E-cigarette Glossary

Adjustable Airflow

Either a screw or dial that adjusts the airflow into a tank as the user inhales affecting both the amount of vapour and flavour.

AG

AG is pharmaceutical grade VG (Vegetable Glycerine) which has been thinned using deionized water to make it a similar viscosity to PG (Propylene Glycol) and is used as a diluent when mixing e-liquid. AG produces more vapour than PG and adds a little sweetness to the vape.

Analogue

A term vapers give to traditional tobacco cigarettes.

Atomizer

A generic term given to the part of the e-cig that heats the e-liquid and turns it into a vapour.

Atomizer Head

Unit that houses the heating coils and wicking material.

AWG

American Wire Gauge is a standardised wire gauge used in North America, whereas in Europe the diameter of the wire is expressed in millimetres. Resistance wire is used to make heating coils.

Battery

A battery supplies power to the atomizer and can be an integrated battery unit, where the battery is built in or a removable battery that can be removed from the e-cigarette to recharge or replace it.

Burning

Occurs if the coil gets too hot without enough e-liquid. In certain circumstances it can burn the wicking material delivering an acrid taste that is unpalatable. Once a coil is burnt it is unlikely to recover normal performance and usually needs replacing.

Coil

This is a coil of wire that acts as a heating element and is located in the Atomizer Head.

Connection pin

Is usually the positive feed from the battery, it can be fixed or sprung and makes contact with the positive pin of the atomizer.

Diluent

Diluents are liquids that are used to dilute e-liquid mixes. The main diluents are PG and VG and when mixed in different ratios can alter the vaping characteristics of e-liquid.

Drip Tip

A usual abbreviation for an e-cigarette mouthpiece or a mouthpiece with a wide bore through which you can drop e-liquid to refresh the coil of an RDA (rebuildable dripping atomizer).

Dry Hit

Occurs if the wicking material is dry or has dried out due to lack of e-liquid.

E-cig / E-cigarette

Words often used to abbreviate electronic cigarette.

E-liquid

The term used to describe the fluid used within electronic cigarettes. It is available in a wide range of flavours and strengths and is sold as pre-mixed ready to vape.

ICR

Li-ion Cobalt Round cell, refers to the chemical make-up of a battery. ICR’s can have high capacity rating (mAh) but deliver a lower current than an IMR. ICR batteries are recommended for atomizers with a resistance of 1.0Ω or above.

IMR

Li-ion Manganese Round cell, refers to the chemical make-up of a battery. IMR’s generally have a lower capacity rating (mAh) but deliver a higher current than an ICR. IMR batteries are recommended for atomizers with a resistance below 1.0Ω.

Japanese Cotton

Japanese cotton is a natural wicking material that uses no chemicals or bleaches in its production and has good e-liquid retention properties but can burn at high temperatures.

Kanthal

Kanthal (FeCrAl) is a wire alloy containing iron, chrome and aluminium. It is used to make heating coils.

mA

Milliamp is a unit used to measure current and is equal to one thousandth of an Amp. 1000mA = 1A. This applies to the battery charging current, the higher the milliamps the faster a battery will charge. The charging rate should never be greater than the mAh rating of the battery.

mAh

A unit for measuring electric power over time. mAh is commonly used to describe the total amount of energy a battery can store at one time.

Micro USB

Micro USB (Universal Serial Bus) is an industry standard that defines the cables and connectors for the power supply between computers and electronic devices. Most e-cigarette batteries and mods have a Micro USB charging port unless stated otherwise.

Mechanical Mod

A “Mod” originally meant “Modified” and referred to hand made components and devices that used converted household items such as flashlights or lozenge tins. Mechanical mods have no electronic switches, regulators or chips and rely on mechanical connections to operate.

ML

A millilitre (that is milli and litre put together) is a very small amount of liquid. There are approx. 20 drops to one ml of e-liquid. With e-cigarettes it is used to indicate the capacity of the tank and selling volume of e-liquid.

Ni (Nickel)

Nickel wire is a low resistance wire used to make heating coils and can be used with TC (Temperature Control) devices. Pure nickel is used because there is a linear relationship between resistance and temperature. As the coil heats, the resistance changes and the algorithm built into the processing chip of the electronic cigarette can determine the temperature from the resistance it is measuring.

Nichrome

Nichrome is a popular resistance wire used to make heating coils, it is a nickel/chrome alloy.

Ohm (Ω)

The ohm is the SI unit of electrical resistance and is named for Georg Simon Ohm, the German physicist who created Ohms Law. On atomizer heads it indicates the resistance measure of the heating coil as a numerical value, e.g. 1.8ohm.

PG

PG (Propylene Glycol) is a pharmaceutical grade diluent used in e-liquid. PG produces less vapour than VG and adds clarity to flavours.

PV

Personal Vaporiser, another name for an electronic cigarette.

RBA

Rebuildable atomizer.

RCS

Replacement Coil System, a generation of atomizers that enable the removal of the atomizer coil or head unit from the tank, without the need to dispose of the complete tank section of the e-cigarette.

RDA

Rebuildable dripping atomizer.

RTA

Rebuildable tank atomizer.

Sub Ohm

Refers to heating coils with an electrical resistance of less than 1.0Ω.

Tank

Top of an e-cigarette which connects to the battery, houses the atomizer and e-liquid and has either a removable or fitted mouthpiece on top.

TH

Throat Hit or Throat Kick is the sensation of nicotine at the back of the throat.

Ti (Titanium)

Titanium wire is a low resistance wire used to make heating coils and can be used with TC (Temperature Control) devices. Pure titanium is used because there is a linear relationship between resistance and temperature. As the coil heats, the resistance changes and the algorithm built into the processing chip of the electronic cigarette can determine the temperature from the resistance it is measuring.

Vaping

The inhalation and exhalation of vapour produced by an electronic cigarette or similar device.

VG

Vegetable Glycerine (VG) is pharmaceutical grade liquid used as a diluent in e-liquid. VG produces more vapour than PG and adds a little sweetness to the vape. 

VV / VW / VT / TC

These common terms refer to output measurements that vaping devices use. Variable Voltage refers to electromotive force being pushed through the atomizer whereas Variable Wattage refers to the power produced by that force. Put simply a Variable Wattage device detects the atomizer resistance and selects the correct voltage to deliver the desired output whereas a Variable Voltage device delivers the selected output irrespective of the atomizer resistance. Variable Temperature / Temperature Control controlled devices enable you to pre-set a maximum temperature in Celsius or Fahrenheit that the atomizer coil will be able to reach.

Wicking material

Normally made of silica rope or natural cotton, which is fire retardant whilst being efficient in drawing e-liquid to the atomizer coil. Natural cotton provides full flavour and vapour production in comparison.

510

This refers to the screw thread cut and is the most common thread pattern used on e-cigarettes which aids cross compatibility of components. It is also used to refer to the compatibility of mouthpieces and the connection at the top of the tank.

510 Mouthpiece

Available in a variety of colours and styles. Tanks with a 510 fitting mouthpiece have the ability to swap with another 510 mouthpiece allowing for personalisation and customisation.