Absolute newbie - not sure if I am getting anything at all---

[ironboogerbear]

Hello-- first of all I want to say thanks for this forum, I am sure it will be a lot of help as I begin this new phase of my cigarette "withdrawal."

Today I purchased an e-cigarette kit at a local pharmacy. It came in a very plain vanilla white box with just the number 510 and the words "Mild 7" and "18 mg." The "instruction" sheet was extremely sparse with somewhat poor english. But I did manage to get everything together. Apparently the battery was already charged, as I put the atomizer and cartidge + battery together then hit it. The end of the battery turned blue as I "puffed" and I *did* see a bit of vapor as I exhaled. This was earlier today. Now I have tried it again and do not see the vapor as I exhale. I was hoping to get some kind of sensation that would tell my bain, "hey, you're getting a hit."

How the heck do I know if I am getting anything and how will I know when the cartridge is empty?

How long will a typical charged battery last?

Thanks in advance for any guidance/advice...

 

[Mirabella]

I am rather a newbie myself. I just started with vaping about 2 weeks ago. But you will know when the cartridge is empty, when no vapor is produced. But first make sure the battery does not need charged. I think with the type of ecig you have, the LED light will blink when the battery needs charged. I always make sure the battery is charged up before I use a new cartridge. I am still in the process of qutting and doing it slowly, I am smoking fewer analogs as cigarettes are referred to here. Because analogs send a signal to the brain in 10 seconds that nicotine is reaching the brain and no other nicotine replacement products do that as quickly,...for me it takes patience and knowing the craving will be satisifed but not as fast as with smoking analogs. But the craving will be satisifed for the most part, it just takes time for the nicotine to get into the system with ecig. But I can say for me, it does work and satifies the craving. I am learning to vape and to know the craving will not be satisfied as Fast as with Analog smoking and teaching myself that Patience is important and trying to ignore some of the cravings as they do pass.

 

[Mirabella]

As far as batteries,it all depends on what kind of product you purchased. Mine generally lasts for about 400 puffs, give or take. I bought 2 so when one is charging, I can use the other as I bought starter kids that were about 25 dollars a piece.
The Veterans here will better be able to answer specifics and make recommendations. But so far, I am happy with it except the cartridge gets very warm which bothers me as I worry about melting but when the cartridge gets very warm to the touch , I stop vaping for a while and use my oter unit.

 

[panhandleguy]

You may be burning a dry "cartridge". Get some eliquid, tahe the cap off and fill.
This video may help

 

[ironboogerbear]

Thanks Mirabella and PHG! I didn't really have terrible nicotine cravings when I finished *and* I do think my head felt "lighter" so I think I must have been getting a hit. But I am curious -- how much vape should I see as I exhale? Just the tiniest little wisp, or should it look more substantial like perhaps my breath on a cold winters morning?

I am using these to try and use less (or no) nicotine gum, which I don't mind but gets quite expensive as I chew it almost non-stop.

I am currently having a meal, so I will try again and see how well the e-cig satisfies my after-meal cravings...

 

[NancyR]

hi and welcome to ECF,

ok as far as what you have the 510 should be the connector, the mild 7 I would assume was the flavor of the juice and the 18 mg the strength. 18 may not be strong enough for you at first many here seem to do better with 24 mg. As to information about your battery tho if you could tell us more such as if there is a company name on it?

 

[ironboogerbear]

No, that's the thing, I see no company name anywhere and that bugs me. Just 510. The instructions are just an insert, basically. I went and watched a couple youtube videos and the people on the videos using their e-cigs definately look like they are smoking, lots of visibe vapor, but I don't seem to be getting anything but air...
The end of the battery does turn blue and if I pull on it for more than 5 seconds, it blinks as stated in the insert, so I am assuming it is charged well.

 

[Disk4mat]

Also keep in mind that vaping a ecig is different from smoking a cigarette. With your ecig, take long slow drags. If you do quick, hard drags like a traditional cig you will get the smallest amount of vapor.

A couple flashes of the battery tip = the battery auto stopped on the drag as a protection & preservation feature.
Several flashes = battery needs to be recharged.

Your 18mg is what I consider a normal full flavor type. You should get decent throat sensation and should satisfy your nicotine needs

Sounds like your using a 3 peice model... It may be necessary to have a couple primer puffs (2-3 quick puffs back to back) when attaching a new cartidge. Im a 2 peice user and Im sure other people can provide better information on this.

Good luck and welcome to world of vaping

 

[Vapoor eyes er]

Juice Components
Flavor- usually 10%
PG enhances flavor, throat hit/ TH and lung hit- water like
VG= vapor and mutes taste- very thick
Nicotine- provides TH, lung hit and our need for nicotine- prolly the most important ingredient in regards to TH and lung hit
Standard ratios are 80/ 20 or 70/ 30 PG/ VG. I vape 60/ 40 PG/ VG.

 

[Vapoor eyes er]

The end of the battery does turn blue and if I pull on it for more than 5 seconds, it blinks as stated in the insert, so I am assuming it is charged well.

That's generally the cutoff for the PV you're using. Manual batteries have a button and if you need more vape you just push the button down longer. Be very careful not to get juice on the battery otherwise it may die.

 

[ironboogerbear]

Thanks Nancy R and D4M, ... OK I opened a new cartridge. It has a white plastic plug (with a think foil end). If I pull the plug from the cartridge, well, it justs look like an empty cigarette holder.

I took the "plug" apart and inside was a moist "cotton" ball... so I put that back inside the "mouthpiece" and I am now getting quite a bit more vapor as I inhale. I think my first mistake was using the mouthpiece that originally was attached to the atomizer, it was empty.

So what exactly should I be doing with each new cartridge? Take the cottonball from the plastic contain and put it in the mouthpiece. Man I am so lost, ha ha..

 

[sailorman]

You have one of the old cartridge/atomizer systems. The first mouthpiece that was attached to the atomizer was a blank.
It may, or may not, have been intended for use, depending on whether your cartridges are one or two piece.

When you say "plug", do you mean something that will fit into the mouthpiece? If so, you want to take the foil off so that the cotton ball is exposed. The plug goes into the mouthpiece with the cotton facing the atomizer. That is what holds the juice and wicks it to the coil inside the atomizer.

If the "plug" is just a container with a cotton ball in it, then you would insert the cotton ball into the mouthpiece so that a litte bit of it is sticking out of the opening that faces the atomizer.

One way or the other, you want the cotton ball, soaked with juice, to make contact with the heating element inside of the atomizer.

You will find that, even if you do this all correctly, the juice will burn off as you vape and the cotton ball (actually polyester), will dry out and melt, giving you a bad taste. In the old days, we used to re-wet the cotton ball with juice from a separate bottle.

In fact, we used to do all kinds of crazy stuff to make this system work decently. We used to replace the cotton ball with aquarium filter foam, steel wool, Lipton pyramid tea-bags, and anything else we could think of to hold juice without drying out every few hits and choking us.

Then, God created cartomizers and we threw all our cartridges away and never looked back. Hallejullia, Say Amen!!!!

Unfortunately, the Chinese didn't anticipate cartomizers and were caught by surprise while they had 4 trillion cartridges in stock. So they stick them in every box they export, which is the only reason you ever run across them anymore.

I suggest you either :
1) scrap that system and get something like a Volt or KGo for $40-50... or
2) Buy a box of 510 cartomizers, in the 2.5 or 3ohm variety, and a bottle of juice with which to fill them.
3) Get some juice and drip it straight into the atomizer, bypassing the cartridge completely. Use the cartridge strictly as a mouthpiece. Note: You may well ruin your automatic battery if you do this and juice leaks out of the atomizer and gets inside the battery from the connector, but that will give you a good reason to apply option #1. So, you will still be better off.

If you're serious about quitting, you will replace that system very soon anyway. It's best to start now. Don't struggle with an insane cartridge/atomizer system. It will only discourage you and might even make you think that all e-cigs are like that.

 

[NGIB]

Howdy from not to far away. Sadly we don't have a brick & mortar store in our area but we have some good vendors in the state and next door in SC. What Sailorman said is pure fact, these little cartridges are basically useless but they seem to be in every kit. If you're ever near the Hinesville area, I'b be glad to help you learn about about vaping and the hardware, etc. If you'd like the names of a few good vendors that ship quick to our area, just let me know...

 

[ironboogerbear]

Thanks Sailorman...as you were writing, I was fiddling. I think I may have wasted two cartridges but at least now I have it working. The thing was, the "cartidge" didn't seem to fit into the atomizer, but I finally realized it was just very snug.

I did not remove the foil at the end of the cartridge. But now when I take a long slow drag I am definitely getting a puff and I feel a bit of throat burn...as with a regular cigarette. Now I guess it is just a matter of finding a suitable taste...

 

[ironboogerbear]

Hi NGIB...it does seem to be working now. Just doesn't taste too well but the drugstore where I bought the kit also has the flavorings and I am sure they'll show me how to exactly use those rather than these pre-filled cartridges. I got a bit of the oil on my fingers and washed it off immediately. I'll definitely keep you in mind since you arent *too* far away, but I think first I'll experiment with the flavors they have here..

 

[NGIB]

No problem, just offering a hand. I'm a few months ahead of you and these things do work as I have been smoke free since I got my first kit. I've been thru quite a bit of hardware to find what actually works well and if I can help someone on the path - that's a worthwhile endeavor in my book.

One piece of advice, don't get sucked into anything - ask here first as many folks really do want to help...

 

[ironboogerbear]

Yup, I know where to come when I have a question. I am sure I will want to move up to a cartomizer in the near future and I'll be asking. I moderated a health related forum a few years ago and it's nice to know there are good folks here ready to help out like we did "back in the day." Thanks!

 

[sailorman]

Thanks Sailorman...as you were writing, I was fiddling. I think I may have wasted two cartridges but at least now I have it working. The thing was, the "cartidge" didn't seem to fit into the atomizer, but I finally realized it was just very snug.

I did not remove the foil at the end of the cartridge. But now when I take a long slow drag I am definitely getting a puff and I feel a bit of throat burn...as with a regular cigarette. Now I guess it is just a matter of finding a suitable taste...

I'm pretty sure that if the cartridge contains the polyester filler with the juice, and it has a mouthpiece built into it, you should remove the foil. You don't want foil in the atomizer close to the heating coil. The foil is to keep the juice fresh. I don't know how you're getting any vapor at all if there's a foil barrier between the atomizer's heating element and the juice.

If you take a few puffs and pull the cartridge out, is the foil punctured in some way? Or, does it still look intact?

 

[sailorman]

Thanks Sailorman...as you were writing, I was fiddling. I think I may have wasted two cartridges but at least now I have it working. The thing was, the "cartidge" didn't seem to fit into the atomizer, but I finally realized it was just very snug.

I did not remove the foil at the end of the cartridge. But now when I take a long slow drag I am definitely getting a puff and I feel a bit of throat burn...as with a regular cigarette. Now I guess it is just a matter of finding a suitable taste...

I'm pretty sure that if the cartridge contains the polyester filler with the juice, and it has a mouthpiece built into it, you should remove the foil. You don't want foil in the atomizer close to the heating coil. The foil is to keep the juice fresh. I don't know how you're getting any vapor at all if there's a foil barrier between the atomizer's heating element and the juice.

If you take a few puffs and pull the cartridge out, is the foil punctured in some way? Or, does it still look intact?

 

[ironboogerbear]

I had already checked earlier since you mentioned the foil, SM...it had been punctured. There was nothing in the (terribly short) instructions about removing the foil and it had no "tab" to make it easily removable??? Sure seems to work fine now, in fact I am quite (and pleasantly) surprised at how satisfying it is -- but remember I was chewing nicotine gum, not smoking, so I guess that's not surprising.