Note: the context of this entry is trying to increase the understanding of VV and VW coil temperatures. Studies by Wang and Guiss suggest that carcinogens (like formaldehyde) start getting produced at high temperatures. I have proven, in some of my other blog posts, that our coils can indeed reach these temperatures quite easily. If you run a TC mod then you know what temp you running, but if you dont then the questions come up of "what temp is my mod running".
I am a firm believer in TC Mods, but for those who dont have them I have tried to identify all of the variables that affect the coil temperature in a VV/VW mod.
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My objective is to show clearly, all of the variables that affect the temperature in a VV or VW Mod. I excluded TC mods because, well, you already know the temp on those. Based on what I have put together so far, I count 18 distinct variables, any one of which could result in a coil temperature change.
A key concept, is that if you change ANY single variable, you could change the resulting temperature. This is what makes it so hard to accurately answer "how hot is my XYZ Mod getting".
I have explained the variables in a little more detail below the graphic.
Atty Variables:
Resistance
User Discipline:
MTL vs DL
©2017 Mike Petro. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
I am a firm believer in TC Mods, but for those who dont have them I have tried to identify all of the variables that affect the coil temperature in a VV/VW mod.
*************************************************************
My objective is to show clearly, all of the variables that affect the temperature in a VV or VW Mod. I excluded TC mods because, well, you already know the temp on those. Based on what I have put together so far, I count 18 distinct variables, any one of which could result in a coil temperature change.
A key concept, is that if you change ANY single variable, you could change the resulting temperature. This is what makes it so hard to accurately answer "how hot is my XYZ Mod getting".
I have explained the variables in a little more detail below the graphic.
Atty Variables:
Resistance
- With all else being equal, changing the resistance of your coil (using a different cartridge for example) will definitely change the resulting temperature.
- Different wires have different "heat fluxes". In other words, you can run two different wires at the exact sames 4.1volts, and one type of wire might burn hotter than the other. Steam-Engine is a great place to research the various properties of different kinds of wire.
- How wide are the coils spaced, is it a contact coil, is it a clapton coil? These are all examples of different coil designs. Different designs will change the temperature with all else being equal.
- Is it a new coil, or an old gunked up coil. When your coil gets gunked, clean or replace promptly. Gunked coils inhibit heat transfer, and the most common reaction is for a user to increase their power, resulting in a higher coil temp. There is also data that suggests that burning the carbonized junk on a coil also gives off nasties.
- A CE4 is different than Protank, which is different than a Kayfun, which is different than an Aromamizer. There are hundreds of different designs on the market. With all else being equal, these drastically different designs will affect the resulting temperature at the coil.
- Some attys have small airholes, some have large slots, some have bottom airflow, side airflow, or top airflow. The bottom line is that, with all else being equal, if you change the velocity, volume, or pattern of air blowing over the coil it will likely affect the temperature on a non TC Mod.
- Different attys have different types of juice supply channels. Some are quite large, others quite small. Some atty designs will also create a vacuum in the coil chamber that effectively helps pull juice into the chamber. Depending on your other variables like coil, wattage, and juice viscosity, juice flow can be a critical factor. If you starve a coil for juice, the temperature WILL rise on a non-TC mod.
- There are many materials in use for wicking including silica, hemp, ramie, cotton, rayon, ceramic, and more. Changing materials can improve or degrade your attys ability to supply juice. If you starve a coil for juice, the temperature WILL rise on a non-TC mod. The more power hungry your coil, the better your wicking needs to be.
- This is how hard, or tight, you are packing your wick. Different materials need different handling. For example rayon tends to shrink after it gets wet, so you should pack it tighter, cotton tends to swell so you should leave it fluffier, silica just sucks. Anyway, if you dont adjust the density of your wick to match the material then you can negatively affect juice supply. If you starve a coil for juice, the temperature WILL rise on a non-TC mod.
- The viscosity of your juice has to match your wicking system. High VG is thicker, high PG is thinner. If you starve a coil for juice, the temperature WILL rise on a non-TC mod. If your juice is too thin you could flood your atty, which will also change temp.
- Depending on your ratios, ambient temperature can negatively affect juice supply by changing its viscosity. On a very cold day a heavy VG juice will not flow well at all. On a really hot day a heavy PG juice could flood your tank and even leak. Either way, with all else being equal, it can change the temp of your coil.
User Discipline:
MTL vs DL
- Mouth to Lung versus Direct Lung hits definitely change the airflow going across the coil. For example, I measured 10 times more pressure differential when doing Direct Lung hits. Again, if you change the airflow you will affect the temp of a coil on a non TC mod.
- This is similar to the above, but more subtle. What we are talking about is how HARD are you hitting the mod. More volume and/or velocity of air and you will affect the temp of a coil on a non TC mod.
- Chain hitting a non TC mod will definitely, and sometimes very significantly increase the coil temperature. I have proven this with direct thermocouple measurements. What happens is the coil doesnt get a chance to cool between chain hits, so subsequent hits are already starting with a preheated coil. The more chain hits in a row, the hotter the coil will get each time.
- How long of a hit are you taking. I have proven that in most cases, the longer the hit, the hotter a coil gets in a non TC mod.
- On many attys, the air and/or juice flowrate is adjustable. Changing these settings will affect the temperature of your coil. Could be hotter or cooler, it depends on what and how you adjust.
- This applies more to rebuidable or DIY type setups. The technique you use to build a coil, or wick it, any little "mods" you make (like poking holes in the cotton on a cartridge), can definitely affect the coil temperature.
- In other words, what Volt or Watt level are you setting it at.
©2017 Mike Petro. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
