Sub-Ohm – What is it in Vaping?

Sub-Ohm: The Cloud-Chaser’s Cornerstone

Definition

Sub-ohm refers to any atomiser coil that measures below 1.0 ohm of electrical resistance. Originally the domain of hard-core hobbyists, sub-ohm vaping is now mainstream and delivers the warm, dense vapour and intense flavour that many Australian vapers crave. By lowering resistance, more current flows from the battery, vaporising e-liquid faster and at higher wattages—perfect for direct-to-lung (DTL) inhales and huge clouds. If you’ve seen someone exhale billows on the footpath, chances are they were using a Tank“>sub-ohm tank or rebuildable dripping atomiser.

Technical Details

Ohm’s Law sits at the heart of sub-ohm: reducing resistance (R) while keeping voltage (V) steady increases amperage (I) and wattage (W). Most sub-ohm coils sit between 0 0.15 Ω and 0.5 Ω, paired with high-drain 18650/21700 cells rated ≥25 A. Mesh strips, Clapton wires and parallel builds are common because their greater surface area heats more juice, creating richer flavour. Tanks such as the SMOK TFV series or Vaporesso iTank use replaceable sub-ohm coils press-fitted into a bubble glass reservoir, while rebuildable drippers (RDAs) and squonk-compatible Mod“>Squonk Mod setups let users wrap their own Single Coil or dual-coil builds. Modern devices offer Short Circuit Protection, temperature control and wattage curves to keep ultra-low builds within safe limits.

Usage & Tips

  • Juice choice: 70 VG / 30 PG or higher VG balances wicking with cloud production; 6 mg nicotine can feel harsh—stick to 3 mg or nic salts if you need more Hit“>throat hit.
  • Priming:Drip 5-7 drops onto cotton before first use, then fill tank and wait 5 min to avoid dry hits.
  • Battery safety: Marry paired cells, check wraps for nicks, and never exceed the continuous discharge rating. If the mod gets hot, stop and let it cool.
  • Cleaning: Rinse tanks weekly to prevent sugary build-up that can mute flavour; allow coils to air-dry thoroughly.
  • Troubleshooting: Spit-back usually means oversaturated cotton—pulse fire at 30 W for one second to clear excess, or increase wattage 5-10 W within the coil’s range.

History & Context

The term “sub-ohm” entered vapers’ lexicon around 2012 when early adopters on Aussie forums began twisting dual 0.8 Ω micro-coils to push mech mods past 20 W. Within two years manufacturers cottoned on, releasing the first sub-ohm clearomisers so beginners could enjoy cloud chasing without mastering rebuildables. Today, almost every Kit“>Starter Kit over 40 W ships with at least one sub-ohm coil option, cementing the practice as a pillar of modern vaping culture Down Under.

Share the Post: