Temperature Coefficient – What is it in Vaping?
Definition
The Temperature Coefficient is a numeric value that tells your VapeMod“>vape mod how much the electrical resistance of a coilwire changes as its temperature rises. In Temperature Control (TC)vaping, the mod uses this figure to calculate the coil’s real-time temperature and stop power delivery once the set limit is reached. This prevents dry hits, preserves wick life, and keeps flavour consistent. Expressed in units such as “0.00392 per °C” for Titanium Wire or “0.00092 per °C” for Stainless Steel, the coefficient is programmed into the mod’s firmware for each wire type. Beginners can treat it as a “translation key” between coil resistance and temperature, while advanced users can upload custom values for exotic builds.
Technical Details
Inside every TC-capable mod is a microprocessor that samples coil resistance hundreds of times per second. It compares the cold resistance (measured when the fire button is first pressed) to the live resistance and multiplies the difference by the stored Temperature Coefficient to derive the coil’s current temperature. If the calculated temperature equals or exceeds the user’s preset value (e.g., 220 °C on a Top Filltank), the mod instantly throttles or cuts power. Typical coefficients for vaping wires are:
- Ni200 pure nickel: 0.00600 /°C
- Titanium Grade 1: 0.00366 /°C
- 316L Stainless Steel: 0.00092 /°C
- NiFe30: 0.00320 /°C
Some advanced chipsets let users enter a custom TCR (Temperature Coefficient of Resistance) anywhere from 0.00050 to 0.00700 to accommodate specialty coils, while others lock you to pre-set curves. Accuracy depends on wire purity, connection tightness, and whether the coil is spaced or contact.
Usage & Tips
Always lock the coil’s cold resistance at room temperature before first use—most mods ask “New Coil? Up/Down” when you install a fresh build. Select the correct wire type or manually input the TCR to avoid over- or under-heating, which can mute flavour or scorch cotton. If you experience fluctuating Hit“>Throat Hit or “Temperature Protected” messages too early, check for loose 510 pins, dirty threads, or mixed-metal builds that skew the coefficient. Titanium Wire is especially sensitive—ensure it’s Grade 1 and never glow it red hot while dry-burning. For safety, stay within the recommended TCR range listed by the wire manufacturer and never exceed 50 W on a poorly-wicking Top Fill tank while in TC mode.
History & Context
Temperature Coefficient entered the vaping lexicon in 2014 when Evolv introduced the DNA40 board, the first mass-market chipset to offer true Temperature Control. Early adopters had to manually punch in coefficients for Nickel 200 coils; today, most Australian mods ship with pre-loaded curves for SS, Ti, and NiFe, making TC vaping accessible to beginners while still allowing advanced users to fine-tune their experience.