Spiral Coil – What is it in Vaping?

Definition

A Spiral Coil is a length of resistancewire wound into a tight, continuous helix and installed in an atomiser to heat e-liquid into vapour. Shaped like a miniature spring, the coil sits between positive and negative posts, carrying current from the battery or Mod“>Squonk Mod. When power is applied, the wire glows, instantly turning juice-soaked cotton into smooth vapour. Spiral Coils are found in everything from a basic Kit“>Starter Kit to high-end rebuildable decks, making them the core component of any Sub-Ohm or mouth-to-lung setup.

Technical Details

Spiral Coils are formed by wrapping wire—typically Kanthal A1, Ni80, or stainless steel—around a 2–4 mm diameter rod for 5–12 turns, producing a coil with an inner diameter (ID) of 2.5 mm and a resistance between 0.1 Ω and 1.2 Ω. The pitch (space between wraps) can be contact (micro-coil) or spaced, affecting ramp-up and flavour. Advanced builders create Clapton, Fused Clapton, or Alien spirals where a core wire is wrapped with thinner wire, increasing surface area for denser vapour and faster wicking. Most pre-built coils are machine-pressed to ensure consistent resistance and eliminate hot spots.

Usage & Tips

• Wicking:Thread cotton snugly—too tight chokes wicking, too loose causes Spitback.
• Burn-in: Pulse at low wattage, strum out hot spots, then Steep the wick with juice before full vaping.
• Safety: Check resistance with an Ohm Reader”>ohm reader; verify your mod’s Short Circuit Protection is active before firing.
• Lifespan: Replace when flavour drops or coil darkens; dry-burn gently to extend use.

History & Context

The Spiral Coil emerged in 2010 when Aussie hobbyists first wrapped torch-heated Kanthal around syringe plungers. By 2014, mass-produced sub-ohm spirals became standard in Sub-Ohm Tanks, driving the cloud-chasing culture across Australia and cementing the spiral as the industry’s universal heating element.