Chances are you've heard of or seen the term "Ohms" when searching for a new vaporizer to purchase or coils to try out. While ohms can be distilled down into simple terms, it's important to understand the relationship between them and how they affect your vaping experience. In this article, we'll explore the meaning of ohms in an e-cigarette, and how you can better understand their impact on your vaping experience.
So, what exactly are "Ohms"?
Ohms is a unit of measurement for electrical resistance, named after the German physicist Georg Simon Ohm. Resistance in this context refers to the opposition to the flow of electrical current, and it is measured in ohms (Ω). In an electronic vaporizer, resistance is the amount of opposition to the electrical current flowing through the atomizer coil head, or coil.
The coils found in your tank or atomizer of choice are constructed around a core of metal wire, typically Kanthal or Nichrome, and encase a wicking material like cotton. When electricity passes through the coil, it heats up and vaporizes the liquid that is absorbed within the wicking material, creating the vapor that is inhaled by the end-user. The resistance of the coil determines how much power is needed to heat up the coil, and how quickly it will heat up.
Low Ohms vs. High Ohms - which is right for me?
The resistance of a coil can vary widely, from as low as 0.1 ohms to as high as 3.0 ohms or more. Coils with low resistance, also known as "sub-ohm" coils, typically have a resistance under 1.0 ohm. Coils with high resistance, also known as regular coils or "above-ohm" coils, typically have a resistance of 1.0 ohm or higher.
Sub-ohm coils are popular among experienced vapers who want to produce large clouds of vapor and intense flavors. They require more power to heat up and will produce warmer, denser vapor. Regular coils, on the other hand, are more suitable for beginners or those seeking a cigarette-like experience, as they usually result in a milder vaping experience. As they require less power to heat up, they are better suited to devices with smaller batteries for better longevity and typically produce cooler vapor
Factors Affecting Ohms
The resistance of a coil depends on several factors that are usually out of the control of the end-user, unless they are building their own coil from scratch. These include the material choice of the wire, the gauge of the wire, and the amount of wraps of coil utilized.
Kanthal and Nichrome are by far the most common materials used for wire that comprise the coil in our atomizers. Kanthal is an iron-chromium-aluminum alloy that is widely used for its durability and resistance to oxidation. Nichrome is a nickel-chromium alloy that heats up faster than Kanthal but trades longevity in exchange for slightly advanced performance.
It's worth noting that despite its fairly widespread use, Nichrome is known for causing mild complications in those with nickel allergies; please be mindful of your coil purchases if you suffer from a nickel allergy, as Kanthal would be a safer option.
The gauge of the wire within the coil refers to its thickness. The most common gauges used for coil builds are 22, 24, 26, and 28. Thicker wires have lower resistance and can handle more power, while thinner wires will have higher resistance and require less power.
Finally, the number of wraps is important when taking Ohms in mind. The number of wraps refers to how many times wire is wrapped around the wick. The more wraps, the higher the resistance of the coil. A higher number of wraps can additionally increase the surface area of the coil, which generally leads to better flavor production.
How Ohms Affect the Vaping Experience
The resistance of the coil in your vaporizer can affect the vaping experience in several ways, including vapor production, flavor intensity, and throat hit.
Coils with lower resistances, such as sub-ohm coils, are known for producing large plumes of vapor. This is because of the extra power demanded by the coil to heat up, which leads to more of your e-liquid being vaporized. Coils with higher resistances by comparison may produce less vapor but have better efficiency in terms of battery life, e-liquid consumption and nicotine satisfaction.
Flavor is also slightly affected by the ohms of your coil. In sub-ohm coils, the extra power used to heat up the coil generally results in hotter vapor and more "intense" flavor. As more e-liquid is vaporized in each puff, the density of flavor increases.
It's worth noting that flavor is subjective and impacted by factors being just the ohms of your coil. The e-liquid used, airflow settings and relative temperature can all impact the flavor of your hit. Ultimately, finding the right resistance, coil type, and other settings for your specific setup will require experimentation to achieve your desired result.
Watts and Voltage - how do they interact with ohms?
Watts refers to the amount of power being delivered to the coil, which is the heart of your atomizer. The watts delivered through the coil wire heats the e-liquid and produces vapor. Wattage is actually the result of the voltage and resistance of the coil, according to Ohm's Law.
Increasing the wattage will result in more heat being generated, which can affect both the flavor and the vapor production of your setup.
Voltage on the other hand refers to the electrical potential difference between the positive and negative terminals of the battery cell powering your device.
Voltage affects the speed at which the coil heats up, as well as the amount of heat produced. Increasing the voltage will result in a higher wattage output, but may also result in a shorter battery life, and you can also potentially damage your coil if the voltage is set to high.
In general, both watts and voltage can be adjusted on most vaporizers, allowing users to better customize their experience to their exact preferences. However, it's always important to note that not all devices operate in the same way, and that it's paramount that you read the included user manual to fully understand the capabilities and limitations of your vaporizer before making adjustments. Finally, make sure you reference the proper wattage range of your coil before vaping!
What devices are right for me?
Innokin offers a range of devices suitable for both MTL and RDL vaping, depending on your personal preferences. Here are a few options to consider:
For MTL vaping:
Innokin Endura T18 II: This starter kit features a 1.5 ohm coil and a tight draw that's ideal for MTL vaping. It also has adjustable airflow and a compact, user-friendly design.
Innokin Zlide Tube: This tube-style device uses the same coils as the popular Zenith tank and has adjustable airflow for a customized MTL experience. It also features a 3000mAh battery for extended vaping sessions.
Innokin Adept: This rugged, waterproof device features a 3000mAh battery and supports MTL vaping with the included Zenith tank. It also has automatic wattage adjustment based on coil resistance for easy operation.
For RDL vaping:
Innokin Sceptre 2: This pod-style device offers adjustable airflow and a 0.5 ohm coil that's suitable for RDL vaping. It also features a 1400mAh battery and a user-friendly design.
Innokin Coolfire Z80: This device offers up to 80 watts of power and supports RDL vaping with the included Zenith II tank. It also features a full-color display and a range of customizable settings.
Innokin Kroma R: This compact device offers up to 80 watts of power and supports RDL vaping with the included Ajax tank.
Innokin Ares 2 D24 RTA: This rebuildable tank atomizer offers adjustable airflow and a two-post build deck for easy coil installation. It's ideal for vapers who want to experiment with different coil builds and customize their vaping experience.
Ultimately, the best Innokin product for MTL or RDL vaping depends entirely on your personal preferences. Be sure to consider factors like battery life, wattage range, coil compatibility, and airflow control before making your purchase.
Wrapping things up!
To conclude, the ohms of a coil in an electronic vaporizer are a measure of its resistance to electrical current, which directly affects the amount of power required to heat up e-liquid and produce vapor. Both sub-ohm and above-ohm coils have their pros and cons, and ultimately the choice of coil resistance that's best for you depends on your own personal preferences and the features of your vaporizer, as well as what options are available to you.
Make sure to experiment! Different e-liquids, coil materials, wraps, airflow settings, and even wicking material will all come into play when fine-tuning your vaping experience. Everyone has their own vaping style, and part of the beauty of vaping is being able to nail-down your e-liquid, coil, and device combination for the best experience for you!