Vaping is a lot more popular than smoking tobacco these days, and it’s easy to see why. The smell doesn’t get on your clothing and there are different flavors to try. However, to get vaping, you are going to have to charge your vape.
Curious about how you should do it? Well, there are several methods. We’ll discuss each one here.
Do all vape devices need to be charged?
One thing that you may need to remember is that many disposable vapes do not need to be charged. The vape pens and electronic cigarettes you get at a gas station are actually meant to be “puff and go” in many cases.
Once the disposable device runs out of battery juice, you may toss it out and buy another. To find out if the device you used falls into that category, check the box or ask a customer service rep if you need to charge them.
PRO TIP – Most vaping devices and vape pens that require charging will come with a USB cable, a USB port charger, or some other type of charging cable with the actual vape. No external charger means it’s fully disposable.
Quick discussion about the vaping industry as a whole
While we can talk about all the different methods of charging a vape that is currently present in the vaping industry, it’s important to remember that every vaping device is different. What works for one won’t work for another.
The best way to charge a vape is to read the instructions that come along with it. Most vape companies will include an instruction booklet with it. If you can’t find it, log on to the manufacturer’s site to see how your vape should be charged. Instructions should be there.
If worse comes to worst, then you may need to call up their customer service line. It’s important to remember that improperly charging a vape can permanently break it and void any warranty you have on it. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
How Do You Charge A Vape?
It’s important to remember that different vapes will have different charging methods. We’ll go through the most common type of chargers so that you get the best results possible.
1. USB Port
Credit: vabeen
A vape device with a USB-C charging port can be charged by plugging a charger cable into the battery. You can actually charge your vape pen’s battery by plugging the cable into your laptop or an external charger with a USB port.
Most USB charger vapes will have a blinking light that turns into a green light when fully charged. However, this isn’t a universal rule. Check your vape kit instructions to see what indicators show a full internal battery.
If you have a lithium-ion battery in your vape device, then you probably will need to charge it via USB Type-C or a micro-USB port.
PRO TIP – If you do a lot of commuting and want to keep your vape charged, buy a power bank that can connect from your USB cable to the vape battery. This is the smartest way to keep a charge while on the train or on the road.
2. AC Adapter
Though this type of charger has been slowly phased out, a few vape kits will still use it. This involves using an AC adapter to plug your vape into a wall. The AC adapter generally goes on the end of your vape, though this can vary depending on the vape.
If you have a box vape, search for an AC adapter hole at the bottom of the device. It’s usually close to the indicator light that tells the level of your battery.
3. Battery Replacement
Certain vape devices will actually use classic disposable or rechargeable batteries—like the ones from Duracell. To charge this vape, you will need to remove the old batteries from the battery compartment and replace them. It’s like most other electronics.
Most vape pens that use batteries use size 18650. They resemble a slightly smaller AA battery. You may need to order these batteries from a specialty store, so make sure that you are willing to work with them before you buy a new batch.
On the other hand, you can also typically recharge these batteries. To do this, place the spent batteries in an external battery charger and wait until they are fully charged.
4. The DIY Disposable Method
Technically, you can charge many disposable vape pens that do not have a power terminal or a USB port. This will require an old USB charger, tweezers, and a pair of scissors. Here’s how to do it:
- Take your scissors and pry open the bottom of your vape.
- Take out the battery and note the wire placement around the battery. If you want to, take a photo using your phone to remember how to put it back together.
- Remove the tape around the wires.
- Use your tweezers to connect the black wire and red wire of your USB charger to the pointed ends of your battery. The positive terminals need to go together, and so do the negative terminals.
- Attach the tape to the wires to hold them in place while it charges.
- After an hour or so, replace the battery in the disposable device.
PRO TIP – We do not suggest doing this unless you are very careful and have experience with electricity. You can damage the vape, cause a fire, or even get a shock if you do not act carefully. Try this at your own risk!
5. Wall Mount
Though extremely rare, some e-cigarettes and vapes have a special screw-in wall charger that requires you to have a special wall charger. To use these, you typically have to twist the threads of the e-cig or vape’s power charging portion into the wall mount plug.
Vape devices that use a wall mount screw-in charger will have the charger included as a part of their kits. If your device didn’t come with a wall mount kit that literally plugs your device directly into the wall, then this isn’t the right charging method for you.
How long does it take to charge a vape properly?
Credit: jointhevapelife
The time it takes to fully charge a vape device can vary greatly depending on the model, make, and battery life of your device. Most devices will need to have between two to four hours of charging time before they’re fully juiced.
Most vape devices also come with a failsafe that helps prevent them from overcharging. However, not all do. If you notice that your vape is fully charged, unplug it from the charging station immediately. This helps lengthen the life of your battery immensely.
What’s the best type of vape charging method to buy?
This is a toughie. Most people tend to find the USB-based vape systems on the market to be the most reliable. Everyone has a USB charger on them, and everyone has already used a USB charger to power something they own.
USB cables and USB adapters are easy to find, even if you don’t get them in your vape kit. You can usually grab a charging system at a local gas station or convenience store. They are also affordable, so you don’t have to worry about being overcharged for batteries.
What should you do if your vape’s battery no longer holds a charge?
Test to see if your charging kit is not working. If it is working well, then you may have to get a new vape battery or a new vape altogether. Unfortunately, all vapes are going to eventually go bad. A bad battery is usually a sign that time’s out for your vape.
If your vape pen is new and doesn’t have a removable battery or a charging port, then you might want to contact the store you bought it from. They may be willing to give you a refund or an exchange, depending on your situation.
If the store doesn’t offer up a good solution, you can also contact the manufacturer with a complaint. At the very least, you may be able to help them prevent that for others in the future. At most, you might get a free vape!
In conclusion…
You usually can charge a vape by plugging it into the proper charging port or wall charger. If you don’t have a chargeable vape, then you may need to replace its batteries, hack it to make it charge, or just throw it out.
Vapes are best treated the way that the instructions they came with, even if they are not identical to what you would want to do. After all, designers made those instructions for a reason, right?
