Why does the vaporizer vape?

[vaperature]

I still don't understand the mechanics of the e-cig. I wonder why it vapes when I inhale into it. I've tried to google how an e-cig actually works with no luck: it always describes how it works as you inhale it and it vapes, but never describes WHY. What in it causes it to do that. Is there some type of switch inside that activates with the flow of air? Does the mere flow of air against the coil somehow activate it? Can anyone describe mechanically why an e-cig vapes when you inhale through it?

 

[optsmk]

There is a little coil (heating element) in the ecig. When it gets hot, the liquid surrounding the coil vaporizes. It's just like putting a pot of water on the stove. Once the water reaches a certain temperature it will vaprorize

 

[catalyst]

My device has a button, so it atomizes the juices when I push a button. You must have an auto-draw device. If I'm not mistaken it's actually the sound of you drawing air through the device that activates it. That would explain why an autodraw goes off constantly at a concert. I am also interested to know for sure how the auto draws work.

 

[KurrptSenate]

The battery heats the coil up, the coil heats the juice up. the juice changes from a liquid to a gas. you inhale that gas...



...and that's the story of the first Christmas

 

[Spazmelda]

I think you are talking about an automatic? No button to push, right? It has an air flow activator. That's about as far as my knowledge goes. Lol.

How Does It Work? | TheVapeStore.com®

 

[catalyst]

I think the OP wants to know what makes an automatic battery fire. Am I correct, CJ?

 

[KurrptSenate]

it's magic

from little magical pixies

from magical fairy land

 

[Xcighippy]

I believe what he's asking is what turns on the battery on an automatic e-cig to heat the element. Not how the juice turns to vapor.
I have wondered this myself. I think that when you draw, the switch gets made by air pulling against it. Hope that makes sense.

 

[Vapo Marx]

I think it's a membrane switch that closes due to the slight vacuum created when inhaling. I never looked into it too deeply; I've been using manuals since day 1.

 

[Jay-dub]

One response that actually understood the question and tried to answer it...

I always thought it had some flange-type switch in it that got triggered with airflow. I'll admit that this is just a theory, but it's more likely in my mind than "sound" activation. Sound activating would require either a specific decibel level or sound. Using decibels would result in accidental firing of the mechanism and I'm sure the processing power it would take to ignore all but a specific sound isn't built into those little e-cigs. So, I'm going to go with "air-switch".

I think our friend who's e-cig went off at a concert was experiencing the result of air being pushed through the device by sound-waves. Or the flange itself being vibrated into an "on" position.

 

[vaperature]

There is a little coil (heating element) in the ecig. When it gets hot, the liquid surrounding the coil vaporizes. It's just like putting a pot of water on the stove. Once the water reaches a certain temperature it will vaprorize

yes, I know it gets hot, the question is WHY does it only get hot when you vape, how does vaping activate it?

 

[vaperature]

The battery heats the coil up, the coil heats the juice up. the juice changes from a liquid to a gas. you inhale that gas...



...and that's the story of the first Christmas

But the question is HOW? Why does inhaling through the e-cig cause that to happen. I'm talking about those that you don't have to push a button, those that just automatically heat up as soon an you inhale.

 

[vaperature]

I think the OP wants to know what makes an automatic battery fire. Am I correct, CJ?

Yes, the automatic, what are the mechanics of it that causes it to heat up when you draw from it.

 

[vaperature]

One response that actually understood the question and tried to answer it...

I always thought it had some flange-type switch in it that got triggered with airflow. I'll admit that this is just a theory, but it's more likely in my mind than "sound" activation. Sound activating would require either a specific decibel level or sound. Using decibels would result in accidental firing of the mechanism and I'm sure the processing power it would take to ignore all but a specific sound isn't built into those little e-cigs. So, I'm going to go with "air-switch".

I think our friend who's e-cig went off at a concert was experiencing the result of air being pushed through the device by sound-waves. Or the flange itself being vibrated into an "on" position.

That's what I thought. It has to be some type of tiny switch that is activated by the flow of air. Pretty ingenious.

 

[rico942]

I'm curious about this myself, so last weekend I sacrificed one of my first automatic eGo batteries to find out. I left it with a "mad scientist" friend to dissect it and discover how it works ...

He's really good at reverse engineering electronic devices, so I'm sure he'll figure it out, but I haven't heard back yet. He may have been abducted by aliens again ...

 

[Anjaffm]

Wow, thank you, Spazmelda and Jay-Dub!
I was wondering the same thing, although I only use manual models.
Thanks!

 

[crxess]

We tend to over complicate everything now a days.

Ever see an old Steam Spray cleaner(pressure washer)

Coil is heated sufficiently
Liquid contacting coil is Vaporized

In our case, we are the pump that provides e-liquid to the coil.(not the wick) As we draw e-liquid is pulled from the wick onto the heated coil. More e-liquid is drawn into the wick.(supply line)
When we stop drawing, negative pressure in the tank stops flow
Air enters the tank and replaces used liquid reducing negative pressure.


ETA - should have read further

Automatic Batteries use a sound sensor.(vibration diaphragm) Early models would fire from radio/road noise wile driving. Noise Filtering has gotten much better.

 

[Xcighippy]

I think it's a membrane switch that closes due to the slight vacuum created when inhaling. I never looked into it too deeply; I've been using manuals since day 1.

You hit the nail on the head. Thats what I was trying to say in my post.. Just couldn't find the words.. one of those days..

 

[Orb Skewer]

It is indeed a 'membrane' switch, here is the original patent with drawings, by Ruyan and Hon Lik (the modern inventor)

Patent US20130139833 - Electronic cigarette - Google Patents

 

[vaperature]

I'm curious about this myself, so last weekend I sacrificed one of my first automatic eGo batteries to find out. I left it with a "mad scientist" friend to dissect it and discover how it works ...

He's really good at reverse engineering electronic devices, so I'm sure he'll figure it out, but I haven't heard back yet. He may have been abducted by aliens again ...

Perhaps once you learn the secret you are never heard from again.