What Is a 510 Thread Battery? How 510 Carts Work

A 510 thread battery is the battery that powers a 510 cart. The “510” is the size of the screw connection, and almost every oil cart in Canada uses it, so one battery works with just about any cart you buy.

Honestly, most 510 batteries are pretty good. Some go overboard with features, but I don’t need much customization. As long as mine has a low, medium and high setting, I’m happy. This guide covers what 510 means, how these batteries work, the different types, the voltage I use and the one thing to check before you buy if you use 2G carts.

You’ll hear that 510 stands for 10 threads at 0.5 mm. The actual standard is a 7 mm thread with 0.5 mm spacing. What matters is that it’s the same size on almost every oil cart, so any 510 cart screws onto any 510 battery.

So, are all 510 batteries the same? The connection is. The features aren’t. Batteries differ in their voltage settings, battery size, whether you press a button or just inhale, and what size carts they can fit.

A 510 cart is a small cartridge filled with cannabis oil, like distillate, live resin or rosin. It has a coil inside and a mouthpiece on top, and the bottom screws onto a 510 battery. When you hit it, the battery heats the coil, the coil heats the oil and you get vapour.

The cart is the part that holds the cannabis, so it has to come from a licensed cannabis store. The battery is just an accessory. Here’s more on whether weed pens and THC carts are legal in Canada.

The battery sends power to the coil in your cart, and the coil heats the oil into vapour. That’s it. There’s no lighter, no torch and nothing to burn.

How you fire it depends on the battery. Button batteries heat up when you press and hold the button. Draw-activated batteries heat up on their own when you inhale. Most have a light that shows your voltage setting or battery level, and most charge with USB-C.

1. Charge it before you use it for the first time.
2. Screw on your cart until it’s snug. Don’t crank it tight, since overtightening can damage the connection.
3. Pick a low voltage setting to start.
4. Press the button or just inhale, depending on your battery.
5. Take short, gentle puffs. Long, hard pulls burn through oil faster and can make it taste harsh.

If your battery has a preheat mode, use it for thick oil or a cart that’s been sitting in the cold. It warms the oil up so it flows better before you take a real hit.

I like to keep mine around 2.4 to 3.4 volts. That’s on the low side, and that’s on purpose. Going low keeps the coil from burning out and the cart from starting to taste gross.

Higher voltage gives you bigger clouds, but it burns through oil faster and wears out the coil sooner. That’s also why I like having a few settings. If a battery only has one high setting, it can be too hot for certain types of carts.

Pen-Style Batteries

These are the classic stick batteries. They’re slim, simple and usually have one button. They’re easy to toss in a pocket, and they’re what most people picture when they think of a weed pen.

Draw-Activated Batteries

There are no buttons. Just inhale and it fires. These are about as easy as it gets for beginners. The CCELL Sandwave is a good example. It’s a solid little 510 with three voltage settings and a magnetic connection, so you just drop your cart in instead of screwing it on every time.

Hidden-Cart Batteries

These hide your cart inside the battery, which keeps it protected in your pocket and makes the whole thing more discreet. The Yocan Verve and the G Pen Hydout both work this way, and both have a preheat mode.

Screen and Box-Style Batteries

These are bigger and have more features, like a screen, more voltage settings and bigger batteries. The Cartisan Veil Bar Pro Evo has a full colour screen, voltage from 1.8 to 4.2V in small steps and a 1000mAh battery. It even comes with a wax attachment. If you like to fine-tune things, it’s a great pick. If you’re like me and just want low, medium and high, you don’t need all that.

If you mostly vape concentrates, though, a dab pen made for wax will do a better job than a wax attachment on a 510 battery.

This is the one thing I’d check before you buy. Not every battery fits a 2G cart. Some batteries, especially the ones that hide your cart, have a set amount of space, and a bigger cart won’t fit.

If you use 2G carts, make sure the battery says it fits them. The G Pen Hydout fits most 510 carts up to 2G, and so do the Yocan Verve and the Veil Bar Pro Evo. Wider carts can be a problem too, so check the cart width if the battery lists one.

Almost. Any 510 cart will screw onto any 510 battery. The catches are size, since big or wide carts won’t fit in every battery, and power, since a battery that only runs hot may not suit every cart. Pods that aren’t 510 thread, like the ones made for one specific device, won’t work at all.

Keep it at room temperature. A hot car or a freezing cold one is hard on the battery and the oil in your cart. Every so often, wipe the connection with a cotton swab and a bit of isopropyl alcohol, then let it dry before you put a cart back on. Oil and residue on the connection are a common reason a battery stops hitting.

Unplug it once it’s charged, don’t overtighten your carts and store your carts upright so they don’t leak.

If your battery starts blinking or won’t hit, it’s usually a connection or battery issue. Our guide on why your weed pen isn’t working walks through the fixes.

Yes. A 510 battery is a cannabis accessory, and it’s legal for adults to buy and own. What matters legally is the cart, which has to come from a licensed cannabis store.

Yes, but only in your carry-on, never in checked bags, because of the lithium battery. Here’s everything to know about bringing a vape on a plane in Canada.

For most people, any decent 510 battery with a low, medium and high setting will do the job. Avoid batteries with only one high setting, since they can be too hot for some carts. If you use 2G carts, make sure the battery fits them. Past that, it’s about what you like: a slim pen, a draw-activated battery, something that hides your cart or a battery with a screen.

For our top picks, see our guide to the best 510 thread batteries, or browse our full 510 thread battery collection.

A 510 thread battery is the simplest way to vape oil carts. Screw on your cart, keep the voltage low and take short puffs. Most of them are good, so you don’t need to overthink it. Just make sure it has a few voltage settings and fits the size of carts you use.

You can find every type of 510 battery we’ve talked about at Canadian Vaporizers. Every order ships from warehouses across Canada in discreet packaging.