Coil – What is it in Vaping? Definition & Function Explained

Definition

A coil is the replaceable heating element inside an e-cigarettecartridge or atomiser. Made from resistancewire—usually Kanthal, stainless steel, or nickel—it turns electrical energy from the battery into heat. This heat vaporises the e-liquid soaked into the surrounding cotton or Wick“>ceramic wick, producing the vapour you inhale. In short, the coil is the heart of every vape device, determining flavour intensity, vapour volume, and Hit“>throat hit.

Technical Details

Coils operate on the principle of electrical resistance measured in ohms (Ω). When the fire button is pressed, current flows through the wire, heating it to roughly 200-315 °C. Standard “stock” coils range from 0.15 Ω (sub-ohm) to 1.8 Ω (mouth-to-lung). Advanced users build their own, selecting gauges (e.g., 24-32 AWG) and configurations such as Clapton coils, fused Claptons, or mesh strips for faster ramp-up and denser cloud chasing. Ceramic coils use porous ceramic as both wick and heating surface, offering longer life and cleaner flavour.

Usage & Tips

• Priming:Drip 3-5 drops of e-liquid onto the coil’s cotton before first use to prevent dry hits.
• Wattage Range”>Wattage range: Stay within the range printed on the coil; too low causes flooding, too high burns cotton.
• Burnt taste? Replace the coil immediately—continuing risks inhaling degraded cotton fibres.
• Longevity: Dark, sweet e-liquids shorten coil life; rotate flavours and rinse coils weekly to extend them.
• Safety: Never fire a coil without e-liquid; check resistance on a Mod“>regulated mod before use.

History & Context

First-generation cig-a-likes used silica-wicked coils around 1.5 Ω. The mid-2010s sub-ohm revolution lowered resistance to 0.5 Ω and below, popularising cloud chasing. Mesh coils arrived in 2018, followed by temperature-control nickel and stainless-steel variants, reflecting Australia’s growing appetite for both flavour fidelity and coil longevity.