Jumper Wire – What is it in Vaping?

Definition

A Jumper Wire is a short length of conductive wire used to bridge or bypass part of a rebuildable atomiser’s Deck“>build deck, creating an electrical path where the deck’s native layout cannot. In vaping, it allows vapers to install exotic coil configurations—especially multi-coil or stacked arrangements—when the posts, Juice Well”>juice well depth, or juice channel spacing do not line up naturally. By effectively “extending” one post to another, a jumper wire ensures both coils fire evenly without dry hits or hot spots, while still leaving room for adequate juice capacity and wicking with materials like Cotton“>Japanese cotton.

Technical Details

Jumper wires are typically made from the same alloy as the coil—Ni80, Kanthal A1, or stainless steel—to maintain consistent resistance and temperature coefficient. They range from 24 to 28 AWG (0.51–0.32 mm) and are cut to exact lengths, usually 8–15 mm, depending on the RDA or RTA post configuration. Two common styles exist:

• Single-leg bridge: One end is trapped under the positive post screw, the other under a neighboring negative post, forming a low-resistance extension.
• Series bridge: A longer jumper connects the positive post to an elevated secondary deck (common in stacked RDAs), raising total resistance and doubling voltage output.

Resistance added is minimal—0.02–0.08 Ω on regulated mods—so precise measurement with a reliable Ohm Reader”>ohm reader is essential before juicing the wicks.

Usage & Tips

Before installing, dry-fit the jumper wire and check that it clears the juice well and airflow slots. Trim flush to avoid shorts against the cap. When wicking, angle the Japanese cotton tails away from the jumper to prevent heat transfer that can mute flavour or burn cotton. If you notice uneven heating, loosen and retighten post screws; oxidation under the jumper can add resistance. Always pulse the build at low wattage (10–15 W) to confirm the jumper glows evenly with the coils. Finally, keep spare pre-cut jumpers in mixed gauges—handy when experimenting with high-juice-capacity tanks that have restrictive post layouts.

History & Context

Jumper wires emerged in the early 2010s as Australian cloud-chasers pushed dual- and quad-coil builds on limited-post RDAs like the original IGO-W. As postless and “floating” decks became mainstream, the technique evolved from a competition trick to a practical solution for flavour chasers using modern RTAs with deep juice wells and tight juice channels.