Coils are one of several components that are vital in a vape device. Forget the embellishments and showy UK vape accessories you can find for many mods, there are a few elements to a vape set up which you’ll find time and time again in every device. The coil is small but important and can lead to total satisfaction or a damp squib of a vape hit. Coils may seem simple on the surface, but there’s a surprising amount weighing on these little stretches of wire.
Firstly, what is a vape coil?
A vape coil is the thin piece of metal that connects the atomiser and the battery inside a vape device. These wires vary in length and can be made from a range of materials but always work in the same way. Using the electricity from the charged battery, the coil will be heated up, thus warming the coil which is connected on the other side to the atomiser and wick. The atomiser and wicking cotton holds the saturated vape juice which is heated up by the coil and vaporised. The coil therefore, acts as the main artery between the beating heart of the battery and the brain of the device, the atomiser.
What materials are there for vape coils?
Coils can be made from a wide range of metals, each with their pros and cons.
Popular coil metals include kanthal, which is easy to find and very cheap to produce, alongside the flexible and sturdy nichrome. Whilst nichrome contains nickel, which can cause an allergic reaction in some people, kanthal wire doesn’t work in temperature control devices and can slightly dull the vape flavour.
Other alternatives include the multi-grain stainless steel wire, which is temperature control and wattage compatible with a crisp, clean flavour and the rarer titanium wire, which is perfect for temperature control mods as well as being sturdy in its shape holding.
What gauge should a vape coil be?
By gauge we mean the diameter of the wire which is a crucial factor in determining the devices resistance. Ranging from 32 to 22 gauge, the higher the gauge, the higher the resistance. With more wire comes less sub ohm resistance, whilst a smaller gauge will allow for a higher resistance but a longer ramp up time.
A ramp up time is the length of time between hitting the power button on your vape device and the amount of time it takes for the coil to heat up. It makes sense; less wire means longer to wait for the coil heat up, like a single lane motorway which builds up more traffic. However, the thinner gauge means less resistance and will allow you to vape at higher temperatures.
When should I replace my coil?
Always ensure that you are replacing your vape coil every two to four weeks. This is because metal will degrade over time, especially when faced with constant heat from your battery. The more you use your vape device, chain vaping with powerful mods, it follows that you’ll be replacing your coil more regularly.
