Do you know what are the most common types of vaping cords? What are their main applications and characteristics?
       Some wires are used in vaping to detect wattage, while others are used to control temperature, and one basic type we will discuss can be used in both cases.
        No information should overwhelm you or burden you with technical data. This is a high level review. The focus will be on single wire strands and only wires commonly used in vaping. Wires such as nickel-iron or tungsten can be used in vaping but will be hard to come by and don’t really offer any advantages over the wires featured here.
        There are some basic characteristics that apply to all wires, regardless of their composition. This is the diameter (or caliber) of the wire, its resistance and the heating time of various materials.
        The first essential characteristic of any wire is the actual diameter of the wire. It is often called the “gauge” of the wire and is expressed as a numerical value. The actual diameter of each wire is not important. It is important to note that as the gauge number increases, the wire diameter becomes smaller. For example, a 26 gauge (or 26 grams) is thinner than a 24 gauge but thicker than a 28 gauge. Some of the most common gauges used to make single wire coils are 28, 26, and 24, with thinner wire, used on the outside of Clapton coils, usually 40 to 32 gauge. Of course there are other, even odd gauges.
        As the diameter of the wire increases, the resistance of the wire decreases. When comparing coils with the same inside diameter, number of turns, and material used, a coil made from 32 gauge wire will have a higher resistance than a coil made from 24 gauge wire.
        Another factor to consider when talking about wire resistance is the internal resistance of the coil material. For example, a five-turn coil with an inner diameter of 2.5 mm made of 28 gauge kanthal will have a higher resistance than a stainless steel coil of the same gauge. This is due to the higher electrical resistance of kanthal compared to stainless steel.
        Note that for any given wire, the longer the length used, the higher the resistance of the coil. This is important when winding the coil, as more turns increase the build resistance.
        You may have heard the term “acceleration of time”. Warm-up time refers to the time it takes for the coil to reach the temperature needed to vaporize the e-liquid. Rise time is usually more pronounced with exotic stranded coils such as Claptons, but also becomes more pronounced with simple solid coils as the wire size increases. As a rule, smaller wire takes longer to heat up due to its greater mass. Fine gauge wire such as 32 and 30 has higher resistance but heats up faster than 26 or 24 gauge wire.
        Different coil materials have different internal resistance, and their rise time also varies greatly. For power mode wires, stainless steel heats up faster, followed by nichrome, and kanthal is much slower.
        At a basic level, the temperature control module relies on the characteristics of your e-cigarette wire to determine when to adjust the current and power delivered to the coil. Wires are selected for RTDs because of their temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR).
        The TCR of an e-cigarette lead means that as the temperature rises, the resistance of the lead increases. This host knows how cold your coils are and what materials you use. The mod is also smart enough to know that when your coil rises to a certain resistance (when the temperature rises), the coil is too hot and it will reduce the current in the coil as needed to prevent fire.
       All wire types have TCR, but deltas can only be reliably measured in TC compatible wires (see table above for more information).
        Kanthal wire is Fe-Cr-Al ferritic alloy with good oxidation resistance. It is commonly used in electronic cigarettes in direct power mode. If you’re just getting started with rebuilding, dripping, etc., Kanthal is a great place to start. It is easy to work with but stiff enough to hold its shape while forming coils which play a role in the wicking process. It is very popular as a base wire when making single wire coils.
        Another type of wire that is great for vaping is nichrome wire. Nichrome wire is an alloy of nickel and chromium and may also contain other metals such as iron. Fun fact: Nichrome has been used in dental work such as fillings.
       There are several “grades” of nichrome, of which ni80 (80% nickel and 20% chromium) is the most popular.
        Nichrome behaves very much like kanthal, but has less electrical resistance and heats up faster. It curls easily and holds its shape well when absorbed. Nichrome has a lower melting point than kanthal, so care must be taken when dry burning coils – if you’re not careful, they’ll explode. Start low and pulse the coil. Do not rush to hit them with maximum power while they are dry.
        Another possible disadvantage of nichrome wire is the nickel content. People with nickel allergies may want to avoid nichrome for obvious reasons.
       Nichrome used to be less common than kanthal but is becoming more popular and easy to find in vape shops or online.
        Stainless steel is the most unique of the common electronic cigarettes. It can double function, for direct power evaporation or temperature control.
        Stainless steel wire is an alloy mainly composed of chromium, nickel and carbon. The nickel content is usually 10-14%, which is low, but allergy sufferers should not take the risk. Stainless steel is available in many varieties (grades), which are indicated by numbers. For roll production, SS316L is most commonly used, followed by SS317L. Other grades such as 304 and 430 are sometimes used but less frequently.
        Stainless steel is easy to shape and holds its shape well. Like nichrome, it offers faster acceleration times than kanthal due to lower resistance for the same caliber. Be careful not to dry burn stainless steel at high power when inspecting hot spots or cleaning buildings, as this can release unwanted compounds. A good solution is to create spaced coils that don’t need to be pulsed at the hotspot.
       Like Kanthal and Nichrome, stainless steel coils are easily found at B&M and on the Internet.
        Most vapers prefer power mode: it’s easier. Kanthal, stainless steel and nichrome are three of the most popular power cords and you might be wondering which one is best for you. Please note again that if you have (or suspect you may have) a nickel allergy, you should not use nichrome coils, and perhaps you should avoid stainless steel as well.
        Due to its ease of use and higher portability, Kanthal has long been the choice of most vapers. Mouth-to-lung vapers appreciate its taller construction, the 26-28 gauge Kanthal wire is always reliable and hard to replace with any other. The short firing time can even be an advantage for MTL vapers who prefer slow, long puffs.
        Nichrome and stainless steel, on the other hand, are great power wires for smoking at lower resistance – that doesn’t mean they can’t be used for all types of inhalations. While taste is very subjective, many vapers who have tried nichrome or stainless steel swear they get better flavor than previous versions of Kanthal.
        Nickel wire, also known as ni200, is usually pure nickel. Nickel wire is the first type of wire used for temperature control and the first wire type on this list that cannot be used in power measurement mode.
        The ni200 has two major drawbacks. First, nickel wire is very soft and difficult to process into uniform coils. After installation, the coil is easily deformed when wicked.
        Secondly, it is pure nickel, which may seem inconvenient to some. In addition, many people are allergic or sensitive to nickel to varying degrees. Although nickel is found in the stainless steel alloy, it is not a major component. If you fall into one of the above categories, you should stay away from nickel and nichrome and use stainless steel sparingly.
       Nickel wire may still be popular with TC enthusiasts and is relatively easy to find locally, but it’s probably not worth the effort.
        There is some controversy over the safety of titanium wire for e-cigarettes. Heating above 1200°F (648°C) releases a toxic component (titanium dioxide). Also, like magnesium, titanium is extremely difficult to extinguish once it catches fire. Some shops do not even sell wire for reasons of responsibility and safety.
        Keep in mind that it’s still widely used and theoretically you’ll never have to worry about burns or TiO2 poisoning if your TC mods get the job done. It goes without saying, but don’t burn titanium wire dry!
        Titanium turns into coils easily and tends to wick. But for the reasons mentioned above, it can be difficult to find a source.
        Stainless steel is the clear winner among TC compatible wires. It’s easy to get, easy to use, and even works hard when needed. Most importantly, it has a relatively low nickel content. While it should be avoided by people with nickel allergies, it is unlikely to cause adverse reactions in people with mild nickel sensitivity, but you should always proceed with caution.
        All things considered, using thermocouple wire is probably not the best idea if you are allergic or sensitive to nickel. We recommend sticking with Kanthal for power vaping, which is also the most commonly used vaping coil wire on the market.
        Most importantly, your choice of e-cigarette is an important variable in finding vaping heaven. In fact, it is one of the most important ingredients for your vaping experience. Various types and sizes of wires allow us to precisely control the acceleration time, current, power and, ultimately, the pleasure we get from vaping. By varying the number of turns, the diameter of the coil and the type of wire, you can create completely new experiences. Once you find something that fits your particular atomizer, write down the features and save them for future reference.
        Hello. First of all, I’m new to the vaping world, so I’m researching resistors and VV/VW. I recently bought a vape mod (L85 baby alien with TFV8 baby cylinder) and after reading this I found out that the wires in the baby cylinder coil are kantal… So my question is can this coil be used with TC? ?Since the article says that this cord is not compatible with the vehicle, thanks from El Salvador
        I always buy rba tfv4/8/12 decks and use them with these tc vape tanks. I wrap these coils with space between them because I don’t want to scratch hot spots and I like wraps that aren’t too tight. I think they work just as well or even better than these non-spaced coils. I hope you understand what I am writing, because this is not my first language, and not even my second.
        Hey Mauricio! Unfortunately, you will not be able to use the TFV8 Baby with pre-made coils in TC mode. However, if you buy an RBA part for it, you can make your own stainless steel wire coil and use it in power and temperature control mode. Thanks for the comment, come on!
        Hi Dave, can you explain why Kanthal coils don’t work in TC mode? How do I know which wire is used for the coil head assembly?
        Hi inches, for coils that don’t list the material used, you have to assume they’re made from kanthal. The vast majority of reels are made of Kanthal material, if not on the packaging or on the reel itself, then this indicates the material used. As to why Kanthal coils don’t work with thermocouples, this is from my temperature control guide: Thermocouples work because certain coil metals predictably increase their resistance when heated. As a vaper, you are probably already familiar with resistance. You know you have a resistance coil inside a tank or atomizer if…read more »
        I’ve been smoking sub ohm vapes for almost two years now and I recently discovered a new hobby… RDA and coil building lol. There is so much to learn and it can be overwhelming. Just wanted to let you know that I appreciate your article, this is exactly the simple breakdown of wire types, uses and sizes that I was looking for as I deepened my knowledge. Well written! Keep up the good work!