Vaping 101: Generic Atomiser Information
In the previous part, we got a few generic information about vaping. Today we will learn about the different types of atomisers and their consumable parts (coils, drip tips etc) we can encounter.
Ejuice Categories part is now available!
Atomiser Types
There are a couple of different atomiser types. There are different types for MTL (=mouth-to-lung inhaling, like in cigarettes) and DL (direct lung, like breathing) vaping.
The most common type is the one in the image below. This type has a tag that holds your ejuice and your coil.
There are 2 subcategories: Tank Atomisers and Rebuildable Atomisers. Let's see a few details about both of them...
Tank Atomisers
Tank Atomisers are usually the most simple ones. You screw in the coil, fill the tank with ejuice and start vaping. Once the coil is done for, you unscrew the old one, throw it away and screw a new one. Simple and fast. The coils are standard for each atomiser (or family of atomisers), at preset ohms
They usually feature an adjustable airflow and in the EU they supposedly are 2ml. This is not enforced yet, or the distributors do not care about the EU directive.
Rebuildable Atomisers
A rebuildable atomiser's base on an ohm meter
This type of atomiser started as there was a big demand by vapers to have more control over the ohm of their vaping experience. There are 2 subcategories: Drippers (RDA) and Tanks (RTA).
In a Rebuildable Atomiser, there is a lot going on. You have to make your own coil. You need to choose a wire (gauge, material etc), cotton, the diameter of the coil... The whole art of this atomiser is in the wicking (choosing the correct amount of cotton, putting it in the wire correctly etc). Wrapping the wire is pretty simple and it can be "mastered" very quickly, especially if you are using a coil jig, but it can take more than 10 minutes if you are new to this and you don't know what you are doing!
Now, the 2 subcategories:
- The Drippers are what they are called! You drip some ejuice on the cotton, vape 2-3 times and then drip again.
- The Rebuildable Tank category is similar to the Non-rebuildable Tank Atomisers. The only difference is that you get to make your own coil!
How to choose a coil?
Depending on what you want to do with your ecig, you have to choose the right coil, otherwise you're going to have a bad time! Your atomiser can handle various ohms. Actually, the ohms depend on your mod, and not on the atomiser. The limits are what the manufacturer of your atomiser is producing.
For example one of the longest standing atomisers, Aspire's Nautilus, is using 3 kinds of coils: 0.7Ω, 1.6Ω & 1.8Ω. What is the difference? Lower resistance (0.7Ω in this example) needs more power (Wattage), which in return requires a bigger battery and more juice as it generates more steam (and this means you get a bigger throat hit, which in return can help you lower your nic level easier). On the other side the 1.8Ω coil uses less power, so a smaller battery can last you longer. However, in this case, you need higher nic levels than with the 0.7Ω coil.
Also, depending on your atomiser, the coil's holes might be bigger, smaller etc. Bigger holes mean that the cotton will be saturated with ejuice easier, and can be used with high VG ejuice. Coils with smaller holes and high VG will give you dry hits (burnt cotton taste).
What other consumable accessories are there?
Some atomisers have replaceable glass (if it falls and breaks, you only have to buy a glass, not a new atomiser). There is also a drip tip, a cap at the top of your atomiser that you put in your mouth to inhale.
There are other atomiser types available too but they are not that common. You can have a look at the following links for further reading!
[1] https://www.misthub.com/blogs/vape-tutorials/76789317-tutorial-guide-to-different-types-of-atomizers
[2] http://vaping360.com/vape-coils-and-atomizers/