stick, or coffee stirrer) pushed into the cart which it is claimed helps the e-juice soak into the filler. Best suited to topping up carts.

Pyramid Tea bag Mod. Using a certain type of tea bag as a replacement cart filler. Said to hold more e-liquid and wick better.

Blue foam Mod. Using a square of Fluval at the very top of the cart allowing a pool of e-liquid beneath it. Said to hold a lot more e-liquid. Good for higher voltage vaping.

Spring mod. Using a small spring in the cart and a small piece of polyester filling (or Fluval) on top. Again said to hold more e-liquid.

Loose Cartridge
Some carts may be a loose fit in the atty. A simple way to resolve this is to carefully heat up the end of a pin and lay this against the side of the cart (the bit that is inserted into the atty) for a second. The heated pin melts a small section of the cart which expands, thus producing a tighter fit.
Another method is to gently squash the hollow end of the cart, by pressing on the narrow sides so that the cart is wider.

Chargers
If you have bought a starter kit then this will have come with a charger, but there are several other options for charging your batteries.

USB Charger
Charges a single battery when connected to a computers USB port.

Single Mains Charger
A mains charger for a single battery. Note some manual batteries will not fit a mains charger without a charger extension.

Multiple Mains Charger
A mains charger which usually has space for 5 batteries.

USB mains adapter
A plug with USB port that allows the use of a USB charger. Can also be used with a USB Passthrough if the output is high enough (1A output or above is required. Check forums for suitable types)

Car Charger
A lead which fits into a standard car lighter socket and connects to a single mains charger allowing a battery to be charged.

Car USB charger
A charger with a USB port that fits into a standard car lighter socket. Can also be used with a USB Passthrough if the output is high enough (1A output or above is required. Check forums for suitable types).

PCC (Personal Charging Case)
A case with an internal power pack than will normally store 1 batteries, 1 atty and 2 to 6 carts dependant on type of PCC. PCC are usually charged from a USB port. The e-cig battery can then be charged directly from the PCC. Note PCCs are specific to e-cig models.

USB Power pack
A battery with a USB connection. The battery is initially charged from the mains and can then be used to charge a battery via a USB charger. Can also be used with a USB Passthrough if the output is high enough (1A output or above is required. Check forums for suitable types).

Guide pt 2 V1.0