What Does Ohms Mean on A Vape? Understanding Coil Resistance

If you've recently purchased a new vape kit or set of coils, chances are you've come across the term “ohms.” It's one of those words that sounds more technical than it really is but once you understand the basics, it's actually quite simple, and knowing how it works can make a real difference to your vaping experience. In this article, we'll explain what ohms mean in an e-cigarette and how they affect the way you vape.

What is Ohm?

Ohm is the unit used to measure electrical resistance. In this context, resistance refers to how much something restricts the flow of electrical current, and it's measured in ohms (Ω). Put simply, ohms are calculated by dividing volts by amps.

What Does Ohm Meaning On a Vape?

In vaping kits, the resistance is the amount of electric current flowing through the coil or atomiser head. Coils are usually found in the vape tank, which is constructed around the metal wire of either Kanthal or Nichrome.

When the current passes through the coil, it heats the wicking material, vaporising the e-liquid absorbed within it and producing vapours. The resistance of the coil determines how much power is needed to heat up the coil and how quickly it will heat up.

Where the Vape Coil is Placed?

The coil is located within the tank or pod, where e-liquid is stored. Within some kits, such as the Geekvape L200 Aegis Legend 2 Vape Kit, Vaporesso Gen 80 S Mod, it is often screwed into the tank base and submerged in the e-liquid.

For pod systems, like the Uwell Caliburn Koko Pod Vape Kit, Smok Nord 50W Pod Vape Kit, the coil might be integrated into the pod or be a separate component. Its strategic placement delivers efficient heating of the e-liquid absorbed by the surrounding cotton wick.

Factors to Consider When Choosing the Right Ohms

Several factors, including the wire material, gauge, and the number of coil wraps utilised, determine the coil resistance. Each of these factors helps shape a more enjoyable vaping experience.

Coil Material

One important factor to consider when choosing the right resistance is the material of the vape coil used. Among many options, Kanthal and Nichrome are the most common materials used for wire within an atomiser.

• Kanthal Coils: Kanthal material is typically made up of iron, chromium and aluminium alloy. It is widely used for its durability, quality and resistance to oxidation within the coil. Kanthal coils come in different wattages and are a good option for beginners.
• Nichrome Coils: Nichrome is a nickel-chromium alloy that heats up faster than Kanthal but trades longevity in exchange for slightly advanced performance. Nichrome is known for causing mild complications in those with nickel allergies.

Wire Gauge

In the coil, the gauge of the wire indicates its thickness. The most common gauges used for coil builds are 22, 24, 26, and 28. Lower coil resistance is for thicker wires and requires more power. However, thinner wires will have higher resistance and require less power.

Number of Wraps in the Coil

The number of wraps the coil is used is important when picking the right ohms. Specifically, the number of wraps refers to how many times the wire is wrapped around the wick. It is important as the more wraps are used, the higher the resistance of the coil, like the Innokin Zenith Replacement Coil.

How Ohms Affect the Vaping Experience?

The resistance of your coil, measured in ohms, can significantly shape your vaping experience by influencing how much vapour you produce, how bold the flavour is, and how strong the throat hit feels.

Vapours Production

Coils with lower resistance are better for producing large, dense vape clouds, as the extra power heats the coil more and vaporises more of your e-liquid. Coils with higher resistance may produce less vapour, but they're more efficient when it comes to battery life, e-liquid consumption, and nicotine satisfaction.

Flavour Intensity

The flavour intensity is slightly affected by the resistance of the vape coil. In sub-ohm coils, the extra power used to heat the coil generally results in more intense flavour. As more e-liquid is vaporised with each puff, the density of flavour increases.

It's worth noting that flavour is subjective, what tastes intense to one person may not to another. Beyond your coil's resistance, things like the e-liquid you use, your airflow settings, and the temperature all play a part. Ultimately, finding the right resistance, coil type, and settings for your setup comes down to a bit of experimentation until you land on what works for you.

Which Resistance is the Right Option for You?

Coil resistance plays a vital role in how your vape device functions. It determines how much the coil resists the electrical current from the battery, which directly affects how much heat the coil generates when activated.

Low Coil Resistance

Coils with a resistance below 1.0 ohm are known as sub-ohm coils. They allow more electrical current to flow, which heats the coil to a higher temperature. This makes low-resistance coils ideal for vapers who prefer big clouds and bold flavour.

High Coil Resistance

Coils with a resistance of 1.0 ohm or higher are known as high-resistance coils. They allow less current to flow, so the coil doesn't get as hot, producing cooler vapour with a more subtle flavour. These coils are ideal for vapers who enjoy a smoother, gentler experience.

Coil Resistance and Vaping Style

• Mouth-to-Lung (MTL): This vaping style delivers a throat hit, similar to smoking a cigarette. The ideal coil resistance for MTL-users is above 1.0-ohm, like the Aspire Nautilus X Replacement Coils, offering a tighter draw for a controlled, flavourful vape.
• Restricted Direct-to-Lung (RDL): It uses coils with 0.7-ohm to 0.5-ohm resistance, providing a moderately loose draw, balancing flavour intensity with vapour production.
• Direct-to-Lung (DL): If you are looking for an intense, cloud-heavy vaping experience, DTL is the perfect choice. Coils of lower resistance, below 1.0-ohm, facilitate an open draw, like the Vaporesso Orca Solo Replacement Coils, producing large vapour clouds and rich flavour delivery.

How Do Watts and Voltage Work with Ohms?

Watts measure the power delivered to your coil, which heats the e-liquid and produces vapour. According to Ohm's Law, wattage is the result of your coil's voltage and resistance. Turning the wattage up creates more heat, which affects both flavour and vapour production.

Voltage, on the other hand, is the electrical push from your battery that powers the device. It controls how quickly the coil heats up and how hot it gets. Raising the voltage increases wattage output, but it can also shorten battery life and even damage your coil if set too high.

Most devices let you adjust both watts and voltage, so you can fine-tune your vape to your liking. Just remember that every device works a little differently, always check your user manual and stay within your coil's recommended wattage range before vaping.

Winding Things Up

To wrap up the explanation, the above discussion briefly explains what ohms mean on a vape. The ohms of a coil in the tank are a measure of its resistance to electrical current, which directly affects the amount of power required to heat e-liquid and produce vapour.

Of both Sub-ohm and Plus Ohm Coils available, the choice of coil resistance depends on your own personal preferences and the features of your tank, as well as what options are available to you. Different e-liquids, coil materials, wraps, airflow settings, and even wicking material will all come into play when fine-tuning your vaping experience.