Disposable Vape Teardown: How to Disassemble a Disposable Vape

How to disassemble a disposable vape? Many friends prefer to try a disposable vape for their first experience with vaping, partly because they are inexpensive, and secondly, if they can accept this method of nicotine intake, they can later look for reusable products. Of course, some may continue to use these products due to their convenience. Regardless of the reason, the most curious aspect is what is inside the sealed device.

Today, I will open a disposable vape called MAT. While it may not be representative, the structure of small vapes is generally similar, so just approach it with a mindset of understanding.

Disassembly tools: pointed tweezers, needle-nose pliers, etc.; Method: Forceful disassembly, as the bottom cover and internal wall are secured with strong adhesive;

Once pried open, you can take out the bottom cover along with the connected battery, e-liquid chamber, wiring, etc. We can see that the battery is a very standard lithium battery with a capacity of 240mAh. Generally, the battery capacity of disposable vapes is not very large due to size limitations. Additionally, this battery capacity ensures safety, preventing explosions due to short circuits. Even in a fully charged state, a short circuit would only cause the casing or bottom cover to deform due to heat, without catching fire. It is worth mentioning that the outer casing of disposable vapes is usually designed to be heat-resistant and equipped with a pressure relief valve. The e-liquid chamber does not have a marked capacity, but the official data indicates it can provide about 350 puffs. Visually, the total capacity is slightly over 2ml, and the atomization chamber and e-liquid chamber are designed as a single unit, with a long airflow path likely intended to manage condensation and control vapor temperature. After the battery is fully depleted, we can see that there is still about 1/3 of the e-liquid remaining, which is to prevent the e-liquid from running out while there is still battery power, as this would significantly affect the user experience, leading to a burnt cotton taste.

The circuit connection wires are very thin, which also indicates that the output power will not be very high; typically, disposable vapes have an output power of around 5-12W. Finally, there is the integrated mouthpiece, which includes an airflow switch and a working indicator light. The working principle during inhalation is roughly as follows: the negative terminal of the atomizer connects to the mouthpiece, while the positive terminal splits into two circuits: 1) the positive terminal of the atomizer connects to the negative terminal of the battery and then to the mouthpiece; 2) the positive terminal of the battery connects directly to the mouthpiece. Essentially, this mouthpiece acts as the “CPU” of the entire small vape. It has a cotton layer design on the bottom cover to prevent condensation from leaking, affecting the mouthpiece's function. There is also a cotton layer design at the top of the casing to prevent condensation from affecting the taste during inhalation.

In summary, this type of disposable vape product confirms the saying: "Though the sparrow is small, it has all the vital organs." If you are currently using or planning to use this type of disposable vape product, I recommend disposing of it properly after use, just like you would with disposable batteries.