Differences RBA, RDA, RTA

[rbmayfield]

These questions probably proves the short period of time that I've been vaping;
Can someone please explain to me the difference between the rda, rba & RTA?
The benefits to using each of them?
The best for flavor, TH (I actually prefer a lighter TH myself), and ease of use?

Thank you everyone for sharing your knowledge. I'd be totally lost on so many subjects if it weren't for this forum. I really appreciate everyone being so willing to share their own successes and failures. Thanks again.

 

[State O' Flux]

The questions you ask... would take a far more detailed article, than I'm about to write, to cover all variations and design sub-sets in any worthy detail. This is my perception - and like all things on ECF, it's open to debate and disagreement. ;-)

They all ultimately accomplish the same thing... some with greater convenience and length of time between refilling, some better for new rebuilders, some offer better flavor and some offer the option of using extreme low resistance.

• RBA - Rebuildable atomizer. Encompasses all variations of rebuildable device. The "Genesis" type atomizer (more below) may be the genesis for the term.
  
  
• RDA - Rebuildable dripping atomizer. Typified by a short, 510 base, sufficient to hold a coil or coils, with a small juice well to drip juice into via the drip tip. Often the most flavorful, and most often used for sub-ohm vaping.
  At one time, the Nimbus was one of the most popular RDAs... now, with the relatively recent advent of "original design today - clone tomorrow" China forgeries, any new genuine RDA that comes out is copied within a few weeks.
  The, Origen, Magma, Veritas, Tugboat, Plume Veil, 454, Vulcan, CLT - and what ever comes out tomorrow are popular - with "deep well" RDAs, both horizontal and vertical coil designs jumping to the top of the most desirable list.
  
  By extension, a genesis atomizer is a variation of an RDA, typically (although not always) on top of a juice container which feeds the RDA via a combination of gravity and/or capillary action. The nature of the design is often exemplified by a wick made from stainless steel mesh or rope. The RSST might be the most prevalent of genesis type attys, as it's one both old hands and n00bs might have on their desk.
  
  
• RTA - Rebuildable tank atomizer. A pressure differential liquid tank that surrounds and feeds the atomization chamber. The SvoeMesto Kayfun3.1/KFL+ and Kebo Russian/R91% have held the top spots in both genuine and clone RTA popularity, with the Taifun GT, sQuape and Fogger V4 and Flash-E Vapor in hot pursuit.
  New RTAs come out, from all around the world, every few weeks. The Gus Estia and Inverno Erlkönigin are two that although currently only available in genuine form, will become very popular once cloned.

There are also gravity/capillary fed, non pressure differential tanks that use a batting material to hold juice and feed the wick. The GP Heron and Spheroid are of this type.

I've left out lots of atomizers... the list would go on forever.

Parings of RBA and PV are interesting. Low resistance RDAs and "gennys" are usually found on unregulated mech mods, while RTAs can be found on everything from a tube mech mod or Provari... to the common MVP2 APV.

 

[jaxgator]

Can someone please explain to me the difference between the RDA, RBA & RTA?

RDAs (Rebuildable Drip Atomizers) and RTAs (Rebuildable Tank Atomizers) both fall into the RBA (ReBuildable Atomizers) category.

The benefits to using each of them?

Benefits to both are that you can build your own coils on them to your desired resistance. No more store bought manufactured coils that may or may not work.

An RTA is more versatile in that you can just pick it up and go. RDAs require that you drip your juice into them, vape that off, drip some more, etc. However, with RDAs you will be able to get more vapor production out of them if you are a cloud chaser.

The best for flavor, TH (I actually prefer a lighter TH myself), and ease of use?

Although I do get great flavor out of my RDAs, my RTAs produce better flavor.

There are many variables when it comes to throat hit. Nicotine content, PG content and heat come to mind.

 

[WattWick]

Incoming curveball! (For sake of discussion)

Aren't RTAs RBAs that go inside (carto) tanks, and not RBAs with a tank (which is essentially any non-RDA RBA).

RTA, like the Sophia, Diver, etc?

I'm with Flux on the "open to debate and disagreement". I have no faith in my own interpretation being anywhere close to correct. I can't even agree with myself what an RTA actually is.

 

[muzichead]

^^What he said....

 

[State O' Flux]

Incoming curveball! (For sake of discussion)

Aren't RTAs RBAs that go inside (carto) tanks, and not RBAs with a tank (which is essentially any non-RDA RBA).

RTA, like the Sophia, Diver, etc?

I'm with Flux on the "open to debate and disagreement". I have no faith in my own interpretation being anywhere close to correct. I can't even agree with myself what an RTA actually is.

I've always considered those to be rebuildable cartomizers... but I'm willing to debate myself, on principal. ;-)

 

[WattWick]

Did you just coin the term RBC? Will the confusion ever end?

 

[State O' Flux]

Did you just coin the term RBC? Will the confusion ever end?

Nope... you did, you bastadge you.

 

[dannyrl]

Though they've pretty much laid everything down with a lot of detail, I'll just throw in my 2 cents too lol.

RBA (ReBuildable Atomizer) is sort of an "umbrella" term that covers every type of rebuildable. RDAs and RTAs = RBAs, but RDAs are not RTAs, you know?

RTAs (Rebuildable Tank Atomizer) can carry a lot of juice that automatically saturates your wick. These are much more convenient for on-the-go use, but are more bulky, possibly more fragile, and you're stuck with one flavor until you drain the tank. I say fragile because the tank section of the atomizer is the weakest point and can crack or break and leak all your juice everywhere.

RDAs (Rebuildable Dripping Atomizer) do not have a tank and you must manually saturate your wicks once you've vaped them dry. This is much more inconvenient for mobile use as you have to constantly re-drip if you're a heavy vaper (don't drip and drive please!). You also have to carry your juice around with you if you leave the house with this set up. This can be inconvenient if you only have 30 - 50ml bottles like me. You also usually use up more juice with this setup. But the pros are rewarding. You usually get a much better TH, flavor, and clouds with this setup because your coils have much more liquid to vaporize. The atomizer is much smaller and usually completely made of metal so they are durable. You can also swap flavors much more quickly, just dry out the wicks and drip in a new flavor. RDAs are much less finicky because they have less parts.


So basically,
- RTA = convenient
- RDA = better vape quality (subjective)


Which do I recommend? The RDA because of its better vape experience (IMO) and for the ability to change flavors. I don't have a go-to flavor, so I'm constantly switching juices to prevent zombie tongue lol.

 

[Kemosabe]

well said, everyone.

i will add that i believe a RDA to be best for a new-to-building vaper because of its ease of build compared to an RTA ...or RBC
for the most part, RTAs have more variables that could go wrong. generally speaking, with an RDA, its more straightforward and simplified.