A lot of the terms vapers use can be quite confusing to someone who is new to the vape scene. When talking about vape batteries there are different types for different devices. Big ones, small ones, internal and external. As a new vaper this all probably sounds really confusing, but once you understand what constitutes a battery, it will all become clear to you.
Now , some batteries are internal and you can’t see them. In this case, we refer to some of these devices as “stick batteries” because the whole lower tube portion is considered to be the “battery”. Small devices like the cig-a-like or vape pen have these types of batteries. Some smaller mini mods have internal batteries that can be charged via a USB cable plugged into a laptop.
To help you understand a little bit more, we have listed some of the most common types of vaping devices and the batteries they use.
Cig-a-like Device
Cig-A-like battery
This type of device is referred to as a “cig-a-like” because it closely resembles a traditional cigarette. These are often referred to as “stick batteries”. Many new vapers start out with these because they are easy to use and the batteries charge pretty quickly. These batteries are rechargeable so you will never have to worry about replacing them unless they simply wear out from use. You can buy an extra one if you need to charge more often so you have one to use while the other charges. Plus it is always good to have a backup on hand for emergencies.
Automatic or Manual Battery?
Manual 510 Batteries
A manual battery has a button that you must press to engage the coil to take a draw. An automatic battery has no button and is simply activated by inhaling on the mouthpiece. Most cig-a-like batteries are around 300-mah which means that you will need to charge the device frequently because the battery will not last all day. Cig-a-like devices such as the Blu, Green Smoke, and South Beach Smoke have these batteries and come with a manual or automatic battery.
510, 808, or 901?
DSE 901 Battery
These numbers may be a little confusing but they refer to the threading of cig-a-like batteries. You may be wondering why this is important? Well, it matters when choosing and buying refill cartridges (also called cartomizers) for your device. 510 threading is universal for most devices made by Joyetech. Kanger technology sometimes uses 808 (pictured left) and some 901 series. If you buy your device in a kit you’ll know who the manufacturer is and what type of threading it has. Some older technology 808D devices were compatible with some 901 atomizers for those who like to mix and match their equipment, but 510 is only compatible with 510 atomizers.
How Can You Tell a 510 Battery from an 808D (second generation) Battery?
510 Battery with Recessed threading
There is an easy way to tell. The 510 threading is recessed on the battery. The cartomizer has a 510 threaded pin which fits perfectly into the recessed 510 connection. On an 808 threaded battery, it is the opposite. The battery has the protruding 510 pin and the cartomizer or atomizer threading is recessed. The image above shows a 901 battery and 808 batteries share the same threading as the 901.
Devices that use 808 threading:
- Halo G6
- Volt
- Vapor4life Vapor Titan
eGo-style or Vape Pen Batteries:
eGo Threaded Battery
eGo is not a brand name but a style of threading. Many different manufacturers make eGo-style batteries such as Smok, Innokin, Joyetech, and etc. Many new vapers eventually upgrade to the eGo-style batteries because they have a longer battery life. These come in different sizes and the length determines how long the battery lasts between charges. Ego batteries come in 650, 900 and 1200 mah. 1200 mah being the longest-lasting charge.
eGo threading is a protruding connection that fits most clearomizers with a recessed connection. You can also use some other atomizers with them via a 510 adapter. Clearomizers that work well with eGo-style batteries are CE4 and CE5 clearomizer tanks, Vivi Nova tanks, and Kanger Evod with an adapter.
eGo Twist or Variable Voltage:
These may be a device with a set voltage or a “variable voltage” Twist model. The eGo Twist is a variable voltage vape pen that you can adjust to your atomizer. The voltage can be set from 3.2 to 4.8 with a twist of the bottom button. The atomizers for these devices will have a resistance range from a standard resistance of 2.4 to a lower resistance of 1.5. They generally take between 3-4 hours to charge.
Mod Batteries:
Most mod batteries are 18650, 18350, 20700 or 21700. The numbers refer to the batteries dimensions. Mods either have internal batteries or removable external batteries. Internal battery mods can charge using a micro USB cable and have the capability to vape while charging (pass-through). Some examples are smaller mods with 40-75W capacity.
External batteries must be removed from the device and charged in a battery charger made for the battery type. Battery chargers like the Nitecore, Xtar, and Efest detect the battery type and can charge batteries of different sizes independently. This works well if you have more than one device and can charge all your batteries at once.
Protected or Unprotected18650 Batteries?
There are two types of batteries for mods. One is a battery with built-in protections like short-circuit protection, overcharge protection and over-discharge protection. This technology is integrated into the battery. Protected batteries are made for use with mechanical mods as they have no electronic parts or chipset to shut down the device in case of battery venting.
The second type are unprotected batteries made to be used with regulated mods. These protections are already present in the device itself and are not needed in the batteries. In the event of battery venting, the circuit board inside the device will detect the problem and automatically shut down to prevent any harm to the user.
Charging Vape Batteries
USB charger for stick batteries
Stick batteries are very simple to charge. Just Screw the USB adapter onto the open end of the stick battery and plug into your laptop or wall adapte
The 510 connection plugs into the charging cable and a light on the charger will tell you when it is fully charged by turning from red to green.
Battery charger for eGo-style batteries
This style of charger can plug into a laptop USB port or a wall adapter for a quicker charge. Like the smaller charger, it has a light that tells you when it is fully charged by turning green indicating the cycle has completed.
Battery charger for 18650 batteries
This is a more traditional type of charger in that it is plugged into a wall socket and may take several hours to charge, depending on the size of the battery. Battery chargers like this come in 2-bays or 4-bays so you can charge multiple batteries at the same time.
How to Determine Battery Type When Replacing
The battery type is determined by your device manufacturer and the device itself. For mod batteries such as 18650s, 20700s, and 21700s, this information can be found on an online retailers website if you are purchasing the device online, or you can simply ask the shopkeeper in your local vape store what type of battery it takes. 18650 ( which is the most common size) refers to the length and diameter of the battery. So it’s 18mm in diameter and 65mm long. Some mods use 1, 2, or 3 of these in series.
One last piece of advice, for battery safety always purchase mod batteries from a reputable site or vendor. Batteries purchased through resellers are often not authentic and may be rebranded to look like more expensive batteries. While the looks of the batteries are not important if they (cheap batteries) do not have the built-in protections for use with high-powered mods they are unsafe. Read more information about our guides and especially the vaping beginner guide from License to Vape here.
