Ultra Low Resistance – What is it in Vaping?

Definition

Ultra Resistance“>Low Resistance (ULR) refers to any coil that registers below 0.1 Ω on a Mod“>regulated mod or mech tube. In the Australian vaping scene, these sub-ohm builds are designed for one thing: chucking dense, warm clouds while intensifying flavour. By letting far more current pass through the wire than standard coils, ULR setups turn high-wattage power into almost instant vapour production. They’re the go-to choice for competitive cloud-chasers and dripper fans who build their own RDA decks, but they demand married high-drain 18650/21700 batteries and a rock-solid understanding of Ohm’s Law to stay safe.

Technical Details

ULR coils achieve their sub-0.1 Ω reading by using thick-gauge wire (usually N80 or stainless-steel), minimal wraps (2–4), and large internal diameters (3–4 mm). Dual-coil configurations halve the total resistance, so two 0.2 Ω coils together give 0.1 Ω, and two 0.15 Ω coils drop to 0.075 Ω—squarely in ULR territory. On a fully-charged 4.2 V battery, a 0.08 Ω build pulls 52 A and delivers 220 W, far beyond the continuous rating of most cells. Because of this, vapers rely on high-drain 30–40 A batteries (Sony VTC5A, Molicel P42A) and robust mechs or 200 W-plus regulated mods with accurate resistance meters. Temperature-sensitive wires such as SS316L can still be used for TC mode, but most ULR users prefer wattage-only for the faster ramp-up.

Usage & Tips

  • Always dry-burn and pinch coils evenly to eliminate hot-spots before wicking; ULR builds will stress any weak point.
  • Use generous cotton—Scottish roll or thick strips—to avoid dry hits at 100 W-plus; re-drip every 3–4 pulls.
  • Check battery wraps and terminal condition every day; even a tiny nick can arc at 50 A.
  • Start at a lower wattage (e.g., 80 W) and work up until vapour is warm but not harsh; Ohm’s Law calculators help confirm you’re within the CDR of your cells.
  • Carry spare married pairs in insulated cases; mixing old and new batteries under ULR load is the fastest route to thermal runaway.

History & Context

Ultra Low Resistance emerged in the mid-2010s when Aussie cloud-chasers began adapting mechanical tubes and 30 A cells from the RC hobby world. As 200 W regulated boards arrived, manufacturers like Vandy Vape and GeekVape commercialised ULR-friendly RDAs and mesh strips, bringing once-niche 0.05 Ω builds into mainstream vape shops—though they still sit outside the official 0.1 Ω Australian import guideline, so users build at their own risk.

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