October 9, 2025

Understanding Vape Kit Components

When someone steps into the world of vaping for the first time, one of the most confusing things is looking at a box labelled “vape kit” and wondering What’s Inside a Vape Kit? It is more than just a device to inhale vapour. Each kit is made up of multiple parts, each performing a role in delivering your flavour and satisfying your nicotine needs. In this Vape Kit Components Guide we want to demystify all those parts, so you can understand how vape kits work and feel confident in choosing or maintaining one.

At Tidal Vape we see many customers who are unsure what exactly they are getting, or what the parts are called. Our aim is to write this from our perspective, so you know we care about clarity and reliability. By the time you finish this guide, you’ll have a much clearer view of Understanding Vape Kit Components. You will know what each part does, how they interact, and what to watch for when something ceases working.

We will also highlight some real products you can find at Tidal Vape to illustrate the parts in practice. Our shop carries a wide range of kits and accessories so that when you read “Vape Kit Parts Explained,” you can see exactly what those parts look like and how they function. Let’s start by looking at the heart of any kit: the device or mod.

Device / Mod (The “Engine” of the Kit)

Every vape kit includes a body or base device often called the mod or main unit. This is where the battery, wiring, display (if present), chipsets and controls live. In short, this is the “engine” that powers the rest of the system. Without this component, there is no power source to heat the coil and turn e-liquid into vapour.

Inside the mod you will often find a chipset or board that regulates power, reads resistance, monitors safety features (like short circuit, overheat, low battery), and sometimes offers modes (variable wattage, temperature control, bypass). These chipsets can vary in sophistication. Simpler kits use fixed output or basic regulation, while advanced kits have screens, menus, and custom settings.

Battery is a key element of the device. Some kits use built-in batteries (non-removable) while others use replaceable cells (e.g. 18650, 21700). Built-in batteries simplify things for beginners, but replaceable ones give more flexibility and longer life if you keep spares. The battery must deliver sufficient current to the coil without sagging under load.

Key roles and attributes of the device/mod:

Houses the battery and delivers power to the coil
Contains the control system (chipset) for settings and safety
Provides user interface (buttons, screen, LEDs)
Connects and secures the pod, tank or cartridge

Examples from Tidal Vape:

OXVA Xlim 3 Ultra – compact pod system with advanced UI
Uwell Caliburn G4 Classic – simpler coil/pod system

Tank / Pod / Cartridge (Vapour Chamber)

Connected to the device is the component that holds e-liquid and houses the coil(s). Depending on your kit, this might be called a tank, pod or cartridge. This is the part that actually turns liquid into vapour. The naming is sometimes interchangeable, but generally:

A tank is refillable and often glass + metal with a replaceable coil
A pod tends to be a plastic or PCTG container more compact and sometimes with integrated coil or replaceable pod cartridges
A cartridge is often used interchangeably with pod, especially in closed systems

The tank or pod includes several sub-components:

Chamber / reservoir: holds your e-liquid. The capacity may vary (e.g. 2 ml, 3 ml, 5 ml).
Filling port or mechanism: top fill, side fill, slide fill etc.
Airflow control: adjustable slots or holes that allow more or less air into the vapour path, affecting draw resistance, vapour volume and flavour.
Connection to device: magnetic, press-fit, screw, or plug connections.

When you inhale or press the firing button, air travels through the airflow path, picks up vapour from the coil, and delivers it to your mouth. The design of the pod or tank matters greatly for flavour, vapour amount, and prevention of leaks.

What to watch for in a pod or tank:

Ease of filling (how simple it is to refill without spillage)
Sealing and gasket quality (to avoid leaks)
Airflow control range (narrow for mouth-to-lung or wide for direct lung)
Compatibility with coils (some pods use integrated coil, some allow change)

Coil / Heating Element

This is a crucial component. The coil (or heating element) is the part that heats up when electricity passes through it, turning e-liquid into vapour. Without a functioning coil, the kit does nothing but sputter. The coil sits inside the pod or tank, usually submerged (partially) in e-liquid.

Coils come in different resistances, measured in ohms (Ω). Lower resistance coils heat faster and hotter, giving stronger vapour and richer flavour. Higher resistance coils are cooler and more conservative on battery and e-liquid usage. Common ranges include:

High resistance (e.g. 0.8 Ω, 1.2 Ω) for MTL (mouth-to-lung) style
Low resistance (e.g. 0.15 Ω, 0.3 Ω) for direct lung / sub-ohm vaping

Other coil features include:

Mesh: many modern coils use a mesh sheet instead of a round wire. Mesh gives more surface area, more efficient heating, and better flavour.
Dual / triple coil: some coils use multiple heating elements inside the same coil housing for more vapour output.
Wicking material: cotton, ceramic or other fibres that draw liquid from the tank into the coil area by capillary action.

Coils wear out with time. When you experience burnt taste, diminished vapour or odd flavour, that is usually a sign that you need a replacement coil (or replace the pod if the coil is integrated). Always prime (wet) the coil before using it.

Important coil considerations:

Match coil resistance to your style (MTL vs DTL)
Use correct power range (wattage / voltage) rated for the coil
Prime coil before first use
Replace coil when flavour degrades

Battery / Power System

While battery was touched on in the device/mod section, this part deserves special attention. A kit’s performance largely depends on its battery system and power delivery. Understanding this component helps you avoid poor performance or safety issues.

In kits with built-in batteries, the manufacturer will specify capacity (mAh), charge speed (e.g. 5V/2A) and usually battery life. A 1500 mAh battery may last a day or more in moderate use; more power demand, more drain. Fast charging helps reduce downtime.
In modular kits with removable cells, quality of the battery cell matters a lot. An 18650 battery from reputable brands performs better and more safely than a cheap unknown brand. Always respect the continuous discharge rating (CDR) and never push a battery beyond its limits. Use an external charger for safety if possible.

The power system includes wiring, connectors, voltage regulators or boosters, and the chipset which ensures stable power. These systems must protect against short circuits, overcurrent, overheating, overcharging and low voltage.

Battery / power system tips:

Use high quality, authentic batteries if removable
Never overcharge or leave a battery unattended while charging
Be aware of your usage pattern — high wattage means more drain
Understand what your kit’s safety protections cover

Guide: Battery Safety for Vape Kits

User Interface & Controls

Many modern kits have user interfaces (UI) through which you control settings, modes and monitor performance. Others are very simple (“draw activation”) with minimal controls. The UI element is what lets you interact with your vape kit beyond “just inhale.”

Common features include:

Buttons: e.g. fire, plus/minus for adjustment
Screen: e.g. OLED or TFT displays that show wattage, battery, resistance, coil life etc
Menus and modes: variable wattage, bypass mode, smart mode, temperature control (if supported)
Lock / safety features: screen lock, child lock, passcode, timeouts

A good UI helps you tweak performance, monitor coil / battery health, and alert you to problems (e.g. short, low battery). But simplicity can be valuable too. Some vapers prefer minimal controls to avoid confusion.

UI / control pointers:

A clear screen and intuitive menu reduces errors
Shortcut or smart modes help new users
Lock features prevent accidental changes
Well-designed button layout aids usability

Airflow & Vapour Path

While we mentioned airflow in the pod/tank section, the airflow system and vapour path deserve their own ground. This part controls how air moves through the device, how vapour travels, and ultimately how smooth or restrictive your draw is.

Airflow systems typically consist of adjustable slots or holes that let air enter the tank/pod area. More open airflow gives more vapour and a cooler vape; tighter airflow gives more resistance and sometimes better flavour for MTL users.
Vapour path is the route taken by the air once it enters: through the coil area, into the chimney or inner tube, and out via the mouthpiece. The design of the path (diameter, length, bends) affects the flavour, throat hit, and vapour volume.

Designers must balance these for leak prevention, ease of manufacture, vapour quality and noise (sometimes a noisy draw can be a sign of poor airflow design).

What good airflow and vapour path deliver:

Smooth draw, not too harsh
Control over vapour amount
Minimal turbulence or whistling
Reduced leaking by optimising seals and paths

Seals, Gaskets & O-rings

Small as they are, these parts play a critical role in preventing leaks and ensuring airflow control. Sometimes when a kit starts leaking, the culprit is a worn seal, faulty gasket or damaged O-ring.

You find these seals around the mouthpiece, filling port, pod connection, coil base, airflow slots, and more. The material is typically rubber, silicone or Viton (a more heat and chemical resistant material). Over time they degrade, lose flexibility, or tear.

Good kits include spare O-rings or gaskets in the box. It is wise to keep those safe, as replacing them is often cheaper and easier than replacing the pod or tank. Always lubricate them lightly when reassembling to preserve the seal.

Seals & gasket checklist:

Always inspect O-rings when reassembling
Keep spares from your kit box
Lubricate briefly (with e-liquid) before refitting
If leaks start, seals are among the first things to check

Guide: Preventing Leaks in Your Vape Pod or Tank

Wiring, Connectors & Fasteners

Though not always obvious, internal wiring and connectors make the parts talk to each other, the battery provides power, the coil heats, the UI reads resistance, etc. Bad wiring, poor solder joints or loose connectors can cause intermittent failure or shorts.

Common connector types include:

510 connectors (standard in many kits)
Magnetic pod connectors (some pod systems use magnets to hold the pod)
Press-fit connections (pods or cartridges simply push in)
Screw or threaded connectors on tanks

Fasteners (screws, clips) hold parts together. When servicing a kit you may need to access the internals (rarely for user), so poorly secured fasteners make repair harder and less stable.

While most users won’t meddle inside much, knowing that these parts exist helps explain why a kit might fail if dropped or overused.

Connector & wiring considerations:

Use clean, solid connections, corrosion or debris causes problems
Avoid over-tightening screws which might strip threads
Magnetic connections need good contact surfaces
Be careful when disassembling to preserve wiring integrity

A few from Tidal Vape

At Tidal Vape we offer many kits that illustrate how these components are put together in real world devices. Here are some examples you might encounter in our catalogue or in our stores:

Our OXVA Xlim 3 Ultra kit demonstrates how a compact pod system can still carry a full set of smart UI, adjustable airflow, and a full spectrum of vape kit components all packed into a light form.
We carry the Uwell Caliburn G4 Classic, which uses refillable pods with different resistance options and shows how a simpler coil / pod system works in practice.
In all our kits, you’ll see each of these components in action: the battery and chipset in the mod, the pod or tank section, the coil, the airflow slot, O-rings and seals, interface buttons or screens.

When you shop with us at Tidal Vape (either in person or online at tidalvape.co.uk) you can often view disassembled or see through options so you spot each part visually. Our staff are also ready to explain “What’s Inside a Vape Kit” hands-on.

When you order from our site, many kits come with spare O-rings, extra coils, and documentation that names and explains each part. We believe in transparency so our customers understand exactly what they are buying.

How Vape Kits Work (Putting It All Together)

Now that you know each component in a vape kit, let’s explain how they actually work together step by step:

When you press the fire button (or inhale, depending on activation), the battery sends power through the wiring and connectors to the coil.
The chipset monitors resistance of the coil and modulates power (if variable), ensuring safe operation.
The coil heats up, the design of the wicking material ensures liquid is drawn into the coil chamber.
Air enters via the airflow slots, passes over or through the coil, picks up the vapour, and travels through the vapour path to your mouth.
You see information on the screen (battery level, wattage, resistance), adjust settings as needed, and the seals and gaskets prevent leaks at every junction.

Each component must do its part well. A poor seal or worn gasket can break the system even if the battery and coil are fine. A bad coil or weak wiring can ruin your experience no matter how elegant the UI.

If something is wrong like a burnt taste, weak draw, leaks, no vapour then you can often trace it to one of these parts (coil, seal, battery, connectors). Understanding vape kit components helps you diagnose rather than blame the entire device prematurely.

Maintenance Tips & Troubleshooting

Knowing the parts is half the battle; keeping them in good condition is the other half. Here are some tips:

Always prime new coils or pods with a few drops of e-liquid before firing
Replace coils when flavour weakens or vapour drops
Inspect and lubricate O-rings when refilling or reassembling
Use appropriate wattage for coil range
Use quality batteries (if removable) and avoid over discharging
Clean connector pins occasionally to ensure good electrical contact
Store your kit upright to reduce leaking risks
At first sign of leak, inspect seals and pod/tank insertion
If the device fails to fire, check battery level, resistance reading and connection

By doing simple maintenance you can extend the life of each component and avoid unnecessary replacement of entire kits.

Guide: Vape Maintenance

Why Tidal Vape Puts Transparency First

As a UK vape shop with high standards, Tidal Vape prides itself on educating customers about their gear. We believe understanding is power - when you know Vape Kit Components and What’s Inside a Vape Kit, you make better choices.

Here is how we reflect that commitment:

When you browse kits on our site, we provide full specification and often exploded views or diagrams
Our physical stores (e.g. in Southampton area) allow you to handle kits and see how parts fit
Every kit comes with spares (O-rings, coils) so customers see parts and replacements
Our staff training emphasises explaining components and maintenance
We maintain a blog and guides (like this one) to support decision making

We want customers to feel empowered, not dependent when they buy vaping gear from us. We are here to supply, support and teach, not just sell.

Final Thoughts

Understanding Vape Kit Components transforms a confusing box into an understandable tool. Once you grasp how devices, pods, coils, airflow systems, seals and wiring come together, you can spot good quality kits, troubleshoot problems, and maintain your gear better.

When you shop with Tidal Vape you are not just buying gear, you are entering a community that values transparency, support and smart vaping. Browse our kits today, ask our staff about pod & tank parts, and make a choice from informed knowledge.

If you’d like help identifying your current kit’s component or selecting one that matches your style, drop us a message or visit tidalvape.co.uk, we’re happy to guide you further.