Oil vape pens come in many shapes and sizes with an array of different features and resulting benefits to the user.  The sheer volume of options that are available on the market today can make it difficult to determine which style, what features and what specs make a specific 510 thread battery right for you.

Rather then filling a buyers guide with product reviews, we decided to compile something useful…  The most extensive buyers guide available.  This way every customer can understand what is the right product for them and why.  So whether you are a discreet oil vape connoisseur choosing your next setup, a vape shop owner looking to better educate your customers or an extractor who needs to ensure the right product for their next wholsale order, you can read on to get all the info you’ll need to ensure an optimal buying experience.

Let’s start with the basics…

 

WHAT IS A VAPE PEN BATTERY?

Oil vape pens utilize 3 major components. Oil, the atomizer, the cartridge and the battery.  The vape pen battery is the component that stores and transfers the correct amount of power to the atomizer.  In that sense, it actually does a bit more then a normal li-on battery.  It also contains the circuitry that controls the amount of power transferred, any led’s or displays to show you the power level and other features that may help you to optimize your vaping experience such as voltage adjustments.

Once it sends power to the atomizer, a wire coil or ceramic element then heats up and vaporizes the oil that is held in the vape cartridge. Simply put, the vape pen battery is the power source that stores power and manages the power transfer to the atomizer during the vaping process.

In order to have a flawless and wonderful experience with your oil vape kit, all of these components need to work together and “sing the same song”.  In the case of oil vape pens the atomizer is normally built into the cartridge, so there is not much concern between those two.  However, it is very true that not every oil will work well with every oil cartridge. Likewise, not every battery battery will work well with every cartridge and some may not even fit correctly.

Unlike a cartridge, a battery may be able to be used for years without issue, where as even the best cartridges are only recommended to be refilled 2-3 times tops if at all.

 

BATTERY SPECS:

WHAT ARE 510 THREAD BATTERIES?

The term 510 thread battery refers to a universal thread design that doesn’t really have a basis in any technical aspects of the thread itself.  Sometimes called an ego thread, it is a term that is used to describe the style that has been universally adopted in the vape industry for a range of product connections.  This doesn’t mean that anything with a 510 male thread should be used with anything with a 510 female thread.  In fact it is very important to know that you are choosing the right components regardless of whether they fit together or not.

That said, it does mean that there is a ton of compatibility between cartridges and batteries and that allows many cartridge brands and battery brands to work together well.  Having the inside knowledge of pairing components will give you an edge in getting a kit that works well with many different types of store bought carts which should all have 510 threads.  I some cases a magnetic adapter is used to increase a perceived product uniqueness, however that is normally just screwing on to a 510 thread anyways.  We love 510 threads because it keeps so many vape pen products open source and allows you to customize for your best experience.

VOLTAGE EXPLAINED

Vape pen batteries come in a range of voltages and also in variable voltage styles.  The common range that you will expect to find is between 3.3v and 4.8v.  In general you should expect that any stylus or slim pen voltage will be in the range of 3.3v, they may adjust the voltage with the strength of the draw which may allow them to draw as low as 3.0v.  This is about the right voltage for the common polycarbonate style oil cartridge but it won’t have enough power to properly heat a ceramic or wickless ceramic cartridge.  These offer a higher quality vapor and require voltages in the range of 3.7 or higher.  Finding the right voltage will depend on the resistance from the atomizer to reach the optimal temperature which is from 280* to 350* for most oils.  Lower voltage means more pure vapor but a lighter hit, so always start low and work your way up.  Voltage numbers don’t tell you whether it’s a better product, they just tell you whether it is the right product for your cartridge and vice versa.

 

MAH EXPLAINED

We always hear, “how long does this pen stay charged for?”.  Well the simple way to know is by looking at the Mah rating (milliamp hour).  This essentially tells us, how much power can a battery supply and for how long before requiring a charge.  Generally a vape pen battery will provide between 280-900 mah.  The high rating of a 900 mah is normally reserved for high voltage or high resistance kits such as a wax pen battery.

 

CHARGERS EXPLAINED

While no one can explain why the football team left San Diego for LA, we can explain plenty about vape pen chargers.  First off, it is extremely important to use the charger provided with your vape battery and to use a normal usb charger rather than a rapid charger.  Trying to cut corners can damage a lithium ion battery and fry either the processor or the battery itself.  Avoid using your phones rapid charger and opt for a normal usb port, wall adapter or car charger.  It’s important to match the voltage of your charger with your battery.

Some vape batteries will come with higher voltage or amperage chargers then others.  If you have questions about replacing a charger contact us for help choosing the right one for your battery.

 

GETTING THE RIGHT CARTRIDGE

There are many aspects that go into choosing the right oil vape cartridge.  Keep an eye out for our next guide on choosing oil vape cartridges.  Until then heres a 2 mile view:

There are essentially four generations of oil vape cartridges.  The first being the classic polycarbonate or plastic vape cartridge, this generally works best on a low voltage battery. The second generation is a glass vape cartridge which utilizes a similar design with a glass casing and a higher quality design.  These work best in the range of 3.3 to 3.7 volts.  The third removes the wire coil in place for a ceramic heating element that heats the wick.  The proper voltage for this model is in the range of 3.5 to 4.0 volts.  Finally, the fourth generation is a wickless ceramic cartridge which contains a coil less ceramic heating element that does not use a wick for the oil. We recommend using a battery that can drive at least 3.7 + volts.  Ideally a variable voltage battery or a fixed 3.7 volt should be paired with the industry leading wickless ceramic cartridges.

 

VAPE BATTERY QUALITY FACTORS

The difference between a high quality battery and a low quality battery can be exceptionally hard to tell from a buyers perspective.  This is true for every type of battery.  The fact is, there are many manufacturers making batteries of many different quality components and many of them look the same.  A higher quality vape battery is going to give you more charges, consistent power ratings and hold a charge for longer.  The best way to discern whether you are looking at a high quality battery or not is whether the seller stands behind the product.  Since it is difficult to show the quality by opening up a battery to see whats on the inside, we offer a lifetime warranty on almost every battery that we sell.  Some of our higher powered batteries receive a one year warranty since they are put under more rigorous usage.

We hear stories from customers that come to us and say they have a drawer full of batteries and they don’t want to buy any more.  That makes sense because many have cheap components.  We usually tell them to throw them all out and get one with a warranty.

TYPES OF VAPE PEN BATTERIES

BUTTONLESS STYLUS BATTERY

Sometimes referred to as an auto draw or slim vape pen, this is the most common vape pen that you will find.  These vary the voltage depending on the strength of your draw and are activated only when being hit.  Generally the voltage limit is 3.3 volts.  They should only be charged with the charger provided as they run lower voltage and should be charged at a slower amperage.

Common buttonless pens are filled with cheap components and can’t be relied on for long term usage.  Be sure to find something high quality, with a warranty or be prepared to replace them frequently.

Benefits:

• Easy to operate
• Low voltage for smooth puffs
• Compatible with 1st and 2nd generation cartridges
• Looks like an e-cig
• Can hold a charge for many days

Specs: 3.3 Volts, 280 Mah

Charging: Only use provided chargers – 5.0 volts input, 5.0 volts output, 120 mah

Cartridge recommendations: Poly carbonate Cartridges, Plastic oil cartridges, Glass Cartridges,

 

BUTTONLESS VAPE BATTERIES (FIXED VOLTAGE)

The next rung up the buttonless vape pen battery ladder, in our opinion is the fixed voltage buttonless battery.  This runs on 3.7 volts and is perfect for running a wide variety of cartridges.  Many people prefer the ease of use as there is no battery, no need to turn it on or off with multiple button clicks and it ensures that there is no way for it to turn on in your pocket.  These come in a variety of colors, kits and volumes and are often paired with higher quality oils and cartridges.

Benefits:

• More powerful
• Longer life per charge
• Easy to operate
• Works with all cartridges

Specs: 3.7 volts, 400 mah

Charging: Only use provided chargers – 5.0 volts input, 5.0 volts output, 150 mah

Cartridge recommendations: Poly Carbonate, Plastic, Ceramic, Wickless Ceramic

 

VAPE BATTERIES WITH BUTTON (FIXED VOLTAGE)

The flexible buttonless fixed voltage battery has a close relative with an extra feature, this is the button activated model of the premium 3.7 volt vape pen battery.  The ability to control the flow of power to the atomizer and the the ability to fully shut off the pen from operation are features that some users like to have.  With this, the pen can be activated intermittently as you take a longer pull and completely turned off if it is in your pocket.

Benefits:

• On/Off control
• Works with all cartridges
• Control over flow of power

Voltage: 3.7 volts, 400 mah

Charging: Only use provided chargers – 5.0 volts input, 5.0 volts output, 150 mah

Cartridge recommendations: Poly Carbonate, Plastic, Ceramic, Wickless Ceramic

 

VARIABLE VOLTAGE VAPE BATTERIES

For the ultimate in power management and battery function, we recommend considering a variable voltage vape battery.  By using a dial or selecting voltages through a button clicking function, you are able to literally “dial in” your voltage and the correlating atomizer temp.  This means no matter what cartridge or oil you have you can make these batteries get you a great puff.  Anything ranging from a light taste with terps to a heavy hit with a bigger cloud can be attained using these batteries.  Variable voltage vape pens come in a number of different shapes and sizes as well.  See our models here.

Benefits:

• Widest range of compatibility
• On/off control
• Longer life

Voltage: 3.3v – 4.8v, range from 300 mah to 400 mah

Charging: Only use provided chargers – 5.0 volts input, 5.0 volts output, 150 mah

Cartridge recommendations: any vape cartridge, Poly Carbonate, Plastic, Ceramic, Wickless Ceramic