Temperature Control (TC) – What is it in Vaping?
Definition
Temperature Control (TC) is a smart vaping mode that lets you set a maximum coil temperature (e.g., 220 °C) instead of picking a fixed wattage. Once the coil reaches that limit, the mod automatically reduces power to prevent overheating. Its purpose is to keep every puff consistent, protect your cotton from burning, extend coil life, and give you a smoother Hit“>throat hit with fewer dry hits. TC works with specific wire types—mainly stainless steel, nickel (Ni200), and Titanium Wire—and is available on most modern box mods and pod systems that are TPD Compliant.
Technical Details
TC relies on the predictable change in electrical resistance as the wire heats. The chipset measures resistance in milliohms every few milliseconds, calculates the temperature using the wire’s Temperature Coefficient of Resistance (TCR), and then adjusts wattage in real time. Typical ranges are 100–315 °C (200–600 °F) with ±5 °C accuracy. Variations include:
- Preset Modes: Ni, Ti, SS316, SS904
- Custom TCR: Allows manual entry for exotic alloys
- Replay/TC+: Combines TC and wattage curves for flavour chasing
Most mods require a cold coil reading (room-temperature resistance) to be locked or “set” before use. Minimum coil resistance is usually 0.05 Ω in TC mode.
Usage & Tips
- Start low: Begin at 200 °C, increase by 5 °C until you find the sweet spot for your Tank and e-liquid.
- Prime & lock: Ensure the coil is saturated and always lock the resistance when the coil is at room temperature.
- Common issues: “Temperature Protected” message? Raise the limit or check for loose connections. Dry hits? Lower the temp or increase Juice Flow”>juice flow in Top Fill systems.
- Safety: Only use wire types supported by your mod; mismatched settings can release harmful compounds. Nickel and titanium coils should never be used in wattage mode.
History & Context
Temperature Control debuted on the Evolv DNA40 chip in 2014, initially for Ni200 wire only. Adoption expanded to mainstream mods by 2016, with stainless steel becoming the Aussie favourite for its ease of use and compatibility with both TC and wattage modes. Today, even compact TPD Compliant pod kits offer simplified TC or “Smart Temperature” profiles.