Do ohms decrease as you use up a coil?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Been using my mvp2 here with the Iclear 16b that came with it.
I checked the ohms when I first was playing with it( about a week ago), and I think I remember it reading 2.4 but now it's reading 1.7.
I used it all day for a week practically, did the ohms go down or am I misremembering things?
If it does decrease over time that would be awesome, I'd love to be able to tell if my coil about to go before I taste it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

epicdoom

Super Member
ECF Veteran
Apr 12, 2014
929
660
Maryland USA
So in theory , the ohms should go up as the coil "decays"?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

yes I have found it a bit more then theory with tattoo coils, a coil is a coil. Ohms increase with use start out at 1.5 in a month of good use you may be around 1.7 another month 1.9 eventually the wire breaks and becomes an open circuit. as suggested a dedicated ohms reader is best for checking your coils I personally use a fluke multimeter and I use my mod device to monitor the coil as I use it.
 

Miata GT

Ultra Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Nov 28, 2013
1,563
1,191
Largo, FL
So in theory , the ohms should go up as the coil "decays"?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It's not so much that the coil decays, it's more that ejuice burns slightly with each puff and the residue builds up on the coil. Over time this keep the coil from being able to transfer heat and that increases the resistance of the coil.

Look up dry burning your coil for more info but basically I will rinse my atty, soak it overnight in vodka then put it back on my mod/battery and pulse the power until the wisps of smoke stop. This burns off that residue and 'refreshes' the coil, if you will.
 

Miata GT

Ultra Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Nov 28, 2013
1,563
1,191
Largo, FL
When a coil dies it will just stop working because it broke. Lack of vapor and taste would more than likely mean it's time for a new wick.

Not be contrary but it's also a sign that there is too much build up on the coil. If the heat can't transfer to the ejuice then the flavor and vape decreases.
 

happydave

Ultra Member
ECF Veteran
Jun 2, 2013
1,580
684
United States
So in theory , the ohms should go up as the coil "decays"?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

the resistance "ohms" in any conductor, be it a heating coil or a PCB trace will increase with use.
the exception to that rule is a superconductor. any time you have the transfer of energy some energy will be lost to heat. heat will rearrange the molecules in the conductor, this permanently increases the resistance in the conductor.

Kanthal (heating coil wire) is an alloy of iron-chromium-aluminium and it will oxidize on the surface with heat. the oxide layer is brittle and flakes off easily.
with use and time the oxide layer falls off the coil, exposing a fresh layer and the oxidation process starts again. this process repeats it self until the wire is so thin is snaps under its own weight.
what im describing here is what is occurring to kanthal wire in an electric Kiln. at over 1000°C the process happens so fast you can see the layer form, the first time you fire up fresh coils in your electric kiln. the process still occurring in our e-cig but much slower.

so YEAH the wire does Decay. and as it does the wire becomes thinner, increasing resistance.

i have thought about this problem for the last few hours. i believe you are looking at a partially shorted out coil when the resistance drops like that. basically with use and time the coils might sag... one coil wrap sagged and is now touching another. this makes the circuit shorter and decreases resistance.
let me know if you need to see a photo of what i'm describing.
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.

Users who are viewing this thread