Element Coil – What is it in Vaping?

Definition

An Element Coil is the small, replaceable metal heating unit inside an E-Cigarettetank or pod that turns E-Liquid into vapour. Made from resistancewire (usually kanthal, stainless steel or nickel), the coil is wrapped around an absorbent wick—often cotton—that soaks up E-Juice. When you press the fire button, battery power flows through the wire, heating it until the liquid in the wick vaporises. In short, the Element Coil is the engine that delivers flavour and nicotine in every puff, whether you’re using an eGo Style pen or a high-wattage Mod“>box mod.

Technical Details

Element Coils operate on the principle of electrical resistance: wire with a low resistance (measured in ohms) heats quickly. Typical stock coils range from 0.15 Ω (sub-ohm, high vapour) to 1.8 Ω (mouth-to-lung, discreet clouds). Most are “plug-and-play” press-fit or screw-in units encased in a stainless-steel chassis with organic Japanese cotton wicking. Inside you’ll find either a single wire, parallel wires, or mesh strips for faster ramp-up. Variants include temperature-control nickel (Ni200) coils for DNA-style mods, ceramic wick coils for longevity, and E-Shisha specific coils with larger juice ports for thick VG blends.

Usage & Tips

• Priming:Drip E-Liquid directly onto the cotton until saturated to prevent dry hits on first use.
• Power Range: Stay within the wattage printed on the coil; exceeding it scorches wicks and shortens life.
• Chain-Vaping: Take 5-10 second breaks between puffs to let wicks re-saturate and avoid burnt taste.
• Replacement Signs: Flavour drop, gurgling, or darkened cotton means it’s time to swap coils—usually every 5–10 ml of E-Juice.
• Safety: Always cool the coil before removal, and never dry-fire in a plastic tank.

History & Context

Early 2010s E-Cigarettes used basic silica-wick coils around 2.5 Ω. The 2014 “sub-ohm revolution” introduced Element Coils under 1 Ω, pairing with high-VG E-Liquid for cloud chasing. Mesh coils arrived in 2017, offering even heating and longer life. Today, Australian vapers can choose from hundreds of Element Coil designs catering to everything from discreet MTL eGo Style pens to powerful E-Shisha mods.