How do vaping devices actually work?

Vaping devices, or e-cigs, have become more and more popular over the last decade. While most people now know what vaping is, surprisingly few understand exactly how a vaping device works. Here we bust the mystery with an easy crash course in how e-liquid becomes vapour.

Vaping devices differ from model to model, with various bells and whistles, but the basic principle of how they work remains the same. So let’s break it down into 3 parts.

1. It all starts with the battery. 

It’s called an e-cig afterall, with the e standing for electronic. In order to run, the device requires a source of electrical power in the form of a battery. The battery is crucial in sending a current through the coil (don’t panic, we’ll cover coils next). 

The first generation of e-cigs were generally the instantly recognisable, slim cartomizers that mimicked the look of a cigarette. These days devices tend to be larger, partly to host more powerful batteries in order to reduce the time between charging. Vapes are normally powered by lithium ion batteries but the exact battery type can differ from device to device. Standard charging procedure is using a Micro-USB from the base of the vape. 

2. Power is sent through the atomiser.

A current from the battery is sent through the atomiser, also known as the coil. This is essentially a tightly wound piece of conductive metal such as Nichrome or Kanthal (however coils can sometimes be ceramic in certain vapes). The purpose of the coil is to wind around a piece of wicking material which is saturated with e-liquid. When the current is passed through the coil it becomes extremely hot, as energy is converted into heat.

3. E-liquid is atomised into vapour.

Once a current is passed through the coil, the saturated wicking material inside the coil is super-heated and transformed from e-liquid into a fine cloud of particles. This final stage, known as atomisation, sees the liquid evaporated into gas form aka. vapour. When a user draws from the mouthpiece, this is what they are inhaling – the atomised vapour that was e-liquid milliseconds ago. 

There we have it, as easy as 1-2-3. 

Vaping without a doubt remains one of the most revolutionary advances in tech of the 21st century. However, as we’ve just seen, the process is surprisingly simple once broken down. 

Energy converts vape liquid into vapour in a very pure transfer, so ensure what you put into your vaping device is pure too. Read about what goes into V69 e-liquids here.