Built a 1.0 ohm twisted coil in a gutted Kanger dual coil head - please check my math...

[Jaffo]

Hey peeps. So, I had an idea, and I think I've nailed it.

I just twisted two 30ga lengths of Kanthal and did then did four wraps around a small drill bit, shaping a nice coil. Fit it in a gutted Kanger dual coil head, checked for shorts (first one out of three that was fine) and it tested to 1.0 ohms.

I have a KGO Mega 1300mAh unregulated battery that fires it, and the charts and tables suggest it will not pull more than 3.5a or so, which would/should be more than safe enough for this size cell - IF it fires in the first place, which it does. I know it could shorten the life of my battery and will guzzle juice. But damn, the hit is flavorful and thick and wonderful. But... I don't wanna be stupid. If I stick within the 3.2-4.2v range, I don't think I'm cooking enough watts to pull to many amps here. Heat will be a factor, but not the power...right? Oh, and by the way, I am currently running this in a Kanger Mini Protank 3 thus far. Even with the stock air holes bored out considerably to help with vapor production, it heats up quickly, so I don't take long pulls, and I let it sit for a bit as needed.

I have read the ratings on the various eGo style batteries and mAh limitations, etc... but was interested in some real world feedback from some veterans. I was obviously intrigued with the idea of building a basic Kanger-type clearo head with a twisted coil, and was aiming for 1.0ohm and am not interested in sub-ohming. In fact, I don't plan on using this new coil with any regularity, simply because I care about my gear (and my face). But, it is cheap gear and I like to experiment *safely*. I've read a lot of threads and done some research so I THINK I'm within my limits of safety, while teasing the extent of the ability of my setup. So, no. I'm not trying to cowboy or pulling stupid noob stunts. But I also don't completely trust the cheap Chinese "starter" gear I have.

Any feedback? Thanks!

 

[JMarca]

There is no math to be done here, get a reader so you can KNOW and not guess what you're doing, you need an ohm reading.

 

[Susan~S]

Click on my signature line for Steam Engine and click on the Ohms Law tab. A 4.2v battery firing a 1.0 ohm coil will draw 4.2A. Most "ego style" batteries have a 2.5 amp limitation.

If you want to experiment with coil building, considered upgrading your setup to a MVP v2 (around $40 shipped). It will fire a coil down to 0.9 ohms, has a HUGE 2600mah battery and you can vape while charging.

 

[Jaffo]

Ah... sorry if I wasn't clear. I have a multimeter and the coil tested to 1.0 ohm. No guessing involved. More of an equipment question, I suppose - 1.0 ohm + 3.2-4.2v = 13.5w or so, which = 3.5a. Should be well within safe range, but wanted to hear from others who mess with lower resistance coils in Kanger tanks and unregulated "eGo" type batteries. I wouldn't even try this with a 650mAh cell.

 

[Jaffo]

Click on my signature line for Steam Engine. A 4.2v battery firing a 1.0 ohm coil will draw 4.2A. Most "ego style" batteries have a 2.5 amp limitation.

If you want to experiment with coil building, considered upgrading your setup to a MVP v2 (around $40 shipped). It will fire a coil down to 0.9 ohms, has a HUGE 2600mah battery and you can vape while charging.

Thank you for this, Susan. I have played with the Steam Engine quite a bit. The MVP a good idea, and will be considered as I collect more gear. Like I said - I have a KGO Mega battery that is unlike the average eGo in that they seem to have a higher amp limit. I think at least 4A.

In this case with what I have, would you suggest staying down around 3.7-3.9 range to make sure I stay in the 3.0-3.5A range?

This isn't so I can constantly vape this setup. This is purely out of curiosity. Personally, I prefer vaping the Kanger heads at 1.5ohms or above, and will use a mod and RDA for any more regular low resistance vaping.

 

[Double Helix]

Cooking enough watts? Why would wattage matter if we're already dealing with voltage. The thing we are worried about here is the amp limit.

A 1 ohm coil at 4.2 volts uses 4.2 amps (or 17.64 watts not that it matters at all in this instance). It was hard to find good battery specs about your product, but one vendor put "KGO 1300mAh unregulated batteries 1.5ohm capable" which I assume means that's the safe firing range. I wasn't really able to find any info about the amp limit on your specific model, but similar models have around a 2.5 amp limit. Just for the record it wouldn't be the first time a supplier overestimated their product specs either even though I can't find a source that supports your 4 amp limit.

In this case with what I have, would you suggest staying down around 3.7-3.9 range to make sure I stay in the 3.0-3.5A range?

How are you changing your voltage? In the first post you said the device was unregulated. So unless you're pre-draining the battery....? And you're either accounting for voltage drop or your math is wrong. I'm not sure which.

 

[Jaffo]

Okay - just found that the coil fires on one of my X-Fire VV battery mods that houses a 900mAh 3.7v 13600 Li-Mn battery. I can't seem to find a continuous discharge rating for these things though. Looks like it will be best to only fire this coil within the 3.7v range, which keeps me at a 3.7A draw.

Now that I know more about these X-Fire mods, I think they're some pretty ambitiously designed VV devices, considering they are often likely to be used well outside a safe range for the 900mAh battery they house. Ugh. LOL.

 

[Jaffo]

Cooking enough watts? Why would wattage matter if we're already dealing with voltage. The thing we are worried about here is the amp limit.

A 1 ohm coil at 4.2 volts uses 4.2 amps (or 17.64 watts not that it matters at all in this instance). It was hard to find good battery specs about your product, but one vendor put "KGO 1300mAh unregulated batteries 1.5ohm capable" which I assume means that's the safe firing range. I wasn't really able to find any info about the amp limit on your specific model, but similar models have around a 2.5 amp limit. Just for the record it wouldn't be the first time a supplier overestimated their product specs either even though I can't find a source that supports your 4 amp limit.



How are you changing your voltage? In the first post you said the device was unregulated. So unless you're pre-draining the battery....? And you're either accounting for voltage drop or your math is wrong. I'm not sure which.

Sorry, I keep replying before I see new posts here. When I look up stats on the KGO Mega, it often states they are unregulated, which I am taking to mean that they don't have a protection circuit that cuts off when lower resistance is encountered. They are not VV devices. The X-Fire wood mod is, however. As cheaply as they may be made.

I don't trust any of these battery devices all that much, considering where they come from and what they actually are. But, I also don't hear much about them exploding in anyone's face or hands, either. Seems extremely rare, and I KNOW a lot of clueless people out there abuse the crap out of these things. I am trying NOT to abuse them, knowing we can't be sure what they are capable of. But I figure a 1.0 ohm coil probably isn't the worst thing to do with one, especially if I am being careful with it.

I asked for more experienced folks to "check my math" because I expected there to be some fault on my end. LOL. If I'm drawing higher amperage than I should be, then I will adjust accordingly.

For some reason I was pretty sure these KGO Mega cells could handle a higher draw, but I could totally be wrong about that.

 

[Topwater Elvis]

The upgraded v2 & v3 version of the vgo mega has a 3 amp limit, the standard mega has a 2.5 amp limit.
If the protection circuitry is working no PV or APV will fire anything that requires more than the amp limit or it won't fire it at a voltage that exceeds the amp limit.
If the protection circuitry isn't working you will be over stressing a low quality low amp rating non high drain un protected battery.

Aint no math checking necessary, use the right tools for the job or expect a less than desirable outcome.

 

[ClintS]

Since the Chinese manufactures of the KGO Mega 1300mAh has - 4. Do not use anything below 1.5ohm resistance, such as the 1.25ohm dual coil cartomizers. Use of 1.25ohm dual coil cartomizers on your KGO will void the warranty.

I would not be using anything under 1.5 ohm resistance. They obviously do not trust them below a 1.5ohm use, why do you?

 

[Jaffo]

The upgraded v2 & v3 version of the vgo mega has a 3 amp limit, the standard mega has a 2.5 amp limit.
If the protection circuitry is working no PV or APV will fire anything that requires more than the amp limit or it won't fire it at a voltage that exceeds the amp limit.
If the protection circuitry isn't working you will be over stressing a low quality low amp rating non high drain un protected battery.

Gotcha. Makes total sense and I tend to agree at this point. I don't want to push it. Thank you. Thanks to the others as well. I'll save these 1.0 ohm twisted coil builds for the larger cells and mech mods. I have some good 30A 18650s just waiting for a tube to put them in. LOL. Was just excited to see if I could pull it off safely in a Mini Protank 3 and the other gear I have.

 

[Jaffo]

Since the Chinese manufactures of the KGO Mega 1300mAh has - 4. Do not use anything below 1.5ohm resistance, such as the 1.25ohm dual coil cartomizers. Use of 1.25ohm dual coil cartomizers on your KGO will void the warranty.

I would not be using anything under 1.5 ohm resistance. They obviously do not trust them below a 1.5ohm use, why do you?

You're right, of course. Thank you.

 

[Jaffo]

My pride and joy 1.0 ohm twisted coil kanger head has found its way into a dark box far away from my gear.

For now. Sounds like other than a mech mod and a RDA, I need to get myself an MVP and a Kayfun or something, eh?

 

[Topwater Elvis]

I wanted to hear about the twisted 1ohm stuffed in a gutted kangar, never know you might be on to something.
Wick juice and fire that puppy with something safe and lettuce know.

 

[Jaffo]

I wanted to hear about the twisted 1ohm stuffed in a gutted kangar, never know you might be on to something.
Wick juice and fire that puppy with something safe and lettuce know.

Dude - with what little vaping I did on it it was AWESOME. Considering the architecture of a twisted coil, it seems to be a much more efficient and effective way to cook the juice - something like dual coils without needing more space. That's why I thought to try it in a Kanger head. I don't like the stock Kanger-designed "stacked" dual coils. They don't vape any better than their single coils, in my opinion, and silica wicks suck for flavor and vapor production, even if they don't ever burn. They are made for longevity, not good vapor.

I've been building my own coils in these heads for a while, hovering around 1.5 ohms for a perfect vape. Just figured I'd try a beasty twisted coil and stay >/=1.0 ohm. Just didn't consider the limitations of my gear. LOL. I got away with it for a little bit though. With the right device powering it, I think this twisted coil build may be the best I can get out of a little Kanger head. Rich, thick, massive vapor coming from such a small unit.

 

[JMarca]

The Chinese KGO Megas use small lithium Polymer batteries, they don't do well under stress. In fact they go boom pretty hard if that chinese "protection circuit" fails.

To the OP: The math you did earlier seems about right, remember to always use 4.2 (top end) as a staple to give yourself room for failure or miscalculation.

 

[Jaffo]

The Chinese KGO Megas use small lithium Polymer batteries, they don't do well under stress. In fact they go boom pretty hard if that chinese "protection circuit" fails.

To the OP: The math you did earlier seems about right, remember to always use 4.2 (top end) as a staple to give yourself room for failure or miscalculation.

Thank you. I was trying to do that, but the instability of the Chinese ratings and the cheaply made battery devices are working against me. As I explored the *possible* limitations of the actual devices I have, it became decidedly trivial given that I really have no clue what type or quality or cell is housed in each of these tubes.

In the Chinese budget flashlight hobby, it is constantly discussed how often cheap, end-of-life Li-Ion batteries scavenged from hundreds of sources are simply rewrapped and sold as new with inflated mAh ratings. Performance varies so much, and flashlight bodies are the same as e-cig battery bodies in that they would make excellent pipe bombs. No, we don't hear about many explosions out of the millions of these things that are out there in use by all types of folks, but it certainly is possible. So... better to be safe. But damn, that 1.0 ohm twisted coil was just ASKING to be fired a few times. So I did. And it was worth it. And it's all over now.

 

[Jaffo]

Interestingly, someone on another thread disassembled their KGO 1300mAH battery and found this...

E-cigarette Cylindrical Lithium Battery - Buy E-cigarette Lithium Battery,E-cigarette Battery,Cigarette Battery Product on Alibaba.com

8C