Variable Voltage (VV) – What is it in Vaping?

Definition

Variable Voltage (VV) is a feature on advanced vape devices that lets you manually adjust the electrical pressure (voltage) sent to the coil, giving you direct control over how hot the coil gets and how much vapor is produced. Instead of the device deciding power for you, a VV mod has buttons or a dial—usually between 3.0 V and 6.0 V—so you can fine-tune each puff. By changing the voltage you alter the heat of the coil, which changes flavour intensity, Hit“>throat hit, and cloud size. It’s ideal for vapers who want to pair one device with many tanks or who like to tinker with Juice“>vape juice recipes. Beginners often graduate to VV after fixed-voltage pens because it opens up customisation without needing to learn Ohm’s law in depth.

Technical Details

Inside a VV mod, a buck-boost converter (or DC-DC regulator) draws power from the battery and steps it up or down to your chosen voltage, while an onboard microcontroller keeps output stable regardless of Resistance“>coil resistance. Most Australian-sold VV devices accept 0.1–3.0 Ω atomisers and deliver 3.0–6.0 V in 0.1 V increments; high-amp 18650/21700 cells are recommended so the chip can supply up to ≈15 A without voltage sag. Because power (watts) equals voltage squared divided by resistance (P=V²/R), a 1.5 Ω coil at 4.2 V already pulls 11.8 W—enough for a warm mouth-to-lung vape—while a 0.5 Ω coil at 5.5 V hits 60 W for dense direct-lung clouds. Some VV boards also offer “mean” (RMS) or “live” voltage sensing; RMS is more accurate on pulsed coils. Early VV mods were single-boost only, but modern versions combine buck-boost, allowing low-voltage battery preservation down to 3.2 V while still outputting 6 V.

Usage & Tips

  • Start low: Begin at 3.3 V with a fresh coil, raise gradually until flavour peaks; backing down 0.2 V often prevents dry hits.
  • Check resistance: Use the mod’s built-in ohmmeter; if resistance jumps, unscrew and clean the 510 pin to avoid hot spots.
  • Battery safety: High-drain cells (≥20 A continuous) are essential—carry spares in plastic cases and never below 3.2 V to protect the boost circuit.
  • Juice choice: High-VG vape juice can handle higher volts; 50/50 liquids may spit above 4.5 V—close airflow slightly or lower voltage.
  • Switch to VW if unsure: If you change coils often, consider a Wattage (VW)”>Variable Wattage (VW) mod so the chip auto-adjusts voltage for you.

History & Context

Variable Voltage emerged in 2010 when Australian enthusiasts modified flashlight tubes with potentiometers to escape the 3.7 V ceiling of early e-cigs. The first commercial VV mod, the “ProVari” (USA), landed here via grey import in 2011, setting a 6 V benchmark. Within two years Chinese manufacturers released affordable VV/VW chips, making VV a standard stepping-stone between fixed-voltage pens and temperature-control devices. Today, VV remains popular among flavour chasers who rebuild single-coil RTAs at 1.0–1.5 Ω, proving that precise voltage still has a place alongside modern wattage and TC modes.

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