How to Use a 510 Cartridge (and Fix a Blinking Battery)
Step-by-step: attach a 510 cart, pick the right voltage, read the blinking lights and fix a cart that won't hit. Plus how disposable vapes work.
Here is how to use a 510 cartridge: charge your battery, gently screw the cart onto the battery’s 510 thread, turn it on (usually five quick clicks), and take a slow, gentle draw while holding the button. Start on the lowest voltage setting. Most problems, such as a blinking light or a cart that won’t hit, come down to a loose connection, a flat battery or thick oil, and they’re easy to fix.
Key takeaways
- “510” is the standard thread size, so most cartridges fit most 510 batteries.
- Screw the cart on finger-tight only. Over-tightening is a common cause of problems.
- Low voltage gives better flavour and a longer-lasting cart.
- Store carts upright, at room temperature, away from sun and cold cars.
What is a 510 cartridge?
A 510 cartridge (or “cart”) is a small, pre-filled tank of cannabis oil, usually distillate or live resin, with a heating coil at the bottom and a mouthpiece at the top. It has a universal screw thread called a 510 thread, which lets it fit almost any 510 battery.
The name comes from the thread itself, which is commonly described as 10 threads at 0.5 mm spacing. Because it’s so widespread, you can mix and match carts and batteries from different brands.
A disposable vape is the all-in-one version: the oil, coil and battery are built into a single device, with no assembly and usually no buttons.
How to use a 510 cartridge, step by step
- Charge the battery. Plug it in with its own charger until the light shows it’s full. Charge before first use.
- Remove the caps. Take off the rubber stopper from the bottom of the cart and the cap on the mouthpiece.
- Screw the cart on gently. Turn it clockwise until it stops, then stop. Finger-tight is enough. Forcing it can damage the centre pin.
- Turn the battery on. On most button batteries, click five times quickly. The light will flash to confirm. (Batteries without a button turn on when you draw.)
- Choose a low voltage. Many batteries change voltage with three quick clicks, shown by the light’s colour. Start on the lowest.
- Preheat if the oil is thick. Many batteries preheat with two quick clicks. This warms the oil for a few seconds, which helps in cold weather.
- Take a slow draw. Hold the button and inhale gently for about 2–3 seconds, like sipping through a straw. Release the button before you stop inhaling.
- Wait before the next one. Vapes act fast, but give it 10–15 minutes before deciding if you want more, especially with a new product.
Button patterns vary by brand. Check your battery’s instructions if five clicks doesn’t turn it on.
What voltage should I use for a 510 cart?
Most distillate and live resin carts work best between about 2.5 and 3.3 volts. On a three-setting battery, that’s usually the low or middle setting.
- Lower voltage gives better flavour, smoother vapour and a cart that lasts longer.
- Higher voltage makes bigger clouds but can taste burnt, waste oil and wear out the coil faster.
Ceramic-coil carts in particular are designed for low voltage. If it tastes harsh, turn it down.
Why is my 510 battery blinking?
Blinking lights are how a battery tells you what’s wrong. Patterns differ by brand, but on many batteries:
| What you see | Likely meaning | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Blinks 3 times | Turned on or off, or a connection fault | Unscrew the cart, clean the contacts, reattach gently |
| Blinks around 10 times | Battery is low | Charge it fully |
| Keeps blinking when you press | Short circuit or the cart is screwed on too tight | Loosen the cart a quarter turn; try another cart to test |
| No light at all | Battery is off or completely flat | Click 5 times; if nothing, charge it |
| Light flashes while charging | Charging normally (on many models) | Wait until it turns solid or goes off |
Why is my cart not hitting? 6 fixes
- Check the connection. Unscrew the cart and wipe both contacts with a cotton swab and a little isopropyl alcohol. Let it dry, then reattach.
- Loosen, don’t tighten. A cart screwed on too hard can push the battery’s centre pin down. Try loosening it slightly.
- Charge the battery. A low battery may light up but not heat the coil properly.
- Warm thick oil. In the cold, oil thickens and clogs the airflow. Use the preheat setting, or hold the cart in your hand for a minute.
- Clear a clog. Take a few gentle draws without pressing the button to pull oil off the airway, or briefly use a hair dryer on the cart from a distance.
- Turn the voltage down. Too-high heat can burn the wick, which tastes harsh and stops vapour.
If a new cart still doesn’t work on a fully charged battery, try it on a different battery to find out which part is at fault.
How to use a disposable vape
Disposables are simpler: there’s nothing to screw together and usually no button.
- Remove any packaging stickers or plugs from the mouthpiece and air hole.
- Take a slow, gentle draw. The device turns on when you inhale.
- Many models have a USB-C port. Recharge when the light blinks or the vapour gets weak, and keep going until the oil runs out.
- Stop when it tastes burnt. That usually means the oil is finished.
How long does a 510 cartridge last?
It depends on the cart size and how you use it. As a rough guide, a 1 g cart gives a few hundred short puffs. Low voltage and short draws stretch it further. A larger 2 g cart lasts about twice as long.
How to store vape carts
- Keep carts upright, mouthpiece up, so the oil stays on the coil and doesn’t leak.
- Store at room temperature, out of direct sun. Don’t leave them in a hot or freezing car.
- Remove the cart from the battery when you’re carrying it in a bag.
- Keep all cannabis products locked away from children and pets.
Buy from a source you trust. In 2019, vaping-related lung injuries in the United States were linked mainly to vitamin E acetate added to illicit THC cartridges (US CDC). Avoid carts of unknown origin and stop using any product that causes coughing, chest pain or shortness of breath.
Shop 510 cartridges and disposable vapes at 420Express, or see all vapes. Curious what’s inside? Read shatter vs live resin vs hash.
Frequently asked questions
How do I turn on a 510 battery?
On most button batteries, click the button five times quickly. The light flashes to confirm it’s on. Do the same to turn it off.
Do all cartridges fit all batteries?
Most do. 510 is the standard thread for cannabis carts. A few brands use their own pod systems that only fit their own batteries.
Why does my cart taste burnt?
The voltage is too high, the draw is too long, or the cart is nearly empty. Turn the voltage down and take shorter, slower draws.
How many puffs should I take?
Start with one or two small puffs and wait 10 to 15 minutes. Concentrated oil acts quickly and is stronger than flower.
Can I bring my vape on a plane in Canada?
Within Canada, adults may travel with legal cannabis within the possession limit, but airline and battery rules apply and it is illegal to take cannabis across the Canadian border. Check the current rules before you fly.
19+ only. This guide is general information for adults of legal age in Canada, not medical advice. Start low, go slow, and never drive high.
