Proper terminology - Is it a carto, a tank, or what? lol
- Thread starter tygertyger
- Start date
- th_trl_thread_readers 0
- Status
A tank is the juice container in which a carto sits . These cartos have had holes punched in them to absorb the liquid.
A clearomizer is generally a unit distinguished by a top coil with wicks hanging down into the juice receptacle, although other configurations are also available. Think CE2, 3, etc. or Vivi Nova.
These days clearomizers may also have tasks (Vivi Nova) so the distinction's getting a little blurred, but generally a tank in and of itself is for cartos.
A clearomizer is generally a unit distinguished by a top coil with wicks hanging down into the juice receptacle, although other configurations are also available. Think CE2, 3, etc. or Vivi Nova.
These days clearomizers may also have tasks (Vivi Nova) so the distinction's getting a little blurred, but generally a tank in and of itself is for cartos.
Above is a pre-punched cartomizer (note the small hole). These are fit into a tank to make a carto-tank. These cartomizers are ordered as "blanks", which means there is no e-liquid in them from the vendor. They may come with holes already (pre-punched) or w/o holes, requiring the user to make their own holes or slots in order for the juice in the tank make its way to the heating coil inside the cartomizer.
Inside the metal tube is a polyfill material which wicks the juice from the tank area via the holes. Cartomizers typically must be replaced after 2-3 tank refills of juice.
These have a juice capacity of between 1 - 1.5 ml. They typically come in a standard size (35mm length) or XL (45mm length). The length of the tank used determines which length of carto is needed.
_______
Above is a carto-tank. It is made up of a clear tube with end caps on either end. A cartomizer is inserted between the two endcaps. A drip tip, or mouthpiece, fits into the end of the carto. This combination is what is referred to as a cartomizer tank.
These can have a juice capacity of between 2 - 6 ml., in addition to the juice the carto has within.
Tube material can be polycarbonate or polypropylene plastic or pyrex glass. Endcaps can be made of plastic, metal, or acrylic.
Tanks sizes are generally categorized as a standard (using a 35mm cartomizer) or an XL size (using a 45mm cartomizer). The diameter of tanks can vary greatly, but typically are between 19mm and 30mm.
________________
Above is a clearomizer. This could be considered a small tank as the container holding the juice is typically clear plastic. Instead of a cartomizer, they use string wicks that draw the e-liquid to an atomizer head, which contains the heating coil to make vapor.
These can have a juice capacity of between 1.5 - 2.5 ml.
_____________________
Above is a CE3. These are sort of a hybrid cartomizer/clearomizer. They typically are the same diameter/size of a cartomizer, but are clear like a clearomizer, and use the same atomizer head with string wicks like a clearomizer.
These can have a juice capacity between 0.5 - 1.5 ml. These are quite useful to test out new flavors from juice samplers.
________________
Vivi Nova Tanks use wicking strings and an atomizer head like a clearomizer, but have a larger juice capacity in their tanks of between 2 ml and 3.5 ml. The atomizer heads in these are replaceable.
___________________
As manufacturers pump out new devices in their search to find the best vaping attachments, combining elements that are borrowed from existing attachments, the definitions of these devices become quite blurred and confusing, not only to customers but vendors also.
Last edited:
Clear carto with the poly fill is just similar to the one with opaque body. The only difference is that you can see the fill and determine better when it is time to refill, well, in theory. Also it is more convenient to see how the filler is saturated during the refill. So it is all about convenience, not performance.
_____________________
View attachment 144669
Above is a CE3. These are sort of a hybrid cartomizer/clearomizer. They typically are the same diameter/size of a cartomizer, but are clear like a clearomizer, and use the same atomizer head with string wicks like a clearomizer.
These can have a juice capacity between 0.5 - 1.5 ml. These are quite useful to test out new flavors from juice samplers.
attachments, the definitions of these devices become quite blurred and confusing, not only to customers but vendors also.[/QUOTE]
The cartos pictured here are actually CE2's. I've never used CE3's, but I'm pretty sure they have the bottom coil.
View attachment 144669
Above is a CE3. These are sort of a hybrid cartomizer/clearomizer. They typically are the same diameter/size of a cartomizer, but are clear like a clearomizer, and use the same atomizer head with string wicks like a clearomizer.
These can have a juice capacity between 0.5 - 1.5 ml. These are quite useful to test out new flavors from juice samplers.
attachments, the definitions of these devices become quite blurred and confusing, not only to customers but vendors also.[/QUOTE]
The cartos pictured here are actually CE2's. I've never used CE3's, but I'm pretty sure they have the bottom coil.
It's nice when people go the extra mile to help others.
Good job there! You got a well deserved 'like' for that!
I have found that depends upon what vendor is selling them and what they actually call them. That is why I said what I did in bold print above. Go to 10 online vendor websites and they will call these either ce3s, ce2s, clear cartomizers, clearocartos, etc. Thank you for your intended input though.
Last edited:
Are you sure?
I would think CE2/CE3s would be clearomizers.... so there's no "hybrid" about it.... especially since the term was a modification of "cartomizer" used to describe them when they first came out...
When the vision stardust ( also called the ce4+) first came out there was confusion over what to call it... many called it a tank... even though it was simply a higher capacity clearomizer....
Vivi's came out later as a variant kf the stardust designed to fit 510 threads(without an ego adapter) and as a result would, to me, be a hybrid tank/clearomizer.
Still a great post, love that this forum has members who will take the time to construct detailed posts like that.
Sent from my HTC HOLIDAY using Tapatalk
I would think CE2/CE3s would be clearomizers.... so there's no "hybrid" about it.... especially since the term was a modification of "cartomizer" used to describe them when they first came out...
When the vision stardust ( also called the ce4+) first came out there was confusion over what to call it... many called it a tank... even though it was simply a higher capacity clearomizer....
Vivi's came out later as a variant kf the stardust designed to fit 510 threads(without an ego adapter) and as a result would, to me, be a hybrid tank/clearomizer.
Still a great post, love that this forum has members who will take the time to construct detailed posts like that.
Sent from my HTC HOLIDAY using Tapatalk
Great replies! What wasn't yet mentioned were the eGo Tank and 510 Tank. Instead of a plain cartridge hey have a separate tank portion that is pushed down to a tank atomizer. They are quite 2011 though...
As mentioned, the terminology in general is a wild wild west. In my mind:
Clearomizer/clearo: CE2, Stardust, Vivi Nova, etcw.
Cartomizer/carto: Any sealed system that provides juice to the coil directly from a fluffy filler material.
Cartotank: Carto inside a separate tank.
Atomizer: While most commonly referred to as the old atomizer that uses a separate filler cartridge, I think of "atomizer" as the main group title that includes all devices that make steam out of e-liquid.
One thing I still haven't understood after a year is where is the line between a battery and a "mod". As most "mods" are not modifications, just voltage delivery devices.
As mentioned, the terminology in general is a wild wild west. In my mind:
Clearomizer/clearo: CE2, Stardust, Vivi Nova, etcw.
Cartomizer/carto: Any sealed system that provides juice to the coil directly from a fluffy filler material.
Cartotank: Carto inside a separate tank.
Atomizer: While most commonly referred to as the old atomizer that uses a separate filler cartridge, I think of "atomizer" as the main group title that includes all devices that make steam out of e-liquid.
One thing I still haven't understood after a year is where is the line between a battery and a "mod". As most "mods" are not modifications, just voltage delivery devices.
To respond to your last comment first, I agree. The term mod has been used universally in vaping lately to identify any voltage delivery device that acts as a holder (tubes or boxs) for replaceable, rechargable batteries. This is not the case with the cigarette-sized stick batteries and eGo-sized batteries which in of themselves are the voltage delivery device.
I did not include the eGo or 510 tanks in my post as these seem to be going to the wayside. Very few companies are offering them any longer, and what little I know of them they are a poorly designed contraption that more modern juice delivery devices have greatly surpassed.
I'm not going to address ce2/ce3 terminology any further than I have. There is no established agreement or standard in the vaping community on these specific devices from the manufacturers, vendors, or customer base. I'll leave it at that.
To respond to your last comment first, I agree. The term mod has been used universally in vaping lately to identify any voltage delivery device that acts as a holder (tubes or boxs) for replaceable, rechargable batteries. This is not the case with the cigarette-sized stick batteries and eGo-sized batteries which in of themselves are the voltage delivery device.
That separation seems to be accurate. I still wonder why... Perhaps the first mods actually were boxes and tubes made by individual people, and the terminology stayed on for the factory models? Not quite on the topic though.
That is quite good news. It's not that long ago when several shops still sold eGo-T as their beginner set. Worrysome! I started with them and I'm still having hard time calling carto tanks as "tanks"... Ah the memories!
Sorry, here comes noob questions. So gotvapes has what's called a splitfire seems like a vivinova, what is difference, and is it better?
Are the point of the clearomizers, vivinovas, splitfires, to remove the cartomizer replacement? If so how long average, is the service life as opposed to carto & tank?
Seems like they're easier to fill, clean, etc.?
Are the point of the clearomizers, vivinovas, splitfires, to remove the cartomizer replacement? If so how long average, is the service life as opposed to carto & tank?
Seems like they're easier to fill, clean, etc.?
It has a different design than a Vivi Nova, as it has a separate fluid reservoir. The design itself is closer to a Smoktech R-Tank, except the R-Tank is a rebuildable atomizer, not replaceable head like a Vivi Nova (or Splitfire). In the R-Tank you must have separate heating wire and wicking material to rebuild a new heating coil setup every now and then when the setup gets "worn out".
On a Vivi Nova, Splitfire (or most modern clearomizers) the atomizer head can be replaced. So when the performance drops off and cleaning and dry burning doesn't help anymore, only the head part that does all the work can be replaced. They can be readily purchased for $1-$3 a piece. Most common replaceable head atomizers today are Vivi Nova, Kanger T3, and CE4+/CE5 Replaceable (Stardust Replaceable).
I haven't tried R-Tank or Splitfire, but I would guess that the longer way for the juice to travel upwards the wicks in these designs could cause wicking problems for vapers using high wattages. That's why I'm not currently planning on trying that design.
I'd guess the head should be replaced (or a new setup made for the R-Tank) after 3 to 20 tankfuls depending on the juice, wattage and vaping habits.
The Smoktech Splitfire is a variation of the rebuildable atomizer tanks (RBA). It has a lower section which is the liquid reservoir. The upper section is an airfilled compartment that has the heating element. It uses string wicks to draw liquid from the bottom chamber up to the heating coil heads in the upper chamber. Is it better than a vivi nova? I don't know, I decided against trying one after seeing mostly negative reviews.
There are two main types of juice delivery devices. Those that use a polyfill material to wick the juice to the heating elements (ie cartomizers), and those that use a wicking material (usually a silica material) of sting to draw the liquid to the head's heating element (ie clearomizers). Both styles have their pro's and con's, and each type has it own legion of followers. Before buying any device, I prefer doing some research on the device. You can either do a search here on ECF, or try to find a review of the device on YouTube.
There are two main types of juice delivery devices. Those that use a polyfill material to wick the juice to the heating elements (ie cartomizers), and those that use a wicking material (usually a silica material) of sting to draw the liquid to the head's heating element (ie clearomizers). Both styles have their pro's and con's, and each type has it own legion of followers. Before buying any device, I prefer doing some research on the device. You can either do a search here on ECF, or try to find a review of the device on YouTube.
Thanks again for the super informative info Baditude; do you have a write up on Ohm's, which should be used with which voltage?
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked
