Many vapers may not realize it, but we often have a habit of speaking our own language and understanding. Yesterday, I visited a local vape shop with a guy who had just quit smoking, and I was helping him decide which tank to buy. After a few minutes of small talk and explanation, I noticed that he was stunned, looking like he was about to pass out - don't worry, he's not sick. However, I realized that he had absolutely no idea what I was talking about, so we took a step back, started from the simplest things and he asked:
“What is the difference between RTA and RDTA?”
The difference between a dripper and a tank is easy to spot. A tank is made of metal and glass, while a dripper is made entirely of metal. The difference between an RDTA and an RTA is a little more subtle. In fact, according to many vapers, there is no such thing as an RDTA, and there are very few atomizers on the market today that can be considered RDTAs. Let’s take a closer look at what this actually is, and how it differs from an RTA.
Concept
RTA stands for Rebuildable Tank Atomizer, this is a fairly common name for the build deck type that is quite popular and used with most tanks on the market today. If you can roll your own coils for your favorite tank instead of buying pre-made coils from the manufacturer, then you own an RTA. Its build deck is located in the tank chamber, sucking in e-juice from the outside, and giving you more vaping time at a cheaper cost. A spool of wire and a bag of pure Japanese cotton can last longer than the number of coils you can buy for that amount of money.
The RDTA, or Rebuildable Dripping Tank Atomizer, is a beast. To qualify as an RDTA, it must have the convenience of an RTA and still function as an RDA . If you have to remove several parts instead of just removing the cap to get to the coils, it doesn’t fit into this category. Atomizers like the Wismec Theorem, or the GeekVape Avocado 24, while not considered RDTAs, fit the profile perfectly.
When looking at this type of atomizer, you just need to remove the top cap to see the coil system. At the same time, they also provide the convenience of an RTA because they have a fairly large tank located right under the build deck. What makes it difficult for new vapers to differentiate between the two is that companies that produce atomizers based on the RDTA design still consider it an RTA instead of a true RDTA.
Personally, I prefer RDTAs over tanks. After using RDAs for so long, the thought of building on a tiny deck that sits way down at the bottom before adding juice scares me. What happens after you put everything together and something goes wrong? With an RDTA, you just pop the top off, adjust your coils, and you’re good to go. If you were using a tank, you’d probably use up all your juice in the same amount of time.
