Glad I found this place

[DSFA]

Total noob here. I've been lurking for a few days and finally decided that I needed to take the plunge. Talk about information overload. Sure hope I can figure this stuff out. You guys have waaaay too many abbreviations! And sometimes it sounds like you need to be an electrical engineer.

After reading thread after thread and only grasping maybe 1/2 of what I need to know, I decided to visit a local shop. I'm a visual learner and needed somebody to walk me through this step by step. With all the options out there I was very overwhelmed. I had read all I needed to to know that the mini's were not going to give me a satisfying experience. With that in mind, I had decided on an eGo Twist. Unfortunately, due to Chinese New Year, the shop didn't have much of anything in stock. They did have a Vivi Nova and since I wanted to get going right away, I bought it. It's not a bad unit, but may be wishing I had waited for the twist. Which leads me to a couple of questions...

1. Why would you need variable voltage? If more voltage equals more vape and flavor, why would you ever decrease the voltage on a twist or other variable voltage battery? Are there times you want less? Can't imagine why. Max that puppy out and leave it there.

2. When I pick up my Vivi after not having vaped for a while, I get a crazy amount of throat hit (which I like). But every hit after that never feels the same. Until I put it down for a while and then pick it back up. Is this normal? Is it just my throat getting used to it? It feels like there's less vape after the first hit, but that may be my imagination.

3. How often have you had to explain what the hell that thing is? I'm a little self-conscious to break it out in public. I really don't want people thinking I'm smoking crack or something ya know? It may be called an ecig but it definitely doesn't look like any cigarette I've ever seen.

4. I was really hoping I could simply replace the analogs with an ecig. What I'm finding though is that since I can pick it up and vape wherever I happen to be (mainly in the house - I always smoked outside), I probably vape more than I smoked. Commercial came on TV - go outside and have a smoke. Now that I don't need to do that, I'm not sure if I'm getting more or less nicotine than I used to. It was pretty easy to gauge how much I was smoking. I was about a PAD, maybe a little more. A cigarette would last me about 10 minutes, stub it out, get back to work or whatever. An hour or so later (more frequent if I'm bored), I'd go out and have another. With the PV I find myself vaping for 1/2 hour, because I can sit at my computer and work, or sit on the couch and watch TV and it's right there. Don't have to go outside, don't have to think about it, and I'm not conscious of "wow, only 1/2 pack left. Make em last or go to the store". Or "wow, I've been smoking more than normal this morning". Now, I just refill it and I'm good to go. Did anyone experience this as well?

Thanks. Glad to be a part of the vaping community.

 

[bapeman]

Welcome to the forum, I'm new as well so I know what you mean about information overload! Variable voltage is the way to go, enhances the flavor of your juice and the amount of vapor you produce. too much = burning taste, too little = not enough vapor or taste. Higher voltage also drains your battery quicker so you need to find that sweet spot, depending on the cartos you're using.

 

[b_1620]

I was in your shoes not too long ago myself and yeah, it is information overload at first. Hopefully I can give you at least a little useful information that will help.

1. Variable Voltage (VV) is good for at least a couple of reasons. Some people like to vape at a higher or lower wattage (temperature). Being able to adjust the voltage lets you control this. This chart should help explain the relation between voltage, resistance, and watts for vaping.

2. I had the same problem with the novas, one thing you can try is to hold it horizontally and twirl it so that the wicks get soaked in liquid. When you chain vape the wicks can have a hard time keeping enough liquid going to the coil, this is why it hits much better after letting it sit for a bit.

3. In public I only take my cig-a-likes so I don't have to worry about that. I still get a lot of questions though.

4. At home I usually just take a couple puffs every 5-10 min or so and set it down. It did take some getting used to though, especially when I first started.

 

[cskent]

Hi and welcome to ECF.

1. Some people like a bigger hit, others a bit less. Variable voltage or wattage will let you adjust to your specific taste.

2. I'm not really familiar with the Vivi, but it does sound like a wicking issue. Others more knowledgeable will chime in I'm sure.

3. I take my Silver Bullet out in public and nobody really notices it much that I can tell. I try to be a bit discreet though so that may have a lot to do with it. If someone does ask me about my rig, I explain it to them. The only people that have asked are smokers though so it might just be curiosity on their part that they ask in the first place.

4. I think most of us vape more than we ever smoked for a number of reasons.
a. It's more convenient than going out for a smoke. Most of us vape in our homes.
b. It's less expensive so....vape away!
c. You don't get as much nicotine absorbtion with vaping so it takes more to get your nicfix.
d. It tastes so much better than smoke ever did.
e. When you first start out with vaping I think it's the novelty thing that won't let you put it down. After a while I think most of us taper off a bit.

 

[Serendipitysrs2]

Hi and welcome!

1. Atomizers, cartomizers, clearomizers come in different ohms. Higher ohm means you need more power to provide a good vape. Lower ohms, though, are usually lower resistance, meaning you need less power to produce a similar amount of vapor. You can't put a low ohm (say a Low resistance 1.8 ohm) on a high voltage or you'll fry the coil. You need a standard resistance (say a 3.0 ohm) for higher voltage. Some people like more power, hence a higher ohm liquid delivery device and higher voltage. Same thing, basically, with wattage. It allows you to customize your experience to suit your needs. Also, you can adjust the voltage or wattage in small increments for better flavor/vapor/throat hit. Every eliquid is different, so you can fine tune your device to fit your liquid. For example, I just got liquid in that loses flavor, does not perform as well, and gives a harsh/burnt throat hit on high voltage. But, on a lower voltage it give off great vapor and flavor. That's my "sweet spot" for that particular juice. It's just better with a lower ohm, lower voltage setting. The whole thing is about chasing the perfect vape and an adjustable device allows you more options.

2. Eliquid numbs the throat a bit. So, when you don't vape for a while, it is stronger. After a hit or two, your throat gets more used to it, numbs a little, so the hit doesn't feel as strong. Totally normal.

3. When I vape in public, people are mostly curious. They have, for the most part, heard of electronic cigarettes. There is wonderful information on the site about ecigs and what to say. Do your research so you can explain it, and how it is less harmful than cigarettes. Bad news coverage, ect. has put some crazy untrue information out there. Educate yourself so that you can teach others. If you feel self-conscious, don't vape in public until you feel comfortable. I do, and I get weird looks occasionally, but I am willing to talk to anyone who wants to ask about it. I tell them that I have gotten my sense of smell and taste back and that I no longer have a smoker's cough. I tell them that I was diagnosed with emphysema at the age of 34 and this is the only thing that has worked for me for staying away from cigarettes. I acknowledge that the risks are unknown at this point, but that I have read every study published on ecigs, including those in the medical and psychological journals (which I have access to through my professional database) and I see no cause yet for alarm. However, cigarettes contain 4000 chemicals known to be harmful and have been proven to kill people. I'll take my chances.

4. The amount of nicotine absorbed by inhaling ecig vapor is significantly less than the amount of nicotine absorbed through cigarette smoke. So, you are actually probably getting less nicotine than when you smoked. There are not a whole lot of studies on this quite yet, and there are so many factors that can change the numbers. One study that that I read estimated it to be 1/3 of the nicotine. However, again, this is dependent on how strong your nic level in your juice is, how long of a drag you take, how many hits you take in a row, and how efficient your device is. So, theoretically, if you take 10 hits within 10 minutes (which is about what you'd take on a cigarette) you'd get 1/3 of the nicotine. So, also theoretically, you can vape a lot more than you smoked as far as number of hits and you're probably ok. However, if you feel dizzy or nauseous, you may be vaping too much and getting too much nicotine. If you've ever chain-smoked cigarettes and felt kinda of sick to your stomach, you know what I mean. Remember, you are dealing with a substance that can be poisonous, so be smart about it.

 

[egthemonster]

hi and welkam to ECF

 

[DSFA]

Thanks for all the replies! I really didn't expect so many so quick. I'm a member of a few other forums on different interest topics and sometimes it takes days for anybody to respond, if ever.

 

[Vapoor eyes er]

Hi and welcome to ECF and congrats.

They did have a Vivi Nova and since I wanted to get going right away, I bought it. It's not a bad unit, but may be wishing I had waited for the twist.

The Vivi Nova is a delivery system and not a battery/ ecig/ PV. Do you a pic of your PV or a link so we can see what you bought?

1. Why would you need variable voltage? If more voltage equals more vape and flavor, why would you ever decrease the voltage on a twist or other variable voltage battery? Are there times you want less? Can't imagine why. Max that puppy out and leave it there.

Some juices taste far better @ diff voltages. I'm using VV cuz I'm down to 2 mg Nicotine and I need all the help I can get in regards to TH/ throat hit and lung hit.

What I'm finding though is that since I can pick it up and vape wherever I happen to be (mainly in the house - I always smoked outside), I probably vape more than I smoked.

It's very normal to chain vaping when starting. Realize also smoking is a far superior method of nicotine delivery than vaping- smoking the particles are small enuff to enter the blood stream via the lungs- with vaping the Nic particles are too large to enter via the lungs...most vaped nicotine is absorbed in the mouth, nasal and throat area.
Remember to drink lottsa water as vaping is extremely hydrating. PG and VG, the ingredients in EJuice, are humectants which means they "trap" the moisture isn our bodies and thus the vapor.
Cheers, enjoy your stay and the Very Best of Luck.

 

[Beccca]

Welcome....its great to have you in the forum.

 

[Chimney34]

Welcome to ECF!!

 

[DuckysBooBoo]

Welcome to the forum.........Congrats and Good Luck to you!!!!!

 

[DSFA]

Hi and welcome to ECF and congrats.

The Vivi Nova is a delivery system and not a battery/ ecig/ PV. Do you a pic of your PV or a link so we can see what you bought?

Ooops, my bad. Still trying to get all of the terminology down. My batt is an eGo-C that has the marking "upgrade" on it. I guess it's the clearomizer (?) that's the Vivi. The tank is clear, mini version (has markings up to 2.0 ml and same diameter as the batt) and has two wicks coming out of the atomizer (?).

As you can tell, I still have really no idea what the hell I'm talking about. I'm sure it won't take long to get the terminology correct.