We realise that there’s an awful lot of jargon that surrounds the world of vaping, and we’ve decided to make as much of a comprehensive guide as we can in order to help old and new customers to understand all those acronyms and terms that we mention all over our website! This will be laid out in alphabetical order so that anything you’re after can be easily found!

1-9

18350, 18650, 20700, 21700, 26650

These are terms for different sizes of batteries which are compatible with vape kits, the first 2 digits in this number stand for the diameter of the battery. The 3rd and 4th digits are the length of the battery and the final 0 represents the shape of the battery.

510

This is the name for the size of a fitment that is used in vape kits, whether this be the fitment for the drip tip or the thread of a tank which joins the tank to a mod.

810

This is another name for a fitment size in vape kits. These are more often found on Sub-Ohm Direct To Lung kits and allows for a more open, more volumnous draw.

A

Adaptor

This is the name for a little piece of hardware that allows you to mix and match tanks and kits that wouldn’t normally work together, for example the one in the image below allowed you to attach a tank with a 510 thread to the Voopoo Vinci mod.

Adjustable Airflow

This is how we are able to change how tight or how loose the draw on our vape is, it’s often done with a small ring on the base of a tank or a slider for smaller pod kits.

All Day Vape (ADV)

A nickname used for an E-liquid that you could happily vape all day!

All In One (AIO)

This is the name for a kit where the battery, tank and electronics are all contained within one unit.

Amps(Amperes)

A unit of electrical current

Atomiser

This is the “proper” term for coil. The atomiser is the little piece of magic that heats your liquid to produce the flavours that we all know and love.

Auto-draw/ Inhale Activated Draw/ Draw Activation

This is the name for when a device has the option of being activated simply by drawing through the device, without the need to push a button. This is very popular in smaller MTL Pod kits like the OXVA XLIM and the Vaporesso XROS.

B

BVC (Bottom Vertical Clearomizer)

This is the name for a type of coil composition where the coils are arranged veritcally in order to maximise the airflow.

Box Mod

This is a style of mod which contains the batteries and electrics in a box, which then can have a tank screwed onto the top via a 510 connection or similar. This includes mods like the Vaporesso Gen 200.

Burnt Hit/ Dry Hit

This is a name for when you forget to fill your tank and end up getting a mouthful of cotton fumes, not a pleasant experience.

C

Cartomizer/ Clearomizer

This is a name for an older style of kit, which contained both the tank and the coil in one unit. These are rather old-fashioned nowadays and aren’t often seen.

Carcinogen

This is the name for a substance which is known to cause cancer. Cigarette smoke contains over 70 known carcinogens.

Cart/Cartridge

The name for the liquid containing part of Cig-A-Like devices. They contain E-liquid and an absorbant material and can be disposed of when the E-Liquid is used up.

Ceramic Coil

This is the name for the style of coil which have a ceramic head. This is an alternative housing for the wire inside of the coils, believed to increase the flavour and vapour production.

Charger/Charging Cable

The lead for providing power to your vape kit. Often using USB-C to deliver the charge.

Chip/Chipset

The brain of all your vape kits, this controls power delivery, power management, the displays and user profiles.

Cigalikes

The name for a type of vape kit which is designed to look like a traditional cigarette, we even had our own types of these at a stage!

Clone

The name for imitation devices, not made by the actual manufacturers and are often of poor quality. These are to be avoided.

Coil

See Atomiser

Cotton

The usual material used inside coils for the absorption of E-Liquid

Cutoff

Some devices will automatically stop after a certain draw length, this is to prevent the device overheating.

D

Diacetyl

The compound which is used to flavour butter popcorn and which used to be used in the manufacture of some buttery flavoured E-Liquids before its ban in 2016. The wave of popcorn lung anti vaping propaganda came from a case of popcorn lung at a microwave popcorn factory where workers were exposed to large quantities of the stuff.

Disposable Vape

This is the name for an E-Cigarette which contains a finite amount of E-Liquid and a coil, which is designed to be a useful on the go solution if you’re caught short without your vape. They’re used til the liquid runs out or the battery runs flat then can be disposed of resposnibly. We’ve written a guide with more information on disposable vapes here

Direct To Lung (DTL)

The name for a style of vaping where vapor is inhaled directly to the lungs rather than be held in the mouth. Popular with Sub-Ohm Vapers

Draw/Drag

The action of inhaling the vapour from a kit.

Dry Hit

See Burnt Hit

E

E-Cig/ E-Cigarette

Another term for a vape, which is what we assume you’re all here for!

E-Liquid/ E-Juice

The name for the consumable part of vaping. Comes in a multitude of flavours and strengths so that there really is something for everyone!

E-Liquid Ratio/Mix

This is to do with the quantity of Vegetable Glycerin (VG) and Propylene Glycol (PG) mixed together into any E-Liquid. This determines how the E-Liquid vaporises and therefore can change how your draw feels.

F

FDA

This is the acronym for the US Food and Drug Administration, these are the the people who are responsible for the sale and regulations surrounding E-Cigs in America.

Fill Port/Filling Port

This is where you fill the tank of refillable devices full of E-Liquid.

Firing

The action of the vape activating, heating up the coil and vaporising the E-Liquid.

Fixed Coil

The term for when a pod has the coil fitted inside of it which cannot be removed. Once the coil burns the whole pod is designed to be replaced for ease of use. These are often more expensive than traditional coils but offer an easy alternative to the, sometimes messy, changing coils.

Flooding

The term for when a coil gets overloaded with E-Liquid, this can be due to multiple reasons, but most often occurs when the coil is not being supplied with enough power to vaporise all of the liquid which it is pulling in. It can be rectified by blowing through the coil to remove the excess liquid prior to slightly increasing the wattage on the device if possible to increase the amount of power received by the coil.

Freebase Nicotine

This is the standard form for nicotine used in E-Liquids, kept in it’s basic form designed to provide that throat hit that those who smoked traditional cigarettes may need.

G

Glass/Tank

The name for the container which holds your E-Liquid where it should be on your vape kits.

Gurgling

See “Flooding”

H

High VG

This is the name for an E-liquid which contains usually at least 70% VG, used in high power DTL vape kits

I

IBVTA

The acronym for the Independent British Vape Trade Association.

Ice

Cooling additives added to E-Liquid to add a chill to your daily vape

Integrated/Internal

This is the name for when something is placed inside of a mod which is not easily accessible or often removable.

J

Joules

A unit of electrical power

K

Kick

Another name for “throat hit”, the sensation of the vapour hitting the back of your throat after taking a draw.

Koolada

A type of additive added to E-Liquid to provide an icy kick.

L

Lanyard

A strap which will attach to your vape to allow you to wear it around your neck

Light Emitting Diode (LED)

These are often used as indicators for battery levels and other information for devices which do not have a screen.

Leaking

The term for when E-Liquid seeps out of the tank or pod which contains it. Often caused by an overfilling or a really badly burnt coil.

Lithium-Ion Battery

The type of battery used in vape kits.

M

Milliamphere-Hour (mAh)

A tunit of electrical capacity used to denote the amount of charge a vape battery can hold

Mesh

Used when describing a coil which uses a strip of wire mesh as the heating element instead of the tradtional arrangement of a wire coil. This offers an increase in surface area and a more even heating profile which increases flavour and vapour production.

Menthol

Another cooling agent, often found in E-Liquid as well as in menthol cigarettes and cough sweets. This is lightly flavoured with eucalyptus.

Milligram/ mg

The unit of quantity used to show the concentration of Nicotine in E-Liquid

Millilitre/ml

The unit of quantity used to denote how much E-Liquid is in a bottle

Mod

Another name for the part which contains the batteries and circutry for a kit. See “box mod”

Mouthpiece

The part of the vape which you put your mouth on to inhale the vapour.

Mouth To Lung (MTL)

The name for the style of vaping in which vapour is held in the mouth before inhalation. This is most popular with those trying to quit smoking.

N

Nicotine

The addictive substance derived from tobacco

Nicotine Salt/ Nic Salts/ Salt Nicotine

Another form of Nicotine used in E-Liquid, designed to be a lot smoother and a lot less harsh on the throat than freebase nicotine and will aslo absorb more quickly in order to kill niotine cravings. Read more on the topic with our guide at the link here

Nicotine Shot/ Nic Shot

A small bottle containing nicotine concentrate used to add nicotine to large bottles of shortfill E-Liquid in TPD regulated areas like the UK.

O

Ohm

A unit of electrical resistance. The lower the ohm rating the more quickly the wire will heat up

Ohm’s Law

The electrical law which states that electric current is proportional to voltage and inversely proportional to resistance. This is less important for users who are not using unregulated mods as all the hard work is done by the chip inside your device.

Open System

The term used for a device which is refillable.

O Ring

The name for the circular seals which are found on vape kits and tanks. Tanks will often come with spares which are very good to keep a hold of in case of leaking.

Overcharge Protection

This is the name for when a device will stop receiving power when the battery reaches 100%. This is in order to prevent the device overheating whilst charging.

P

Passthrough Charging

This is a type of charging that allows you to use your kit whilst it is on the charge

Pen Style Kit

This is the name for a type of vape kit that looks like a pen, these are not as popular as they once were but can still be found.

Pod Kit

The name for a type of vape kit which uses pods which are often closed and have a fixed coil.

Pre-filled

This is the name for a pod which comes full of liquid, these are more often than not designed to be single use.

Priming

The act of applying liquid directly to the cotton in the coil to prepare the coil prior to insertion into the kit and filling the tank for the first time

Propylene Glycol/ PG

Another one of the main constituents of E-Liquid, responsible for carrying your flavour to your tastebuds. Read our guide on what’s in E-Liquid here

Puff

Another name for the act of activating a vape and inhaling

Puff Count

Some devices come with this which counts your puffs so you can easily measure how long you’re getting out of coils.

Pulse Mode

A mode of power delivery found on a number of vape kits, especially those from Vaporesso. This mode pulses the power delivery on the device in order to give you that first draw taste the whole way throughout your vape.

R

Restricted Direct To Lung/RDL/RDTL

A name for a style of vaping which sits somewhere between DTL and MTL.

Refillable

The name for a device which can be refilled with E-Liquid

Regulated

The name for the type of kits which contain protections and circutry to prevent overloading of the kit.

Resistance

This is related to the properties of the coil and is measured in ohms, it determines how quickly the coil heats up. The lower the ohm rating, the faster the coil heats up.

S

Shortfill

Due to TPD regulations, liquid containing nicotine can only be sold in bottles not exceeding 10ml. In order to have larger quantities the bottles are sold with no nicotine in them. These bottles are often made larger than the amount required in order to allow for nicotine to be added after purchase.

Short Circuit

This is the name for when an electrical connection is made which shouldn’t be made, and can result in explosions, sparking or other unfortunate circumstances. This is why we so strongly recommend against carrying batteries loose in your pockets.

Starter Kit

A kit which is easy to use, and thus is perfect for anyone starting their vaping journey. Which are usually easily cleaned and maintained. Browse our entire range here.

Sub Ohm

The name for what’s usually a DTL device which has a coil resistance below 1.0 ohm

T

Tank

A name for the atomiser housing which contains E-Liquid

Temperature Control (TC)

A mode often found on sub ohm mods which allows you to determine the desired heat for your coil to heat to rather than how much wattage you would like supplied to the coil.

Throat Hit

The sensation of the vapour hitting the back of your throat when vaping.

Tobacco Products Directive (TPD)

The regulations that were placed on the sale and trade of tobacco products and vaping products by the EU, they state that the maximum strength of nicotine which can be found in any prefilled containers is 20mg, and bottles prefilled with nicotine cannot be sold in any bigger than 10ml bottles. It also states that pods and tanks must come restricted to 2ml in volume.

U

V

Vape

What you do when you use an E-Cig, inhaling and exhaling the produced vapour.

Vaper

Someone who uses E-cigs

Vaper’s Tongue

A form of olfactory fatigue which arises from using the same or similar flavours for a long period of time without changing anything. We’ve written an entire guide on how to deal with Vaper’s tongue, read it at this link here.

Vaping

The action of using a vape.

Vapour Production

A term used to describe the quantity of vapour produced by a vape.

Variable Voltage/VV

A mode which allows you to control how much voltage is used when vaping

Variable Wattage/ VW

A mode which allows you to control how much wattage is supplied to the coil in your vape.

Vegetable Glycerin/ VG

The other main constituent of E-Liquid, responsible for vapour production and throat hit intensity. We’ve written an entire guide on the ingredients of E-Liquid here.

Voltage

The unit of Electrical potential difference.

W

Watt

The unit of electrical power

Wraps/Battery Wraps

The name for the plastic coating on your external batteries, it’s very important to keep an eye out for any damage to these as even the tiniest little break in them can increase the likelihood of short circuits occuring which is not something you want happening in your pockets. For our entire guide to battery safety read the article at the link here

X

Y

Z

We hope you’ve found our Eciglopedia useful, and if you’ve not found the answer to your quesry, we’d recommend getting in contact with us so we can address it at our earliest possible convenience.