18650 – This is the most common replaceable battery used in mods today. The name is based on the size, 18mm diameter and 65mm length. They are lithium ion batteries and come in a variety of configurations, button top or flat top, protected or not. These batteries are normally rated by voltage and milliampere hours (mAh).
20700 – Another battery used in mods. It is larger, 20mm by 70mm and will typically last a bit longer than an 18650 battery.
21700 – One more ba21700ttery commonly used in mods. It is 21mm by 70 mm and will usually last the longest of the common replaceable batteries.
510 – This is basically the industry standard connector to attach a tank or cartridge to mod or battery. The connector is 5mm long and male and female each have 5 threads. Early in vaping history there were a few other screw on connecter types but the 510 won the war. This is all you will see on a modern screw connector mod and atomizer combo.
Alien – A way of making a coil. There are many different types of coil builds. The signature of an alien coil is wrapping a core wire and then pulling the core out. Now use the empty coil and wrap it around your true core which is normally multiple wires. All of the different coil making methods are attempts to improve different aspects of vaping like flavor, bigger clouds, or different electrical properties.
Analog – Many vapers refer to cigarettes as “analog”. Of course we have a few other not so pleasant nick names for them too.
Atomizer (Atty) – This is the part that heats when power is sent through it. It heats the e-liquid soaked into the wick that runs through the coil. The hot coil atomizes the e-liquid creating the vapor that we inhale.
Auto Draw – This is a feature on some mods that allows you to just inhale on your mod and it will automatically fire without the need to push any buttons. Many mods with this feature have no fire button at all.
AWG – American Wire Gauge, vapers building their own coils will be very familiar with this.
Battery – Batteries power our vape experience. They provide the power used to heat the coil. Vape batteries come in numerous shapes, sizes, and technology. We have internal batteries and replaceable batteries that are removed from a mod and charged in a separate battery charging station.
Cartridge (Cart) – This is a small, self contained tank that is filled with e-liquid. This is very old technology in vape but has found a whole new life in the CBD and Cannabis markets. Today, these are usually disposable.
CASAA – Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association
Clapton – A way of making a coil. There are many different types of coil builds. Clapton coils are made by wrapping thinner gauge wire around a single thicker gauge wire. It ends up looking a lot like a guitar string and may have gotten it name as a nod to a great guitarist, Eric Clapton.
Closed System – Closed Systems are mods that use a prefilled e-liquid cartridge or pod. The pods are one time use and are disposable. Put a new pod on your closed system mod and you are ready to vape again. No need to carry a bottle of e-liquid.
Cloud – This is what vapers call the exhaled vapor. It does look like a cloud.
Cloud Chaser – Vapers who build or choose systems that are maximized to product LOTS of vapor and allows the Cloud Chasers to exhale huge clouds of vapor.
Coil – This is the part that heats when power is sent through it. It heats the e-liquid soaked into the wick that runs through the coil. The hot coil atomizes the e-liquid creating the vapor that we inhale.
Cotton – Cotton for vaping is 100% undyed, unbleached cotton. It is used as wicking to soak up e-liquid and bring the e-liquid into the center of the coil. Many vapers prefer 100% organic cotton.
Cutoff – Modern protected mods will automatically cut power to the coils at a set number of seconds. This prevents the mod from firing so long that it might damage or destroy the battery.
Diacetyl – This is a food grade additive that is used mostly for buttery flavors. It is used on microwave popcorn. Studies on workers in factories making things like microwave popcorn have shown a link with respiratory problems and debilitating lung disease. THIS SHOULD NOT BE USED IN E-LIQUIDS.
Direct Lung (DL / DTL / D2L) – This is a method of vaping. Vapers inhale the vapor directly into their lung using the chest to draw the vapor in.
Disposable – Disposable vapes usually smaller devices that are prefilled with e-liquid and charged. You can open the package and start vaping. Throw it away when it is empty. These devices used to very basic but today’s disposables are larger, hold more liquid, use a bigger battery, and many are rechargeable.
DIY – We all know what it means, Do It Yourself. There are many different DIY areas in vaping. Many vapers DIY the e-liquid while others build coils or even mods. This industry mostly started as DIY efforts.
DNA – A family of chip sets from Evolv used to control e-cigarettes.
Drip Shield – A drip shield is basically a sleeve inserted to help contain the excess e-liquid when dripping.
Drip Tip – This is the mouth piece on a e-cigarette. The name comes from the fact that e-liquid was dripped through the tip onto the cotton wick and coil.
Dripping – Dripping is a way of vaping. It requires a mod that has no tank or reservoir for e-liquid. E-liquid is dripped directly from the bottle through the drip tip and onto the coil and cotton wick. As the wick dries from use, more e-liquid is dripped.
Dry Burn – Firing a rebuildable coil with no cotton or e-liquid to burn off crud and clean the coil. This should be done carefully and should not result in full red glow.
Dual Coil – An atomizer, tank, RDA, etc. that uses 2 coils. This provides more surface area to increase vapor and flavor in most cases.
E-Cigarette (Electronic Cigarette) – A device designed heat and vaporize e-liquid creating an experience that is similar ( but NOT the same ) to smoking a cigarette.
E-Liquid (E-Juice, Juice) – This is the liquid that is vaporized to help deliver nicotine. E-liquid is made from propylene glycol (PG), vegetable glycerin (VG), flavoring and usually nicotine.
ENDS – Electronic Nicotine Delivery System, another term for an e-cigarette or mod made common by the FDA choosing to use this term.
EVALI – E-cigarette or Vaping product use-Associated Lung Injury is the name given to a dangerous medical issue that was BLAMED on vaping by the CDC initially. Later evidence made it clear that this was caused by vitamin E acetate being used in black market THC cartridges.
Flooding – Flooding occurs when too much e-liquid is delivered and e-liquid pools in the device. The result is gurgling or spitting and an uncomfortable vape experience. This can happen for a number of reasons like thin e-liquid, noticeable temperature and pressure changes.
Freebase Nicotine – This is the purest form of nicotine and has been used in e-liquid from the beginning. This is deprotonated nicotine meaning a salt molecule has been removed.
Gurgling – This results from flooding. It can result in spitting or just bubbling e-liquid into a vaper’s mouth.
Hot Spot – Coils can unevenly heat and cause hot spots. These will prematurely burn cotton wicking and can damage the coil. Coil builders deal with this regularly and there are numerous videos available to help new coil builders fix these problems.
ICR – Lithium Ion Cobalt Rechargeable Battery
IMR – Lithium Ion Manganese Rechargeable Battery
Juice (E-Liquid) – This is the liquid that is vaporized to help deliver nicotine. E-liquid is made from propylene glycol (PG), vegetable glycerin (VG), flavoring and usually nicotine.
Kanthal – Kanthal is the trademark for a family of iron-chromium-aluminium (FeCrAl) alloys commonly used in heating elements. Kanthal is one of many types of wire used in making coils for e-cigarettes.
Li-Ion – Lithium Ion rechargeable battery
Li-Po – Lithium Polymer rechargeable battery
mAh – milliampere hour or milliamp hour
Mechanical Mod (Mech Mod) – These started as the original “garage” mods built out of necessity for something other than cigarettes. Today’s mech mods are regulated and using protected batteries (usually). These are typically simple electrically but can be complicated in their design. Most vapers think of a metal tube with a button on the bottom that physically connects the battery to the coils. There is no “smart board” to cut the power if there is a problem. Building for these unregulated mech mods requires a good understanding of Ohm’s Law.
mg – milligram, a unit of mass or weight in the metric system. We use it to measure the ingredients for e-liquid.
Mod – Mod is a general term for most vaping devices. It originates from the “garage” days of vaping when people modified flashlights and many other battery operated devices into a vaping device.
Mouth To Lung (MTL) – Mouth to lung vaping is a style of vaping most like smoking. This is one of the reasons it is a good style for beginners. You draw vapor into your mouth using your cheeks, etc. and then inhale the vapor into your lungs. MTL is typically a little gentler on a beginner vaper’s throat.
Nichrome – Nichrome is an alloy of nickel with chromium (10 to 20 percent) and sometimes iron (up to 25 percent), used chiefly in high-temperature applications such as electrical heating elements. We use it to build coils for our atomizers.
Nicotine Salt – Nicotine Salt is the naturally occurring form of nicotine found in the tobacco plant. Nicotine salt is nicotine with an acid molecule. There are 1000’s of blogs on the difference between nicotine and nicotine salt when used in vaping. Today’s technology has made this a choice for the vaper as both forms are usable and have advantages.
NiMH – Nickel Metal Hydride rechargeable battery
NRT– Nicotine Replacement Therapy usually refers to providing small controlled doses of nicotine to help reduce cravings and help someone quit smoking cigarettes. Common forms include gum, inhalers, lozenges, patches and nasal sprays.
Ohm’s Law – Ohm’s law is a scientific law that details how current (Amperes or Amps), voltage (Volts), and resistance (Ohms) are directly related. This is very important in setting up rebuildable devices. Improperly setup rebuildables can result in damaged devices or even causing a battery to fail and vent.
Open System – Open systems are tanks, pods, or drippers that must be refilled with e-liquid. These are cost more initially but since they are reused rather than disposed of, they are less expensive in the long run.
Passthrough – Devices with an internal battery must be recharged. Passthrough allows you to plug your mod in to charge and continue to vape while it is charging. This is an important feature that allows vapers to continue vaping.
PMTA – A premarket tobacco application (PMTA) is an application that must be reviewed and approved by the Food and Drug Administration before a new tobacco product can be legally marketed in the United States. All Vaporized e-liquids and the e-liquids we sell have been accepted into the PMTA process.
Pod Systems – Pod systems are usually an AIO (All In One) or a 2 part system that is battery and a pod. Pod systems can be open or closed systems. In closed systems the pod is thrown away when empty and a new pod is used. In open pod systems, the pod is refilled with e-liquid and coils can frequently be replaced.
Priming – Priming is soaking the wicking in the coil with e-liquid BEFORE filling the tank or pod with e-liquid. The wicking in todays premade coils is packed tight and it takes e-liquid a few minutes or more to soak in enough to prevent burning the cotton when the coils heat. If done well, it lessens the time you have to wait to take your next hit!
Propylene Glycol (PG) – One of the base liquids used in making e-liquid. PG works well as an emulsifier to keep the ingredients of the e-liquid well mixed.
RBA – Rebuildable Atomizer
RDA – Rebuildable Dripping Atomizer
RDTA – Rebuildable Dripping/Tank Atomizer (This is a hybrid that can be used as tank or as drip system.)
RTA – Rebuildable Tank Atomizer
Resistance – In vaping, we need to know electric resistance. Resistance is a measure of a material’s opposition to the flow of electric current. The higher the resistance, the harder it is to get current (Amps) to flow. Resistance is one of the 3 parts in Ohm’s Law.
Silica – Early vape devices used silica as wicking for the coils. Silica is not really used any longer as wicking in mass produced coils. Some RDA builders still prefer silica wick.
Squonking – Squonking is using a mod that has an build-in reservoir for e-liquid that can be squeezed to push e-liquid up into the atomizer. Squeezing the reservoir is the act of squonking. The mod is commonly called a squonker.
Stacking – Stacking is using 2 or more batteries in series. This means provides more voltage for a mod. As mods got better and we all wanted to use them longer with recharging, batteries were added. This is practical application of Ohm’s Law that is so important in vaping.
Steeping – Steeping is the art of ignoring your e-liquid. Steeping is allowing e-liquid to sit in a dark area and allow all the flavors to thoroughly mix. Many vapers insist on steeping their e-liquid saying it improves the flavor. The “proper” amount of time to steep is constantly debated topic for those that do it.
Sub-Ohm – This is term used to describe an atomizer build that has less than 1 Ohm of resistance for the finished build. Ohm’s Law becomes very important in sub-Ohm builds.
Tank –
Temperature Control (TC) – Temperature Control is a way of controlling the power used when you fire a mod. A smart chipset monitors the current, voltage, and change in resistance to estimate temperature at the coil and maintain it at a set level. It works but in most mods it is touchy at best and requires very specific alloys in the coils to work at all. Lot of mods have this feature but almost nobody ever uses it.
THR – Tobacco Harm Reduction is simple. We smoke combustible tobacco (mostly in the form of cigarettes) to get nicotine. If nicotine can be delivered without all the tar and other toxic chemicals we inhale from cigarettes then health and economic damage from smoking can be significantly reduced.
Throat Hit (TH) – Throat hit is the feeling as the inhaled vapor hits the back or your throat with a bite or a bump. Some vapers live for a strong throat hit and others don’t care for it at all. It is similar to a cigarette throat hit and feels “better” or “right”. The satisfaction from a hit is better for those that like a good throat hit.
Vaper’s Tongue – This is common vaper slang for vaping enough that you can’t taste your e-liquid anymore. A light colored coating frequently can be seen on the tongue. Chain vaping is a common cause. Drinking lots of water can help as well as changing flavors regularly. Brushing your teeth and tongue regularly helps.
Vaping – Dictionary says, “the action or practice of inhaling and exhaling vapor containing nicotine and flavoring produced by a device designed for this purpose.”
Variable Voltage (VV) – Variable Voltage is another way to control and set the power used in your coils. Variable Voltage allows you to set a specific voltage to increase or decrease power. The old twist pen batteries are an early example. Most modern mods allow you to choose this as on of a few power modes.
Variable Wattage (VW) – Variable Wattage is one more way to control the power. Watts are a measure of power so Variable Wattage allows designers to change current and voltage to hold the power in watts set by the user. The chipsets available today do amazing things with how involved this can be behind the scenes. We just need to set an number and fire the vape!
Vegetable Glycerin (VG) – VG is one of two base liquids used making e-liquid. VG is a slightly sweet, syrupy liquid made by heating vegetable fats under pressure or together with a strong alkali. It is thicker than PG, the other base liquid. VG will help produce bigger vapor clouds and carries certain flavors better.
Voltage – Voltage definitions rely on being a science person. They make no sense what so ever if you’re not a science person and not everybody is. But for those that are science people (and I’m one of them), here it goes:
Voltage is electric potential energy per unit charge, measured in joules per coulomb ( = volts). It is often referred to as “electric potential”, which then must be distinguished from electric potential energy by noting that the “potential” is a “per-unit-charge” quantity.
The real world meaning…higher voltage is more power and a warmer vape…less voltage is less power and gentler vape. Flavors taste different at different temperatures. Experiment.
Watt – Here we are in science minute again. Watt is a measure of power. Just like mentioned in Voltage definition, there is much more to it and for the science folks, here it is:
A unit of power in the International System of Units (SI) equal to one joule of work performed per second, or to 1/746 horsepower. The watt is named after James Watt, an 18th century Scottish inventor.
Real world meaning…more power, warmer vape…less power, cooler vape. Flavors taste different at different temperatures. Experiment.
Wick – Wick (noun) can be the material used as a wick, usually 100% organic cotton but some old-schoolers still like the silica wick. Wick (verb) can be the act of inserting the cotton through the coils, trimming, and careful poking and tucking. Wick (verb) can also be the action of the material drawing e-liquid through the material to the coils where it can be atomized.