Electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes as they are also known, have seen a huge increase in popularity over the last several years. The main part of their appeal is there ability to help people quit smoking easier than other methods. The most popular models have a similar appearance and feel to real cigarettes. There are dozens of different brands of electronic cigarettes available but they all consist of the same three components: a battery, an atomizer, and a reservoir.

The Battery
The battery makes up approximately two thirds of the device. All are rechargeable and are the longest lasting portion of the electronic cigarette. They come in two varieties, manual or automatic. New users are inclined to try an automatic one initially because it operates the most like a cigarette. It works by use of a small hole in the top of the battery and a pressure switch that activates it when you inhale on the device. The hole makes it more likely to fail though if liquid gets in the top, which it will when you first start vaping.

Most vapers (people who use electronic cigarettes like to refer to themselves as vapers because they inhale the vapor produced rather than smoke from a cigarette) would recommend a manual variety. A manual battery has a push button on the side that activates the battery when you press it. This is easy to adjust to and it also gives you more control over how long the atomizer is heated.

The Atomizer
The atomizer is the portion of the electronic cigarette that produces the vapor. It consists of a small electrical coil that heats up when the battery is on. As it heats, it turns the nicotine liquid into a vapor that looks very similar to cigarette smoke. This is the most delicate part of the device and although it can last quite a while with proper care, you should have replacements available. Also, having multiple atomizers in use will allow you to change flavors without comprising the taste. Some flavors, such as cinnamon, are very strong and tend to linger on the coil.

It is important when using the e-cigarette to avoid letting it run dry or flooding it with too much liquid. Running it dry for a prolonged time will cause a burnt taste and can also lead to overheating which will cause the coil to break, similar to a light bulb filament. Flooding it on the other hand will cause it to be overworked and not allow a vapor to be produced. It will also lead to a buildup of deposits on the coil, reducing the airflow and its lifespan.

The Reservoir
This usually comes as a separate cartridge that you attach to the atomizer portion, but depending on the electronic cigarette you have it may be combined with atomizer. These can either come filled, most commonly with a tobacco flavor, or you can fill them yourself. The blank cartridges are simply a small reservoir stuffed with a poly-fill material that holds the liquid and slowly wicks it to the atomizer coil. Overfilling the reservoir will lead to the flooding situation mentioned above. The best part of the electronic cigarette is the variety of flavors you can fill your cartridge with. You can even select the nicotine level you want, allowing you to gradually reduce it over time, even to zero if you like.

 

Visit the New Smoke Electronic Cigarette Forum for further information on e cigs.