Need help to make my decision to swap to e-cigs

[CE3K]

Hi all,
I'll be as brief as possible.
I've read over an hour's worth of information on this forum and have got a lot from it so far, including a few eye-openers!

I've been smoking for 40 years (I'm now 60 ish) and smoke an average of 15 JPS Black a day.

JPS Black has 0.9mg of nicotine in each cigarette and so my first question is how do I compare this with the strength of e-cigs where the nicotine content seems to be (for the makes I've looked at) stated as a percentage? Or, to put it another way, I'd want to stay on approximately the same level of nicotine per e-cig so I don't introduce too much variation to start with? (I hope to reduce as time goes on).

Secondly, I understand that the marketing hype about how long cartomisers last before they need re-charging can probably be taken with a pinch of salt, but it seems to me that I'd need to recharge at least once a day to be able to get my 15 cigarette equivalents. Have I understood this right?

Lastly, approximately how long does it take to charge a small and long battery via USB. I'm thinking of starting with 'Green Smoke' brand after having researched several reviews, but none of them give any idea of battery charge time.

Thanks for your patience with a Newbie!

 

[CreepyLady]

First off, Hi and welcome to ECF!

Hi all,
I'll be as brief as possible.
I've read over an hour's worth of information on this forum and have got a lot from it so far, including a few eye-openers!

I've been smoking for 40 years (I'm now 60 ish) and smoke an average of 15 JPS Black a day.

JPS Black has 0.9mg of nicotine in each cigarette and so my first question is how do I compare this with the strength of e-cigs where the nicotine content seems to be (for the makes I've looked at) stated as a percentage? Or, to put it another way, I'd want to stay on approximately the same level of nicotine per e-cig so I don't introduce too much variation to start with? (I hope to reduce as time goes on).

Most ecig related nic is listed as mg/ml - for example to match the above percentage 0.9% = 9 mg/ml - that being said trying to figure out 1 ml of liquid equaling x number of ciggies is not really possible. Honestly, the nic that satisfies you and the quantity that keeps you from smoking is what is best for you

Secondly, I understand that the marketing hype about how long cartomisers last before they need re-charging can probably be taken with a pinch of salt, but it seems to me that I'd need to recharge at least once a day to be able to get my 15 cigarette equivalents. Have I understood this right?

you may refill them with liquid several times a day or 1 may last you all day - it really depends on how much you need to use it to find your satisfaction point. There is no 1 cartomizer = 7 cigarettes math.

Lastly, approximately how long does it take to charge a small and long battery via USB. I'm thinking of starting with 'Green Smoke' brand after having researched several reviews, but none of them give any idea of battery charge time.

Thanks for your patience with a Newbie!

Depends on the mah rating of the battery and the charging source. Not sure what exactly small and long means? Im sure DJsvapour will be along soon too - knows all of the UK vendors

 

[Glenn_K]

Greetings and welcome to the forum.

Hard to answer your first question precisely, as CL pointed out, but I smoked between 10 and 20 medium-strong cigarettes a day, and I started with (and am still using) 18 Mg e-liquid. If you can find an e-liquid shop that lets you sample juices, no harm in trying other strengths to see what you like best.

I never used cartomizers, but I can say that before I switched to RBAs, I found clearomizers very convenient to use. A typical clearo with a 3 Ml tank would last me most of the day, and was very easy to refill on-the-go.

-- Glenn

Hi all,
I'll be as brief as possible.
I've read over an hour's worth of information on this forum and have got a lot from it so far, including a few eye-openers!

I've been smoking for 40 years (I'm now 60 ish) and smoke an average of 15 JPS Black a day.

JPS Black has 0.9mg of nicotine in each cigarette and so my first question is how do I compare this with the strength of e-cigs where the nicotine content seems to be (for the makes I've looked at) stated as a percentage? Or, to put it another way, I'd want to stay on approximately the same level of nicotine per e-cig so I don't introduce too much variation to start with? (I hope to reduce as time goes on).

Secondly, I understand that the marketing hype about how long cartomisers last before they need re-charging can probably be taken with a pinch of salt, but it seems to me that I'd need to recharge at least once a day to be able to get my 15 cigarette equivalents. Have I understood this right?

Lastly, approximately how long does it take to charge a small and long battery via USB. I'm thinking of starting with 'Green Smoke' brand after having researched several reviews, but none of them give any idea of battery charge time.

Thanks for your patience with a Newbie!

 

[Shadav]

Hello and welcome....if you are wanting to try greensmoke may I suggest: New Vapor Info And Starter Kits

If you are determined to stick to the it must look like a cigarette...the best cig-a-like battery that I have tried so far would be the greensmoke battery and the good news is you can get a starter kit for the price of shipping and buy an adapter so you can then use any and all cartomizers with it!

Free Greensmoke Starter Kit, while supplies last for new users only

and then the cheapest e9 to 510 adapter I've found (and use)
E9 to 510 adapter

So for like $5 to $10 you can't beat a complete kit one battery, one usb charger and some cartomizers and then the adapter to be able to use any 510 cartomizers or 510 tanks

The cig-look-a-likes tend to last me 2 hours of non-stop-vaping....

if you are willing to move away from the it must look like a cigarette there are a lot of options out there: Size Does Matter

For those out there with the "size problem"
Here is something to give a good judgement

May I suggest getting a vv 650 mAh ego twist battery as you see it's about the same size as the greensmoke before putting a tank on it or you can even use the same carts you would buy for the cigarette-look-a-likes on it if you want....and smaller tanks to bring the size/height down if you want a small vaporizer. Or can even go with a smaller mAh ego to bring the battery size down, however the smaller the mAh the shorter battery life, the higher the mAh the longer the battery life.

 

[CE3K]

Thanks both for your replies

I'm going away to digest them and do a bit more research. I think I maybe have been led a little by the impressive reviews that Green Smoke e-cigs have had. I think they're relatively new in the UK (having 'originated' in the USA). It seems that I need to get a better hang of the different types of vaping.

Basically, I don't really want to have to refill with my own e-liquid, but think maybe the read-filled cartomisers (which are re-charged via USB) maybe the way for me to go.

I'll pop back when I've done some more investigating, but thanks again.

 

[CE3K]

Hello and welcome....if you are wanting to try greensmoke may I suggest: New Vapor Info And Starter Kits


The cig-look-a-likes tend to last me 2 hours of non-stop-vaping....

if you are willing to move away from the it must look like a cigarette there are a lot of options out there: Size Does Matter


May I suggest getting a vv 650 mAh ego twist battery as you see it's about the same size as the greensmoke before putting a tank on it or you can even use the same carts you would buy for the cigarette-look-a-likes on it if you want....and smaller tanks to bring the size/height down if you want a small vaporizer. Or can even go with a smaller mAh ego to bring the battery size down, however the smaller the mAh the shorter battery life, the higher the mAh the longer the battery life.

Thanks for your reply . . . think you posted as I was typing in my previous one

 

[Miata GT]

A very good start (and one that has been suggested) is to look in to a kit with a couple of eGo 650mah batteries and a couple of clearomizers, like the T3Ss (my favorite or the type). A step up would be an Innokin v3 battery device which would allow for power adjustments. This is not something required by many find this to be their next logical step after using a standard voltage battery like the eGo. I would recommend 12-18mg e-juice. Maybe 2 blends with one of each strength to see which you prefer.

 

[r77r7r]

There's a UK sub-forum ( for suppliers and such) on here at ECF. Also a great UK based forum here-
http://allaboute-cigarettes.proboar...-vendors-discount-codes?page=1&scrollTo=23191

 

[Requiem33]

Others have pointed out the obvious but I'm going to restate it and give my experience as well. The cig alikes are a ok start but they leave something to be desired. I originally started with the Green Smoke brand and then went to V2 as I liked them better and then upgraded to an EGO and kept going. I also found that putting the pressure of "I'm quitting" on myself was just like trying to quit with any other method. It was a failure. So I went into migration mode of I'm smoking and vaping and I admit that I still smoke some cigs but every day is less and less. I went from a 2+ PAD to under a PAD now. Everyday the amount I smoke decreases a little. I view it as a process not a cold turkey. Some people, lots actually can make the switch immediately. I for one haven't been able to but that's ok. I'm decreasing the smoking, increasing the vaping and that's a good thing.

Some history and then some recommendations. When I first started vaping way back I was able to quit smoking completely and I was good for 6 months. Then I got stuck in a situation with no juice and I couldn't get any. No brick and mortars back then. So I bought a pack of smokes and that was that.

Moral. Have spares. Always have spares. Extra batteries, extra tanks, extra atty's extra devices and lots and lots of juice all of the time. You'll see that most of us have 2, 3, 15, 20 devices and always have lots of other stuff. It starts as a just in case but it's also part of the bug of tinkering and toying with things and trying new things. But in reality always have spares.

 

[jwoode]

Good morning,

I smoked for 40 years as well.
2 packs a day of Doral menthol.. on a good day.. only a pack and a half.

I tried e-cigs over a year ago when I noticed them behind the counter at a local gas station/convenience store.
Tasted like crap and after a couple days, switched right back to my Dorals.

A new E-Cig store opened recently in my neighborhood so I stopped in a few weeks ago.

I left with this eGo starter kit,
Carolina eGo E Cigarette Starter Kits and Batteries
This is what I used at home and in my office.

I wanted something more discreet for the car and when out in public so I went back for this..
V2 Cigs Electronic Cigarette Starter Kits
These work very well, easy to refill, last all day. and you won't get pulled over when using in the car.

I didn't try to quit smoking.. this was the advice of the store salesman.
I just added Vaping to my many habits.
A week later, I quit reaching for my pack of cigs.

I realized quickly that I could quit smoking with these devices and I have.
I did not fight any cravings and transitioned easily to the device.
My nicotine addiction is no less, and my device is never far from me, but I have already gone from 24mg nicotine liquid to 18mg with no issues.

My starter kit required more maintenance than I cared for. It needed charging and the tank needed refill more often than I cared to deal with. I went back to the store and picked a new device and my criteria was battery life and tank size.

That is how I wound up with a Vamo and a Protank 3.. which has become my primary device.
The batteries last for days, and I top off the tank every day or every other day.
It looks like a small nightstick but I keep it set at 3.5 volts for a warm hit.. it smokes quite nice.

I could have stopped right there and been fine, but the hobbyist in me sent me back to the store.
I added the Innokin devices.. the MVP V2, VTR, and 134 to my line up.. plus extra Protank 3's.
These I played with then gave to family members to see if they could also quit smoking.. and so far, they have.. time will tell.

People will tell you that some devices are better than others and no doubt this is so.
I would suggest you go look at the devices if at all possible. Pick them up and see how they fit your hand.. your pocket.. and study how it operates. I'm a big guy.. I'm 6"5 and 235lbs.. so the Vamo suited my hand very well. I'm not interested in the latest e-cig fashion statements.. I wanted something that suited me.. I don't care if it breaks.. I'll get another.

At the end of the day.. if you want to quit smoking.. this works.
I've already doubled the distance of my morning jog.

 

[msw32587]

Awesome. making the switch to e-cigs was one of the best decisions I made. However until I got a decent clearomizer and the right juice i continued smoking cigs. I had a friend that pointed me toward an evod with an adjustable voltage battery (ego twist/ vision spinner). I picked both up at a local brick and mortar.The shop had samples so I easily found a good flavor and strength. I smoked roughly a pack a day of strong nic cigs. I started with 18mg and now I vape 6mg. good luck.

 

[skoony]

the most important part is to start.
there is so many different types of gear that its hard to get a handle on what would
be best for you.
my advice is to dive right in.it may take a few tries to find whats right for you.

try do not,do you must.
jedi mind trick regards,
mike

 

[djsvapour]

Am I too late?

Do NOT buy Greensmoke.

and certainly many others too.

Please be aware - this sort of e-cig is very poor and very, very expensive. The reviews are mostly fake. Although I can't speak *specifically* for Greensmoke, the majority of reviews are not worth the space (paper???) they are written on.

The battery life is hopeless and the cartomizers (refills) are twice as expensive as necessary.

If you want this sort of mini cig-a-like kit, there are better (or as good) and far cheaper too.

15 JPS is nearly 15mg of nicotine a day. To get 15mg you will need 2 cartomizers PER DAY. That's going to be £1,300 per year.

I spend 50p per day on liquid. That's £185 per year.

It is not a like-for-like comparison.

 

[Jolly Boots Of Doom]

Awesome. making the switch to e-cigs was one of the best decisions I made. However until I got a decent clearomizer and the right juice i continued smoking cigs. I had a friend that pointed me toward an evod with an adjustable voltage battery (ego twist/ vision spinner). I picked both up at a local brick and mortar.The shop had samples so I easily found a good flavor and strength. I smoked roughly a pack a day of strong nic cigs. I started with 18mg and now I vape 6mg. good luck.

I quit the analogs two weeks ago, with an itaste vv3 and a pro tank3. Started at 18 mg like you now also down to 6. I was smoking 20-30 Marlboro red 100s a day. Hope this info helps the OP.

Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk

 

[djsvapour]

Not sure what exactly small and long means? Im sure DJsvapour will be along soon too - knows all of the UK vendors

Yes... here... too late?? (I hope not)

 

[Completely Average]

Hi all,
I'll be as brief as possible.
I've read over an hour's worth of information on this forum and have got a lot from it so far, including a few eye-openers!

I've been smoking for 40 years (I'm now 60 ish) and smoke an average of 15 JPS Black a day.

JPS Black has 0.9mg of nicotine in each cigarette and so my first question is how do I compare this with the strength of e-cigs where the nicotine content seems to be (for the makes I've looked at) stated as a percentage?

Easy...

.9 X 15 per day = 13.5mg per day.

You could go with a 12mg liquid that might require vaping a bit more to satisfy your cravings, you could go with an 18mg juice that may be a bit too much for you, or you could get both a 12mg and an 18mg, mix them in a 50/50 ratio, and create a 15mg liquid which would be almost spot on for your needs.

Secondly, I understand that the marketing hype about how long cartomisers last before they need re-charging can probably be taken with a pinch of salt, but it seems to me that I'd need to recharge at least once a day to be able to get my 15 cigarette equivalents. Have I understood this right?

By "recharging" I am assuming you mean refilling. And yes, you would probably need two or more carts per day to stay satisfied. I would recommend a larger ecig with a 2.5-3ml clearomizer instead so you can fill it once and it should last all day without needing a refill.

Lastly, approximately how long does it take to charge a small and long battery via USB. I'm thinking of starting with 'Green Smoke' brand after having researched several reviews, but none of them give any idea of battery charge time.

In my experience the batteries only last about half the day and require several hours to recharge when fully drained.


I have never been a fan of the "cigalike" ecigs. They do not perform well and most people who start with them either give up or quickly move on to a better ecig.

For a newbie who really wants to quit smoking, I would recommend an eGo styled ecig with a 1000 mAh or larger battery and a 2.5ml or larger clearomizer. The battery will last most people all day long off a single charge, the clearo will hold a full day's worth of liquid, and you can simply fill the tank and go. Plus many offer USB Passthrough charging which allows you to continue using it while it's charging the battery.

 

[djsvapour]

Not convinced?.... let me try another approach.

There is a trade body in the UK called ECITA. They do a lot of good work, but as they represent the e-cig companies not the consumer, one has to be wary of everything they say and do. However, without their financial muscle, e-cigs would probably stand even less chance of being around in 2016.

Welcome to ECITA - The Electronic Cigarette Industry Trade Association

On their own website, hidden in the depths of their articles and stuff (!?) there is a fascinating comment.

They clearly and unambiguously state that average users of e-cigarettes often vape 2-3ml of e-liquid per day.

In order to do this you need
1) a battery (or batteries) capable of providing the power for the puffs and
2) 2-3ml of liquid to vapourise.

So, in the simplest sense they have actually suggested that one refill (cartomiser) which holds 0.8-1.0ml of liquid is possibly less than half the amount of liquid you might need.

So, while their "members" are busy telling the public one refill does "the equivalent" of 20, 30, 40 cigarettes, on the advertisements,
.... what they know and what most vapers know is that 1 cartomizer of liquid is not enough to match most smoking habits.

If you buy the products, follow the instructions and believe the hype... you are doomed.

*unless you want to give up anyway* or smoke 5 a day or something....

or maybe you're not even addicted to nicotine, in which case puffing on anything will suffice.

 

[djsvapour]

Easy...

.9 X 15 per day = 13.5mg per day.

You could go with a 12mg liquid that might require vaping a bit more to satisfy your cravings, you could go with an 18mg juice that may be a bit too much for you, or you could get both a 12mg and an 18mg, mix them in a 50/50 ratio, and create a 15mg liquid which would be almost spot on for your needs.

I agree. Go with 12mg or 18mg. I smoked about 15mg a day (15 x 1.0mg) and have used 18mg for the last year.

 

[Spazmelda]

Everyone has pretty much covered everything I would have said.

One thing I want to point out though, wrt what level of nic = what amount of cigs smoked... As others have said, it is really hard to tell. One of the reasons for this is that absorption from ecigs is probably quite a bit less efficient than absorption from cigarettes. So, for example, if you start with 18 mg/ml and find that you've vaped through 3 ml in one day, it's not unheard of for new Vapers to become concerned and think that they've absorbed 18x3 or 54mg of nicotine. The concern would be that this is more than they'd be getting from cigarettes. But it's not that simple of a conversion. Delivery and absorption of ecigs seems (according to evidence so far) to be much less than with cigarettes. Add to that, delivery and absorption from cigarettes is actually a lot lower than most people think. For example, most cigarettes actually contain about 10 mg of nicotine, but only deliver about 1 mg. There are also a lot of variables involved including what devices you are using and how you inhale. So, I just wanted to add a little information about why it's hard to say what level you should choose, and maybe address any concerns you might have about choosing a level that 'sounds' too high. Hope that made sense!

 

[djsvapour]

So, for example, if you start with 18 mg/ml and find that you've vaped through 3 ml in one day, it's not unheard of for new Vapers to become concerned and think that they've absorbed 18x3 or 54mg of nicotine. The concern would be that this is more than they'd be getting from cigarettes. But it's not that simple of a conversion.

Excellent comment.

What the UK "brands" want you to think is that 1 of their e-cig refills IS 18mg (to you, your "take home nicotine") if that's what it says the liquid strength is. Sadly, this is where people (I include myself) get caught out.