VV (Variable Voltage)

This term refers to an electronic cigarette that is able to deliver multiple voltages to an atomiser.

As electronic cigarettes tend to be powered by lion batteries, the majority are fixed at the voltage that the battery is designed to deliver, normally around 3.7v. Fresh from the charger they deliver 4.2v and then gradually work down to 3.2v as they discharge, and the user will notice a drop in performance as they do so. Some, like the ego, fix the voltage with a bit of electronics at a lower voltage of around 3.4v from start to finish so that this drop in performance isn’t noticeable. In either case there is nothing you can do to control the voltage.

With a Variable Voltage (VV) electronic cigarette you are able to choose the voltage that you want to use it at. On some devices you may only have 3 or 4 settings to choose from, on others you can choose any voltage between about 3.4v and 6v, in 0.1v increments. The voltage will then stay at that setting until the battery can no longer supply enough current and switches itself off.

This ability to alter the voltage allows you to fine tune the user experience to suit yourself. Higher voltages result in a warmer vapour and tends to generate more of a hit in the back of the throat, while lower voltages give a cooler and smoother smoking experience. You also get a consistent performance from full to exhausted battery.