A question about refilling with e-liquids

[Formaltide]

Hey everyone, I'm new to e-cigs and I just ordered myself my first one, an RN4801, a few minutes ago. I'm going to be taking it with me to Hong Kong, where I'll be staying for a year (maybe longer), and since I'm in for the long haul I was thinking I probably should make sure I take a decent amount of resupplies for myself. E-cigs are banned from sale in HK and it will be expensive to ship resupplies over there, so I need to get them now.

So the question is, if I'm using a cartomizer and I refill it with e-liquids, does that mean I don't have to buy a new cartomizer for a long while as long as I properly maintain it? E-liquids are advertised constantly as the cheaper alternative to constantly buying new cartomizers/carts but seeing as this is still a machine, it must wear down eventually at some point.

So the starter kit comes with 5 cartomizers (I bought two drip tips to make the job easier too). I'm picking up for an additional friend, so between the two of us, I'm wondering how long it'll last and if I'll need to purchase more.

Next comes the e-liquid. I'm assuming that my friend and I each will use up about 30mL a month. We're casual smokers normally when it comes to normal cigs, perhaps about 6-7 cigs a day. Does that sound about right to you guys?

To sum it up:

I'd like to at least make sure I have enough supplies for 2 people for at least a year, which includes cartomizer replacements and e-liquid replacements, so I need suggestions based on the information above. If there are any other replacements I must know about, please let me know. Thank you in advance!

 

[yiddleboge6]

Welcome to ECF
I'll let those who've been at this longer help you out. Good luck

 

[mynameisrob]

Can you post a link to the kit you got? RN4081 is an uncommon thread type that not many ecigs use. That also means your going to have a very limited selection of cartos you could get.
It's obviously important to make sure you stock up on cartos and juice since your going to be gone quite a long time, but honestly I think the biggest issue your going to have Is with the ecig you picked. I'm assuming the ecig you got looks like a real cig since it has RN4081 threading. My concern is that even if you do get enoUgh cartos and juice to last you the whole trip, the ecig you got has a good chance on crapping out well before your trip is over.
This doesn't apply to all, but generally a lot of the slim ecigs that come with proprietary threading or an uncommon thread types are total crap. Most of them are very overpriced and purposely marketed to new users that don't know any better. They use proprietary threading or very uncommon thread types so you are forced to buy their cartos, which are also very overpriced.
My first ecig was a very overpriced slim ecig that has RN4081 threading and it was a total piece of crap. It performed very poorly and stopped working in less than a month.
Obviously I don't know what ecig you got so I don't know for sure until you post your kit, but I just don't want to see you buy a years worth of expensive cartos for an ecig that your expecting to last for a year, but could very well break in a week

 

[sailorman]

If I was going to HK for a year, and I smoked 6 or 7 cigs a day, this is what I'd do. Double it for 2 people of course.

First: I'd get a good quality, reliable (Silver Bullet or BB) mod that takes a 510 thread and non-proprietary batteries. That means commonly found lithium batteries. I'd also have a backup with the same 510 connection, maybe not as reliable, but that takes the same batteries, perhaps an e-Power or box mod. Alternatively, 2 sealed big battery units like kGos.

Next: I'd lay in a large order of cartomizers or clearomizers. I'd figure a minimum of 1.5 cartos per week to account for defects, DOAs, burn outs and juice changes. With that quantity, you can get them for way less than $1 each. I'd adjust the quantitiy of cartos to take into account the fact that I'd also bring rebuildable atomizers and the materials to rebuild them

Next: I'd start learning DIY. Before I left, I'd make juice to bring. Or, if nic base is legal, I'd bring that along with flavorings. In that case, I may or may not buy VG and PG locally, depending on what quality I could find.
You will vape more than you smoked, and there will be spiilage. I'd figure on 2mls/day minimum. Juice has about a 2 year shelf life. Nicotine base will last at least 2 years or more in a freezer.

That's what I would do. It's similar to the preparations for vapeageddon.

 

[sailorman]

... My concern is that even if you do get enoUgh cartos and juice to last you the whole trip, the ecig you got has a good chance on crapping out well before your trip is over...
...

As a point of reference, my first e-cig was a Joye 510. A month later, when I upgraded to a mod, I had amassed no less than 6 batteries, and I used them all. At least 1/2 of them were only holding a charge for about an hour. Granted, I was a heavy vaper, but the 510 batteries were 280mah and 450(?)mah and better quality than most mini-cig batteries. No way I'd go anywhere for a year with less than a shoebox full of RN4081 spare batteries.

 

[sailorman]

One other thought. The person who stays with a mini-ecig for a whole year, even under the best of circumstances, is very rare indeed. Within a few months, you will be sick and tired of swapping batteries even if you don't run out of them. The amount of money you will spend on batteries will exceed what it would cost you to get a good 18650 sized mod and 4 batteries, which will last you for well over a year.

Batteries have a finite number of charge cycles in their lives. The older the get, the more often they will need to be charged. The more times they are charged, the more times they will NEED to be charged and the sooner they will die.

A 2000 mah battery will last FAR longer than 5 400mah batteries. For every one time you need to charge a 2000mah battery, you will need to charge the 400mah battery 5 times. So, if both batteries have a 500 cycle lifespan, the 2000 mah battery will last 5 times as long before it dies for good. (all rough estimates, but the principle is correct)

Take home lesson: Bring the largest battery e-cig that is practical.

 

[Jim66]

I agree with the other members that have posted. I used regular batteries for about 5 months before I got sick of them. They constantly need to be charged, power output isn't great, and they will go bad with no warning. Don't get me wrong, those first kits I had allowed me to quit smoking so I am thankful. However, as you become a more experienced vaper, you will want more. You might want to consider upgrading before you go to Hong Kong if you know they have issues getting supplies there.

In one year, you could easily go through 5, 6, or 7 batteries. It's hard to say. I've seen one battery last for 4 or 5 months, and I've seen others last a week. Expect to use at least one carto a week, but be aware that they go bad unexpectedly too. Just tonight, I had one get a very, very stiff draw with no warning. As for liquid, it's hard to guess, but a 10ml bottle may last a week with moderate vaping at 3.7 volts.

 

[Kay1959]

I second everything sailorman said, and raise you atleast 4 chargers (2 per person) also. (he didn't say anything about chargers)

 

[Formaltide]

Oh right, I should've posted such basic information in the first place. The starter kit I got is from AquaVaporCig. Despite all the advice about everyone telling us to get manual over auto, we want to use this as a quitting smoking device and as such, my friend and I decided that it needed to feel like a cig and this was the recommendation we got for an auto, not to mention the size and look are also similar to that of a real cig.

So a large problem is also the battery life, huh? I didn't realize the batteries died so frequently, that really is a letdown. I'll need to get probably at least 3 for each of us in that case, which raises the price by about $60, that's depressing.

Thanks for the information guys, I wouldn't have known any of this without your help. So now that you know my specific model, is there anything else I should know?

 

[sailorman]

I second everything sailorman said, and raise you atleast 4 chargers (2 per person) also. (he didn't say anything about chargers)

Haha.. I thought of that. I figured they hadn't banned chargers in Hong Kong. He could get batteries there too, so he wouldn't need to worry about bringing a bunch of spares.

 

[Formaltide]

Haha.. I thought of that. I figured they hadn't banned chargers in Hong Kong. He could get batteries there too, so he wouldn't need to worry about bringing a bunch of spares.

Wait, my chargers are going to die too? I've never had a cell phone or any other device's charger for that matter die on me before, is there some reason for this?

 

[DaveP]

I'd certainly lay in supplies for a year, just in case you find you like vaping. Many do. If I were going there I'd want two or three reliable ecigs, 4ml x 365 days of juice, two boxes of cartos x 12, and at least 4 18650 IMR batteries and 2 chargers. You can probably buy chargers and batteries there. They are used in high end LED flashlights.

How do you get all this past customs in Hong Kong? Do you think you will want an assortment of flavors? Have you settled on a daily vape flavor that you are sure you like? Do you really think a cigarette sized PV will do the job? We all move to a bigger battery model. The small batteries die quickly and don't hold a charge nearly long enough to get through a day.

What if your ecig is confiscated by Hong Kong police if you use it in public? If it's illegal, then it's contraband. Surely you will visit the U.S. once in a while for re-stock or are you destined to be there the entire year?

 

[sailorman]

Oh right, I should've posted such basic information in the first place. The starter kit I got is from AquaVaporCig. Despite all the advice about everyone telling us to get manual over auto, we want to use this as a quitting smoking device and as such, my friend and I decided that it needed to feel like a cig and this was the recommendation we got for an auto, not to mention the size and look are also similar to that of a real cig. So a large problem is also the battery life, huh? I didn't realize the batteries died so frequently, that really is a letdown. I'll need to get probably at least 3 for each of us in that case, which raises the price by about $60, that's depressing.Thanks for the information guys, I wouldn't have known any of this without your help. So now that you know my specific model, is there anything else I should know?

Yes. There is little chance of 5 batteries lasting an entire year. You might possibly pull it off, since you smoke so little, but you will vape more than you smoked and you'll be cutting it very close with only 5 batteries over the course of a year.

Save the money and buy a mod with regular generic batteries. There are three things that people always want in their first e-cigs. Within a matter of weeks, sometimes a few months but usually weeks, 95% of them realize that the don't need or want them. One is a light on the end of the e-cig. The other is that it look like a cigarette. The third is an automatic battery. This seems to be an initiation rite that only the most brave and prescient noobs are wise enough to skip.

By the time your first batteries kick the bucket, it is highly likely that you will decide that you don't need an auto battery or a light or something that looks like a cigarette. Unless you're leaving real soon, I would say hold off on the spare batteries and do a reassessment, in a month or so, of what you want to be living with for a year or more. You'll be surprised at what will change.

 

[sailorman]

Wait, my chargers are going to die too? I've never had a cell phone or any other device's charger for that matter die on me before, is there some reason for this?

The type of charger used for a mini-cig is notoriously cheap. They fail all the time. A charger for regular batteries are far more reliable, so I wouldn't worry too much about them. Plus, you can charge multiple batteries at once, so you only need one of them. Even if it did fail, you can get a replacement anywhere. But the little specialized mini-cig chargers are a different story. I'd definitely have a spare or two for them.

 

[Formaltide]

I'll be leaving in 1 month and 4 days, and I was afraid that it wouldn't be adequate time to do an assessment (I have to also take into account ordering and delivery time). I'll definitely be trying it out when it arrives but yah, I'm not sure if less than a month is enough time for me to figure out what I'm even doing with this.

Is there a site that you'd recommend that I buy all the mods that you've recommended thus far? I certainly don't mind missing out on the light at the end if it means I can save a lot of money, although I'll have to try automatic myself and see just how bad it is before I make a decision on that. The whole looking like a cigarette thing is sorta important to me though since I'm using this as a medium to quit smoking the real thing. (Besides, a pack of cigs is expensive in HK! It's $6.5 a pack, roughly.) Also, to be honest I don't understand the entire first paragraph of suggestions you gave me in your first post, I guess I'll just have to look up the info since I"m still out of the loop.

As for the whole legal issue, Dave, thanks for your concern, but it's not illegal to use e-cigs in any way in HK. It's simply illegal to sell them because they haven't figure out how to categorize it yet. Now that you mention it, for that matter I will probably be able to buy the liquids there so perhaps I won't need to be so anxious about that part after all. As for the batteries, I might be able to find some there but I'm guessing my options will be limited and it's highly possible that many would be of poor quality.

 

[sailorman]

What is the law re. e-cigs in HK, specifically. Just because they're banned for sale there, doesn't necessarily mean they're banned for use or import for personal use. You need to get real familiar with the law there.

If it's legal to possess and import for personal use, you can bring your mini and spares for a couple months. By then, you will be ready for something more practical and you can order a decent mod from somewhere. It's not expensive to ship a small package from the U.S. to Hong Kong. International priority mail is only about $14.00. You can get juice and cartos from Healthcabin or somewhere in China. That's where they all come from anyway and the shipping cost will be low. You can get a charger and regular cylindrical lithium batteries in HK.

That would be the ideal situation, but it depends on the law in HK and whether you can legally import for personal use. Some countries have laws like that. Example is Canada, where it's illegal to sell the juice, but you can order it from the U.S., or Singapore where sale is illegal but possession is legal.

 

[sailorman]

Explaining my first paragraph:

Proprietary batteries are like what you have. They are made for a specific model. Generic batteries are batteries that can be used in anything designed to take a battery of their size. The AA batteries you get at the drugstore are generic batteries. It doesn't mean "no-name". It means they aren't designed for any particular device.

510 is a thread pattern that designates what kind of cartridge or cartomizer that will work with a device. Any e-cig with a 510 connection will work with any cartomizer or cartridge or atomizer that also has the 510 thread pattern. The 510 is the most common thread pattern among all of the different types. Yours is a RN4081. It is not very common, so you are limited in where you can find compatible cartridges, cartomizers or atomizers.

What I am suggesting is that you get a "mod" with a 510 connector. A "mod" takes a generic battery, so you can get batteries anywhere and you can get them in a far larger capacity than you can find in a little mini-cig.

The Silver Bullet is a specific mod that accepts generic batteries and is famous for it's reliability. The BB is a smaller, more compact version of the Silver Bullet. The kGo is not exactly a mod, but it has a large battery. It's about the size of a Sharpie marker and comes two to a kit. It has a 510 connection and two of them (one kit) should last you a year, banning any failure of the device itself. Extra batteries cost about $15-20, and you'd probably only need one to be pretty safe.

This is a kGo.
http://www.sweet-vapes.com/shop?page=shop.browse&category_id=31

This is a Silver Bullet
AltSmoke.com | Personal Vaporizers | Electronic Cigarette | Ecigs | | Silver Bullet | Best electronic cigarettes| Cigarettes Electronic| Cigarette Electronic Cigarette| Best Electronic Cigarettes | Electronic Cigarettes

This is a Baby Bullet, or BB
AltSmoke.com | Personal Vaporizers | Electronic Cigarette | Ecigs | The BB | Best electronic cigarettes| Cigarettes Electronic| Cigarette Electronic Cigarette| Best Electronic Cigarettes | Electronic Cigarettes

These are just examples of mods that take generic batteries. There are many more to choose from. If I was stranded on a desert island for 5 years, I would choose a Silver or Baby Bullet as my mod.

 

[YKruss]

This is from 2009 - TCO - Electronic cigarettes containing nicotine governed by law:

The spokesman stressed that under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, electronic cigarettes containing nicotine and marketed as tobacco cessation products were classified as pharmaceutical product requiring registration in Hong Kong.
.......................................
The spokesman said possession or sale of unregistered pharmaceutical product, and possession of Part I poisons without authority were both liable on conviction to a $100 000 fine and two years’ imprisonment.

I will post newer official regulations if I find them.

 

[YKruss]

And the latest oficial view on e-cigarette is the same - Tobacco Control Office Department of Health

5. Is the sale and procession of e-cigarette regulated in Hong Kong?

E-cigarettes containing nicotine and marketed as nicotine replacement therapy are pharmaceutical products under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance and must be registered before sale. The possession or sale of unregistered pharmaceutical product, and the possession without authority of the inhaler which is a Part I poison, are both liable on conviction to a $100,000 fine and 2 years’ imprisonment.

 

[rdwg]

Maybe check out Healthcabin Electronic Cigarettes - Wholesale and Retail? They're based in china so shipping might be cheaper to Hong Kong. Plus, they are a registered supplier here.