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Automatic vs. Manual E-Cigarette Batteries

Tuesday, January 10th, 2012

If you’ve been browsing around at e-cigarettes, you’ve likely stumbled across a couple of different types of batteries – manual and automatic.

If you’re new to vaping, you may be scratching your head wondering what these terms mean. Either type can fit the same model but there are distinct differences between the two.

See below for a quick description of each type of battery.

Automatic Batteries

These e-cigarette batteries are automatic since the heating element is engaged when a pressure-sensitive switch inside the unit responds to air being drawn through. Once engaged, a heater coil is turned on, which vaporizes the nicotine e-liquid.

Pros

Great for beginners, especially if they’re traditional cigarette smokers looking to e-cigarettes as an alternative since automatic batteries work like a traditional cigarette – just puff and inhale. Also, battery consumption is more controlled, which helps maximize time between charges.

Cons

Automatic battery models are more vulnerable to damage due to leaking liquid. Since these models require an air channel through them, sooner or later, the unit will die out or get damaged. Automatic batteries also have restrictions on the length of the drag or number of drags per minute. While this helps maximize battery life, it poses some frustration to veteran users who desire more control over their vaping experience.

Manual Batteries

These e-cigarette batteries have a tiny push-button switch on the battery, which is sealed and less susceptible to damage from a leak. The user pushes the button to engage the heater coil, which vaporizes the nicotine e-liquid that’s inhaled.

Pros

Manual batteries give users more control over their vaping experience, allowing longer, more frequent drags. The unit can be pre-heated and left on for as long as you like.

Cons

With the ability to take longer drags more frequently though means the battery will not last as long.

As you can see, the big difference between automatic and manual e-cigarette batteries is the switch function. Is there a push button or do you inhale to activate the heating element?

One thing to remember is that you can switch between the two with many e-cigarette models, including our signature Sidesho model.

In the beginning, many choose to use automatic batteries since it most closely resembles a traditional cigarette. But as a newbie becomes a vaper, they may choose manual batteries so they can have more control over how they enjoy e-cigarettes.

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Propylene Glycol – Is it Safe?

Tuesday, December 6th, 2011

I’ll admit, when I first heard of e-cigarettes a few years back, I was naturally intrigued, yet skeptical too. One of main sources of my skepticism had to do with the fact that one of the main ingredients of the nicotine e-liquid was propylene glycol, or PG.

My initial reaction was of alarm and bemusement at how inhaling a substance containing PG could not be harmful.

Part of the negative conception regarding propylene glycol is yes, it is an ingredient found in antifreeze (…more background on that later). PG though is found in many things we use every day. I could list literally hundreds of them – from prepared foods to cosmetics to fog machines to inhalers for people with asthma, COPD, lung disease and other respiratory ailments. The substance is also found in IV meds among other things.

In short, PG is safe for humans to inhale.

Personally, I was convinced of this since many with asthma use an inhaler daily. Propylene glycol itself is a relatively simple chemical substance containing carbon, hydrogen and oxygen – C3H8O2 or HO-CH2-CHOH-CH3

Discovered in 1942 and approved for use around 1950, many studies have been commissioned to study the effects of PG. One study commissioned by Time Magazine used monkeys to determine the impacts of the substance. No negative effects were discovered except for one group of monkeys who gained weight after inhaling heavy concentrations of PG.

Another study took place over a 3-year period in a pediatric hospital. Rather than using tri-ethylene glycol in the facility’s air filters, PG was used. Concurrently, respiratory infections in the hospital dropped from 132 cases to 13.

The U.S. Centers for Disease classifies PG as ‘GRAS’ – or “generally recognized as safe” as a food additive.

Why do so many think PG is harmful?

It’s hard to say. Some people, including myself, were confused between propylene glycol and ethylene glycol, which is most definitely a toxic substance.

Up until recent decades, all antifreeze contained EG rather than PG. EG was known to be very dangerous to pets and small children since it made antifreeze smell real sweet. Pets and unsupervised kids could smell it and ingest the substance. Needless to say, the outcome most of the time was really tragic.

Today though, antifreeze contains PG and doesn’t give off the inviting smell.

In the end, unawareness is what drives much of the negative perception of propylene glycol. Countless studies though have shown that only in very large quantities does it make any noticeable impact in people.

Take a look at this video courtesy of VapeTalk on the safety of propylene glycol. If someone ask you about the safety of your Sidesho or Lux e-cigarette and has concern over PG specifically, be sure to direct them here or kindly explain it’s a common substance in numerous everyday items.

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Direct Dripping – A Quicker Way to Fill your E-Cig with Juice

Thursday, November 17th, 2011

Once you’ve been vaping for a while, you’re sure to discover it takes a little work (…or money) to keep vaping. By this, we mean the maintaining a steady supply of nicotine liquid that’s necessary to enjoying your electric cigarette.

Two of the most common options include pre-filled cartridges or ones you fill yourself using a bottle of liquid you purchase from an e-cigarette retailer.

Both of these options have their drawbacks. Either they’re expensive (pre-filled cartridges) or they’re time consuming (fill your own cartridges). If you vape often enough, filling your own cartridges may seem like a part-time job you’re not getting paid for.

What’s a vaper to do? Do you try and adjust your habit so you’re not spending so much time re-filling cartridges?

Fortunately you don’t have to…

Direct dripping, or simply ‘dripping,’ presents a viable solution to this dilemma. In a basic sense, direct dripping is where you drip nicotine juice directly onto the bridge of your atomizer rather than rely on your cartridge’s filler to ‘wick’ the juice to the atomizer.

Before you start dripping though, you need to be sure your personal vaporizer unit has a sealed battery (…which you find on manual e-cigarette models, not automatic ones). The reason why you should have a sealed battery is because liquid can leak through the hole and into the battery, which destroys it.

(Batteries that are ruined this way will NOT be covered by any warranty).

If you have sealed battery, you can take the following 3 steps to direct drip nicotine juice into your atomizer.

1.     Take your cartridge and remove the filler, which looks like cotton

2.    Take your bottle of juice and drip a couple of drops on the bridge of your atomizer. If the bridge is dry, prime by placing an additional 3-4 drops

3.    Replace the empty cartridge and vape on dude!!

Once you’re vaping, if you hear a gurgling sound and don’t get any vapor, your atomizer is flooded. Take the cartridge off and blow on the other end to dry the excess liquid out. Conversely, if you experience a burnt taste, then your atomizer is too dry and needs more liquid.

Direct dripping is, generally speaking, a quick way to get nicotine e-juice to your atomizer so it can be heated into vapor. Drip tips (see picture) like the ones available on our main site can help you put nicotine liquid into your atomizer without any mess.

If you’re getting frustrated with buying pre-filled cartridges or trying to fill your own e-cigarette cartridges, consider direct dripping today. Many veteran vapers choose this method because it’s both cost AND time effective.

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Pre-Filled Cartridges vs. Do-it-Yourself – Pros and Cons

Tuesday, October 18th, 2011

Once you discover vaping and electric cigarettes, you’re sure soon to discover the diversity of nicotine e-liquid available on the market. All kinds of flavors and strengths…from coffee to chocolate, from high to very light…offer tantalizing tastes for your vaping enjoyment.

This nicotine infused liquid is one of the central components of using an electric cigarette.

Besides flavor and strength, you will also discover differences in how you replenish your ‘e-juice’ supply, something you will be doing kind of often.

There are advantages and disadvantages to both options – pre-filled cartridges, which as the name implies are cartridges that already have nicotine liquid in them, or fill your own methods where you purchase a bottle of e-liquid and fill the cartridge yourself.

These ‘cartridges’ basically consist of a mouthpiece and a filler material that contains the e-juice

There’s certainly one advantage to pre-filled cartridges – all you’ve got to do is put one in and vape on!!

That’s why they’re great if you’re on the go a lot. You can basically twist the old cartridge off and put a new one on, very simple.

A couple of disadvantages – it can get expensive depending on how much you vape. Although you can get a pack of 5 cartridges for anywhere from $5 to $10, it can really add up – especially if you’re using your device in one place a lot, like your home.

The other disadvantage is your flavor options are bit more limited.

Of course, you can fill your own cartridges, which offers a bit more cost effective option. A 10-milliliter bottle of e-liquid costs just a few bucks and there are dozens of flavors to choose from. There are also different mixtures of propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin available.

Filling the cartridge though will take a little time and requires patience. A syringe injection method is the least messy. Cartridges do eventually wear out and need to be changed…but that’s not terribly expensive.

So it’s a trade-off – convenience of just twist and go, or more options for mixture and flavor that, per cartridge, is much cheaper.

Modern Vapor carries a wide-variety of both types of cartridges – both pre-filled and fill your own e-liquid varieties. Try out a little of each and see which one best fits your routine. But remember, each option has its unique advantages and disadvantages to consider.

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Why Does My New Atomizer Have this Bad Taste and What Can I Do About It?

Thursday, July 21st, 2011

Some new atomizers, especially those that include primers, sometimes carry this awful taste when you first hook them up and take a puff. Many vapers complain of this foul taste that eventually goes away with a few puffs on their e-cigarette.

Many vapers think this bad taste comes from the liquid but that isn’t necessarily the case.

What you’re tasting are manufacturing and machining residues, which include machine oil, coatings, traces of adhesives and coatings on the silica fibers of the wick. Therefore, when you first put nicotine liquid into the atomizer, it may taste bad as it absorbs the residues.

Burning the residue off through using the e-cigarette is the only safe way to get rid of the taste. You can however soak and/or rinse your atomizer to get rid of the residue(s) but this method may end up reducing the life of your atomizer. And the more effective your solvent is, the more likely these solvents will upset your atomizer’s structure.

If you use any solvents, use them sparingly.

There are ways you can get rid of this foul taste without reducing the life of your atomizer.

You can first blow out any primer by blowing air from the top and open ends while holding a paper towel under the threaded end. Next, briefly rinse in alcohol and blow out once again. Connect the batter, drip 3 or 4 drops of nicotine liquid and puff a few times, but don’t inhale. Repeat this step one more time and you should get rid of the taste.

It’s rare the bad taste cannot be rid of this way. If this doesn’t work, you could have excess sealant or glue in the atomizer body that’s being heated.

And if you can’t get any air flow through the atomizer, the airways could be blocked by sealant. There’s really no way to resolve this issue so you should return the defective atomizer.

If you’re experiencing bad taste in your e-cigarette atomizers, this method may resolve the problem without resorting to abrasive solvents.

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Keep a Steady Flow of Juice by Charging your Electronic Cigarette Battery

Tuesday, March 8th, 2011

As you know, electronic cigarettes work by powering an atomizer heating device. Nicotine liquid is heated and turns into a vapor in which you inhale.

Batteries for powering these devices require regular charging. Depending on the model e-cigarette you purchased and how you use it, this is anywhere between 3 and 8 days.

No matter how long, you will always have the need for an electronic cigarette battery charger.

Which one you choose depends on several factors including whether you spend a lot of time driving or at a computer.

Continue reading for 5 different e-cigarette battery charger options. Remember, it’s generally advisable to have 2 of these available to you. Also, most vapers have more than one battery on them at all times – while one is charging, you can still use your e-cigarette.

To see this list in more detail, we invite you check out our newest e-cigarette knowledge center article – Options for Charging your Electronic Cigarette Battery – to learn more.

1.       Personal Charging Cases (approximately $25)

2.       Manual Passthrough (approximately $16)

3.       A/C Wall Charger (approximately $13)

4.       2-AMP USB Car Charger (approximately $9)

5.       Universal USB Charger (approximately $8)

As you can see from these, you can easily be outfitted to charge your electronic cigarette batteries for a very low cost. Learn more about these charger options and find the one that’s right for you by visiting our electronic cigarette knowledge center today.

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Club Commissions Study to Learn Effects of Electronic Cigarettes On Indoor Air Quality

Tuesday, January 25th, 2011

One of our industry’s consumer groups – the National Vapers Club – has commissioned a study to determine the effects electronic cigarette use has on indoor air quality.

As you may or may not know, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration along with the World Health Organization has been using its power to potentially ban electronic cigarettes in the United States. They have strict guidelines on how they’re supposed to be marketed, etc. For example, we are not allowed to claim electronic cigarettes help you quit smoking.

Currently, the FDA and related agencies are evaluating the health and safety of e-cigarettes. Those of us in the industry think our products should be considered tobacco products and regulated as such.

However, the FDA may classify them as a drug which would for all intents and purposes, ban electronic cigarettes in the United States. (…see about a court ruling blocking this move for now)

ExperimentsTo better understand e-cigarettes and to “clear the air,” the National Vapers Club is commissioning a study to understand the affects e-cigarettes use has on indoor air quality. They contracted with a firm experienced in studying indoor air quality as well as specific affects related to smoking.

The study will consist of two parts – data collection and analysis/publication.

NVC is hopeful results from this study will help alleviate people’s concerns about the health and indoor environmental impact of electronic cigarettes.  Results from this study and future ones will help the industry, consumers and government agencies better understand exposure risks and other health concerns of e-cigarettes.

Read more about some myths surrounding e-cigs in our electronic cigarette knowledge center today. And if you have any questions about e-cigarettes, please don’t hesitate to ask.

In regards to the study, the data collection phase is complete. Researchers are currently compiling their findings and will release a final report soon. When they do, we’ll let you know and provide a quick summary.

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Vapor Differences in Various Nicotine Liquids

Tuesday, January 4th, 2011

Electronic cigarettes in fact have wide opportunity for customization. There are many reasons why people choose to smoke and many reasons why they enjoy it…electronic cigarettes give you a lot of opportunities to tailor your vaping experience to your unique tastes.

How much vapor you produce when enjoying your electronic cigarette is one item you can easily customize.

Perhaps you don’t care for the sight of smoke and prefer to be more discreet with your vaping activity. Or maybe you’re a former cigar smoker who really enjoyed the smoky environment created by your stogie.

How is it possible to customize this aspect of electronic cigarettes?

The secret lies in the mixture of propylene glycol (PG) and vegetable glycerin (VG) in the nicotine liquid you’re vaping.

The video below gives you a visual idea – it compares nicotine liquid containing 100% PG to one mixed with a certain percentage of VG.

As you see in the video, the 100% mixture gives off hardly any vapor. But when host Nilius either mixes some glycerin with the 100% PG mixture and tries an entirely different bottle with some VG pre-mixed in, you see a lot more vapor being given off.

In addition to this, Nilius explains the impact 100% PG mixture is having on his throat when he inhales…as he explains, you will certainly notice the vapor hitting your throat with the 100% mixture.

So if you like a kind of harsh feeling when you smoke, perhaps you should consider a 100% PG mixture.

Modern Vapor has a variety of nicotine liquids available – many flavors are available in both 100% PG and a PG/VG mixture. Which one you choose somewhat depends on smoothness and how much vapor you want to give off.

Enjoy the quick video on 100% PG and PG/VG mixtures and learn more about our wide selection of nicotine liquids today. And if you have any questions, please let us know.

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Embark on a New Smoking Experience by Ordering your Electronic Cigarette Starter Kit Today

Friday, December 17th, 2010

If you’re new to vaping, the first thing you will need to obtain is an electronic cigarette starter kit. These kits, available at different levels, contain all of the components you need to enjoy electric smoking.

These kits give you the opportunity to enjoy an alternative form of smoking without many of the negative side effects attributed to traditional cigarettes.

Regardless of your budget, Modern Vapor has a wide variety of starter kits available – low cost starter kits give you just what you need to get started while our deluxe models have everything you need to enjoy vaping at home or on-the-go.

See our deluxe line of electronic cigarette starter kits below…each is specifically designed to meet the demands all kinds of alternative smokers.

Sidesho – Our most basic model that contains all of the components you need to get started

902 – Built for the more demanding vaper. These kits come fully equipped for on-the-go alternative smokers

Lux – Built for our more exquisite vapers, our Lux starter kit gives you an eloquent electronic cigarette at an affordable price

If you already have an electronic cigarette starter kit and simply need accessories or a refill on your e-liquid, check out our wide selection of electronic cigarette accessories and nicotine liquids.

From this selection, you can further customize your e-smoking experience, obtain needed parts or try different nicotine liquid flavors.

But if you’re new to e-smoking and looking to embark on a new smoking experience, check out our selection of electronic cigarette starter kits today.

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Extending the Life Span of your Battery and Atomizer

Wednesday, November 17th, 2010

Over time, components of your electronic cigarette wear out and require replacement. And while the cost is minimal, you certainly don’t want to be ordering new parts every time you turn around.

Two components that do eventually wear out are the electronic cigarette’s atomizer and battery. Taking steps to maximize the life span of these items will help reduce the cost of your vaping experience.

Continue reading for a quick description of ways you can maintain your atomizer and battery for maximum life span and learn more by visiting our newest knowledge center article – Ways to Extend the Life of your E-Cigarette Atomizer & Battery.

Atomizer – Your E-Cigarette’s heating Element

The average life expectancy of an atomizer is 2-3 months. One of the utmost important things for you to do to keep it in good order is to ensure it stays moist all the time.

Periodically cleaning the atomizer is also a good idea. Do this by separating it from the electronic cigarette and soaking it in some Coca-Cola for a few hours. Coke contains properties that break down particles. After soaking, take some tongs or pliers and hold it next to the outlet of a steaming tea kettle for a few minutes.

In addition to this general cleaning, you should also keep the contact points clean. Do this by taking a Q-Tip and wiping the contact point inside the atomizer on the screw side.

Battery – Ensuring you have the power to vape

Without a battery, you won’t have the power you need to use the atomizer so therefore, it’s an integral part of the vaping experience. Most electronic cigarette batteries last around 200-300 charges.

If you’re using a manual battery model, you want to be careful and not push the button too hard. This can potentially cause the button to stick or fall into the battery.

If you’re using an automatic battery, slightly unscrew the battery from the atomizer when you’re not using the electronic cigarette. Leaving them together will drain the battery quicker so be sure the contacts are not together when not using your unit.

Another important item you need to stay on top of is the electronic cigarette liquid. If you’re filling your own cartridges, you need to be careful and not overfill them as this could potentially leak and damage the battery.

DAMAGES FROM LEAKING E-LIQUID ARE NOT COVERED UNDER ANY WARRANTY

Besides staying on top of your e-liquid, you should also clean the contact points like you would for an atomizer. You can easily do this by taking a Q-Tip and wiping the threading for both the atomizer and battery.

These are just a few ways you can extend the life of your atomizer and battery. Learn more by reading our newest article – Ways to Extend the Life of your E-Cigarette Atomizer & Battery – or visit our electronic cigarette knowledge center today.

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