Heating Element – What is it in Vaping?

Definition

A heating element is the core component inside every vapecoil that turns e-liquid into the vapour you inhale. Usually made from resistancewire—Kanthal, stainless steel, nickel, or titanium—it sits within a wick soaked in e-liquid. When you press the fire button, the mod sends power through this wire; its electrical resistance causes it to heat up rapidly, vaporising the juice on the wick. Without a reliable heating element there is no hit, no cloud, and no flavour, making it the engine room of every vaping device from starter pods to high-end rebuildables.

Technical Details

The element’s temperature is governed by Ohm’s Law: the lower the coil resistance (measured in Ω) and the higher the wattage, the hotter and faster it fires. Most factory-made coils range 0.15–1.5 Ω and operate between 8 W and 120 W. Wire gauge (28–36 AWG), coil Diameter“>inner diameter (2–4 mm), and wraps (3–12) decide surface area, ramp-up time, and final resistance. Variations include single, dual, triple, and mesh strips; mesh gives a larger, even surface for smoother High VG cloud production. Temperature-control-ready wires (SS, Ni200, Ti) allow the mod to limit temperature by sensing changing resistance, preventing cotton burn and hot spots.

Usage & Tips

• Priming: Always saturate the wick and let the coil sit 5–10 min before first use to avoid dry hits.
• Break-in: Start at the lower end of the recommended wattage range and raise gradually to extend coil life.
• Hot-spot check (RDAs/RTAs): Pulse the coil at low wattage and pinch evenly with ceramic tweezers until it glows uniformly from the centre out.
• High-VG juices: Use larger wick channels or mesh to keep thick liquid flowing and prevent burning.
• Safety: Ensure the 510 hybrid connection has a protruding positive pin so the heating element cannot short against the mod tube.

History & Context

The first e-cigarettes (2003) used simple Kanthal coils wrapped around silica wicks. Sub-ohm vaping (2012) pushed manufacturers toward lower-resistance heating elements, while mesh re-emerged in 2018 to satisfy cloud chasers chasing cooler, flavour-rich vapour without hot spots. Heatsinks and spaced builds are now common tricks to manage heat on high-power Australian devices.