An electronic cigarette vaporiser that includes a heating element (43) and includes or co-operates with an electronics module (38) that (i) detects characteristics of the delivery of power, current or voltage to the heating element and (ii) determines if those characteristics are associated with degradation of the heating element. For example, the module may detect an increase or other change in heating element resistance by passing a test current through the heating element. A very large resistance of the heating element may be considered to be indicative of a defective heating element. The module may store a record of the measured characteristics and determine if those stored records indicate fluctuations indicative of degradation of the heating element. The module may cause a visual indication to be displayed on the vaporiser and/or a connected device, such as a case (100, figure 3). The module may be included in the vaporiser or in the case, which may be a refilling and recharging case.
