Many of us enjoy the luxury of our vaping without bothering to understand what goes into our little gadgets that deliver all the wonderful flavours we enjoy. Well the first thing you need to know is that vaping devices work through a process of vaporisation
Vaporization is celebrated in many circles for how it effectively releases the active ingredients of dry tobacco or herbs while filtering out the unwanted elements produced during combustion. This gives you a cleaner and more satisfying inhale.
Commercially sold vaporizers commonly accomplish vaporisation through one of two methods – Convection and Conduction. But there are also available vaporizers that make use of both convection and conduction to a degree. But typically, most vaping devices depend primarily on one of the two methods.
A heating element is used in both convection and conduction vaping devices but how the device operates and makes use of heat to combust herbs, concentrates, e-liquids, and other materials is where they differ.
Below is a summary of how the operation of conduction differs from convection:
Convection
The heating element most vaping enthusiasts and consumers are most familiar with is the convection oven or system. The convection process occurs by heating the air around an object and thus baking it to emit vapours. This is very similar to how your typical oven works when you toss in your turkey or dough and turn it on to let the oven’s hot air bake it.
Because of how large most convection ovens are, you tend to often find them installed in desktop vaporizers which are larger and generally designed for home or stationary usage, but there are some portable vapes that carry convection ovens.
A vaping device with a convection system gives you more control over temperature settings than the average conduction vaporizer. This is why you can tailor the temperature settings on a convection system to heighten your vaping experience.
Due to its use of heated air rather than direct heating, convection systems give you more even vaporization as every portion of dry material inserted inside is heated simultaneously. Another favourable feature of convection systems is they tend to deliver thicker and more satisfying vapour.
Conduction
A conduction system makes use of a heating element such as a wick or coil or chamber or plate. This heating element comes in direct contact and combusts e-liquids or dry herbs placed inside – so it’s sort of like placing food on a stove. Vaping devices with a conduction system tend to be simpler devices with fewer parts and this makes them less expensive which in turn makes them the most commonly used vaping system.
Conduction vaporizers are better suited for combusting liquid materials, but there are conduction designs which also work well with dry materials like herbs and tobacco. Conduction systems often consume less energy and a unit can last for a really long time before its battery needs replacement or recharge.
Conduction systems have a quicker heat-up time and generally allow for more accurate temperature control. Heat intensity in a conduction system can be decreased or increased by simply pushing a button till you are satisfied.
So between conduction and convection, which is better?
Most health experts will agree that the correct answer to the question will always vary. Which heating method works better is dependent on the results you are looking for as well as the size and purpose of the vaporiser you are using.
According to Loto Labs, “…picking the perfect vape for you should be done based on your needs and desired results. And for you to effectively figure this out, a vaping device should be considered in its entirety, not just if it’s a convection or conduction system…”
So before picking a vape, make sure to carefully read its description to effectively determine its capability.