Low Resistance – What is it in Vaping?

Definition

Low Resistance (often shortened to “LR”) describes any atomiser, coil head, or rebuildable setup whose electrical resistance is below the standard 1.0 ohm mark. In simple terms, the lower the resistance, the easier it is for power from your Battery“>lithium battery to flow through the coil, creating bigger clouds and richer flavour. Australian vapers reach for low-resistance coils when they want a warm, dense Hit“>lung hit instead of a tight cigarette-style draw. By letting more wattage pass through the wire, LR setups turn e-liquid into vapour faster, making them the go-to choice for direct-to-lung (DTL) sub-ohm tanks and rebuildable drippers.

Technical Details

Resistance is measured in ohms (Ω). Anything registering 0.99 ohm or lower is classed as “sub-ohm” or low resistance. Most factory-made LR coils sit between 0.15 Ω and 0.6 Ω, while advanced rebuilders may build as low as 0.08 Ω on high-amp dual-battery mods. To obey Ohm’s Law (Current = Voltage ÷ Resistance), dropping resistance raises the current draw, so you need high-drain 18650/21700 cells rated for at least 25 A–35 A. Coil mass, wire type (Kanthal, Ni80, stainless steel), and Diameter“>inner diameter all affect the final ohm reading. Mesh strips, dual-coil configurations, and thick Clapton wires naturally read lower than single round-wire builds. Temperature-control-compatible wires (SS, Ni200, Ti) can still be “low resistance” while allowing TC mode to prevent dry hits.

Usage & Tips

• Prime new LR coils generously: low resistance vapourises liquid ratio faster, so let the cotton saturate for 5–10 min before firing.
• Start at the manufacturer’s lowest recommended wattage and work up until you find the sweet spot; too high will cook cotton and cause leaking through oversaturation.
• Check your mod’s LED indicator for “low ohm” or “short” warnings—if the resistance jumps or reads zero, stop and inspect for loose leads or damaged wraps.
• Use 70 VG / 30 PG or thicker juice to wick aggressively without leaking; thin 50/50 can flood the coil at high wattage.
• Battery safety: always confirm your cells are free of wraps nicks, married in pairs, and within their continuous amp limit. Carry spares in plastic cases to avoid hard shorts.

History & Context

When clearomisers ruled at 2.0 Ω, cloud-chasers began rebuilding with 0.8 Ω micro-coils around 2012. The trend exploded in 2014 as mass-market “sub-ohm tanks” shipped with 0.5 Ω coils, matching higher-wattage box mods. Today, 0.15–0.2 Ω mesh coils are the default for Australian vape shops, reflecting both our nicotine-import laws and the local preference for big, smooth DTL flavour.