A Summary of Professional Vaping Terms

Electronic cigarettes consist of an "atomizer" and a "mod/battery stick." The atomizer heats the e-liquid to vaporize it into smoke, while the mod provides power to the atomizer. If either the atomizer or the mod is used alone, it cannot function.

　　An "e-cigarette kit" refers to a complete set of equipment directly launched by a brand, including both the atomizer and the mod/battery stick. Such kits are simpler for beginners, as they can be used directly after adding e-liquid. They are suitable for newcomers who are unsure how to choose equipment. However, if the purchased kit is not a battery stick type, an additional battery must be purchased for use.

　　Pre-made atomizers and DIY atomizers

　　Beginners usually start with pre-made atomizers because they are easier to use. Each pre-made atomizer comes with a matching pre-made coil from the brand for users to replace, making it convenient for beginners. You just need to disassemble the atomizer, replace the coil, and add e-liquid to use it. The resistance of pre-made coils is generally slightly higher, usually ranging from 0.2 to 1.6 ohms, mostly in a vertical design, with a structure of heating wire wrapped in cotton, providing decent vapor production. Of course, some brands offer larger pre-made atomizers paired with high-power mods, which have larger coils suitable for high power, with single, four, or six cores, producing larger vapor. However, for mainstream pre-made atomizers, the coil resistance is generally around 0.3Ω, suitable for mods under 75W.
　　DIY atomizers refer to RBAs, which stands for Rebuildable Atomizers. This term encompasses all atomizers with heating wire electrode bases. Users can install their own coils and cotton (referred to as "builds"). Any atomizer with a build kit can be called an RBA.

　　Flavor and vapor production

　　Flavor and vapor production mainly depend on the resistance of the heating coil. Higher resistance coils enhance flavor, while lower resistance coils increase vapor production. If that's the case, why not just use regular coils? Why use Clapton or fancy coils?

　　Understanding the characteristics of these coils can be enlightening. Each type of heating wire has different properties, making it difficult for users to balance flavor and vapor production. Fancy coils overcome this by using different wire materials and winding methods to complement each other, which is the advantage of fancy coils.

　　Chip mods and mechanical mods

　　Both are main power supply devices for atomizers, differentiated by their power delivery methods. The former consists of a chip, battery compartment, screen, buttons, and casing, with the main power source being lithium batteries. Due to the need to accommodate the battery's size, they are generally larger and boxy, commonly referred to as "regulated boxes." The output method involves pressing the fire button to activate the chip circuit, which powers the battery to generate electricity, then sends the power back to the chip to adjust the voltage before delivering it to the atomizer. Although this power delivery method affects output power, it allows users to benefit from safety mechanisms such as short circuit protection, overcharge protection, over-discharge protection, and overheating shut-off to prevent dangers.
　　Mechanical mods have a relatively simple structure, mostly rod-shaped, but also available in box forms, made of highly conductive metals, and can accommodate single or dual lithium batteries. Currently, mainstream mechanical mods are mostly single-battery designs. However, mechanical devices carry higher risks and are not recommended for beginners, as they lack any chip protection. The power delivery method directly connects the battery to the atomizer, which can easily lead to short circuits or over-discharging if the user does not have a certain understanding of basic circuit knowledge.

　　Regulated mods

　　Regulated mods are mostly box-shaped, so players commonly refer to them as "regulated boxes." The power calculation methods for regulated mods vary widely, primarily using voltage control to adjust output power. Many regulated boxes not only allow for voltage adjustment but also support various other modes, such as temperature control mode, curve mode, etc.

　　Battery sticks and 18650 lithium batteries

　　Battery sticks themselves are the power source, containing built-in lithium batteries, eliminating the need for additional batteries. They are compact and portable, resembling the now-obsolete EGO mods, with the only difference being that battery sticks can be paired with universal atomizers. Currently, mainstream atomizers mostly use 510 interfaces, ensuring high compatibility.

　　Although popular among beginners, battery sticks are relatively inexpensive because they can only be charged via USB. Additionally, due to the nature of lithium batteries, similar to mobile phones, their capacity gradually decreases after a certain number of uses, leading to a shorter lifespan compared to box mods. However, for budget-conscious beginners, battery sticks remain a highly recommended option.

　　The name 18650 comes from the battery's dimensions, where "18" represents a diameter of 18mm, "65" represents a length of 65mm, and "0" indicates a cylindrical shape. Most electronic cigarette devices, whether regulated or mechanical, still predominantly use this 18650 specification battery. Recently, mods supporting 20700 and 21700 batteries have also been increasing. The 18650 battery has advantages such as "replaceable, rechargeable, and widely applicable." The 18650 batteries used in electronic cigarettes are mostly lithium calcium or lithium manganese polymer batteries, characterized by strong voltage, large capacity, and high output power, commonly referred to as power batteries.
　　Single battery and dual battery

　　Should you choose a single battery or dual battery mod? This question has a common misconception; many beginners believe that single batteries cannot produce large vapor, leading to confusion about their choice. But if you think about it differently, aren't mechanical mods also single battery? Therefore, there is no saying that a single battery regulated box cannot produce large vapor. Of course, series mechanical boxes are an exception.

　　Large vapor mainly depends on the differences in atomizers. Generally, a dual-core Clapton coil RDA can be pushed by an 80W mod, while a single battery mod typically operates around 75W-80W. So why do so many people prefer to buy dual battery boxes? Because dual battery boxes have higher endurance, allowing long-term users to avoid constantly changing batteries, and the maximum power of dual battery mods is generally around 150W-200W, making them more suitable for dedicated large vapor atomizers, where single batteries may struggle to provide enough power.

　　Additionally, fancy coils in single battery mods also require high wattage to operate, which not only reduces battery efficiency but also affects the chip. In summary, "single batteries can produce large vapor, but dual batteries make the entire vaporization process more efficient."