Watt Hour – What is it in Vaping?
Definition
A Watt Hour (Wh) is the unit that tells you how much total energy a vapebattery can deliver. Think of it as the size of your “fuel tank”: one Watt Hour equals one watt of power flowing for one full hour. In vaping, this measurement helps you compare how long different battery configurations will last before you need to recharge, regardless of whether you vape at 10 W or 200 W. The higher the Wh, the longer you can puff clouds without hunting for a USB-C cable—handy for Australian vapers on the go.
Technical Details
Watt Hours are calculated by multiplying a battery’s nominal voltage (V) by its charge capacity in amp-hours (Ah): Wh = V × Ah. A typical single 18650 cell (3.7 V, 3 Ah) gives ≈ 11 Wh, while a dual-18650 mod doubles that to ≈ 22 Wh. Manufacturers often print milliamp-hours (mAh) on wraps; divide by 1 000 to get Ah, then multiply by 3.7 V for Wh. Variations include 21700 cells (≈ 15 Wh) and integrated Li-Po packs (up to 50 Wh in high-end box mods). Temperature, CoilResistance“>coil resistance, and wattage settings affect real-world runtime, but Wh remains the apples-to-apples comparison.
Usage & Tips
- Compare mods: A 30 Wh squonk device will outlast a 10 Wh pod, even if both list “3 000 mAh”.
- Travel safe: Australian aviation law allows ≤ 100 Wh batteries in carry-on; remove cells if over.
- Prevent confusion: High-watt coil builds (low-resistance wire, many wraps) drain Wh faster—carry spares.
- Storage: Store cells at 50 % charge (≈ 3.6 V) to preserve Wh capacity long-term.
- Troubleshoot: Sudden drop in vaping time usually means cell degradation; replace when Wh falls below 70 % of original.
History & Context
As box mods migrated from single 18650s to triple-21700 powerhouses (2015-2020), manufacturers switched from advertising “mAh” to “Wh” to sidestep voltage confusion. Today, Australia’s nicotine-import laws push vapers toward high-capacity, Wh-efficient devices to reduce shipping frequency, making Watt Hour literacy every vaper’s second language.