[GUIDE] New user guide

[VapingMikra]

Part 1-New user guide

1. What is vaping?

Vaping: The Definition
Vaping can be defined as the act of inhaling water vapor through a personal vaporizer (the vaper’s tobacco-free version of the traditional cigarette).
Vaping is an alternative to smoking. It’s like smoking minus several of the adverse effects of the latter: no bad smell and bad breath, no cigarette burns, no more dirty ashtrays, less likelihood of getting cancer and other smoking-affiliated illnesses – you get the drift.
In short, vaping is the name given to the use of a vaporizer. The process involves applying heat to a liquid which generates vapor. The user, called a vaper (smoker in traditional cigarette circles) gets their nicotine hit through inhaling the almost odorless vapor (smoking equivalent of ‘smoke’).
(source What is Vaping? Your Complete Guide )

2. Vaping Basics

Anatomy of a Vaporizer
The vaporizer is made up of various components.
These are:
Battery: This is the power source and is charged through USB.
Tube: Main console of the vaporizer
Cartridge: Houses the e-liquid, aka e-juice.
Atomizer: Responsible for heating up the e-liquid and creating vapor that the user inhales and exhales.
Cartomizer: This is the cartridge and atomizer rolled into one.
E-liquid: Also known as e-juice, this is where the action is. This is a water-based liquid infused with nicotine. It can come plain or in an array of flavors numbering in the hundreds. The e-juice comprises the following ingredients:
Vegetable glycerine or propylene glycol
Nicotine
Flavoring
These ingredients get vaporized in the battery-powered atomizer which simulates the experience of smoking.
(source What is Vaping? Your Complete Guide )

3. Recommended starter kit

The most important thing to bear in mind here, is that 99.9% of vapers will recommend staying away from any ecig lookalikes, these are generally rubbish - not enough power/taste. People that use these and don’t make the switch to a more suitable device are more likely to fail in their journey of stopping smoking.

The most widely recommended starter kit is the istick 30w and the aspire nautilus. Both are well suited to each other and are very user friendly (it can be quite daunting taking up vaping for the first time).

4. Tobacco/Cigarette flavors

The most widely recommended tobacco/cigarette type e-juice is from House of Liquids (El Toro range) El Toro Raw
"Exquisite organic tobaccos selected from Cuba and around the world and blended in-house. Approximately 30 days are needed for every drop of El Toro to be made using a traditional "cold" steeping method, the most gentle and natural way to extract the pure authentic taste and aroma from every tobacco leaf. A two stage, 5 Micron, filtering process is then applied. The result is a crystal clear liquid of extraordinary quality and purity that offers an unparalleled vaping experience and unsurpassed satisfaction. "
Manabush also do some good tobacco flavors and are also widely appreciated.
Manabush - Rich Sweet Tobacco Flavour Based E-Liquid for Vaping - Manabush Tobacco and Maple flavoured Eliquids with sweet toppings
It can be a bit pricey though, and is often used as a treat vape rather than an all day vape (ADV). Other cheaper options are Hangsen tobacco flavors.

5. Nicotine Levels

For those of us who chose to make the switch to vaping, we quickly learned that there are more options in vaping than smoking traditional analog cigarettes. Entering the world of vaping leaves many people with some questions before they can fully experience what vaping has to offer. One of the most important questions is:
What level of nicotine to start with?
Answering this question can mean the difference between enjoying your vaping experience and going back to older habits because of a bad experience. Here are some ways you can get things right when you first start vaping.
Too Much Nicotine
When you take your first pull from a vape, and you experience too much throat hit, this is your first sign that you should go for a lower level of nicotine. Too much throat hit does not mean that the eLiquid is bad, it will be more pleasant if you reduce to a level that gives the right amount of throat hit to suit your preference. If you smoke a lights and you choose a high strength e-liquid, you might experience nicotine overload because your body will intake more nicotine than it is normally accustomed to while you were smoking analogs. I this case the throat hit may be too intense. This can result in not enjoying the vaping experience, but you only chose the wrong eLiquid nicotine strength to start vaping with.
You will also know the nicotine levels are too high when:
You inhale and the back of your throat burns or feels uncomfortable
You get dizzy
You feel light headed
You get a headache
If you experience any of the above symptoms, you should reduce the nicotine level. Even one strength level is enough to improve the experience.
Too Little Nicotine
Have you ever seen vapers who vape and smoke cigarettes within the same time frame? This happens for a few reasons. One of the main culprits is vaping on a nicotine level that is too low for you. When the body becomes accustomed to a certain level of nicotine, vaping on a nicotine level that is too low may cause you to vape and smoke cigarettes at the same time.
When you choose an eLiquid that is lighter than the analog product, this will cause a person to go into a phase of compensation smoking. This means that you will need to either vape more, smoke analogs, or find other ways to make up for the nicotine your body prefers. This causes confusion in many vapers who are starting out because when they choose a low level of nicotine, which is lower than what they are used to, your body will want the normal dose of nicotine, and you may think that the vaping is not going to satisfy you. This causes some vapers to go back to smoke analogs. When, in fact, it would have been appropriate to customize the strength of your eliquid nicotine levels.
These two situations are why it is really important to find the perfect level of nicotine for your personal preferences.
Simple Guidelines for Nicotine Levels
If you are a multiple pack-a-day smoker using full flavor cigarettes then you should go for a 36mg nicotine level
If you smoke lights and consume up to 1 pack-a-day, choose 18-24 mg nicotine eLiquids
If you smoke ultra-lights and smoke less than 1 pack per day, choose 11mg nicotine strength eLiquids
If you smoke ultra-lights and smoke less than half a pack per day, choose 8mg nicotine strength eLiquids
If you smoke a few ultra-light cigarettes per day, choose 4mg nicotine strength eLiquids
IF you just want to vape for the flavor and fun of vaping, choose a nicotine free eLiquid

(source Simple Guide to Find Your Perfect Level of Nicotine - ProVape )

 

[VapingMikra]

Part 2

6. Vapers Glossary

The Complete Glossary of Vaping

(A LIST OF COMMONLY USED TERMS AND DEFINITIONS

Analog: What Vapers call a traditional tobacco (or real) cigarette where the electronic cigarette is “digital”.
APV: Advanced Personal Vaporizer (APV) a more advanced version of a personal vaporizer. It may consist of a larger battery and advanced technical features such as variable voltage or variable wattage.
Adapter: Adapters allow a specific style of cartomizer or atomizer to fit onto a different style battery. Some users may prefer the vapor production of one style of atty but prefer the battery life of another style battery. It all has to do with thread compatibility and mating them together.
All Day Vape: The e-liquid you most rely on or favor. That e- liquid you constantly vape because it never gets old.
Atomizer: (Atty): The heating unit of the electronic cigarette. Metal wire wrapped around a core and is contained in a metal housing that screw into the battery. When electricity from the battery is applied it vaporizes the e-liquid. This generates the vapor.
Automatic: (Auto) A battery that when taking a draw activates the heating element. No button is used to activate the heating element. An internal sensor activates automatically when air is allowed to follow through the battery.
Battery: (Batt) The battery provides power to the atomizer/cartomizer or preferred topper when the user draws on the mouthpiece. It is in general lithium-ion, ranges in many sizes. Some of the smaller “mini” batts have an LED on the end to simulate the heat glow from what an analog cigarette creates when a draw or puff is taken.
Bridge: A U or V shaped covering on top of the heating coil of some atomizers. An absorbent material designed to wick e- liquid from cartridge filler to the heating element usually covers it.
Blank (Cartomizer): Often referred to as an empty cartridge. Comes in various threads, 510, 808, and 901.
Cartomizer: (Carto) The cartomizer combines a heating element and a juice delivery system into a single unit. It is disposable and not considered to be refillable, although many users manage to do so. Cartomizers can come in a single coil, dual coil, or even a triple coil configuration. Single coils use one coil and our standard in cartomizers. Dual coils have two coils and our commonly used in tanks. Having more than one coil has the ability to produce twice as much vapor or the same amount twice as fast from the standard.
Cartomizer Tank: A cartomizer tank is a tube to hold e- liquid. The cartomizer sits in the middle of the tube and will have a hole punched in the bottom so that the e-liquid can feed itself into the cartomizer.
Cartridge: (Cart) The cartridge is typically a mouthpiece that is made of plastic and houses the filler material with your e-liquid. Charger: A battery charger is used to recharge your e-cig battery once it has been depleted.
Coil: A coil is generally a piece of nichrome or kanthal wire that has been wrapped around a kind of wick. Current flows through the coil; the coil gets hot, and vaporizes your e-liquid.
Clearomizer: (Clearo) A clearomizer is the transparent version of a cartomizer. Designed to allow users to see how much e- liquid they have left. Many have ml graduations for the capacity of e-liquid left. Made of very easily breakable plastic in order to remain transparent. A wick or wicks are generally used for the juice delivery to the coil. There are top coil and bottom coil configurations. Many versions are constantly evolving in order to improve the performance the user desires.
Cut-Off: Cut-Off or stopping point. Automatic shutdown is a feature which happens if you take too long a draw from an e- cigarette. This shutdown feature generally happens after a 5- 10 second draw. This feature aids in preventing the atomizer/cartomizer from overheating. Following a cut-off, some e-cigarettes will flash the LED indicating a cut-off is in effect from a long draw from the user.
DCT: Dual Coil Tank. A tank with a dual coil cartomizer inserted in the middle with pre-slots punched into the bottom to so that e-liquid can feed itself into the cartomizer.
De-wick: Removing the wick from an atomizer.
Debridge: Removing the bridge (and wick) from an atomizer- common practice for people who direct drip.
Disposable E-Cig: The disposable e-cigarette usually comes with no charger or way to charge it. It is designed to be used once and to last long enough for you to vape through 1 prefilled cartomizer. It is a 1-piece design. It is said to last up to 24 hours.
DIY: Do It Yourself: Anything that involves doing it yourself. Often involved in mixing e-liquid with its components.
Drip: To drip drops of e-liquid into an atomizer.
Drip Tip: A drip tip is essentially a mouthpiece to be used on an atomizer for dripping. The tip has an enlarged opening allowing you to drip e-liquid directly into it. Drip tips are also used on cartomizers, replacing the existing rubber mouthpiece that comes with them to provide a more comfortable experience. Drip tips come in many different colors, styles, and materials.
Dripping: Dripping is the act of allowing e-liquid to manually getting to the heating element by “dripping” e-liquid onto the heating element directly. Some consider “dripping” to provide the best vapor, throat hit and flavor. No e-liquid delivery system is involved from a typical electronic cigarette system.
Dry Scratchy Hits: This can occur when not enough e-liquid is supplied to an atomizer or cartomizer, resulting in poor vapor and flavor.
Drip Well: The drip well is typically a bowl shape on a mod where the atomizer female connector resides. The well is designed to catch any excess e-liquid that may have leaked from the atomizer.
Electronic Cigarette: (E-Cig) – (E-Cigarette) – (Personal Vaporizer) (PV) The electronic cigarette is a revolutionary new device that acts much the same way an ordinary tobacco cigarette would, however rather than producing smoke from combustion, it produces vapor from vaporization of the e- liquid. Some e-cigarette systems our 2-piece or 3-piece design. Battery plus attached cartomizer, or battery, an atomizer and a cartridge. Many Vapers refer to their electronic cigarettes as “Personal Vaporizers”(PV)
E-Cigar: Short for electronic cigar.
E-Pipe: The E-pipe acts and uses the same components of an electronic cigarette, but is designed to resemble a tobacco pipe.
E-Liquid: (E Juice) The liquid that is used to vaporize. E-liquid is vaporized by the heating element and this vapor is inhaled to create the sensation of smoking. Typically contains Vegetable Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Nicotine and Flavoring. Nicotine is optional.
eGo Style: A style of electronic cigarette, which utilizes the 510 threads and allows one to use 510 components but with a much larger battery and charge capacity. The eGo is a very popular e-cig amongst Vapers.
Filler Material: This is the filling inside a blank cartridge or cartomizer. It is designed to soak in the e-liquid and direct it to the heating element.
Flooding: This occurs when too much e-liquid has flooded an atomizer (atty) or cartomizer (carto) and results in poor vapor and can cause “gurgling”.
Gurgling: Usually occurs when too much e-liquid is supplied to a given device resulting in flooding. Another cause is condensation built up in the air passage.
High Resistance (HR): An atomizer or cartomizer with a higher Ohm rating than the standard equipment. This will allow the user to apply higher voltage to the coil.
IMR: Lithium Ion Manganese Rechargeable Battery.
ICR: Lithium Ion Cobalt Rechargeable Battery.
Juice: Also known as e-liquid.
Knuckle Head: This is an adjustable drip tip. It can be adjusted to any angle desired.
Kanthal: One of two types of resistance wire used for a heating coil in either an atomizer or cartomizer. The other is Nichrome.
Low Resistance: (LR) An atomizer or cartomizer with a lower Ohm rating than the standard equipment. It generally causes the heating element to get hotter faster and produces vapor more quickly. Lower resistance produces more vapor than an atty or carto that has a standard resistance rating.
mAh: The term “mAh” references to Milliamp Hour.
Manual: A style of electronic cigarette that has a button (mounted usually on the top side of the battery) that when pushed, activates the heating element. The button must be pushed in order to produce vapor from the atomizer/cartomizer. It is considered by some to be less like a traditional cigarette than the automatic electronic cigarette. Many prefer this style due to it being sealed and cannot be adversely affected by e-liquid.
Mini: A smaller than average sized e-cigarette.
Milliliters: (mL) The amount or portions measured in a given container.
MG: Milligrams (MG) The amount or level of nicotine found in e-liquid. Typical levels are 0mg, 6mg, 8mg, 12mg, 16mg, 24mg, 30mg, 36,mg and 48mg.
Mod: A custom built PV device.
Modder: A person who is a Modder, modifies an electronic cigarette to their preference. Often to improve the mod device to be more powerful than a typical e-cig.
Mouthpiece: A mouthpiece sits on and is inserted into an atomizer or cartomizer. A drip tip is often referred to as the mouthpiece.
NiMH: Ni-MH stands for Nickel-Metal Hydride. Nickel-Metal Hydride batteries have no Cadmium added. Cadmium is hazardous to the environment. When using Nickel-Metal Hydride batteries, charging should be monitored to avoid overcharging. Nickel Metal Hydride has no memory effect and can be charged or topped off at any time without affecting battery life.
Nicotine: An alkaloid found in tobacco and other plants of the nightshade family.
Ohm: A measure of electrical resistance. A lower number indicates lower resistance and therefore creates faster heating.
Pass-through: A Pass-through can be either a device itself or part of an electronic cigarette or mod. It is the device itself, you can connect your atty or carto to it and then plug it into the USB port of a computer or USB wall adapter. It receives power through either. Pass-through is built into many electronic cigarettes and mods allowing you to use them while they are charging.
PCC: Personal Charging Case. A device that is charged first and then is used to charge you’re electronic cigarette while on the go and away from an electrical outlet. Many PCC provide extra storage room for an additional battery and cartomizer or carts.
Pen Style: A style of electronic cigarette, known for its resemblance to a ball point pen.
PG: Propylene Glycol (PG) Propylene Glycol is used as a base carrier for the nicotine and flavoring. Propylene Glycol has been deemed generally safe to be used in medical products as well as in food products for general consumption. Some people have reported having an allergic reaction to PG.
Primer: Many companies use a VG based primer for preservation and shipping. The primer is used inside the atomizer and on the coils. Many Vapers prefer to blow out the primer out of the atty, as the taste is less than desirable.
PV: Personal Vaporizer. Another term for electronic cigarette and more commonly used in the vaping community. It uses an atomizer / cartomizer to vaporize the e-liquid needed to create a vapor for inhalation and exhalation.
Pull: The draw you take from your electronic cigarette.
RBA: Rebuildable Atomizer: Rebuildable Atomizers vary in design. Some have a fabric wick, while some stay more pure from burning elements and use SS mesh and kanthal wire. Rebuildable atomizers are meant to save on cost and be readily fix-able. Some incorporate a tank for holding e-liquid.
Standard Resistance: (SR) A standard resistance atomizer is 2.5 ohms.
Smokeless Cigarette: This term is used to refer to an electronic cigarette. It is used commonly due to the fact that no actual smoke is inhaled or exhaled while using an e-cig.
Stick Style: Another term used to describe electronic cigarettes that are of or close to the size of a tobacco cigarette.
Stacking: Stacking is the act of using two batteries in series instead of one battery. You should always use matched battery pairs, and devices that have vent holes, and batteries that have protection built in.
Steeping: The act of letting your e-liquid sit for a length of time. The purpose is to allow the components of the e-liquid to merry or intermingle and mature. Some users will try an e-liquid immediately after receiving it and find it unfavorable. By letting it sit for an allotted amount of time and retrying it later can improve the flavor. Sometimes a couple of days or as much as a week or two of letting the juice steep will make a e-liquid taste great. Opening the cap and letting air into the bottle is sometimes also a preferred method of steeping, along with shaking the bottle to mix the components.
TH: Throat Hit (TH) Throat hit is the sensation that is felt in the back of the throat when inhalation is taken from the mouth down the throat. Some factors to the throat hit felt are, the nicotine level used, and or the quality of the e-liquid. Higher levels of nicotine generally give a greater throat hit. Personal vaping habits or techniques are also factors for throat hit.
Topping Off: Adding a few drops of e-liquid onto a cartridge or cartomizer or tank are called topping off.
Toot: Another term used to describe the pull or to draw from your electronic cigarette.
Vaping: The act of using an electronic cigarette. Power is supplied to the heating element that vaporizes the e-liquid and vapor is then taken into the lungs and provides the sensation of smoking along with nicotine if it is present in the e-liquid.
Vape: The electronic version of “to smoke”. Refers to as such because of water vapor produced when the atomizer heats e- liquid.
Vapor: The water vapor that is produced when the liquid is heated by the atomizer or coil.
Vaper: A person who vapes. A smoker smokes. A Vaper vapes.
Vaporizer: The Vaporizer turns a liquid into a gas or vapor. Another term used for electronic cigarette, e-cig, PV, etc.
Variable Voltage: (VV) Variable Voltage allows you to control how many volts your device will produce. With a variable voltage e-cig, you have the ability to dial in the voltage by a click of a button or sequence. A typical voltage range for variable voltage is 3.0volts – 6.0volts and VV devices can change these volt settings in .01 increments.
Variable Wattage: (VW) Variable Wattage allows you to control how many watts your device will produce. Variable wattage will allow you to set the wattage, no matter what resistance atomizer or cartomizer you use with the device. Variable Power (VP) is also used to describe variable wattage.
VV/VW: Some advanced personal vaporizers, incorporate both variable voltage and variable wattage features.
Vapor Production: This indicates how much vapor is produced using an average inhale of an e-cigarette.
Vent Holes: Vent holes are used on the bottom of electronic cigarettes and mods. They are designed as such to vent gases in the event of a battery failure.
Vegetable Glycerin (VG): commonly referred to as VG in Vapers terms, it is a compound that comes from vegetable oil, in particular palm or coconut. It has powerful humectant properties which means it is able to retain moisture. It is clear, colorless and very sweet. It is used in e-Liquids to amplify vapor production and as a sweetener. Because some people have light to severe reactions to PG (propylene glycol) they may seek e-Liquids that are higher in VG content. Considered safe for human consumption, it is a vital component to a well- balanced e-liquid.
Voltage: Volts are supplied to the atomizer or cartomizer from the battery. Many electronic cigarettes supply approximately 3.7V. Multi voltage devices have a range of predetermined voltage settings.
Watts: Watts is a measurement of power that is the function of the voltage of your electronic cigarette or mod and the resistance of your atomizer or cartomizer. Watts = Voltage (squared) of your device divided by the resistance of your atomizer or cartomizer.
Wick: A wick is an absorbent material that is used in many different styles of atomizers. A type of poly or silica string or number of strings is often used for the wicking. (Wicking) also refers to the act of directing the e-liquid from the container to the heating element.

(source A Vaper's Glossary - Spinfuel eMagazine )

 

[VapingMikra]

Part 3

Disclaimer: The views represented here are not guaranteed to be 100% accurate and are the opinions of myself and not PoTV, This is a correlation of useful articles that I have found on my vaping journey and due credit has been given where deemed necessary.
Don’t be shy to ask for help on the forums, the user are very knowledgeable and helpful, YouTube is also your friend - there are 1000's of good explanation videos on there, that cover all aspects of vaping.

Mikra08