Better with 26 or 28 gauge Kanthal ?

[Flt Simulation]

I have been using an authentic kayfun Lite-Plus for a long time now. I also just purchased a Lemo 2.

Since I vape mouth to lung (tootle puffer), I have been happy with a single Kanthal 28 AWG coil at about 1.6 ohms. This I feed about 10.5 watts. This makes for a nice comfortable vape since I vape somewhat like I used to smoke a cigarette.

Now, I have been thinking about buying some thicker Kanthal 27 or 26 AWG wire and making a single coil in the 1.2 - 1.3 ohm range. I am thinking that I would need to increase the power of this new coil to maybe around 12 or 13 watts in order to get basically what I was used to before.

Do you think I would benefit any from this idea?

Thanks, Ron

 

[State O' Flux]

Run the old and new numbers through Steam Engine... compare and adjust for similar heat flux. Expect more vapor from the modest increase in coil surface area.

 

[Flt Simulation]

Run the old and new numbers through Steam Engine... compare and adjust for similar heat flux. Expect more vapor from the modest increase in coil surface area.

I never thought about using heat flux, but that makes sense.

This is interesting ... Here is my old coil setup:
28 AWG Kanthal @ 1.6 ohms @ 10.5 watts = 116 heat flux


To get the same heat flux using thicker wire and lower ohms, here is what I would need:
27 AWG Kanthal @ 1.3 ohms @ 12 watts = 116 heat flux
26 AWG Kanthal @ 1.3 ohms @ 17 watts = 116 heat flux
____________________________________

I am just wondering if the vape would be the same if the heat flux stayed the same (116) as shown in the 3 examples I show here .... If there would be no difference, I can't see the point in it ???

 

[State O' Flux]

Or... with the same HF goal -

Your build with 1.6Ω / 28 gauge - Heat flux @ 11W = 122 mW/mm² / Surface area 86.1 mm²
Your build with 1.3Ω / 27 gauge - Heat flux @ 12.7W = 122 mW/mm² / Surface area 99.17 mm²
Your build with 1.05Ω / 26 gauge - Heat flux @ 14.5W = 122 mW/mm² / Surface area 113.51mm²

 

[Flt Simulation]

State O' Flux .... Really appreciate the info you have been providing me.

I am just confused as to which way to go ... 1.6 ohms / 28 gauge / 11 watts or 1.05 ohms / 26 gauge / 14.5 watts

They both equal a heat flux of 122 ... but the surface area is much larger using 26 gauge vs 28 gauge.

 

[Flt Simulation]

I guess my goal would be to get a little more actual vape (clouds) without adding any additional heat to the vape.

 

[State O' Flux]

For the same HF, any increase in surface area will provide an increase in vapor production. The only negative is a slightly longer heat capacity (time to temp).

 

[Flt Simulation]

Ok, so the 'Heat Capacity" I see on the Steam Engine calculator is actually how long the coil will take to get up to max temp? ... I guess the bigger the number, the slower it is to heat?

 

[State O' Flux]

Ok, so the 'Heat Capacity" I see on the Steam Engine calculator is actually how long the coil will take to get up to max temp? ... I guess the bigger the number, the slower it is to heat?

Yep, yep, yep... and righty-ho.

 

[Flt Simulation]

You be da man!

Like I said before, I have always been happy making Kanthal 28 gauge coils of about 1.6 ohms and feeding it with about 10.5 watts. That gave me a heat flux of around 116.

I have now been thinking that compared to many of the folks that make there own coils (especially the people into sub-ohm coils), that 116 heat flux I have been using is really very low ... but I worry that if I make a coil with a much greater heat flux than 116, the vape will be too hot.

How these guys vape with 50+ watts of power is beyond my understanding. I am thinking they need lots of airflow, but for me, I like a tighter airflow since I am a mouth to lung vaper who vapes much like I would a cigarette.

 

[State O' Flux]

You be da man!

Like I said before, I have always been happy making Kanthal 28 gauge coils of about 1.6 ohms and feeding it with about 10.5 watts. That gave me a heat flux of around 116.

I have now been thinking that compared to many of the folks that make there own coils (especially the people into sub-ohm coils), that 116 heat flux I have been using is really very low ... but I worry that if I make a coil with a much greater heat flux that 116, the vape will be too hot.

How these guys vape with 50+ watts of power is beyond my understanding. I am thinking they need lots of airflow, but for me, I like a tighter airflow since I am a mouth to lung vaper who vapes much like I would a cigarette.

It can depend in draw time and atty air flow... and what you like.

For example, I like a warm vape, so I run around a 225 in low air flow RTAs like KFLs and R91%s... 250-275 HF in higher air flow RTAs... and around 300-350 in most RDAs.

And remember... I only use mechs, so my builds have to be optimized for Ohm's law.

 

[Flt Simulation]

And remember... I only use mechs, so my builds have to be optimized for Ohm's law.

Good point, using a mod that is non-adjustable for watts and/or volts, you need to make all your changes in the coil.

I used to use a mechanical tube mod (w/ 18650), but I installed an 18500 battery and a Kick module. That worked out pretty well, but the Kick was really limited on it's output power.

I just use VW box mods now. I even have one with Temp Control, but I don't trust Ni200 wire and I would rather just use the mod in it's regular Power mode using good ol' Kanthal for coils.

 

[Flt Simulation]

Here is a great read I stumbled onto for understanding Heat Flux and Heat Capacity ....

The practical applications of heat flux, wire gauge, parallel wire count & net resistance | E-Cigarette Forum

 

[State O' Flux]

That looks like a complete load of BS.

 

[edyle]

you could just twist 2 lengths of 28 together