How it Works

An e-cig is made up of several different components, with different brands having differing designs.

The first component is the cartridge, AKA the mouthpiece. The cartridge contains the flavored nicotine liquid, and it's the part you take the hit from. Nicotine liquid comes in varying strengths, from 24mg down to 0mg, depending on the manufacturer. The cartridge and atomizer are the parts where manufacturers vary on design. Some companies, like blu, have the three components separate, where you need to push the cartridge down onto the atomizer then screw the atomizer to the battery. Others, like Vapor4Life, have the cartridge and atomizer combined (which is known as a cartomizer), which results in a two-piece design.

Since I've mentioned the atomizer, I should explain it more thoroughly. The atomizer is the heating element, and it's what makes the entire process possible. The atomizer is the part that keeps the e-cig from being operated by flame like a traditional cigarette. The job of the atomizer is to heat up the flavored nicotine liquid in the cartridge, resulting in the vapor that the user inhales. Power is needed to allow the atomizer to heat up, which is where the battery comes in.

The battery has an LED at one end that serves two purposes: it'll blink rapidly to show that the device needs charging, and second it lights up when you take a hit to provide visual confirmation that it's working. These vary in color (pink, green, purple, blue, etc) though the most common is red to simulate the look of an actual cigarette. Batteries can be either automatic or manual. An automatic battery works just like a traditional or analog cigarette -- take a drag, inhale, exhale. Automatic batteries have a sensor inside that detects suction, and once detected it kicks the atomizer into action. Manual batteries vary slightly -- there's a button that you hold down which starts the atomizer, allowing you to take a hit. Some prefer automatics as their operation is very similar to analogs, while some (including myself) prefer manuals as they seem to hit harder. Automatic or manual is really up to the user's preference and doesn't make a lasting impact. For a new user, automatics are a good suggestion since it'll be more familiar to someone who's been smoking for a long time.

 Batteries sustain life for various periods of time. The length of time before needing a recharge varies wildly depending on the manufacturer, whether it's a short, medium or long battery, and how often the battery is used. Batteries are typically charged by screwing the part that connects to the atomizer into a port that terminates in a USB plug. That USB plug then can go directly into your computer or it can go into an adapter for wall charging or even charging in the car. There are also portable charging cases, or PCCs, which usually house a battery and some spare cartridges for when you're on the go. And for those who are in the car or on the computer a lot, there's devices called a "passthrough" which has the battery permanently tethered to a USB cord on the end that normally has the LED. These are great for long car trips or when vegging out at home. Convenient, eh?