E-cigarettes are a  new product, which is why manufacturers didn’t think of a universal carrying case for keeping parts and e-liquid together. The perfect case for an e-cigarette is light and compact, one that fits into a pants pocket and carries at least a spare battery and a 10 ml bottle of e-liquid.

The homemade carrying case I’m using is an aluminum box from ALTOIDS. The metal box even comes in two sizes, both of which I find useful depending on the situation.

Basic Carrying Case for E-cigarettes

I use the smaller ALTOIDS box, the box from 20 piece ALTOIDS chewing gum, to carry one battery, one cartridge, and one atomizer, plus one 10 ml bottle of e-liquid. This carrying case, the more compact of the two, is ideal when you have to be out for a couple of hours. The case will fit into any pocket. I use a folded tissue paper as padding to keep the e-cigarette parts tightly packed and protect them from hitting each other.

Basic Carrying Case for Your E-cigarette

Travel Carrying Case for E-cigarette

When traveling, you can use the larger ALTOIDS box. If you have a super mini e-cigarette, you’ll fit as many as 4 batteries, 2 atomizers, 2 cartridges, and two 10 ml bottles—enough supplies to last you for two days without using the charger.  Remember to use a soft tissue or soft cloth as padding to protect the parts.

Of course you can choose different combinations—you’ll learn from experience what exactly to include in your metal box. In the image bellow, the box contains 2 batteries, 1 atomizer, 1 cartridge, and 1 10ml bottle of e-liquid.

Larger Case for E-cigarettes

To find out how to store your e-liquid and why I’m using a 10 ml dropper bottle , read this recent post: Tips for Storing E-liquid.

Yesterday Mark, a reader of e-cigarettepedia.com, asked me the following question:

I was wondering if it was possible to use plain water (or distilled water or perhaps a ‘home made’ mixture) in place of the e-liquid. I have seen the zero nicotine e-liquid.  I would assume that since it has zero nicotine, there is no risk of chemical addiction?  I was looking for information on atomizers, because I was trying to figure out if I could use plain water with one.

Mark’s question made me curious, so I did an experiment:

Experiment Using Water Instead of E-liquid for E-cigarettes

It’s important that I used an e-cigarette atomizer that had been used previously. Used atomizers have deposits of e-liquid that cannot be cleaned completely. And this affected my initial results.

In my experiment, I used a new cartridge, the one without e-liquid, and my super mini e-cigarette. I filled the cartridge with sink water instead of e-liquid. At first my e-cigarette worked as if it was filled with e-liquid—weaker taste, lots of smoke. But after 10 puffs, the smoke tasted more and more like pure water vapor. Ten more puffs and less and less vapor. It also became harder and harder to suck on the mouthpiece.

What Did These Results Mean?

• It is possible to use a dilute e-liquid since deposits of e-liquid in atomizer chamber and water from cartridge produced a lot of vapor.
• You can’t smoke water with your e-cigarette. The e-cigarette might produce a very small amount of water vapor, and you have to suck on your e-cigarette  like a hungry baby at her mamma’s breast.

E-liquid is a food product and has a shelf life. It is also sensitive to heat. I’ve noticed that leaving e-liquid at room temperature and leaving the bottle open spoils the e-liquid flavor and intensity (or the so called throat hit). This makes your e-cigarette taste light and stale, which spoils the pleasure of e-cigarette smoking, so much that you might soon start craving for the real cigarette smoke.

Store E-liquid in Two Different Bottles

If the e-liquid you just purchased comes in a plastic bottle, transfer it to an amber glass bottle. The dark glass does a better job protecting your e-liquid. Store the glass bottle of e-liquid in a cool, dry place—your refrigerator is the best storage place.

Large Amber Bottle for Long-Term Storing of E-liquid next to 10ml Dropper Bottle

For refilling your cartridges, get a smaller bottle to carry around during the day. I find 10 ml amber glass dropper bottle very convenient—I keep the bottle, together with the batteries, atomizer, and cartridge in a box from ALTOIDS. At night leave the small bottle in your refrigerator to keep the e-liquid fresh.

E-cigarette Parts and 10ml Dropper Bottle Fit into ALTOIDS box

E-liquid in Cartridges

E-liquid is also available in sealed cartridges. Cartridges with e-liquid make it easier for you to try new flavors. But once you find your favorite e-liquid flavors, it doesn’t make sense to keep a reserve of sealed cartridges with e-liquid. Whether sealed or opened, the e-liquid stored in a cartridge won’t stay fresh for long. Refill the cartridges with the supply of fresh e-liquid you keep in your refrigerator.

The atomizer is the heart of your e-cigarette, and you should take a good care of it if you don’t want your e-cigarette to have heart problems. The least you could do is to leave your atomizer upside down (side that connects to battery up), at night, to drain deposits of e-liquid.

I’ve researched and found many ways to get rid of the deposits that clog an e-cigarette atomizer. But, for now, I find an air compressor the most effective. Note that this article is based on two successful attempts (read the Important Notes at the end of article).

Where to Find a Portable Air Compressor for Cleaning Your Atomizer

Portable air compressors are very easy to find—just do a quick search online or go to your local Pep Boys store. Price varies from $30 to $100. You don’t need a very powerful compressor—thus the most affordable should be good enough.  The device I’m using is a portable, all-in-one power station that has a built-in air compressor. I keep it in my car. The compressor is for inflating car tires.

portable air compressor for cleaning the atomizer of your e-cigarette

Please note that this method of cleaning might not work with all models of atomizers. I tested it on the atomizer of a super mini e-cigarette.

• Take the air compressor hose and join the air outlet valve to the side of the atomizer that attaches to the battery. See how the valve and atomizer fit. If they don’t, try using the air valve fitting—the one you use to inflate your tires.

connecting e-cigarette atomizer to air outlet valve

• Start the air compressor. Force air through the atomizer’s chamber, but don’t overdo it—just enough air to get the e-liquid deposits out.  Force air only from the side of the atomizer that connects with the battery. If you use the other side of the atomizer (the one that connects to the cartridge, you risk damaging it.

Cleaning your e-cigarette atomizer with air pressure

If your e-cigarette works as good as when it was new, congratulations—you cleaned your atomizer. If it doesn’t, the problem might not be a clogged atomizer.

Important Notes:

Make sure you have a spare atomizer if you decided to try the air compressor.

The first time I used this procedure, I successfully unclogged an atomizer. I forced air through the side of the atomizer that connects to the battery, and I used the compressor for less than a minute.

The second time, my atomizer started working two days after the cleaning. I cleaned the atomizer from both sides, and I used the compressor for more than two minutes. The reason why the atomizer wouldn’t work for two days was probably because some mini part (that was supposed to be dry) got wet during cleaning. So, remember to force air through the side that connects to the battery.

Let’s try to explain the atomizer technology of the e-cigarette in plain English. The atomizer is the part of the e-cigarette that converts the e-liquid into water vapor. The atomizer is a small metal tube. Inside it, there’s a tiny c l uster of metal wires—the heating component, and a micro pump. Depending on the model of the e-cigarette, atomizers vary in shape and size.

The Process of Atomization During E-Smoking

When a smoker takes a drag from an e-cigarette, a sensor (located inside the main body of the e-cigarette) activates the circuit board (also inside the main body). The circuit board, powered by the battery, sends two electrical currents—one to the pump and one to the heating component of the atomizer. The pump forces the e-liquid through the atomizer where the heating component starts vaporizing the e-liquid.

To most people, this sounds confusing because the atomizer comes before the cartridge with e-liquid. And suction goes in opposite direction—from the atomizer to the cartridge. If you want to solve this mystery, and the mystery of scientific writing, check my source—the European patent office. Who knows, you might come up with your own atomizing device.

Atomizer is the Most Sensitive Part of an E-cigarette

Every new e-smoker, sooner or later, learns this. It’s a good idea to keep a supply of spare atomizers, because most atomizers have a short life; and if your only atomizer dies, you risk going back to conventional cigarettes.
PS: Updated June 17, 2009

The model for how the e-cigarette works comes from information I found at the website of the European Union Patent Office. Many e-cigarette enthusiasts claim there’s no micro pump and that it exists only in the patent to confuse future competition.

Miao Nan, the executive director of Ruyan. He is the Chinese equivalent of the popular character in the movie "Thank You for Smoking"

Ruyan ( or Ruyan Group Holdings Limited, based in Hong Kong) was the company that invented the e-cigarette. In 2004, Ruyan first introduced the e-cigar and the e-pipe, and in 2006 the Ruyan E-cigarette, orV8, became available on the Chinese market.

Ruyan’s Patent Wars

The company is involved in several patent lawsuits: Ruyan claims that other e-cigarette manufacturers, in China and abroad, are using Ruyan’s technology illegally. Recently the High Court in China stated that Ruyan is the rightful owner of the atomization method in e-cigarette products.

The Atomizing Technology

The ultrasonic atomizing technology, patented by Ruyan, is a method of dissolving the e-cigarette solution called e-liquid. When a smoker takes a drag on an e-cigarette, the atomizer heats up the e-liquid—this produces the water vapor or the smoke of e-cigarettes.

The Problem of Comparing E-cigarettes with Conventional Cigarettes

With every technological invention comes new vocabulary. E-cigarette and electronic cigar are examples of words borne on the winds of science; the words have proper place in the English vocabulary. But now we have two main kinds of cigarettes—e-cigarette and what?

We can’t refer to e-cigarettes and the cigarettes invented before them with the same name because they are two different things. I’m offering a number of solutions to this problem, starting with the most suitable term.

How to Talk about Conventional Cigarettes

A conventional cigarette is a cigarette made of finely cut tobacco leaves and wrapped into paper. Conventional smoking is the activity of smoking conventional cigarettes. Use the following expressions to refer to conventional cigarettes when you have to compare them with e-cigarettes:

• conventional cigarette / conventional smoking

• regular cigarette / regular smoking

• traditional cigarette / traditional smoking

• ordinary cigarette / ordinary smoking

How Did I Come Up with These Expressions

The old-fashioned way: by looking into the Roget’s Thesaurus, Merriam Webster’s Dictionary and Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English.

What Is a Typical E-cigarette Kit

An e-cigarette starter kit is the basic equipment for your new e-cigarette device. All e-cigarette sellers offer starter kits that usually include:

• 1 atomizer

• 2 batteries

• 1 charger

• 5 cartridges filled with e-liquid.

With their starter kits, some sellers may offer bottles with e-liquid, additional cartridges, or an additional atomizer.

Tip: What to Buy with Your First E-cigarette Kit

Bottle of e-liquid: you should buy at least one bottle of e-liquid. This is important because the cartridges that come with the starter kit will not last long enough—you risk going back to your old smoking habits.

Cartridges: try cartridges with different tastes and nicotine doses (some sellers include this in their starter kits). Ask sellers if they have starter kits with all their flavors and doses—even if they don’t offer the package you’d like.

Before I ordered my first e-cigarette kit, I asked the seller to include all flavors, and he did without charging extra.

Tip: Defective E-cigarettes and Seller Return Policy

E-cigarettes often come defective, my first did. I decided it’s the atomizer and the seller sent me a new one, a defective one. So, I had to purchase another starter kit from a different seller. Here’s what I learned from my mistake:

• Check seller return and exchange policy–-many e-cigarettes come with one year warranty.

• If you e-cigarette is defective (you’ll find out in the first two weeks), don’t try to figure out if it’s the batteries or atomizer. Just return or exchange the kit.

E-cigarettes are a new invention that created a unique culture with a language of its own. I did some research and found information that I think will be helpful to anyone interested in e-cigarettes. Now let’s look at the language of e-cigarettes and e-smoking, starting with the most common words and expressions:

e-cigarette (also electronic cigarette or e-cig) noun: an electronic device converts special liquid (e-liquid) into water vapor that looks like a conventional cigarette

e-smoking noun: the activity of smoking e-cigarettes or other similar devices like the electronic cigar

e-smoker noun: someone who smokes e-cigarettes or electronic cigar

conventional cigarette (also regular cigarette or traditional cigarette) noun: is a cigarette made of finely cut tobacco leaves and wrapped into paper

conventional smoking noun: the activity of smoking conventional cigarettes

e-liquid (also e-juice or smoke juice) noun: the special liquid mixture that is converted into vapor and used with e-cigarettes or electronic cigars

mouthpiece noun: the part of the e-cigarette that you put in your mouth to smoke;  most people consider this part the cartridge but the word is necessary because the actual cartridge (polyester batting stuffed in a mini tube)  is inside the mouthpiece

e-cigarette starter kit noun:  the basic equipment that comes with a new e-cigarette device, which usually includes 1 atomizer, 2 batteries, 1 charger, and 5 cartridges filled with e-liquid

throat hit noun: the sensation an e-smoker feels at the back of the throat-usually the stronger this sensation, the better because the experience becomes closer to conventional smoking

vape (synonym: to smoke) verb: to smoke e-cigarettes or electronic cigars

vaping (synonym: e-smoking) noun: the activity of smoking e-cigarettes or electronic cigars

fogger noun: an e-cigarette or electronic cigar

hot cigarette (synonym: conventional cigarette) noun: cigarettes made of finely cut tobacco leaves and wrapped into paper

hot smoking (synonym: conventional smoking) noun: the activity of smoking hot cigarettes

analog (or analogue) noun: a conventional cigarette made of paper and tobacco leaves.

This is the current vocabulary of e-cigarettes, which will change with time. I don’t think that word e-cig will survive–I just can’t see people using it in a face-to-face conversation.

The color and style of your e-cigarette are important. I’m not talking about personal taste—I’ll leave that to you. I’m talking about convenience.

E-cigarette that Looks like Hot Cigarette: Good for You, Bad for Others

My first e-cigarette was the super mini electronic cigarette, a model that came on to the market after the longer pen-style. I chose the mini because it looked and felt like a regular hot cigarette; it had similar size and color, and a gray tip that lit up in red as if burning. The mini seemed the obvious choice: I wanted my new way of smoking to be as close to the real smoking as possible.

But I never thought that smoking an e-cigarette that resembled a real cigarette will affect me socially. After all, supporters of e-smoking, including me, believe that e-cigarettes are safe, don’t cause second-hand smoking, and can be used in public places. Unfortunately, it will take time for e-cigarettes to become known to the public. I was asked to put away my mini e-cigarette on many occasions.

Once, while I was strolling around an open mall, two security guards asked me to put out my e-cigarette. The first time I explained it was an e-cigarette, but when the other guard approached me, I put the mini in my pocket. After my city—Pasadena, CA—banned smoking on public places including my favorite Coffee Bean patio, I felt uncomfortable smoking my mini e-cigarette. The mini looked so real that I could get in trouble.

What Style to Choose

Buy an e-cigarette that doesn’t look like regular cigarette to use at public places. I bought a new mini e-cigarette that was black and had an indicator light that lit up in bright blue. I stopped making a nuisance of myself in front of non-smokers—most of them think I’m using a gadget of some sort and don’t pay attention to the water vapor that comes out from my mouth.