Vaping is becoming more and more popular with both smokers and non-smokers. Whether you are trying to stop smoking, or you are simply interested in trying vaping, we have put together this in-depth guide to help you know more about vaping devices and e-liquids.
What Components are in a Vape Pen or an E-Cig?
First of all, vape pens and e-cigs are a little different from each other, though they share similar components.
A vape pen is usually a smaller and more discreet device that often cannot be refilled with a liquid but will use pods or cartridges to replenish its source of liquid. E-cigs are larger devices with replaceable parts and their liquid supply can be topped up from a bottle of liquid through a hole in the tank of the device.
Both use batteries as a power source, usually high capacity lithium-Ion batteries, that give the devices the electrical charge they need to work and can be recharged by USB or mains power supply. They will also have an atomiser that turns the liquid into a vapour when the device is activated and the user inhales. Most atomisers are made from a coil of low electrical resistance wire that heats up quickly when activated to atomise or vaporise the liquid which is held on a cotton pad or, in some devices, a ceramic plate. These and the pod or tank that hold the supply of liquid are the main components of a vaping device.
How Do Vapes Work?
All vaping devices heat a liquid to produce a vapour that the user inhales. The liquid is stored in a tank or pod and is slowly deployed to the heating device as needed. The majority of vapes use a coil of wire as a heating element, and the wire is similar to that used in fuses in mains plugs and electrical boards. This wire becomes extremely hot when electrical current passes through it, providing the intense heat required to turn a liquid into a vapour. The vapor is held in a pad, usually made from high-grade organic cotton, that is wrapped around the coil. This part of the device is often called the atomiser or sometimes simply the coil, and will be replaceable as the cotton will become unusable over time or the wire in the coil will break, preventing the electrical current from passing through it.
In order for a successful vape, you need a supply of liquid, a working coil or atomiser, and a charged battery to provide the electrical current. Then you can simply inhale the vapour and enjoy your vape.
What is Sub-Ohm Vaping?
As vaping technology has advanced, sub-ohm vaping has been developed to give vapers a more intense hit of flavour and to produce larger clouds of vapour from vaping devices.
Sub-ohm vaping devices will use a wire coil with a lower electrical resistance to produce more heat and more vapour from each vape hit. This wire will have a resistance rating of less than one Ohm, hence the name sub-ohm vaping. The resistance rating is often 0.5 Ohms, and sometimes even lower. The lower the Ohm rating, the higher the temperature achieved in the coil which allows it to produce more vapour more quickly.
If you are choosing to sub-ohm vape, you need to choose a suitable sub-ohm vape liquid. Some e-liquids cannot provide a consistent supply to the coil when vaping at a sub-ohm resistance as they are too thick. Sub-ohm e-liquid has a thinner consistency and gives the coil the level of supply it needs to produce large clouds of tasty vapour. You can find a wide range of sub ohm liquid at Aquavape.co.uk, who have been supplying vapers with high quality e-liquids for many years. Their experience of e-liquids and their knowledge of vaping help them to offer vapers e-liquid options to suit any need, and their subscription service paired with their low delivery costs helps vapers to save money as they vape.
What is E-Liquid?
E-liquid is made from two primary substances: vegetable glycerine and propylene glycerine. Both of these substances are often used in foods and beverages for flavourings or for consistency. Both of these liquids are often used in confectionary and sweet production, which is one of the reasons many e-liquid flavours are taken from these common and fun foods.
E-liquid will also, though not always, contain a nicotine solution to give a nicotine dosage that is similar to a cigarette which is why many smokers find it easy to make the switch to vaping.
Most e-liquids will contain a mix of the two primary liquids and you will see this listed on bottles and containers. Vegetable glycerine is often abbreviated to VG, and propylene glycerine to PG, and most bottles will display a ratio of these on the side, such as 70/30 VG/PG or 50/50 VG/PG to let vapers know what the liquid is made from.
Flavourings are also added to the e-liquid mix and these can provide a wide variety of e-liquid flavours. Many will try to reproduce sweet or soda pop flavours like rhubarb and custard or cola, but you can also find tobacco flavours, mint flavours, and even beverages like cocktails or tea and coffees.
Hopefully this guide has giving you enough information to make a more informed choice when choosing your vape device and e-liquid.
