Read this so you ca nbe totally confused !
Modified Electronic Cigarettes and their types
There are 4 main types of devices
I. 1. battery powered , no regulation ( no voltage control , power to the atomizer follows the battery voltage )
2. Fixed Regulated ( they are a preset voltage output )
II. 3. Switched regulated ( they have several preset voltages that are selectable )
III. 4. Variable regulated ( they are continuously variable within a range of voltages )
Advantages / disadvantages
A . Battery powered
i. Advantages: No circuitry to fail ,
ii. Disadvantages : No load regulation , the voltage will droop with the battery life and you will loose power and vapor , No protection circuitry
B. Fixed regulation :
iii. Advantages : Regulated output voltage , consistent vaping voltage over the life of the battery
iv. Disadvantages : No control over the voltage
C. Switched regulation
v. Advantages : Regulated output voltage , switchable voltage values
vi. disadvantages : values are fixed and can not be adjusted
D. Variable regulation:
i. advantages : Complete control over the output voltage to the atomizer
ii. disadvantages : you will fiddle with the voltage until you find the spot you like .
PS: not all regulators are created equal , most have built in protection circuitry but not all so ask the manufacturer.
Types of regulators : there are 2 main types of regulators
1. Linear / analog types , these types of regulators drop voltage across them to control the output voltage to the load (i.e. Atomizer or cartomizer ) they require a certain amount of minimum voltage across them to operate ( LDO types requires less voltage drop across them ).
2. PWM or ( pulse width modulated ) this type of regulator uses pulses of voltage switching on and off to charge a capacitor and regulate the voltage output , there are 2 types of basic PWM regulators A. Buck and B. Boost , a buck regulator drops the voltage down and Boost reg. Boosts the voltage ( there is another type that does both )
There are advantages and disadvantages to each type BUT any regulated device will control the voltage and keep it stable throughout the battery charge time .
Many people have found that uncontrolled voltage to an atomizer can cause them to open up and go bad , or cause the flavor and temperature of the juice to taste burnt or too hot for the vapor .
Mike Buzzetti AKA Buzzkill
Notcigs.com