Vape pens are the new trend. According to statistics, vape pen use among young people has increased by 1,800%, and the numbers only seem to be getting bigger. The growing popularity has led to a market bloom of various vaping products.

Vapes are a modern way of smoking. Vape users don’t have to carry a lighter since the device is battery-powered. However, a downside is that the batteries run out after a series of uses. Here are a few vape pen charging tips to keep the burn on.

What is a Vape Pen?

A vape pen is a popular vaporizer originally meant to be an alternative to cigarettes.for many beginners. Vape pens are portable and easily fit in your pocket. Generally, there are two varieties of vape pens; Open system and closed system vape pens. The primary difference between the two is how you replenish the vaping material.

Open System Vape Pens

If you are new to vaping and want to try various flavors, then an open-system vape pen is right for you. The pens feature a refillable tank to which you can top up your sample e-liquid. However, it has a limit since your refill depends on how much e-liquid you have left in your tank.

Open system vape pens have four primary components; Atomiser, clearomizer, rechargeable device, and USB cable.

Closed System Vape Pens

Closed systems are straightforward and pretty much easy to use. These vape pens come with pre-filled e-liquid; all you need to do is activate the battery and draw in the vape. Closed systems do not have a detachable tank; instead, they have cartridges or pods that contain the vapor liquid. Additionally, closed systems have a detachable mouthpiece.

For closed systems, the bigger the battery is, the more smoke the vape pen devices generate.

Vape Pen Anatomy

A vape pen’s anatomy consists of; a mouthpiece, atomizer, chamber/cartridge, and the battery.

Mouthpiece

The mouthpiece is the tip of the vape pen and where vapor exits the device. Users typically place the tip of the vape pen on their mouth and inhale the vapor. Most vape pens have a curved mouthpiece for comfort and smooth drag.

Atomizer

The atomizer is the vape pen’s heating element. The atomizer converts the battery energy into heat and turns the vape liquid or ground flower into vapor. Smaller vapes have a series of coils that receive energy from the battery and turn red hot, heating your vape material.

Chamber/Cartridge

The chamber/cartridge holds the vaping material in liquid/oil form. Some vape pens have refillable chambers known as tanks. The non-refillable or disposable vape pens have detachable cartridges.

Some vape pens may not have a chamber, for example, smaller wax vapes. In such cases, the user uses the atomizer and places the vaping material directly. Such vapes run out faster since they can only hold a small extract load.

Vape Battery

A vape battery is a crucial component of vape pens. Generally, batteries heat the vaping material converting it into vapor. Notably, vape batteries come in a variety of shapes and sizes.

The vape market has a variety of batteries. However, there are two common battery categories: automatic and manual. Automatic cells activate after an inhale, delivering vapor to the mouthpiece. On the other hand, manual batteries require pressing a button to charge the atomizer.

Almost all vape pens use lithium-ion batteries that have a high energy density. This makes it possible for the oil vaporizer pen to convert vape material into flavorful vapor.

Notably, some vape pen batteries have variable wattage mods, allowing you to increase or decrease the battery heat.

How to Charge a Vape Pen: Internal Vs. External

Vape pen batteries come in two mods; internal and external batteries. The method of charging depends on the type of battery your vape pen has. If you’re unsure about the battery type, you can refer to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Here’s an insight on how to charge either of the two.

Internal Batteries

An internal battery is integrated into the pen and is not removable. Such batteries will have a slim or elongated design and are affixed to the cartridge. In most cases, such devices will include a Type-C or a micro-USB port for charging. Once you locate your charging port and the included charger, here is what you need to do.

Step 1: Affix the Pen to the Charger

Your vape pen will display a red light once the batteries run out of power. This is a sign that you need to recharge. First, affix your charger to an electric outlet and then connect it to your vape pen. You can use an electronic device such as a laptop, PC, or power bank for a recharge.

In most cases, the vape pen’s display turns on or changes once you begin charging. Furthermore, it is always important to use the original charger and cable accompanying your vape pens. The included USB cable comes with an ac adapter that delivers the right amount of power you the pen. Using different chargers may result in high voltage production that could cause the pen to overheat or, worse, explode.

Step 2: Monitor the LED Display

Most vape pens may take about 1-4 hours for a full charge. When charging, it is important to place your device away from flammable material to avoid fire risks.

A fully charged vape pen will either display a green light or a flashing light on its LED display.

The vape pen’s helpful guide will provide instructions on decoding the different displays.

Step 3: Unplug the Device

It is crucial to unplug your device after it is fully charged. Overcharging or undercharging may affect the life of the pen battery. Properly storing your original charger is also important to avoid any damage.

You can reattach your internal battery to the e-cigarette and resume your vaping session.

External Batteries

Vape pens with external batteries are a popular choice for cloud chasers. The batteries deliver more power to the vape pen allowing users to blow more smoke.

There are two commonly available vape batteries. These are the 18650 and the 26650 batteries. However, the 18650 is more popular owing to its fast charging and lasts longer. These batteries are bigger than the standard AA cells. However, they have a similar semblance.

Here’s how you can charge your external batteries:

Step 1: Remove the Battery

Locate the external battery side and unscrew the cap to take out the battery. You can find the cap either at the side or bottom of the vape pen. Some vape pens may have a tab or latch, which you can pull to access the cells.

Step 2: Load the Batteries into the External Battery Charger

Place your batteries inside the external charger, then connect the charger to a nearby electrical outlet. Once it turns on, arrange each battery inside the charger. The battery’s positive terminals should correspond with the external charger’s negative terminals.

Using an approved wall charger is advisable to avoid damaging the battery.

Step 3: Charge the Batteries to Full Capacity

Check the external charger’s display to monitor the battery charge levels. It may take three hours or more for your vape batteries to fully charge. However, the charging period may also vary with the battery brand and age.

More advanced models may have a “soft start “mode. It is advisable to use it to avoid high heating that could deplete your batteries faster. Furthermore, as you wait for your batteries to fully charge, ensure that you place the charger in an area with an optimal temperature range.

Step 4: Remove Batteries After a Complete Charge

Monitor your charger’s display to guide you when the batteries are adequately charged. Some advanced models may have additional information to display, such as the remaining percentage or charge duration. The vape pen’s manufacturing instructions will guide you on how to decipher the charging details.

It is important to remove your batteries once full to avoid overcharging them.

Step 5: Place Back the Batteries in the Pen

Load your vape pen battery back to the pen while paying keen attention to the arrangement. Ensure to place the terminals in an opposite manner-positive terminal to the negative terminal. If your vape pen doesn’t power on after loading your batteries, check to see whether the batteries are in the right positions.

Suppose your vape pen displays a flashing light after reloading the batteries. This could be a sign of a connection problem. You can try removing your batteries and reloading them again. Alternatively, you can opt to replace your batteries since it could also indicate their diminished capacity.

Step 6: Regularly Check Your Batteries Charge Level

Some vape pens may lack a display to notify you when you’re running out of charge. In such cases, you can load your vape pen battery into the external charger to check the level. This practice will help you avoid running out of charge while on the go. An alternative option is to carry a separate pack of charged batteries to replace those that wear out.

Step 7: Replace Batteries 

Once you notice your batteries’ capacities are running low, you must replace them immediately. The 18650 batteries typically last 300-500 charge or discharge cycles. Depending on your use, this is about 1 or 2 years of charging. High usage can substantially decrease the battery life to 200 cycles.

What to Do If Your Vape Battery Won’t Charge

If your battery fails to charge after connecting to a power outlet, the possible reason is a connectivity issue. If you’re using an external battery, try switching the cartridge. Some connectivity problems stem from individual cartridges. Changing them could make your device work properly.

If you’re using an internal battery, check to see whether there’s a crook forming that may affect the alignment of the pod and the cartridge. You can gently prick the centerpiece and place the coil back in position.

Furthermore, it could be a sign your USB charger is dead. You can source other chargers to charge your vape from vape stores or stores that major in other electronics.

When neither of the above options works, then it is a sign you need to replace your batteries.

Can You Use a Phone USB Charger to Charge Your Vape Pen?

Despite most vape pens having a charging port similar to phones, it doesn’t necessarily mean you can use a phone USB charger. Your vape pen requires little power to heat the coil. Using a different charger can cause extra power delivery to the vape pen resulting in its damage.

Therefore avoid charging your e-cigarettes using your phone charger. The same applies to using rapid chargers like vehicle adapters. A safe bet would be charging your vape pen from the USB port to a PC, power bank, or laptop.