E-Cigarette Terminology

Many people are still new to electronic cigarettes and surely have a difficult time navigating through all the technical jargon. For instance, knowing the difference between a cartomizer and an atomizer isn't easy, let alone figuring out what VG and PG mean, when referring to eLiquids. To clear up any confusion and provide the insight to help convert traditional smokers to e-cig users, we've provided this handy list of all the key terms and phrases used in the e-cigarette world.

All Day Vape

The e-liquid you most rely on or favor. That eliquid you constantly vape because it never gets old.

APV

Advanced Personal Vaporizer (APV) a more advanced version of a personal vaporizer. It may consist of a larger battery and advanced technical features such as variable voltage or variable wattage.

Automatic

(Auto) A battery that when taking a draw activates the heating element. No button is used to activate the heating element. An internal sensor activates automatically when air is allowed to follow through the battery.

Bridge

The small covering within an atomizer, used to absorb the eLiquid and drive it towards the heating element.

Cartridge

A plastic tube that is filled with an absorbanant material to hold the eLiquid needed for vaping. Shop our selection of E-Cig Cartridges.

Charger

A battery charger, allowing users to recharge their e-cig battery upon depletion. Shop our selection of e-cigarette battery chargers.

Cut-Off

Cut-Off or stopping point. Automatic shutdown is a feature which happens if you take to long a draw from an ecigarette. This shutdown feature generally happens after a 5-10 second draw. This feature aids in preventing the atomizer/cartomizer from overheating. Following a cut-off, some e-cigarettes will flash the LED indicating a cut-off is in effect from a long draw from the user.

Drip Tip

An accessory typically used with an atomizer or cartomizer, which has a larger opening than normal equipment and allows users to drip eLiquid directly onto the atomizer and avoid using disposable cartridges and cartomizers. Shop our selection of Drip Tips.

eLiquid

This is the liquid that is vaporized when using an electronic cigarette. It typically contains a combination of nicotine, propylene glycol and/or vegetable glycol, often along with other flavorings. Also referred to as E-Juice, Juice, Smoke Juice or simply Liquid. Shop our selection of various types of eLiquid.

eGo Style

A style of electronic cigarette, which utilizes the 510 threads and allows one to use 510 components but with a much larger battery and charge capacity. The eGo is a very popular e-cig amongst Vapers.

Flooding

This refers to what happens when too much liquid is applied to an atomizer. Flooding causes less vapor production, due to the lack of available air, which is required to produce vapor.

LED

Abbreviation for Light Emitting Diode, which provides the light at the end of E-Cigs and gives users the look and feel of a real cigarette hit.

mAh

milli-ampere-hours: It's a measurement of the amount of energy the battery can store. The higher this number is, the more energy it can store. More energy means longer use-time in between charges. This has nothing to do with output voltage. Higher mAh also means it will take longer to charge and it usually also means that the battery will be larger.

MOD

This term refers to the actual E-Cigarette, or the personal vaporizer. They serve as an alternative to a traditional cigarette-sized E-Cig and there are numerous shape variations for convenience. Shop our selection of MODS & PVs.

PG (Propylene Glycol)

Propylene Glycol is used as a base carrier for the nicotine flavoring. Some people have reported having an allergic reaction to PG.

PCC

Personal Charging Case. A device that is charged first and then is used to charge you’re electronic cigarette while on the go and away from an electrical outlet. Many PCC provide extra storage room for an additional battery and cartomizer or carts.

Starter Kit

A bundle of the essentials needed to start smoking reusable Electronic Cigarettes. Our starter kits vary per need, but typically include all the parts and accessories needed to begin vaping effectively. Shop our selection of E-Cig Starter Kits.

Thread Adapters

These E-Cig accessories allow users to use an atomizer or cartomizer with a battery of a different model. Shop our selection of Thread Adapters.

Vape

Since E-Cigs produce vapor, this is how users refer to the action of ‘smoking' an Electronic Cigarette.

Vaper

A person who vapes. A smoker smokes. A Vaper vapes.

Variable Wattage (VW)

Variable Wattage allows you to control how many watts your device will produce. Variable wattage will allow you to set the wattage, no matter what resistance atomizer or cartomizer you use with the device. Variable Power (VP) is also used to describe variable wattage.

Vent Holes

Vent holes are used on the bottom of electronic cigarettes and mods. They are designed as such to vent gases in the event of a battery failure.

Wick

A thin string inside many styles of atomizers, that allows delivery of eLiquids to the heating element. Shop our selection of Wick & Wire.

Analog or Analogue

Common term for a traditional cigarette in the E-Cig industry.

Atomizer (Atty)

A key element of an E-Cigarette, which heats the eLiquid to the point of vaporization. Shop our selection of E-Cig Atomizers.

Battery

The part of the E-Cig that provides power to the heating element, enabling the heating element to heat the eLiquid and produce vapor. Shop our selection of E-Cig Batteries.

Cartomizer

Cartomizers are disposable cartridges with atomizers built directly into the unit. The efficiency allows for a brand new atomizer in each cartomizer and gives users maximum vapor production. Shop our selection of Cartomizers & Tanks.

Coils

This is the heating element in an e-cig atomizer, which heats the liquid and produces vapor. These should be replaced every few weeks for regular users. Shop our selection of Replacement Coils/Heads.

Clearomizer

(Clearo) A clearomizer is the transparent version of a cartomizer. Designed to allow users to see how much eliquid they have left. Many have ml graduations for the capacity of e-liquid left. Made of very easily breakable plastic in order to remain transparent. A wick or wicks are generally used for the juice delivery to the coil. There are top coil and bottom coil configurations. Many versions are constantly evolving in order to improve the performance the user desires. Shop our selection of Clearomizers.

Dripping

Dripping is the act of allowing e-liquid to manually getting to the heating element by “dripping” e-liquid onto the heating element directly. Some consider “dripping” to provide the best vapor, throat hit and flavor. No e-liquid delivery system is involved from a typical electronic cigarette system.

Drip Well

The drip well is typically a bowl shape on a mod where the atomizer female connector resides. The well is designed to catch any excess e-liquid that may have leaked from the atomizer.

E-Cig

Common abbreviation for Electronic Cigarette.

Electronic Cigarette

Often referred to as an E-Cigarette or E-Cig, this is the common term for a device that heats up an eLiquid solution of nicotine, propylene glycol and/or vegetable glycol, turning the liquid into vapor.

Heads

Another term for the coil in an E-Cig atomizer, which heats the liquid and produces vapor. These should be replaced every few weeks for regular users. Shop our selection of Replacement Coils/Heads.

Low Resistance (LR)

An atomizer with a lower Ohm rating than normal. This benefit of LR is that it allows the unit's heating element to get hotter faster and produce vapor more quickly. Shop our selection of Low Resistance Atomizers.

MG

Milligrams (mg) The amount or level of nicotine found in e-liquid. Typical levels are 0mg, 6mg or 0.6%, 12mg or 1.2%, 18mg or 1.8%, and 24mg or 2.4%.

Ohm

A measure of electrical resistance. In E-Cigs, lower Ohms indicate lower resistance and in turn, faster heating.

Passthrough (Passthru)

A passthrough can be either a device itself or part of an electronic cigarette or mod. It is the device itself, you can connect your atty or carto to it and then plug it into the USB port of a computer or USB wall adapter. It receives power through either. Passthrough is built into many electronic cigarettes and mods allowing you to use them while they are charging.

PVs

Refers to any device that produces vapor for direct inhalation, at the push of a button. Shop our selection of MODS & PVs.

RBA

Rebuildable Atomizer: Rebuildable Atomizers vary in design. Some have a fabric wick, while some stay more pure from burning elements and use SS mesh and kanthal wire. Rebuildable atomizers are meant to save on cost and be readily fix-able. Some incorporate a tank for holding e-liquid. Shop our selection of Rebuildables.

Tanks

A type of cartomizer that is clear and shows the amount eLiquid left in the cartridge and typically hold more liquid than an average cartomizer. Shop our selection of Cartomizers & Tanks.

Throat Hit (TH)

The sensation users get when vaporizing eLiquids containing nicotine. There is no throat hit if there is zero nicotine in the liquid being used.

Variable Voltage (VV)

Variable Voltage allows you to control how many volts your device will produce. With a variable voltage e-cig, you have the ability to dial in the voltage by a click of a button or sequence. A typical voltage range for variable voltage is 3.0volts – 6.0volts and VV device’s can change these volt settings in .01 increments.

VG (Vegetable Glycerin)

Commonly referred to as VG, this E-Cig ingredient is a compound that comes from vegetable oil, in particular palm or coconut. It has powerful humectant properties, meaning it is able to retain moisture. VG is clear, colorless and very sweet. VG is used in eLiquids to amplify vapor production and as a sweetener. Because some people have light to severe reactions to PG (propylene glycol) they may require eLiquids that are higher in VG content.

Wire

The key tool needed when looking to build your own coil, which allows advanced E-Cigarette users to make their own E-Cig atomizer. Shop our selection of Wick & Wire.