Electronic cigarettes : Pods, Clearomizer, Atomizer and Dripper

Most electronic cigarettes are made up of the same components: a battery (either built-in or rechargeable), a "fire" button to operate your cigarette and draw in steam, the tank containing the resistance and eliquids, and the drip tip, the little mouthpiece on which we place our lips.

We're going to take a closer look at each of them and determine their differences and functionalities, as there are no fewer than 8 models to choose from.

pODS

First, let's talk about pods. This is the element that is easiest to identify. Originally, it was an often-plastic tank with a non-removable drip tip that could take the form of a disposable cartridge with an integrated resistor. Today, the pod system looks more and more like a clearomizer, although there are still many pod cartridges with integrated resistors or even integrated resistors and e-liquid, also known as puffs. Pods are designed for vape beginners.

After that, things become more complex. A clearomizer is a non-rebuildable atomizer, and a dripper is a kind of tankless atomizer.*

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CLEAROMIZERS AND ATOMIZERS

Confused? Let's refocus, and start by determining the difference between a clearomizer and an atomizer.

A clearomizer and an atomizer are pretty much the same thing. The atomizer has a mounting plate that allows you to create your own resistors, whereas the clearomizer has no mounting plate. The resistor is disposable and is inserted directly into its slot in the tank.

Clearomizers

Clearomizers are recommended for beginners. In fact, a good knowledge of electronic cigarette technology is required to use rebuildable equipment. It's the most popular choice among vapers, especially first-time vapers. The clearo is much simpler to use. All the vapoteur has to do is insert the disposable resistor and change it when it becomes damaged (approximately every 10 to 20 days, depending on the vaping rhythm). The resistor slides into its slot in the tank and heats and vaporizes the juice. A clearomizer consists of a drip tip (mouthpiece), a reservoir (usually Pyrex), a pre-mounted disposable resistor, and a base fitted with a screw thread.

Who is it recommended for?

As mentioned above, it is highly recommended for novices who have no particular knowledge of physics or at least resistance assembly. Secondly, it's aimed at all vapors who don't have the time or inclination to get bogged down in calculations and coil assembly.

Atomizeurs

An atomizer is a rebuildable clearomizer, i.e. it's made up of a mounting plate used to build its own resistance using coil and cotton. This step requires a certain amount of expertise, as you need to know Ohm's law to match the battery. It also requires the purchase of raw materials such as cotton for the wicks, wire for the coil, and accessories. The essentials include cutting pliers, an ohmmeter to calculate the resistance value, ceramic-tipped pliers and the coil rod to make the right diameter resistance.

But it's the atomizer that provides the most faithful rendering of flavors. You determine your own settings, so you can adapt your vape to your eliquid and vice versa.

Rebuildable atomizers (RBAs) can take three forms:

Firstly, there are RTA or Rebuildable Tank Atomizers. These have a glass or resin Pyrex tank screwed to a mounting plate. They look very similar to clearomizers, and if you're just starting out in the rebuildable field, this is a good place to start.

Drippers

Finally, we come to drippers, which are rebuildable atomizers that are a little unusual. They don't have tanks. They come in two forms:

- RDA rebuildable atomizers, also known as drippers: what makes them special? They have no tank. It's an atomizer fitted with a mounting plate for the hand-made resistor. To vapot on a dripper, the user must inject eliquid regularly onto the cotton of the resistor to avoid a dry hit. The dripper may seem more restrictive than an atomizer with a tank, but the flavour rendering is very intense and faithful to what the juice maker wanted to provoke. Two dripper versions are available: cloud drippers and flavor drippers.

- RDTA or Rebuildable Dripping Tank Atomizers: here we have a dripper with a small tank to hold a tiny reserve of eliquid. This tank is positioned below the mounting plate so that only the cotton dips into it and is soaked by the eliquid. Flavor reproduction is optimal.

Vape enthusiasts often own several electronic cigarettes. The more expert prefers rebuildable and vary between atomizers and drippers. As the dripper wick needs to be soaked regularly, it is more demanding throughout the day. The latter is used more for moments dedicated to vape pleasure.