How to charge an e-cigarette

If you’re new to vaping, you’ll probably have questions about how electronic cigarettes work and whether they might be a good option for you. Some people may be put off making the move from ordinary cigarettes to their battery-operated counterparts because of the need to charge them up. However, this shouldn’t act as a barrier to quitting smoking. Charging an e-cigarette is simple and shouldn’t cause any inconvenience in your day to day life. Just think of it like charging your phone.

In this blog, we explain exactly how to charge an e-cigarette, how long it normally takes and whether or not you can do it with a phone charger.

How do you charge an e-cigarette?

The method you use to charge your device may depend on whether you use a vape pen, vape mod or pod system and you’ll also need to factor in how hi-tech your kit is. You should always follow the instructions in the user manual you received with your device before charging.

To lower the risk of damage to your battery and prevent overheating, it’s crucial that you use the right charging cable or charger for the device you’re using. Generally speaking, when you buy an e-cigarette, you’ll receive a charging cable or battery charger included in the box. You should avoid mixing and matching your chargers and e-cigarettes as this could jeopardise the safety of your devices.

An entry-level kit should be charged using the cable that came with the e-cigarette. If you’re buying from a reputable seller, this will have been checked to make sure that it is safe and can be trusted to work reliably with your device. Entry-level kits tend to have an internal battery with an energy capacity rating of between 500 mAh - 1000 mAh. While it is possible to charge these kinds of devices via a laptop USB port, this is not recommended. Instead, to avoid overheating, they should be charged using mains electricity, and you should always use a good quality mains plug. You simply need to plug the cable you got with your e-cigarette into the device’s charging port and, using a compatible AC adapter, connect it to the electrical mains via a wall socket.

Advanced-level kits, on the other hand, tend to come with a removable battery. While it is possible to charge this kind of battery using a micro USB or Type C cable, this is not recommended. Rather, it’s best to power these types of batteries using a separate e-cigarette battery charger that has been specifically designed for the battery you have. Some chargers can offer protection against short circuiting, overcharging and reverse polarity, among other things. Using a high quality charger that is compatible with the battery used in your device will help to safeguard your device against damage and prolong its lifespan.

A woman exhaling a large cloud of vapour.

How long do you charge an e-cigarette?

Just like with a mobile phone or tablet, the length of time it takes to charge your e-cigarette will very much depend on the specific device you have. However, to give you an idea, you can expect an all in one device with a Type C USB Fast Charge Port, such as Uwell Caliburn G2, to charge a 950mAh battery to 80% in as little as 25 minutes. This means that you shouldn’t have to worry about your device being out of use for long periods of time.

It’s best to wait until your battery has completely run out of power before charging. To protect your battery’s health and to reduce the risk of fire, you should also avoid leaving e-cigarette batteries charging overnight or unattended. Once your battery has been fully charged, you should unplug the charger from the mains. Leaving your battery charging for long periods of time unnecessarily could have a negative impact on your battery’s performance and pose a fire hazard.

Can you charge an e-cigarette with a phone charger?

If you have an e-cigarette with a USB type C onboard port, it might be tempting to reach for your phone charger to power up your device. However, this is not recommended. To keep your battery in good condition and avoid problems with overheating, it’s best to stick with the battery charging cable you got with your device as this has been specially designed for use with your specific make and model of e-cigarette.