How E-Cigarettes Work

E-Cigarettes are electronic cigarettes that produce vapor instead of smoke. A liquid solution referred to as e-liquid or e-juice contains nicotine and tobacco flavors without the chemical additives found in tobacco cigarettes. The battery powered e-cig heats the liquid nicotine to the vaporizing point. The user inhales the vapor to experience the nicotine, tobacco taste, and the physical aspects involved in the act of smoking, without inhaling the chemicals and carcinogens in tobacco smoke, thus eliminating the harmful effects of smoke inhalation to themselves and others.

There are several components of the e-cigarette that work together to create the flavored nicotine vapor.

Electronic Cigarette Cartridges

Cartridges can be pre-filled or refillable and serve as both the e-juice liquid reservoir and the mouthpiece. Electronic Cigarette Cartridges send the liquid through the reservoir to the heating element. The subsequently produced vapor is drawn back through the cartridge into the user’s mouth and lungs.

Atomizers, Cartomizers, and Tankomizers

The atomizer is the heating element that turns the e-liquid into vapor. It attaches to the cartridge, which holds the liquid but keeps it separate from the atomizer. The atomizer uses a wick to absorb a small amount of the liquid for heating and vaporizing, controlling the amount of liquid exposed to the atomizer. When the atomizer and cartridge are integrated into one unit, the piece is called a cartomizer. When the liquid is held in a separate tank apart from both the cartridge and the atomizer, the unit is called a tankomizer.

E-Cigarette Battery

The largest individual part of the e-cigarette is the rechargeable ion-lithium battery. Some batteries employ an electronic airflow activation sensor, which detects the flow of air through the unit when a user inhales. Other batteries employ a power button which instigates vaporization instantly when pressed. Attached to the end of the battery facing away from the mouthpiece is sometimes an LED light, which mimics a lit cigarette when in use. 

E-Cigarette Charger

Rechargeable e-cig batteries require a special battery charger or adaptor. An E-Cig Charger may come as a unit disguised as a cigarette case or pack, which plugs into a USB connection or AC adaptor. Other chargers are simple USB connections that allow you to use your computer, laptop, or other portable device to conveniently charge your e-cigs on the go.

E-Cig Carrying Cases

Carrying cases keep all e-cig components in one place and hold replacement parts such as backup atomizers and pre-filled cartridges. Some carrying cases double as battery chargers and can be conveniently plugged in for charging all batteries at once without moving them to a separate charger.