When I first started vaping I quickly became used to inane comments about “those joke-fags” or how it was “still smoking”. Years later e-cigs are now a far more familiar sight, yet for many they remain something of a mystery!
So if you’re new to vaping, looking to buy your first e-cigarette, or simply wanting to find out a bit more about the different types available and how they work, then this post is for you!
In this post, we’ll cover the very basics of vaping, from buying your first kit to taking your first inhale.
We’ve really tried to strip it down to the basics here, so for a more in-depth guide see our Beginner’s Guide to Vaping.
(Note - if you’re confused about any words here, you can find the definition in our glossary)
Contents
How E-cigs Work
Typically an e-cigarette is made up of 3 key components:The E-Cig Battery
As the name suggests this is the power source.The E-Cig Tank
This stores a reservoir of e-liquid.The E-Cig Coil
Installed within the tank. This houses a coiled wire surrounded by a wicking material, typically cotton, which absorbs e-liquid through inlets at the sides.How these elements work together
When activated, the battery supplies power to the metal wire in the coil, heating it up. This causes the e-liquid in the wicking material to evaporate, creating the vapour. More e-liquid is then absorbed from the tank ready for the process to begin again.
Different types of e-cigarettes
E-cigarettes come in all shapes and sizes but they all use the components above to create vapour. Below are some of the most common types of e-cigarettes available today.Cigalikes (Cig-a-likes)
Cigalikes are so-called because they look like a cigarette. Typically they consist of a disposable cartridge (containing the e-liquid, wick and coil) and rechargeable battery.This style of e-cigarette does not have a button. Once assembled they are activated automatically when you inhale on the cartridge.
One of the main benefits of cigalikes is that they are incredibly easy to use. When your cartridge runs out, you simply remove it and replace with another one.
What’s more, some smokers who are just switching to e-cigs want something which looks and feels like a regular cigarette. If that’s you, cigalikes are the ideal solution.
However, while kits might be cheap, cartridges are usually more expensive over the long run than e-liquid. You generally have a limited choice of flavours, the battery does not have much power and you won’t get as much vapour as you would with tank systems.
Click here to view the Halo Cigalike E-Cig Kit.
Tank E-Cigs
Tank e-cigs are more advanced devices but still really easy to use. Tank e-cigs have a reservoir to hold e-liquid which is where they get their name.Unlike cigalikes, tank e-cigs can be refilled with bottles of e-liquid. The benefits of this include money saving in the long run and access to a wide range of delicious flavours!.
Tank systems have more powerful batteries than their cigalike counterparts, providing more power and more time between charges.
An example of a tank system is the Halo Tank 02. While easy for beginners to use, it allows you to upgrade the coils to get the same experience you would get from a more advanced device. Click here to check it out now.
Beware of up sells
A good e-cigarette shop will give you great advice and service.But beware, some shops are just out to make the biggest sale. In fact, we’ve had people come to us in tears because they could not use an expensive, complicated kit that was sold to them.
And that’s just not cricket.
Sure, you can start with an advanced device but before you get your wallet out, consider whether the salesperson is actually selling you what you need.
What is e-liquid?
E-liquid is the liquid used in e-cigarettes. E-liquid contains the following ingredients:- Propylene Glycol (PG)
- Vegetable Glycerin (VG)
- Food grade flavourings
- Pharma grade nicotine (except zero nicotine e-liquid)
Choosing an e-liquid
When choosing an e-liquid, it’s important to make sure you’re buying a quality product. We receive a lot of samples from e-liquid manufacturers, but no matter how good it tastes, it’s got to pass our quality testing procedure before it’s made available to our customers. This is how it’s done:
Testing
It’s important to buy e-liquid that has been properly tested. We test our own range, as well as e-liquid from any guest brands available to buy on e-cigarettedirect to ensure it is as safe as possible. When testing, we verify the strength of the e-liquid, and ensure that no harmful compounds are present. For more information click here.Flavour
People who are new to e-cigarettes often want to use a tobacco or menthol flavoured e-liquid. But it’s worth trying other flavours too. Many e-cigarette users find flavours which don't remind them of smoking are actually more effective.Nicotine
Many e-cigarette users want to reduce nicotine levels. But if you’re going to successfully switch to vaping, it’s important that you feel satisfied. When starting, a higher nicotine strength is more likely to keep you off the cigs than a lower strength which might not satisfy your cravings.Remember, nicotine is not the cause of smoking diseases. As Professor Farsalinos has pointed out, while vaping is estimated to be 95% safer than smoking, if there is any harm it will come from the vapour, not the nicotine. So you’re better off inhaling less vapour with more nicotine than desperately inhaling vast amounts of vapour in an attempt to get more nicotine. Learn more about nicotine here
The further you move away from smoking, the less likely you are to revert to a cigarette.
With our own Halo range, we test both the e-liquid and the vapour, to ensure it is as safe as possible. See here for more information…PG:VG Ratio
The PG:VG in varies from e-liquid to e-liquid and affects the vaping experience. Typically, an e-liquid high in PG will give more throat hit, while a high VG e-liquid will be smoother.When you’re new to vaping, a good starter ratio is PG:VG 50:50. You can read more about the differences between PG and VG here.
Getting Started With E-Cigs
Cigalikes
It’s super easy to get started with a cigalike. Simply charge the battery, screw the cartridge into the battery and you’re ready to go!Tanks E-Cigs
Just like the cigalike, the first thing to do is ensure your battery is fully charged.Filling Your Tank
Prepare your tank for filling by removing (generally unscrewing) one end. This could be either the top or base depending on the design of your tank.Drip e-liquid into the tank, being careful not to get any down the tube in the center (chimney). Stop filling before you reach the top of the chimney.
Once you’ve filled the tank, you can re fit the base/top.
The video below goes into more detail on how to fill different types of tanks:
Changing Your Coil
The coil in your tank will need to be replaced occasionally. Coils don’t last forever, and over time you’ll notice a reduction in flavour and vapour.Replacing coils is easy and only takes a couple of minutes. Here’s what to do;
- Unscrew the base of your tank
- Unscrew the coil from the base*
- Screw a new coil into the base
- Screw the base back into your tank
How to inhale when you vape
For many people, e-cigarettes provide an effective alternative to smoking, but it's important to remember that vaping is not smoking. You will find that you use an e-cigarette differently to a traditional cigarette to get a similar level of satisfaction.Longer Inhales
Usually, with a cigarette, you take a short sharp inhale. However, with e-cigarettes it takes longer for the vapour to get into your mouth.E-cigarette users typically take a longer inhale on e-cigs than they would with a traditional cigarettes.
For more info, see our complete guide to inhaling your vape.
An important note on battery safety
Lithium ion batteries are safe when handled correctly, so it’s important that you treat them with care.- Avoid extreme temperature and direct sunlight
- ALWAYS use the correct charger
- Turn off your battery when not in use
- Avoid carrying batteries with loose change or other metals
- Avoid contact with water
Cleaning battery contacts
Your e-cig is exposed to a lot of pocket dirt and fluff. Over time this can build up on the contacts of the battery causing a bad connection.These can be easily cleaned using a cotton bud (q-tips for our friends in the states!). Where grime has built up more heavily, add some rubbing alcohol or electrical contact cleaner.
For more information see our infographic, the 10 rules of e-cig battery safety.
