Wire Type – What is it in Vaping?

Definition

Wire Type refers to the specific metal alloy used to create the heating coil in a rebuildable atomiser or replaceable coil head. In vaping, the wire is wrapped into a coil, which heats e-liquid-soaked wick to produce vapour. The material—such as Kanthal, Stainless Steel, Nickel, or Titanium—determines how quickly the coil heats up, its resistance, and whether it can be used in Wattage or Temperature Control modes. Choosing the correct wire type is crucial for flavour, cloud production, battery life, and overall safety.

Technical Details

Each wire type has a unique resistance per millimetre (Ω/mm) and TCR (Temperature Coefficient of Resistance) that dictates its electrical behaviour:

  • Kanthal A1 (FeCrAl): 5.5–6.2 Ω/m for 24 AWG, ideal for high-wattage builds; only supports Wattage mode.
  • Stainless Steel 316L: 4.3–4.7 Ω/m, works in both Wattage and TC; low ramp-up time.
  • Nickel 200 (Ni200): 0.15–0.20 Ω/m, pure nickel, exclusively for TC due to very low resistance.
  • Titanium Grade 1: 2.2–2.4 Ω/m, TC-compatible, must be run in TC to avoid toxicity risks.
  • Ni80 (Nichrome): 6.2–6.8 Ω/m, faster ramp-up than Kanthal, Wattage only.

Wire is sold in gauges from 20 AWG (thick, low resistance) to 36 AWG (thin, high resistance). Wrap count and Diameter“>inner diameter further tune resistance and surface area for flavour or cloud chasing.

Usage & Tips

  • Beginners: Start with 26 AWG Kanthal or 316L SS—easy to work with and widely compatible.
  • Coil Building: Always dry-burn at low wattage (10–20 W) to check for hot spots; glow evenly from centre outwards.
  • Wicking Material: Match the wire’s outer diameter with cotton thickness to prevent flooding or dry hits.
  • Safety: Never use Nickel or Titanium in Wattage mode; monitor for oxidation (discolouration) and replace coils showing rust or heavy carbon build-up.
  • Problem Solver: If resistance jumps erratically, check post screws are tight and wire is not nicked during installation.

History & Context

Early rebuilders used torch-wound Kanthal from hardware stores. The 2014 temperature-control boom introduced Ni200 and Ti, followed by SS316L in 2015 as a dual-mode favourite. Today, exotic wire variants—Clapton, fused Clapton, and alien—combine different wire types for surface area and ramp-up, reflecting Australia’s flavour-centric sub-ohm culture.

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