Is a Passthrough Battery a Good Choice?

Several vapers have made the choice between manual and automatic batteries when it comes to designing a more custom rig, but what about passthrough batteries?

What is a passthrough battery?

A passthrough battery is a manual e-cigarette battery that charges itself using a standard USB connection.

Benefits of Passthrough Batteries

Passthrough batteries are extremely convenient when you’re on the go or stuck at your computer doing work. Able to plug in just like modern smartphones, these batteries keep you from running out of juice when you’re away from your vaping supplies. A passthrough battery eliminates the need to spend money regularly on manual or automatic batteries and prevents run-ins with faulty batteries. With a USB battery, you can lengthen the life of the battery the more you charge it up, thus turning it into an economical and long-term investment.

Downsides to Passthrough Batteries

If you plan to use a passthrough battery in your car, you’ll have to buy a separate adapter to convert your 12v outlet into a USB outlet. As with any USB connection, they tend to wear out over time. Replacement wires will be needed depending on your vaping habits. Some users report occasional issues with the batteries not functioning properly with specialized sizes of clearomizers or cartomizers, so be sure to do your homework before making a purchase!

The majority of passthrough battery users enjoy the convenience and simplicity of them. They are perfect for the office or the car, and they save money on having to replace more traditional batteries. Do some research and see which style of battery works for your vaping needs!

Propylene Glycol or Vegetable Glycerin E-Juice?

E-juice or e-liquid consistently contains one of two water soluble liquids meant to produce vapor and mimic the sensation of smoking a traditional cigarette. Those two liquids are propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin, but what makes them different?

Propylene Glycol

The more commonly used liquid of the two, propylene glycol (PG for short) produces a more pronounced throat hit. Some users have found their throats to be irritated after using a PG-based e-juice, with some even reporting allergic reactions.
PG adds a slightly sweet component to the overall flavor which allows complex flavors to not be overpowered by the chemical properties of PG. It is a thinner liquid which helps prevent residue buildup around the various mechanical parts of your vape.

Vegetable Glycerin

Used less often in e-juice, vegetable glycerin (VG for short) produces a smoother throat hit than PG. As a result of its smoother hit, many users have found their throats to be less irritated after vaping.
It has a higher viscosity than PG and a more pronounced sweetness as well. That sweet flavor can overpower an e-juice’s other flavors from time to time. Due to its thicker properties, VG will produce more vapor in each hit. That added thickness can also result in buildup around your vape’s mechanical parts, which may require cleaning more often.

PG or VG?

Choosing between the two types of e-juice ingredients comes down to personal taste, comfort and preference. As several vaping enthusiasts tend to migrate over to e-cigs from traditional cigarettes, choosing a PG-based e-juice will feel more familiar to them due to the stronger throat hit. Try both or, if you’re a chemist at heart, consider carefully mixing the two styles to create a custom vaping experience all your own.

States that Prohibit E-cig Use

Vaping is beginning to regularly fall under the microscope of legislation, and more states are beginning to pass their own laws prohibiting the use of e-cigs on various state properties. The graphic below illustrates states that, as of January 2014, have passed laws prohibiting e-cig use in some form. Blue states prohibit their use on or in government property, green states prohibit their use on school grounds, red states prohibit their use on or in correctional facility grounds, and purple states prohibit their use on public trains.

Automatic vs. Manual E-cig Batteries

When selecting a new electronic cigarette, one of the bigger decisions you’ll have to make is whether to outfit your e-cig with an automatic or manual battery. Let’s review the pros and cons of using both of these types of batteries for your e-cigarette.

Advantages of Automatic E-Cig Batteries

An automatic e-cig battery is very simple to use. Simply take a drag and the battery will work in conjunction with the atomizer to produce vapor. Once the computer chip inside recognizes that you have finished taking a drag, it will shut itself off after a few seconds. It’s a quick and easy process that allows your smoking experience to very closely resemble a real cigarette. This makes the use of automatic batteries very popular with new e-cig users.

Disadvantages of Automatic E-Cig Batteries

Due to the automatic shut-off feature of automatic batteries, the amount of times you can drag from your cigarette is reduced. Additionally, automatic batteries only produce small amounts of vapor. For a longer drag, you’ll have to prime the battery by inhaling deeply a few times.

When using an automatic battery, you run the risk of the battery failing due to circuitry issues. Should some of your e-liquid leak into the battery, it could short out and the battery would be rendered useless. The reason this is more prevalent in automatic batteries is due to the fact that they are not made with a sealed design. Additionally, automatic batteries have been known to be triggered by the environment. Loud noises or heavy winds could make the battery think you’re taking a drag and start draining its charge.

Advantages of Manual E-Cig Batteries

A manual e-cig battery gives you more control over your vaping experience, but does require the additional step of pressing a button to use the battery before you can inhale. Unlike automatic batteries, manual ones are completely sealed which prevents them from ever short circuiting due to an e-liquid leak.

Disadvantages of Manual E-Cig Batteries

Like any kind of device that includes buttons, a manual battery can go off accidentally. When in your pocket, for example, a manual battery could drain its charge. On a whole, the charge of a manual battery does not last as long as an automatic, resulting in less time spent smoking and more time spent charging.

Making a decision on which type of battery to use in your e-cig doesn’t need to make or break your vaping experience. A wide variety of electronic cigarette kits are available in both styles of battery to suit your needs which allows you to adjust your battery preference in the future.

A Review of the Lotus VapeCase

New at LiteCigUSA is the VapeCase by Lotus. Designed with form and function in mind, the VapeCase by Lotus is a sleek, secure way to take your e-cig with you wherever you go.

The VapeCase is currently designed for the iPhone 5/5s, and adds space on the back of your phone case for e-cig charging and storage. A micro USB port on the side of the case lets you conveniently charge your e-cigarette when it isn’t in use, and the entire unit features short circuit and overcharge protection to ensure the longevity and functionality of your e-cig.

Some other features of the Lotus VapeCase include:

• Four selectable output voltages (2.75v, 3.5v, 4.25v, 5v)
• Five click locking safety feature to keep e-cig firmly secure
• LED display on the side of the case to show charge status
• Impact-resistant plastic
• 30 day warranty against manufacturer defect

Offered currently for an unbeatable sale price of $99.95, the VapeCase by Lotus is the perfect gift for gadget and technology geeks. Buy for the vaping enthusiast in your life or treat yourself with this revolutionary product from Lotus today!

3 Tips to Maintain Your Electronic Cigarette For Longer Life

An electronic cigarette can be a valuable commodity for someone that has given up the traditional method of smoking. You can still get quality doses of nicotine without the harsh chemicals in real cigarettes and cigars. It's important to maintain the electronic cigarette so that you always have it to use. Cleaning the device will make it perform better when you are using it. You may also need to utilize proper ecig replacement parts to continue using it. Whatever the case may be, proper maintenance will ensure that it will last as long as possible. Here are some cleaning methods and possible replacement parts that you may need.

Drain Cartridge at Night

If your electronic cigarette uses a cartridge to deliver the nicotine, you can drain it at night to keep it clean. All you have to do is take out the cartridge and place it upside down on a towel. The towel will have dirty water on it when you check it in the morning. You can then simply place the cartridge back in the electronic cigarette, and you will notice that the vapor flows more freely for your smoking needs. This is a handy trick that many people don't know.

Rinse and Dry the Atomizer

Once you drain the cartridge, the next step is to clean the actual atomizer. This is a very easy process, but it is also one that you must keep up with in order to maintain the electronic cigarette. You take the cartridge out of the atomizer and then you run the atomizer under hot water. You must then add a small amount of safe detergent. Rinse the atomizer well and then dry it with a hair dryer. You can then leave it to sit overnight so that it dries completely the rest of the way.

Buy Good Replacement Parts

Even if you clean your electronic cigarettes thoroughly on a regular basis, you still may need to replace parts eventually. Extra batteries, atomizers, cartridges, and chargers may be needed to keep your electronic cigarette in a functioning condition. You should consult plenty of different sources when it is time to buy replacement parts. Make sure to buy parts for your specific model as there are plenty of different types of electronic cigarettes. Taking care of your electronic cigarette sometimes isn't enough. You will likely have to replace some parts if you have the same model for years at a time.

Final Word on Maintaining E-Cigarettes

Proper cleaning and using the correct replacement parts are essential to the life of your electronic cigarette. If you take good care of it, it will serve you well for many years. You will never have to return to the regular cigarettes that have nasty chemicals in them.

Try Our Exciting New Clearomizers for Ecigarettes!

Clearomizers take the cartomizer concept a step further. Cartomizers combine cartridge and atomizer for convenience and feature generous sized cartridges for less frequent refilling. The crystal clear construction of clearomizers take the guesswork out of refilling by letting you see exactly how much liquid is in your tank. With clearomizers, you will never overfill or under fill, but will know exactly when you need to refill. Millimeter markings let you measure your liquid precisely, and the amount of liquid most clearomizers can hold is greater than standard cartomizer capacities, so you can vape for hours with consistently strong vapor output. Refilling is easier than ever in the latest clearomizer models, with easy-to-remove caps and filling from the wide bottom of the tank. Replaceable atomizer heads let you keep using your tank after its atomizer wears out, which saves you money. Compatibility with popular batteries and threading, plus options in atomizer resistance let you create your perfect vape.

Here are some of our newest clearomizers and their features:

Vision Victory Tank Clearomizer

The Vision Victory tank clearomizer holds an amazing 5 ml of liquid and is made of Pyrex glass. Certain types of liquids that can break plastic clearomizers will not break the sturdy glass Victory tank. The installed 1.8 ohm atomizer head has a bottom coil and is replaceable. To refill the Victory tank, just remove the bottom thread assembly and fill to the 5 ml marking. The victory tank comes with eGo threading.

Innokin iClear 16 Dual Coil eGo Clearomizer

The Innokin iClear 16 clearomizer is a smaller version of the iClear 30. The iClear 16 has a 1.6 ml tank capacity and eGo threading. It comes with a 1.8 ohm replaceable atomizer head. The atomizer head is at the top of the tank for warm vapor and excellent flavor. The iClear 16 comes with a black mouthpiece.

Kanger Mini T3 eGo Bottom Coil Clearomizer Tank System

The Kanger Mini T3 clearomizer is a petite version of the Kanger T3 and holds 1.7 ml of liquid. It has replaceable atomizer heads and bottom coil to eliminate wicking problems. It is compatible with eGo and eGo threaded batteries, and works particularly well with the eGo C Twist. Easy to fill; just unscrew the bottom coil. Replaceable atomizer head is 2.4 ohm.

Mini Vapeonly BCC Tank Clearomizer

The eGo compatible Mini Vapeonly tank clearomizer comes with three different atomizer heads at 1.8, 2.2 and 2.5 ohm, so you can experiment to find the perfect vape. The polycarbonate tank holds 1.8 ml of liquid and comes in clear or smoke color. The flat mouthpiece is compatible with many 510 drip tips. Easy filling from the bottom; just unscrew the cap and fill.

Check out all our clearomizers and find the one that's right for your vaping style.