Hello from a newbie! (plus some questions)

[Amenhotep]

Hi everyone, I've just decided to give up burning tobacco and switch to vapor. I'm pretty enthusiastic about it, although I've never actually tried vapor. I read some intro stuff on this forum, but I still have some questions.

First, let me describe my current smoking habit: I smoke about 10-15 cigarettes/day, the slim kind, 0.4 mg nicotine (Kent Nanotek black, if you know them). I smoke mainly in the evening, definitely not before noon (I don't know why, does anyone else experience this "I can't stand smoking in the morning" symptom?). I may go up to 40 cigarettes per evening during heavy partying, if you know what I mean . I gave up smoking two times. The first time I just wanted to check if I really am "enslaved" by tobacco, as people say. I explicitly challenged myself not to smoke for one year, not for the whole eternity. The second time I kinda wanted to quit for good, but after two years I realized nonsmoking makes me unhappy, so I started again -- boy, what a day was that, 't was like a second birth!

So, what PV do you recommend for a starter with this background?

After reading a lot, both in this forum and elsewhere, I am inclined to buy a Joye eGo (with 1100 mAh battery). I also saw a Joye eGo-T model (they have 650 and 900 mAh) -- should I opt for this "tank" model instead? Truth is, I would like a device with that cool blue light at the tip, but I don't think eGo has any light at all, does it?

Given my smoking habit, wouldn't a single battery do just fine for me? I don't travel much, and I was thinking I can recharge a single battery overnight, each night.

Also, if I buy the tank version, how often does the atomizer burn out? As often as a regular one?

Thx to all who'll bother to answer me,
a

 

[JC Okie]

Hi and welcome. I've had both...the regular eGo (and Riva which is same thing just different "brand") and the eGo-T tank. Personally, I like the regular atomizers better than the tanks. They seem to wick a lot better for me. I'd suggest getting a kit which will have two batteries and two (usually) attys and the charger and everything. If you just buy a single battery, charger, and atty, you'll pay just as much as if you buy the kit. E-Liquid and Electronic Cigarette Shop - Category Listings has the eGo starter kit (2 complete e-cigs) for $39.99 (good price) and the Riva kits for $34.99. Be sure to click the 20% off button top left of the home page for the discount. That's my opinion. Another option besides the regular kit with the atomizer is that you could get 510 cartomizers (BOGE is the best brand in my opinion) to use with the eGo (or the Riva).

With your amount of smoking, you could probably get by with using one battery, but if something happened to it, you'd be left high and dry. It's ALWAYS best to have back ups. And like I said, a kit with two whole setups is usually cheaper than buying the parts separately anyway.

I love the eGo or the Riva. You'll be starting out with a very popular, reliable pv. That's a big step towards success in switching over to vaping. I think you'd be very happy with your choice.

Good luck.

 

[CBB]

The eGo or an ego clone, is an excellent choice and will do you fine, you can go tank if you want but tanks can be fiddly some love them some hate them.

eGo and most of the clones have an led usually blue in the button area (the top metal band of the battery) the T-Rex eGo clone has a ring all the way around the top of the battery that lights up.

If you go eGo or eGo-T I would recommend getting some cartomizers too.

You will need 2 batteries vaping isn't smoking you are likely to vape more than you smoke as its not smoke and carbon monoxide and various other chemicals that don't taste good, let alone you do not want to be stranded without a battery if something happens to one.

All atomizers burn out and you never know when they can last a few days to months.

Be careful of juices if they are labeled as 100% PG they will be harsh, hard on your throat and possibly irritable to your lungs. Try to find a PG/VG blend even if you have to order from a different vendor than your PV purchase.

After you have 5 posts in new member and wait about an hour you can ask in the European section of the forums about reputable suppliers that can deliver to you.

 

[Blue_Fremlin]

What about the ECHO? For someone who starts out vaping, carrying around a bottle of fluid can be a pain. That's been the main problem getting my mom to vape instead of using analogs. The ECHO has a huge cart on it, which hold's, supposedly, 3mL of fluid. That would be enough to get most people through a night, and the battery life is great.

The tank system needs time to mature, and I agree with JC Okie that the wicking action isn't something to write home about, and it seemed when you just got it right, it would run out of fluid, or flood, or something would mess it up, so I wouldn't recommend it for a beginner.

I have been inclined to get beginners on cartomizers because of their ease of use, so if you do go for the Ego, talk to someone who knows how to get cartomizers on it so that you get the battery life and less hassle. Just don't believe the people that tell you a cart is like a pack of analogs, because it's nowhere close. Of course, that was my observation so your mileage may vary.

 

[Oelwyn]

I have been inclined to get beginners on cartomizers because of their ease of use, so if you do go for the Ego, talk to someone who knows how to get cartomizers on it so that you get the battery life and less hassle. Just don't believe the people that tell you a cart is like a pack of analogs, because it's nowhere close. Of course, that was my observation so your mileage may vary.

Yeah definately a good point, I hear the ego batteries last a good while. The atomizers are same as 510's ?

....and yeah mileage does vary indeed!

 

[Amenhotep]

What about the ECHO?

Spazze, this sounds very interesting. It's quite new, isn't it? Does anyone know of a seller in Europe?

About the eGo tank/atomizer/cartomizer, let me check if I got it right: If I buy the regular atomizer version, then I can stick a cartomizer instead; but if I buy a tank version, I can't use it with a cartomizer. Or can I?

There is some special adapter ring/thing needed, or I just stick the cartomizer there (instead of the atomizer)?

Is it true that the heating element in cartomizers lasts more than in regular atomizers? It says so at www.ecigator.com: "Normally, cartomizers last much longer than using a cartridge + atomizer." Or... maybe they are talking about the juice lasting longer?

JC Okie, CBB and Spazze, thank you all for your answers!

 

[Amenhotep]

OK, I found an ECHO kit. I think I'll buy it. Thanks to all!

EDIT: Arrgh! They don't have it anymore. So, does anyone know an european seller who carries ECHO? In Hungary maybe, or somewhere close to Romania? Thx.

 

[CBB]

You can use cartomizers on an eGo-T the battery and connection on it are the same as a standard eGo. I would not advise getting the ECHO they don't seem to be well established and they use auto batteries. Those batteries would be expensive to replace if you flooded an atty or overfilled a carto and it leaked into the battery. I strongly recommend manual batteries where you have to press a button to activate it and they are sealed so leaking juice will not damage them.

 

[Blue_Fremlin]

About the eGo tank/atomizer/cartomizer, let me check if I got it right: If I buy the regular atomizer version, then I can stick a cartomizer instead; but if I buy a tank version, I can't use it with a cartomizer. Or can I?

You should be able to use a carto on the Ego battery. For a newbie it can be a bit confusing because you have so MANY names for the same item depending on where you are getting it from. The Ego alone has at least 3 different brand names from people who clone or rebrand the same battery and connection. I would recommend that until you decide for sure that vaping is for you, stick with one brand from one supplier until you feel like branching out. Unfortunately, I don't know any suppliers for Romania to help out on that end.

I would not advise getting the ECHO they don't seem to be well established and they use auto batteries.

EEP!! I am hoping that's not the case with the set that I just purchased. Unfortunately, I usually do my purchase direct from suppliers, and with the language barrier, sometimes things go a little sideways. Now I'm a little nervous that, in my excitement, I neglected to consider that it was an auto battery not a manual. Will have to give a report when I get it.

 

[JC Okie]

Amen, the site I sent you the link for, Liberty-Flights, are in UK as well as USA so if that would work, I'd still suggest getting the regular eGo kit. You just can't go wrong with it....it's been such a reliable pv for so many of us. It's been around awhile and has been tested many times over.

 

[Amenhotep]

OK, I got an eGo kit: 2 batteries (1100 mAh), 2 atomizers (they don't look identical, I'll post pictures), 2 cones, mains USB charger + USB cable, 5 cartridges ("Marlboro high") = $71. Plus 10 ml Dekang juice for $4.3. And a 510 cartomizer for $5.4.

The batteries had some current in them, enough for several puffs. The instruction manual is very sketchy. I screwed the atomizer and tried a puff. It was horrible. But of course, I thought, there's no juice in it. Ok, so I dripped 3 drops of juice onto the heating element and tried again. The same horrible taste. (Curiously enough, my wife said it's not bad... go figure...) Then I thought maybe I have to put some cartridge in it. So I did, and that made a lot of difference! It is indeed very good.

The cartridge had some kind of seal (like some toothpaste tubes have, you know) -- I didn't know if that is supposed to be torn by the heating element when I press the cartridge into the atty, so I removed it manually with a toothpick. There was some oily fluid oozing through. So I kept it vertical, careful not to spill the fluid, and I sticked the atty on top of it. Then I screwed all this on top of the battery. It worked!

Ok, here are the pics:

This is the battery, the cone and the cartomizer. Question: how do I use the cartomizer? I can screw it there, but... it looks odd, it's like I'm missing something.

Now the attys:

The inside doesn't show so well... The thing is, one has a wide metallic mesh, but the other has a very thin & anorexic one. Are they both OK?

Anyway, I'm quite happy with the whole batch. The taste is indeed far better than any "real" smoking. I'm almost reluctant to let it go out of my mouth, I feel like it's a waste and I'm trying to suck it back in...

 

[joey55]

As a newbie myself I found the Ego to be the most reliable out there with less fuss and troubles. All 510 designs work well with it. You can go with Cartos and tanks, dripping and more coming all the time. It will be a lot easier in finding the right combo for you soon enough without breaking the bank (remember your saving lots of cash on analogs)
Good luck!

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

Hi and welcome...
Congrats on switching to ecigs....New atties should be 'blown' thru to remove any shipping primer in them, that could be the nasty taste.....atties and carts go together, the cart has polyfill in which you drip the juice into.... can get messy. The cartomizer(top picture) pop the top(white cap) and you will see filler....tilt the carto and drip the juice into...usually around 20-30 drops. put cap back on.....and screw onto battery, the cone goes over the cartomizer, usually just for looks, but some say it tightens the draw.
let us know.

 

[AttyPops]

You really can't go wrong with the eGo kits. Of course, if you want a more traditional sized device with a blue light.....

Joye 510's are pretty popular. Maxx Fusion is a KR808 with 3.7 volts, rather than 3.2.

P.S. I suggest you stick with 2.0 ohm or higher atomizers/cartos for eGo type devices

 

[Amenhotep]

Thanks to all who replied. Now I have a couple of days of vaping, and I can say it's quite satisfying. The first day was the worst, because my mind was not adjusted to vaping and the old smoking habit kicked in, even though I was getting the nicotine. I mean, I fought the reflex and I didn't smoke, but it was somehow tough... But now it's all ok, I don't feel the urge to smoke and I think I'm beginning to understand and "feel" this vaping thing, with all its peculiarities and little tricks. For example, it was at first odd to feel that the vapor gets thinner and thinner, until I realized that maybe I have to add some juice -- indeed, that was the problem, and after adding some more juice the vapor became thick and proper.

Best regards to all,
a