RTA (Rebuildable Tank Atomizer) – What is it in Vaping?

RTA (Rebuildable Tank Atomizer) – Glossary Entry

Definition

An RTA (Rebuildable TankAtomizer) is a vaping device that combines the flavour and coil-building freedom of an Dripping Atomizer)”>RDA (Rebuildable Dripping Atomizer) with the convenience of a refillablee-liquid tank. Instead of pre-made coil heads, users wrap their own resistance coils, insertcottonwick, and screw the deck into a sealed glass or plastic reservoir. This gives vapers full control over vapour production, Hit“>throat hit, and flavour while still holding 2–6 mL of e-liquid—perfect for all-day vaping without constant dripping.

Technical Details

Inside an RTA, a two-post or post-less build deck sits beneath a chimney and sealed tank section. E-liquid flows through small wicking channels or “juice wells” to the cotton, keeping the coil saturated. Air enters via adjustable bottom, side, or top airflow slots, travels through the chamber, and exits through the DripTip“>drip tip. Popular diameters are 22 mm, 24 mm, and 25 mm; most accept single or dual coils with resistances as low as 0.08 Ω on a Mod“>regulated mod. Variations include top-coil Genesis RTAs, bottom-coil “sub-ohm RTAs,” and mesh-deck RTAs. Compared with an RDTA, an RTA’s tank surrounds the deck, eliminating the need for a raised juice reservoir.

Usage & Tips

• Wicking: Trim cotton so it just touches the juice ports—too tight causes dry hits; too loose leads to leaking.
• Coil placement: Centre coils 1–2 mm from airflow slots for maximum flavour and to avoid spit-back.
• Fill safely: Close airflow when refilling to prevent vacuum loss and flooding.
• Common issues:Gurgling usually means over-wicking; unscrew the top cap and re-seat the chimney. Leaks often indicate worn O-rings—carry spares.
• Safety: Always check coil resistance on a regulated mod before firing and start at low wattage to avoid shorts.

History & Context

The first commercial RTA, the Kayfun Lite, debuted in 2013, offering European vapers rebuildable flavour without constant dripping. As sub-ohm regulated mods gained popularity in Australia and worldwide, RTAs evolved to larger juice capacity, post-less decks, and top-fill systems, bridging the gap between convenience and customisation.