Vape Accessories: Overview of Common Vape Coil Types

The ultimate vape experience is dependent upon a number of things. Your vape preferences, for one, and the hardware of course. The best vape hardware. Every vaporiser includes the same basic components – the battery, the tank, and the atomiser which houses the coil and wick. In this article, we take a look at one key part of an e-cig device: the vape coil.

What is a Vape Coil?

As the name suggests, the coil is the thin wire part you see when you open a vape tank. This little metal saviour is housed inside the atomiser. Actually, despite the name, it is technically an atomiser head. But in the vast world of vape and vape lingo, we get the idea when you just say coil. So, this so-called atomiser head is made up of the coil wire and wicking material. When you activate your e-cig device, the battery channels power to the atomiser. The coil inside heats up to a specific temperature, which then warms the e-liquid through the wick surrounding the coil, in turn creating vapour. Coils come in different types which has a noticeable effect on your vape experience as the materials differ in quality. Coils are fashioned out of select pure metals. The most common are kanthal, stainless steel, and nichrome. You will also find others made from nickel or titanium.

Vape Coil Types

As with most aspects of vaping, there is no shortage of options available when it comes to coils. And that can only be a good thing. Depending on the experience you fancy, you have the choice to opt for different coil materials and resistances. Let’s explain this better, starting with the mode of vaping.

Power Mode Coils

The easiest mode to use, power mode is the basic mode on a vape mod. If you prefer this simple mode, you can only choose a vape coil wire that is safe for use in Power Mode. That means your choice of wire will either be kanthal, stainless steel, or nichrome.

Temperature Control Coils

Abbreviated as TC, temperature control is an advanced mode of vaping which requires a higher level of customisation. So, instead of only setting your wattage, for instance, TC also allows you to set the temperature limits you want to vape at. For example, if you limit your temp to 200 degrees Celsius, your mod (the devices that mostly have the TC feature) will not heat the coil beyond that temperature. If your mod allows it, you should lock the resistance of the vape coil you are using at any one time. Vaping in temperature control mode has a few extra steps to it, although most agree it is well worth the hassle. Coils suited for temperature control vaping are made from titanium, nickel, and stainless steel. You’ve probably noticed we mentioned stainless steel again. That’s because this is a versatile material which is why many users prefer it as it allows them to switch modes without having to swap coils.

Vape Coil Resistance

Resistance is something else that differentiates vape coils. Resistance is determined by the diameter and gauge of the vape wire. Also of importance is the number of wraps. The higher the gauge of the wire, the thinner it is. Higher resistance coils tend to have a higher gauge. Titbit: For clarity, higher resistance coils are those that require less power to heat, not the other way round.

Premade Coils

Premade or pre-built coils are available in different forms. You will come across basic round-wire coils which comprise a single thread of wire that wraps around a rod to form the coil. You will also encounter premade coils which are a bit more exotic. These exotic types make use of multiple wire strands and boasts different shapes and looks. For this reason, these coils have a larger surface area, a feature that makes them produce thicker clouds that carry more flavour. Examples include twisted, braided, and Clapton coils. It is also important to keep in mind that more surface area means more heat, something that can not only drain your battery faster, but also your juice.

So, Which Coil is Right for me?

Coil choice is a matter of preference. If you want an atomiser that only does the simple things and has a long life, economy is the direction to take with a simpler coil. Exotic coils are best suited for those times you desire a richer experience. All it takes is some experimentation to find what works better for you. But if you need any questions answered about vape coil types, our lines are always open for you!