Do you know which e-cigarette wires are the most common? What are their main applications and characteristics?
       Some wires are used for powered vaping, some for temperature control, and one basic type we’ll discuss can be used for both.
        None of this information should overwhelm you or burden you with technical data. This is a high level review. The focus will be on single strand wires and only wires commonly used for vaping. Wires like NiFe or Tungsten can be used for vaping, but you’ll be hard pressed to find them and don’t really offer any benefits over the wires featured here.
        There are some basic properties that apply to all wires, regardless of their composition. These are the diameter (or gauge) of the wire, the resistance, and the ramp time for various materials.
        The first essential characteristic of any wire is the actual diameter of the wire. It is often referred to as wire “caliber” and expressed as a numerical value. The actual diameter of each wire is not important. It is important to note that as the number of wire gauges increases, the wire diameter becomes smaller. For example, 26 gauge (or 26 grams) is thinner than 24 gauge but thicker than 28 gauge. Some of the most common gauges used to build monofilament spools are 28, 26, and 24, while finer wire used on the outside of Clapton coils is usually between 40 and 32. 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 much higher resistance than a coil made from 24 gauge wire.
        Another factor to consider when it comes to 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 resistance of kanthal compared to stainless steel.
        Note that for any given wire, the longer the wire used, the higher the resistance of the coil. This is important when winding coils, as more turns will increase the resistance of your build.
        You may have heard the term “acceleration of time”. Ramp time is the time it takes for your coil to reach the temperature needed for the e-juice to evaporate. Ramp time is usually more pronounced with exotic stranded coils such as Claptons, however ramp time also becomes more pronounced with simple solid coils as wire size increases. As a rule, smaller wire takes longer to heat up due to the 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 with different internal resistance will also have different ramp times. In terms of power mode line, stainless builds up faster, followed by nichrome, and kanthal is much slower.
        In short, the temperature control module relies on the characteristics of your vaping cable 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 a vaping line is the increase in line resistance as the temperature rises. The mod knows how cold the coil is and what material you are using. The mod is also smart enough to know when your coil gets too hot when it rises to a certain resistance (as the temperature rises) and it reduces the current in the coil as needed to prevent fire.
       All wire types have TCR, but magnification can only be reliably measured in TC compatible wires (see table above for more information).
        Kanthal wire is a ferritic iron-chromium-aluminum alloy with good oxidation resistance. It is usually used for straight power vaping. 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 as it forms coils – this plays a role in the wicking process. It is very popular as a base wire when assembling single wire coils.
        Another type of wire that is great for vaping is nichrome. Nichrome wire is an alloy composed 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.
       Nichrome comes in several grades, the most popular of which is ni80 (80% nickel and 20% chromium).
        Nichrome works in the same way as kanthal, but has a lower electrical resistance and heats up faster. Easily absorbed and keeps its shape folded. 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 coils. Take your time with this and turn them on at maximum power during drying.
        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 among conventional e-cigarette wires. It can double function for direct power vaping or temperature controlled vaping.
        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. There are many options (grades) of stainless steel, 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 provides faster ramp times than kanthal due to lower resistance for the same specification. Be careful not to dry burn stainless steel at high power when checking for hot spots or when cleaning a building, as this can release unwanted compounds. A good solution is to create spaced coils that don’t need pulsation for hot spots.
       As with kanthal and nichrome, stainless steel coils can be easily found on the B&M website and on the Internet.
        Most vapers prefer power mode: it’s easier. Kanthal, stainless steel, and nichrome are three of the most popular power mode wires, and you might be wondering which one is best for you. Also, please note that if you have (or suspect you may have) a nickel allergy, you should not use nichrome coils, and you may also want to avoid stainless steel.
        Kanthal has long been the choice of most vapers due to its ease of use and higher staying power. Vaping enthusiasts appreciate their taller physique, and the 26-28 caliber Kanthal line is consistently reliable and hard to switch to something else. The shorter ramp time can even be a plus for MTL vapers who prefer slow, long puffs.
        Nichrome and stainless steel, on the other hand, are excellent power mode wires for lower resistance vaping – that doesn’t mean they can’t be used for all types of vaping. While taste is highly subjective, many vapers who have tried nichrome or stainless steel swear they get better flavor than previous Kanthal products.
        Nickel wire, also known as ni200, is usually pure nickel. The nickel wire is the first wire used for temperature control and the first wire on this list that does not work 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 some people may not feel comfortable vaping. 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 hassle.
        There is some controversy over the safety of titanium wire when used in e-cigarettes. Heating above 1200°F (648°C) releases a toxic component (titanium dioxide). Also, like magnesium, titanium is extremely difficult to extinguish if ignited. Some shops do not even sell wire for reasons of responsibility and safety.
        Note that people still use it a lot and in theory you never have to worry about burning or TiO2 poisoning as long as your TC modules do the job. Needless to say, but don’t burn the Ti wires dry!
        Titanium is easily processed into coils and easily wicks. 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 in power mode if desired. 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 advise sticking with Kanthal vaping power which is also the most commonly used vaping coil on the market.
        Most importantly, the vaping cable you choose is an important variable in finding vaping nirvana. In fact, it is one of the most important ingredients for your vaping experience. Various wire types and gauges give us precise control over rise 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 details and save the specifications for future reference.
        I’ve been smoking sub ohm vapes for almost 2 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 what I was looking for for a simple breakdown of wire types, uses and sizes to deepen my knowledge. Great letter! Keep up the good work!
        Hello First of all, I’m new to the vape world so I’m doing some research on resistance and VV/VW. I recently bought a vape mod (baby alien L85 and baby tank TFV8) and after reading this article, I found out that the wires in the coil for the baby tank are kanthal … So my question is: can I put this. Are coils with TC used? ?Because this post says that this wire is not compatible with the vehicle. Thank you Salvador
        I always buy these rba decks for tfv4/8/12 and use them for tc vaping on these tanks. I wound these coils together with a gap between them because I didn’t want to scratch those hot spots and I like the coils to be less tight. I think they work just as well if not better than gapless coils. I hope you understand what I am writing because this is not my first or even my second language.
        Hey Mauricio! Unfortunately, you will not be able to use the TFV8 Baby with pre-made coils in TC mode. However, if you purchased an RBA part for it, you can build your own stainless steel wire coil and use it in power and temperature control mode. Thanks for the feedback, cheers!
        Hi Dave, can you explain why Kanthal coils don’t work in TC mode? How do I know what type of wire is used in a prefabricated spool head?
        Hi inch, 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 can’t be used for 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 your tank or atomizer if… Read More »