While the number of cigarette smokers continues to decline, the number of vapers is clearly on the rise! According to the French public health agency Santé publique France, the increase amounts to 500,000 new e-cigarette users. You are one of them but you are not yet fully informed on all topics surrounding the e-cigarette, including the purpose and choice of a coil? We explain everything!
1. E-cigarette coil, what is it?
1- The definition
Every good explanation inevitably comes with its strict definition. In the dictionary, the word "resistance" is associated with the following meaning: "The quotient of the voltage U across an ideal resistor by the current I flowing through it. (R = U/I, which constitutes the expression of Ohm's law.)". For any layperson in technical electrical vocabulary, this definition is not sufficient to clearly explain the purpose of a coil. So, in plain terms, electrical resistance is used to measure the ability of a component in an electrical circuit to oppose the flow of an electric current. This measurement is expressed in Ohm, whose abbreviation is none other than the Omega symbol found in the Greek alphabet.
This coil, also known as a "wick" or "atomizer head", is one of the main components of the e-cigarette. Without it, no e-liquid consumption is possible. Indeed, screwed into the clearomizer of your e-cigarette or MOD, the coil is then placed in direct contact with the battery, which then supplies it with electric current. When the vaper presses the ignition button of the e-cigarette, the current flowing from the battery to the coil allows it to heat the resistive wire designed for this purpose, under the effect of the heat generated by the current. The e-liquid, in which the wire is soaked, will then be vaporized once the temperature has reached a certain threshold. Note that it is entirely possible to build your own coil.
2- Its purpose
The e-cigarette coil is at the heart of the device and is essential to its proper functioning. As mentioned earlier, the coil creates a heating point inside the e-cigarette thanks to the battery. More specifically, when you press the power button of your e-cigarette, the battery sends sufficient power to the coil so that it can begin heating the liquid placed in the tank. This then leads to vapor production.
By definition, the choice of coil will therefore determine other factors such as the temperature of the vapor, the flavor rendering of the e-liquid, and the amount of vapor exhaled by the vaper.
2. Why pay attention to e-cigarette coils?
So you want to dive into the world of e-cigarette "DIY"? You've come to the right place. Indeed, as you will have understood by browsing the brief explanations above: the choice of coil is essential if you want to guarantee yourself an experience that is not only enjoyable, but above all tailored to your desires and current needs.
Choosing your coil according to your own criteria
- Your battery's adjustment mode:
- If the battery in your MOD or e-cigarette is equipped with an adjustable mode (such as voltage variation or wattage adjustment), the recommended coils must have a value above 1 Ohm.
- However, if your battery is not adjustable, you will need to adapt the value of your coil and prioritize wicks with a value above 1.5 Ohm. If you still decide to use a coil with a value lower than recommended, you risk seriously damaging your equipment, especially since not all batteries are systematically equipped with a "circuit breaker" system in the event of an incident.
- If you are equipped with a MOD or an electronic box mod, you can refer to the manual of your device since the supported coil value will depend on the host device, i.e., the box or the MOD itself. Indeed, some MODs or box mods are capable of supporting coils with a lower value (less than 0.1 Ohm, in particular).
- The mouth sensation:
When talking about the coil of an e-cigarette, certain terms are inseparable from it, such as the concepts of "warm vapor" and "mild vapor". In some cases, the clearomizer and the coil must be accompanied by an additional wick, due to the coil being positioned in the upper part, closest to the mouth. In this case, the wick acts as an intermediary and allows the liquid to easily travel up to the coil. This is referred to as "warm vapor" since the coil (which heats, by definition) is located near the mouth that inhales the vapor. Conversely, when the coil is screwed into the lower part of the clearomizer, further away from the mouth, this is referred to as "mild vapor".
- Amount of vapor:
The closer you get to the lowest values (for example 1 Ohm), the more abundant the vapor will be. So it's up to you to choose what type of experience you want to enjoy during your vaping sessions!
- Flavor rendering:
Simply put, the more vapor there is, the more intense the flavors will be!
3. The most frequently asked questions
1- What Ohm value should I choose and what is the difference?
As explained above, the Ohm value measures the heating capacity of your coil. When the value is below 1 Ohm, it is called "sub-ohm", and it should be noted that it will generate a greater amount of heat, leading to more abundant vapor production. Furthermore, a sub-ohm value, compared to a coil with a value above 1 Ohm, tends to deliver a more intense throat hit when the liquid contains a fairly high dose of nicotine.
Therefore, it is recommended to use a coil with a low value alongside an e-liquid with an equally low nicotine content (for example 3 mg/ml). It should also be noted that sub-ohm coils require more power (in watts) than their higher-value counterparts. They need more energy to initiate heating.
2- What wattage should I choose?
Good quality coils are sold with a user manual. The manufacturer then indicates the recommended "operating range" for the coil in question and guides the user clearly. The operating range highlights the power that the e-cigarette is capable of handling.
If you decide to exceed the recommended wattage, you risk seriously damaging your equipment. However, you can perfectly well stay below the maximum authorized wattage.
3- Which liquid is best suited to my coil?
This is one of the big questions vapers eventually ask themselves: what e-liquid should I choose? The answer lies in the levels of propylene glycol (PG) and vegetable glycerin (VG).
- For low-value coils, which therefore require more power and produce more vapor, consuming liquid more quickly, PG levels should be low in order to fully enjoy the experience.
- Conversely, the higher the coil value, the more advisable it is to opt for fairly high PG levels, as well as high nicotine levels in the e-liquid.
4- How to properly install the coil in my e-cigarette?
Upon the very first use of the coil, make sure that the coil wire is properly saturated with e-liquid. If it is not, you could damage the coil from the very first puffs. This process is called "priming". So how can you be sure to successfully prime your coil for the first time? After installing your coil and its wick in the e-liquid of the e-cigarette, wait a few moments to allow the wire enough time to properly absorb the liquid.
5- How long can I keep the same coil?
It all depends on how you use it: the more you heat your coil, the more it will be stressed and, by definition, the faster it will wear out. Other factors must also be taken into consideration, such as the quality of the equipment purchased, as well as the liquid you have filled your tank with. Regarding the liquid used in the e-cigarette, the lifespan of the coil can be shortened in cases where the VG (vegetable glycerin) content present in e-liquids is too high. Indeed, an e-liquid with a high VG content can cause the coil to become clogged, thereby reducing its lifespan. Outside of a few cases like this one, we can determine that a coil lasts on average 2 or even 3 weeks or more before needing to be replaced.
When the coil reaches the end of its life, certain signs can tip you off and push you to change your equipment, such as:
- A reduced amount of vapor.
- A burnt-like taste.
- Altered flavors.
6- How to best preserve my coil?
To maximize the lifespan of your e-cigarette coil, several simple but very effective solutions are available to you:
- Take care during the "priming" process.
- Avoid the practice of "chain-vaping", which consists of taking several puffs in a row without giving the coil time to re-saturate with e-liquid — this is known as a "dry hit".
- Avoid excessively high vaping wattages, as they wear out the coil much faster.
- Remember to check the e-liquid level in your tank, as the "dry hit" issue often occurs due to a lack of liquid.
7- Can a coil be cleaned?
The answer is… simply yes! All you need is a little water to clean your coil, provided it is not damaged. If it is damaged, cleaning will not help.
4. Building your own coil
Do you feel like going solo? A very good choice, provided you have the necessary information. Indeed, while many vapers enjoy ready-to-use e-cigarettes and electronic mods straight out of the box, others prefer to specifically tailor their equipment to their needs. In this case, we refer to a rebuildable atomizer or repairable one.
While the rebuildable atomizer may cost more at checkout, it is ultimately much more economical and even eco-friendly in the long run. Furthermore, the advantage lies in the customization of the coil, which greatly enhances the vaping experience. Several builds are possible, depending on your preferences:
- The so-called "genesis" build: difficult to set up, this type of build is reserved for experienced and well-informed vapers.
- The "bottom coil mono" build: this is one of the most popular builds and involves placing the coil at the base of the atomizer itself.
- The "bottom coil dual" build: here, two coils are used and placed at the base of the atomizer.
For more information on the types of builds and their specificities, visit our rebuildable atomizer guide!
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