Velocity Posts – What Are They in Vaping RDA Atomizers?

Definition

Velocity Posts are the threaded, spring-loaded positive and negative terminals inside a rebuildable dripping atomiser (RDA) that grip coil legs and allow vapers to mount dual or single coils quickly without tools. Named after the iconic “Velocity RDA” that popularised the design in 2015, these posts use a top-down clamping system: each post has a large horizontal hole and a captive flat-head screw. When the screw is loosened, a spring lifts the clamp, letting the user slide in the coil leg; tightening the screw clamps the wire firmly, delivering even electrical contact and consistent vapor production. The layout separates positive and negative poles clearly, making coil placement intuitive for beginners while giving advanced vapers room for exotic builds.

Technical Details

A classic Deck“>Velocity deck has four holes arranged in a square: two negative on the outer edge and two positive in the centre, all 2.5 mm in diameter and drilled 1.5 mm above the deck floor. The screws are usually M3×0.5 stainless-steel grub screws, torqued to 0.3–0.4 Nm, compatible with 24–28 AWG Kanthal, nichrome or stainless-steel wire. Peek or POM insulators isolate the positive block, rated for 600 °C and 60 W continuous. Post thickness is 3 mm, giving a 5 mm gap between coils—ideal for 3 mm-inner-diameter coils and high-VG VapeJuice“>vape juice. Variations include “Velocity-style” two-post decks (reducing to two 3 mm clamp holes) and squonk-ready versions with hollow positive posts for BF (bottom-feeding) pins. Silver-plated clamps lower resistance to <0.2 mΩ, beneficial on Wattage (VW)”>Variable Wattage (VW) and Variable Voltage (VV) devices.

Usage & Tips

When installing coils, pre-cut legs to 5–6 mm so the coil sits halfway over the air-flow slot; this prevents spit-back and maximises flavour. Snip leads after tightening to avoid shorts against the cap. Use a coiling rod to centre each coil 1 mm above the deck—too low and vape juice will pool, too high and cotton will dry-hit. If screws back out under temperature cycling, apply a micro-drop of non-conductive thread-lock. For dual-coil builds, aim for resistances within 0.05 Ω of each other so VW mods fire evenly. Always check for hot-spots with a dry burn at 15 W; glowing coils should heat from the centre outward. Finally, keep the deck below 4 V on VV devices to preserve insulator life and maintain Battery Safety”>battery safety.

History & Context

The Velocity deck debuted on the American-made Velocity RDA by Cisco & Sub Ohm Innovations in early 2015, revolutionising the rebuildable scene. Its tool-free clamping system replaced earlier three-post designs that required fiddly Phillips screws and angled leads. Within months, Chinese manufacturers adopted the layout, making “Velocity-style posts” a staple on over 200 attys. Today, the design underpins most dual-coil RDAs, RTAs and RDTL tanks sold in Australia, cementing its place in vape hardware evolution.