The increasing popularity of vaping has driven rapid change. Vapers can now choose from a huge range of devices with many boasting impressive functionality. While most vapers will begin their vaping journey with a simple vape pen or pod system, intermediate and advanced vapers tend to move on to using a box mod. This is because vape mods offer the ability to customise your vaping experience.

You will discover an exciting collection of vape mods here at TMB Notes including the latest models from Eleaf, Geekvape, OBS and Uwell. But if you are just getting started, how do you choose the right equipment? Here’s our guide to vape mods to help you find a device that suits your knowledge and desired vaping style.

What are vape mods?

Take just a few minutes to explore your vaping options and you will see a dizzying array of devices offering many different benefits. It’s all too easy to become confused both by the sheer breadth of choice and the technical specifications of the equipment. As safety is an issue, it is vital that you choose an electronic cigarette that you fully understand how to use. Mods have moved on significantly since the first equipment came to market and you now have much to consider.

E cigs basically all work the same way. They feature a reservoir of e-liquid, a coil and a battery. The battery heats the coil which vaporises the eliquid. Mods are housings for batteries which feature circuitry that gives you a variety of functions. Your mod should be connected to a vape tank. There are many tanks to choose from. You could also invest in a complete kit which includes a mod, a tank and useful accessories. There are vape kits to complement all vaping styles including mouth to lung and direct to lung vaping. Check out our exciting vape starter kits and box mod kits.

Mechanical Mods

The term mod is short for modification. Early e cigs were often modified by vapers using components from other devices. Vapers were seeking options which weren’t being offered by manufacturers at the time. The modifications delivered enhanced power, longer battery life and more stylish aesthetics. Manufacturers soon realised that there was a demand for more complex devices and began to produce the equipment that vapers were looking for.

Mechanical mods are so called because they do not feature the circuitry that you will see in most of the latest mods and therefore have no safety features to protect you. These unregulated devices must be used with great caution and should only be handled by experienced vapers who understand what they are doing. With mechanical mods, the power from the battery travels to the coil without any alteration and that can be very dangerous.

With a low voltage battery, it’s possible to have a coil build that your batteries are unable to fire. It’s equally possible to use a battery with a voltage too high for your coil’s resistance. This will result in a catastrophic event which could involve an explosion.

Regulated Mods

Regulated box mods vary dramatically in the functionality, power output and settings that they offer. They enable you to make adjustments in order to tailor your vaping experience but boast the circuitry that provides a number of safety features. In other words, these devices step in and cut the power when they sense danger.

The simplest regulated mods offer just a few power settings and an LED light which indicates the setting selected. The more complex devices give you many more choices and boast OLED screens which provide the information you need regarding your settings and battery life remaining. Mods variously enable you to adjust your wattage, voltage and temperature. Some offer the ability to set a pattern for the power output and this is called Custom Curve Mode.

Power level

Variable Wattage and Variable Voltage modes give you the ability to adjust the output of your mod. The equipment will then keep this output stable. You will also find mods which have a By-pass mode. This by-passes the power regulation and so gives you the full output of the battery. Here, you must make sure that you do not place excessive stress on the battery.

Temperature Control

Mods featuring Temperature Control Mode enable you to adjust the temperature that your coils will heat to. The chip in the device takes the cold resistance reading of the coil and the material it is made from and then calculates the temperatures that the coil will heat up to at each power output. The chip will adjust the output automatically to achieve your desired temperature and keep it stable.

The advantages of regulated mods

Most vapers favour regulated mods because they are relatively easy to use while providing safety protections. However, it remains necessary to ensure that you don’t overly stress the batteries. Malfunctions in the board or chip can still occur.

Regulated mods are available in a wonderful array of sizes and looks. The various devices offer almost unlimited combinations of functionality, modes and safety features. There are such diverse mods to choose from that you are certain to find the equipment which perfectly suits your style and your understanding. Only you can decide whether a simple mod which requires minimal adjustment is right for you or whether you would prefer something more complex boasting a touchscreen.

Some mods have advanced screens with lighting effects and graphics. The bling won’t impact your draws but there’s a feel-good factor with a funky device that you might enjoy.

Squonk Mods

Squonking is a new way to maximise flavour. Squonk mods deliver performance similar to that of a rebuildable dripping atomizer (RDA). With an RDA, you drip liquid directly into your atomiser, but this can be messy and fiddly. Squonking removes the need to drip each time you want to take a puff. Squonk mods are bottom-feeding devices which hold your e-liquid supply inside the mod. They enable you to directly feed e-liquid to the atomizer. The mods boast small openings known as squonk holes that you squeeze to saturate the wick.

Mod batteries

Mods are powered by rechargeable batteries. These may be integrated or removeable (cells).

Integrated batteries

With integrated batteries, you simply connect your device to a power source with the included charging cable when the battery needs charging. These devices feature an appropriate battery and so you don’t need to concern yourself with choosing the right one. However, once the battery reaches the end of its life, your device is essentially defunct.

Removeable batteries

Removeable batteries can be charged independently of your device. This means that if you run out of charge, you can simply pop a replacement set of batteries into your mod while the others recharge. When the batteries cease to function, you can replace them rather than having to replace your entire device. External batteries will require an investment in an appropriate charger.

It is important to choose a compatible external battery or batteries for your mod. Batteries are rated by their capacity (mAh rating) and amps (current handling). Batteries with a higher Milliamp Hours (mAh) rating tend to have a lower discharge rate. This makes them most suited to lower wattage devices. Batteries with lover mAh ratings will usually have higher discharge ratings. This makes then more suitable for higher wattage devices. The most popular removeable battery is the 18650. Most mods are compatible with this type of battery.

Many mods are powered by two or more batteries. These may run in series or in parallel. When batteries run in series, the voltage is doubled but the mAh remains the same. When two batteries run in parallel, both the voltage and the amperage are doubled. Batteries in series give you more enhanced power with less battery life while parallel set-ups deliver less power but more battery life.

Never forget that battery safety is paramount.

Choosing your mod

In choosing your mod you will need to think about what modes and functionality you really need. There is little point in purchasing an expensive device that offers modes that you are unlikely to ever use. You should also take your level of understanding into account when considering an unregulated mod. Fitting the wrong battery, fitting a battery incorrectly or operating the device incorrectly could result in a dangerous explosion. Are you looking for fabulous flavour or are impressive clouds your priority? If clouds are your thing, a sub ohm set-up is essential.

The size and style of a mod may also influence your decision. Compact devices are helpful when you are out and about and can be more comfortable to hold. Who doesn’t appreciate an accessory with a funky look or one featuring a favourite colour?

You have much to think about and if you are unsure what to do, always default to a simple, user-friendly, regulated mod that you won’t find frustrating and which will keep you safe. Maybe a box mod isn’t for you. Not every vaper needs a 200W mod and the most expensive tank. For many vapers, pod kits or pen style devices are better choices.

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