Coils/Wicking -- proper spacing

[pdib]

Likewise.

 

[jasl90]

^^^ to the last two posts, this argument is extremely irrelevant.

Something I have noticed is mentioned by pdib and maybe one other rba guy/gal on here is that it is okay, and potentially even ideal, that the coils touch each other. I have confirmed that nichrome wire can short circuit on itself, so how is it that this does not occur when it is coiled? Or is it actually shorting, but this still results in a good vape? Do you have a technical explanation or is it just anecdotal evidence?


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The actual scientific reason... I don't know for sure. My best guess is a combination of the following.

1) Heat will cause most metals to oxidize at an accelerated rate so it's safe to say that there's at least a thin layer of oxidization coating the wire.

2) I imagine that some small amount electricity is making the jump directly from coil to coil (shorting) but its minimized by the fact that the actual contact area is rather small, making the "path of least resistance" the wire itself.

Of course Nichrome can short on itself, especially if that short is the only path for the electricity can take. If you give it an alternate path, the short will still exist but the voltage going across it will be reduced in direct proportion to the conductivity of the alternate path.