FAQ

An electronic cigarette is a battery operated device using as an alternative to traditional tobacco cigarettes. A battery is attached to a heating element, which feeds directly off of a cartridge containing a liquid compound composed of a Propylene Glycol and/or Vegetable Glycerin base, flavoring agents, and an option for nicotine.  The liquid solution is converted into a mist, or vapor that the user inhales. This simulates the tobacco smoking.

Here is why.  E-cigarettes are pollution free, safe for the environment, no risk of lung cancer, no second-hand smoke, no odor, no smell, no ashes, no ash tray, no trash, can be used in many areas, lower costs, taste good, many flavors, can be enjoyed in most places where traditional tobacco products are prohibited from being used.
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All e-cigarettes have a rechargeable battery, an atomizer coil (heater) which is heated by the battery, and a cartridge containing e-liquid. In some models the atomizer and a cartridge are combined into a cartomizer.  The unit is activated when the user inhales on the cartridge tip. The airflow activates a micro switch of the battery that powers both the atomizer and microprocessor. The heating element vaporizes the liquid and produces a vapor. You draw or pull air through it just like a tobacco cigarette.

Electronic cigarettes are allowed to be bought and used only by people over the age of 18.

E-cigarettes can be used where traditional cigarettes are prohibited. But, some states and cities may introduce by-laws that can prohibit their use indoors. Building owners may have the right to permit or prohibit the use.  Please check before using. 

THE PROS:

Alternative to smoking: The great pro about electronic cigarettes is that you can get the same smoking sensation from that of a tobacco cigarette, but without all of the harmful chemicals.

No pollution: Nicotine is heated up inside the device creating a smokeless vapor. The only ingredients are water, flavoring, propylene glycol and nicotine.  E-cigarettes do not have the cigarette odor because instead of exhaling smoke, you are exhaling a vapor that evaporates almost immediately. The electronic cigarettes have none of the fire, tar, carbon monoxide, ash, butts, or many other poisons that enter your body when smoking traditional cigarettes.

Great selection of flavors: Electronic Cigarettes provide a huge selection of flavors.  Like tobacco flavors, candy flavor, fruit flavors and many more.

Low Cost: Compared to traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes have an exceptionally low cost. Depending on how much you use your electronic cigarette, the typical user can last one to two weeks from just a 10ml bottle ($5.00 – $12), while tobacco users spend the same amount on cigarettes and only last them one day.

THE CONS:

Not FDA approved: Unfortunately, the FDA has not yet approved electronic cigarettes.

No studies conducted:  Since electronic cigarettes are still very new, there has been a lack of studies conducted for them.

An electronic cigarette contains three essential components: a battery, a cartridge that serves as a mouthpiece and a reservoir for liquid, and an atomizer or cartomizer that vaporizes the liquid.

The main part of the e-cigarette is the battery that powers the electronic cigarette and allows the atomizer or cartomizer to produce the heat needed to vaporize the e-liquid.

The atomizer is responsible for vaporizing the e-liquid, which creates the vapor that you inhale. The atomizer contains a small heating coil that vaporizes the liquid. It reacts to a signal sent by the battery.

The cartridge, a small plastic, glass or metal disposable container, prefilled with e-juices or e-liquid, serves as both a liquid reservoir and mouthpiece. It allows the passage of liquid into the atomizer, and vapor from the atomizer to the user's mouth, without any leakage of liquid into the mouth.

The cartomizer or the cart, is the combination of atomizer and cartridge in the same unit. A cartomizer consists of a heating element wrapped in a polyfiber soaked in the liquid. Cartomizers hold more liquid and you fill them by dripping your liquid down the sides of the cartomizer, keeping off the center coil letting the polyfiber absorb the liquid.  When the cartomizer has been used it can simply be disposed of and replaced with a new one. This is much easier than having to refill your cartridge and clean and replace the atomizer every now and then.

A clearomizer is a term used to describe a component in some types of electronic cigarettes. Electronic cigarettes are devices that mimic the process of smoking a standard tobacco cigarette by heating up liquid into a vapor format that smokers can inhale. This vapor can contain nicotine levels equivalent to a traditional cigarette or adjusted levels or even no nicotine at all depending upon the type of cartridge purchased. Clearomizers are popular components of electronic cigarettes because they allow smokers to see the entire process of inhaling the vapor through the e-cigarette.

The easy way to define a clearomizer is to say that it is a see-through or transparent cartomizer. A cartomizer is part of the electronic cigarette that contains the cartridge and the atomizer. The cartridge is a small plastic container that is essentially the mouthpiece of the cigarette. It also contains the liquid portion that is either a pre-filled cartridge or an empty reservoir where the liquid is poured. The atomizer is the coiled part of the electronic cigarette that actually heats up in order to turn the liquid into vapor. It also contains a filament that sucks in the liquid to be heated. So the major distinction between a clearomizer and a cartomizer is that the clearomizer allows smokers to see the entire process of the liquid being heated and turned into vapor for them to inhale.

There are some details that make clearomizers more distinct than simply being transparent cartomizers. One distinction that makes a clearomizer different from a cartomizer is the different types of materials that are used. In order to keep the clearomizer transparent a very lightweight plastic is used that is somewhat breakable. The plastic is much thinner than traditional electronic cigarettes. A cartomizer is generally made from very thick plastic that is hard to break and it is full of a polyfill filling that helps keep things in place and determine when the liquid is running low. Clearomizers do not generally have any filling because it makes it harder to see but they occasionally will have small amounts of clear polyfill filling.

Most smokers who choose a clearomizer do so in order to view the process of the atomizer which is an incredible process to observe. It is also beneficial for smokers because they are able to see when the liquid is running low and replace the cartridge as needed. Clearomizers are also a popular option because they tend to be bigger in size which means that they can store more of the liquid in them and do not need to be replaced quite as often. A major reason that smokers choose not to use a clearomizer is that it is more breakable due to the thinner plastic casing. When electronic cigarettes break the spill can be messy and odorous. Some smokers dislike clearomizers because the flavor is less potent than cartomizers but this is a subjective issue that many smokers do not notice at all. (by PowerSmoke)

The atomizer is the component of the electronic cigarette, which turns the e-liquid into vapor so it can be inhaled.

The cartridge is the unit that holds the e-liquid and feeds the liquid to the atomizer. When the liquid is depleted it can either be refilled or replaced with a new pre-filled cartridge.

The battery, the most important part of the electronic cigarette, is the long cylinder that screws into the atomizer. This  component provides power to the atomizer when the user inhales on the mouthpiece. Most electronic cigarettes use a lithium ion battery which ranges in size.  Most batteries have an LED light on the end that glows when the battery is activated.  

Manual batteries have a button that activate the device.

Automatic batteries are activated by drawing on the end of the device.

The electronic cigarette is just like many of the electronic devices we use today. In order to work they all need to stay charged. Most electronic cigarette come with 2 ways to charge your e-cigarette, one being a USB charger and the other being a wall outlet charger.

Depending on the e-cig that you have, when you connect it to a power source, the light at the end of the battery will blink. When the device is fully charged, the light on either your e-cigarette or charger will turn to a different color or turn off, indicating that the charge is completed.

If you’re using a PCC (Personal Charging Case), you’ll need to make sure that you charge the PCC first. Charging the PCC is just like charging the battery itself. Once the charge is complete on the PCC, you can then insert your battery into the case (it usually has threads to screw the battery in).

For models utilizing the tank cartridge system, simply fill the tank chamber with liquid and attach it to the tank atomizer. For the direct cartridge feed system, fill the cartridge cavity with liquid until the polyester filling is completely saturated. Do not over fill for risk of flooding your atomizer. It is also highly recommended you prime your atomizer by dropping one drop directly on the atomizer mesh in standard cartridges in order to keep them from overheating, as well as a means of ensuring you are receiving optimal vapor production.

OHM is essentially what determines how hot the coil gets while vaporizing the e-Liquid.
The hotter it is, the stronger the throat hit and the creation of vapor. However, too hot can possibly burn the eLiquid and it can be an unpleasant taste. You will have to check with your eLiquid manufacturer on the preferred method. Most e-cig batteries have to run as 3.7 volts. So, you have to find an ohm value that will get hot enough to produce vapor at the right temperature and not kill the battery in a few minutes.  With 3.7 volts, it's around 2 to 3.2 ohms for an atomizer value. Less than that and your battery will drain faster. More than that and there'd be hardly any vapor. Some people run higher than 3.7 volts with mods (allows you to use higher ohm values). There are 510 low resistance atomizers which are below 2 ohms. These are mostly for 3.7 volts, but burn hotter - some people like that.  There are also 510 HR (high resistance) atomizers. These allow for higher voltages in the range of 5 to 7 volts and keep a decent battery life.

E-liquid or e-juice is a solution which contains propylene glycol (PG), vegetable glycerin (VG), mixed with concentrated flavors, and optionally, a variable percentage of a liquid nicotine concentrate. 

E-liquid goes inside of your atomizer/cartomizer, and comes in a huge variety of flavors: menthol, vanilla, coffee, cola, various fruits, etc. Nicotine concentrations vary by manufacturer. Being that e-liquid was designed as an alternative nicotine delivery system, you can also choose the nicotine strengths (milligrams). The strengths typically range from 0mg to 36mg being its highest strength. Nicotine-free solutions are also common.

Most of the flavors have a base ratio of 60% PG and 40% VG or 70% and 30%.  PG is propylene glycol and VG is vegetable glycerin. All you need to know is that PG carries the flavor and provides more throat hit, while VG produces more vapor.  You need to decide what is more important to you. Flavor to throat hit or vapor. Then it's easier to decide what ratio is best for you. 

Most of the e-liquid products are "standard blend" unless otherwise noted with a "VG" marker preceding the liquid strength, or by allowing selection of liquid base ratio via drop-down menu. The standard blend is generally composed of a ratio between PG/VG 50/50 and 60/40. Vegetable Glycerin (VG) liquids are more thicker than Propylene Glycol (PG) liquids, and tend to produce a denser, more satisfying vapor. It is not recommended you attempt using VG liquids with tank and auto-feed systems. Propylene Glycol liquids are far less viscous than VG liquids and tend to be sweeter as well.

There are no long-term clinical trials or any other research that could verify or disprove such a statement. However, because the e-cigs have none of the tar, carbon monoxide, ash, butts, or many other poisons that enter your body when smoking traditional cigarettes, many people regard the decision to inhale a cool vapor as an alternative to tobacco products, which is less expensive, less smelly and non-harmfully.