Every vape pen or 510-thread battery needs periodic charging, and that means you need to know how to charge your vape and what type of equipment it requires. A vape pen uses a 510-thread charger or a USB charger – and in this guide, we’re going to explain everything that you need to know about both types.
Did you know that 510-thread chargers and vape pen chargers actually have pros and cons as well? Knowing how a vape pen charges is actually something that might factor into your purchasing decision when you buy a vape. Stick around to the end of the article to find out why.
Let’s learn more about the two types of vape pen chargers.
510-Thread Chargers
A 510-thread charger is a charging dongle that has a 510-thread connector on one end and a USB connector on the other end. There may or may not be a short cable between the two ends of the charger. A 510-thread charger may have an indicator light that communicates its status, or your vape pen may use its own built-in light to tell you what’s happening during the charging process.
How to Use a 510-Thread Battery Charger
To use a 510-thread battery charger, screw your vape pen into the 510-threaded end of the charger and connect the other end to your computer’s USB port. When you do this, the light on the vape pen or charger should illuminate. In most cases, the light will be either red or white. It generally takes around 30-60 minutes to charge a vape pen. When the device is fully charged, one of these three things will happen.
- The light may illuminate red while the battery charges and change to green when charging is complete.
- The light may pulse during charging and change to solid when charging is complete.
- The light may illuminate solidly during charging and turn off when charging is complete.
What to Do if a 510-Thread Charger Doesn’t Work
If a 510-thread charger either doesn’t light up or toggles quickly between red and green when you connect a vape battery, it means that the charger isn’t working. Here’s what you should do to fix the problem.
- Clean the threading. The contact point in the middle of your vape pen’s 510 threading may be contaminated with oil because a vape cartridge has leaked. The oil can prevent power from flowing to the battery through the charger. It’s also possible that some of the oil may have transferred to the charger when you connected it. You can clean the threading on the device and charger with a cotton swab and a little rubbing alcohol. Don’t try charging your vape pen again until the device and charger are both completely dry.
- Connect your vape to a different power source. You should always charge your vape pen through a computer’s USB port unless your device includes a wall charger that the manufacturer has specifically recommended. Don’t ever charge a vape pen with a “fast charge” adapter for a computer, tablet or phone.
- Replace the charger. Remember that all 510-thread chargers may not be designed to use exactly the same voltages and amperages, so you shouldn’t use a generic replacement for a 510-thread charger that has stopped working. We recommend replacing your device’s charger only with an identical charger made by the same manufacturer.
USB Vape Chargers
If your vape pen has a USB port, then the included charger is simply a USB cable. You can replace it with any USB cable that fits the device’s charging port as long as the cable is certified for power delivery.
Some vape pens also include USB wall adapters. If your vape pen has a wall adapter, that gives you the option of charging your device through a wall outlet or through your computer. As we mentioned above, we recommend only charging a vape pen with your computer’s USB port unless the device has a wall adapter that the manufacturer has specifically approved.
How to Use a USB Vape Pen Charger
To use a USB vape pen charger, connect one end of the cable to your vape pen, and connect the other end to your computer. The vape pen’s light should illuminate. The possible light patterns are the same as they would be with a 510-thread charger. When the charge cycle is complete, your vape pen’s light will change in one of three ways.
- It’ll change from red to green.
- It’ll change from pulsing to solid.
- It’ll change from solid to off.
What to Do if a USB Vape Pen Charger Doesn’t Work
If your vape pen isn’t charging through its USB port, the troubleshooting steps that you should follow are essentially the same as those described above in the section on 510-thread chargers.
- Because USB cables are fragile, replacing the cable resolves this problem most of the time.
- Make sure that you’re connecting your vape pen to a compatible power source, which will almost always be your computer.
- You should also clean your vape pen’s charging port if it’s dirty. Use a toothpick to remove dust and lint from the port.
Are 510-Thread Chargers or USB Chargers Better?
As we mentioned at the beginning of this article, 510-thread chargers and USB vape pen chargers have their own pros and cons. Although the features and design of a vape pen should always be your main considerations when you’re trying to decide which device to buy, the charging standard can be an important factor as well.
- The 510 threading of a vape pen is usually much more durable than a USB port, which has delicate solder points can break if you handle the port roughly. If a vape pen charges through a USB port – and the port breaks – you’ll have no way to recharge the device. The durability of the thread is a benefit of using a 510-thread charger.
- If a 510-thread charger stops working, you can’t replace it with a generic third-party charger – even if your vape pen seems to fit. You’ll need to order an identical replacement from the vape pen’s manufacturer, which may mean that you won’t be able to use your device for a few days. That’s a drawback of using a 510-thread charger. If a USB cable develops a fault, on the other hand, you can replace it with any cable that fits.