This is a continuation of a previous blog entry:
The second type of e-cigs (or power supplies) I’ll cover are called passthroughs. These don’t have batteries at all, instead the power source is a wire that you plug in to either the wall, the USB port of a computer, or a powered USB hub. Again, these are available with different thread patterns. They work very consistently, and are pretty cheap too. The only drawback is the obvious one……it has a cord that always has to be plugged in. This means that the user is chained to their computer or the nearest wall socket. Most people can’t convert using only a passthrough for this reason. A lot of people have them and use them, but only at home or as a last ditch back up in case their primary equipment fails.
The third type of e-cigarette is called big battery models (I’ll abbreviate this as BBM). BBMs don’t look very much like cigarettes. They are of course, bigger. The size of a BBM with end hardware attached can be compared to the size of a sharpie marker. The permanently incased battery will last the average user a good 8 hours per charge. Some models can even be used while they are plugged in to recharged. BBMs aren’t all that expensive. A kit with 2 batteries will cost someone about 150% of the price of a pen style e-cig kit. And really, people usually have to buy 4 batteries with the pen style, so really it’s about the same price when you look at it that way. When someone comes to me and asks what they should buy, I usually suggest a BBM because from what I have seen, these are the cheapest units that will work for the average pack a day smoker because the battery life is long enough to last an average work day, and if you get pegged with over time, if you have your spare battery, you’ll still be ok until you get home.
The fourth and final type of e-cigarette is called a “mod”. This term is actually modified e-cigarette, but has been shortened. There is a whole wide world of mods looking wildly different from each other and offering different features. Basically though, there are a few features common to most mods. Most mods have removable batteries. These are powerful odd ball batteries that are usually only available on the internet. Even in BBMs, the battery is enclosed in the unit and should not be removed. This means that if you owned a BBM and your battery stops holding a charge (which happens after a while, usually after 6 months or more), you’ll end up having to replace the battery…..and everything it is attached to (the button you press to use it, the battery connectors, the case that encloses the battery, the connection to the end hardware, ect). Also, a lot of the removable batteries just hold more power. I for one can usually go 2 days without running out of charge in my mod (unless I am drinking…..then it’ll last a day
). The batteries can also put out different amounts of voltage, which means that if you find that you aren’t getting a hot enough hit, you can buy a different battery that puts out a higher voltage. Some mods have a “variable voltage” feature that allows the user to turn up or down the voltage with the turn of a dial or the press of a button without having to buy different batteries. Some mods have a feeder system that easily and painlessly (sometimes even automatically) supplies the atomizer with juice. Some mods have an on board charger that allows you to charge it like a cell phone and use the unit while it is charging. Mods can be box shaped, tube shaped, or all contoured and futuristic looking like high end cell phones. I even saw a mod recently that has a USB port on the bottom that you can use to charge your cell phone! Basically though, let’s just say that mods are the top of the line e-cigarettes. If someone wants to convert to vaping, and they have tried BBMs and they just don’t do it for them, I guarantee that there is a mod out there that will do it for them, even if they smoke 4 packs a day. You asked about the e-cig I was using, well I use a REO Grande bottom feeding mod. It is made out of aluminum and thus practically indestructible and it feeds the atomizer with the simple squeeze of an on board incased plastic bottle.
Anyway, that about does it for an introduction. If you want more information, I’d suggest checking out www.e-cigarette-forum.com. There is comprehensive information regarding everything e-cig, from product reviews, success stories, juice mixing instructions, vender reviews, and health info regarding the different ingredients found in the juice. Also, here is a link to a youtube video that is humorous to those of us who have made the journey through all this info and ended up with a mod in hand. Check it out.
The second type of e-cigs (or power supplies) I’ll cover are called passthroughs. These don’t have batteries at all, instead the power source is a wire that you plug in to either the wall, the USB port of a computer, or a powered USB hub. Again, these are available with different thread patterns. They work very consistently, and are pretty cheap too. The only drawback is the obvious one……it has a cord that always has to be plugged in. This means that the user is chained to their computer or the nearest wall socket. Most people can’t convert using only a passthrough for this reason. A lot of people have them and use them, but only at home or as a last ditch back up in case their primary equipment fails.
The third type of e-cigarette is called big battery models (I’ll abbreviate this as BBM). BBMs don’t look very much like cigarettes. They are of course, bigger. The size of a BBM with end hardware attached can be compared to the size of a sharpie marker. The permanently incased battery will last the average user a good 8 hours per charge. Some models can even be used while they are plugged in to recharged. BBMs aren’t all that expensive. A kit with 2 batteries will cost someone about 150% of the price of a pen style e-cig kit. And really, people usually have to buy 4 batteries with the pen style, so really it’s about the same price when you look at it that way. When someone comes to me and asks what they should buy, I usually suggest a BBM because from what I have seen, these are the cheapest units that will work for the average pack a day smoker because the battery life is long enough to last an average work day, and if you get pegged with over time, if you have your spare battery, you’ll still be ok until you get home.
The fourth and final type of e-cigarette is called a “mod”. This term is actually modified e-cigarette, but has been shortened. There is a whole wide world of mods looking wildly different from each other and offering different features. Basically though, there are a few features common to most mods. Most mods have removable batteries. These are powerful odd ball batteries that are usually only available on the internet. Even in BBMs, the battery is enclosed in the unit and should not be removed. This means that if you owned a BBM and your battery stops holding a charge (which happens after a while, usually after 6 months or more), you’ll end up having to replace the battery…..and everything it is attached to (the button you press to use it, the battery connectors, the case that encloses the battery, the connection to the end hardware, ect). Also, a lot of the removable batteries just hold more power. I for one can usually go 2 days without running out of charge in my mod (unless I am drinking…..then it’ll last a day
). The batteries can also put out different amounts of voltage, which means that if you find that you aren’t getting a hot enough hit, you can buy a different battery that puts out a higher voltage. Some mods have a “variable voltage” feature that allows the user to turn up or down the voltage with the turn of a dial or the press of a button without having to buy different batteries. Some mods have a feeder system that easily and painlessly (sometimes even automatically) supplies the atomizer with juice. Some mods have an on board charger that allows you to charge it like a cell phone and use the unit while it is charging. Mods can be box shaped, tube shaped, or all contoured and futuristic looking like high end cell phones. I even saw a mod recently that has a USB port on the bottom that you can use to charge your cell phone! Basically though, let’s just say that mods are the top of the line e-cigarettes. If someone wants to convert to vaping, and they have tried BBMs and they just don’t do it for them, I guarantee that there is a mod out there that will do it for them, even if they smoke 4 packs a day. You asked about the e-cig I was using, well I use a REO Grande bottom feeding mod. It is made out of aluminum and thus practically indestructible and it feeds the atomizer with the simple squeeze of an on board incased plastic bottle. Anyway, that about does it for an introduction. If you want more information, I’d suggest checking out www.e-cigarette-forum.com. There is comprehensive information regarding everything e-cig, from product reviews, success stories, juice mixing instructions, vender reviews, and health info regarding the different ingredients found in the juice. Also, here is a link to a youtube video that is humorous to those of us who have made the journey through all this info and ended up with a mod in hand. Check it out.
