People looking to buy a vape mod might feel overwhelmed by all the options. There are many styles of mods, and each style has different models with their own features, settings, and displays.
What Does “Mod” Mean in Vaping?
A mod is simply a vaporizer device, which acts as the control box for the vaping setup. The mod contains a battery, which is either built into the device or installed and replaceable. At a basic level, a mod has a battery light that shows when it needs charging. More advanced mods have screens and buttons to adjust settings like wattage and temperature.
The mod is just one part of a vape. You also need an atomizer, like a tank, cartridge, or RDA, which holds the coil and the e-liquid.This allows the mod’s power to heat up the coil, which in turn evaporates the liquid into vapor that’s inhaled through the mouthpiece.
What are the Different Vape Mods?
Box Mods
Box Mods: Box mods are the most advanced and powerful mods, and the most customizable as well. They can reach wattage levels of up to 230 watts, and the more powerful the mod, the bigger and fluffier the clouds. Box mods usually have display screens that let you observe the adjustments that you’re making to your settings. Most box mods use replaceable 18650 lithium-ion batteries, but some newer models have batteries built into the devices.
Pod Mods
Pod Mods: Pod mods are low-power devices made for salt-nicotine e-liquids, which don’t work with box mods or other types of mods. In other words, if you wish to vape a salt nic e-juice, you need to have a pod mod. These lower wattages are best for this stronger type of nicotine.
Pod mods can vary in terms of how complex they are. The most basic ones don’t have any adjustable settings and operate at a fixed wattage. Some advanced pod mods let you change power and heat, have a screen to see settings, and work with both salt nicotine and regular nicotine liquids. They are smaller than box mods, with almost all of them being pocket-friendly.
Pen Mods
Pen Mods: Pen mods are somewhere in between box mods and pod mods, except they only take freebase nicotine e-juices. Pen mods get their name from their cylindrical shape, which has a tank attached to it. They are less powerful than box mods, but can reach up to 100 watts, which is plenty for a lot of vapers. They usually have fewer settings, often using a simple dial at the tank or buttons to choose different power levels
Disposable Mods
Disposable Mods: Also called e-cigarettes, disposable mods are all-in-one devices made to be very easy to use.They have a battery that can’t be recharged and a cartridge with e-liquid. The battery usually lasts as long as the e-liquid, so when the liquid is gone, you throw the device away and get a new one. These types of devices do not have any adjustable setting options and are extremely small and lightweight.
How Do Vape Mods Work?
So, how does a mod work? Well, of course, it depends on the mod. Advanced box mods use chips to control their settings, while simple mods just send battery power to the coil to make vapor.
Some mods have a button to vape, while others work automatically when you inhale. A firing button allows you to hold down the button to produce vapor, which you can inhale as you desire. A draw-activated system requires that you pull on the mouthpiece to trigger the coil’s ability to produce vapor, and so no buttons are necessary.
Mod Care and Maintenance
Mods do need to be maintained. They should be cleaned regularly, as small leaks of e-liquid can cause a layer of gunk to develop. A weekly wipe down with a tissue dipped in isopropyl alcohol should do the trick.
And, of course, a mod can only work if its battery is charged. This is why you should charge the battery regularly as needed.
What is an E-Cig Made of?
E-cigs and other mods are usually made from strong materials. Today, zinc alloy is popular because it is both durable and lightweight.
What Type of Tank Should I Use?
Once you’ve selected a mod, you need to choose tank or cartridge. A tank is suitable for a pen mod or box mod, while cartridges are compatible with pod mods. Pick an atomizer that fits your device and is made from good materials. 
Choosing Compatible Tanks and Coils
For box mods, sub-ohm tanks usually work because they all use a 510-threaded connection. Make sure the coils in your tank match the power level you want to use—this info is usually in the product description.
When to Change Your Vape Coil
All vape coils need to be changed, as they are not made to last forever. You will know that it is time to change your vape coil when the e-liquid begins to leak or take on an unpleasant or weak taste. Most vapers change their coil once or twice a week depending on how much they vape and how high their output is set at.
