Efficiency - Round vs Clapton

[Zaryk]

I have always known claptons used more power to run than round wire. Simple physics, more wire = more power consumption. I am not trying to say that isn't true. What I wanted to know is how much less efficiently do they run.

I always found opinions on it, which made it hard to find anyone that actually tested it and got real results. So I made an unofficial test of my own. I built a clapton and a round wire build. Triple core 28g with 40g wrap. Then I built the same coil minus the 40g wrap (triple wire parallel coil). Ohms were very close, 0.31 and 0.30.

I ran both coils for 5 cycles. Each cycle was 6ml of juice, same bottle was used, was filled with a syringe. I measured the voltage left in the batteries each cycle. Batteries used were 5 brand new Samsung 25S batteries. Batteries were used in the same order for both coils. Ran them at 45w on a DNA chip.

Clapton cycles (voltage remaining in battery)
1- 3.66v
2- 3.62v
3- 3.65v
4- 3.64v
5- 3.61v

Round wire cycles (voltage remaining in battery)
1- 3.77v
2- 3.74v
3- 3.75v
4- 3.75v
5- 3.73v

So it seems for each cycle I was averaging about 0.11v more power used running claptons. The round wires are getting better battery efficiency, clearly. Though, I was kind of expecting a bigger difference in battery consumption the way they are talked about. I always hear that claptons use a lot more power than round wire. I know my testing was not perfect and in a fully controlled scientific way, but I don't vape in a fully controlled scientific way so I thought this info would be more relevant to my real world use.

Vapor production was too close to tell a difference. Flavor was slightly better on the clapton (in my opinion, with the equipment and juice i used). Ramp up felt the same to me but I'm assuming there was a minor difference, but they were so close that it was just unnoticeable without tools to measure it.

I was wondering if anyone else has done something similar and if so, if they could share their info on it i would greatly appreciate it.

 

[Asbestos4004]

Scientific enough for me! I prefer round wire builds but not really due to battery life. I like the performance better. I've been using round wire single coils in rda's for a very long time. Every couple of weeks, I get bored and I make fused clapton wire. Sometimes it's fun....but the coils usually get pulled out within a day. I just don't like how they vape as much. They're good...but I think I like my vape a little mellower.

The results of your test are interesting....I would've expected a bigger difference as well. Thanks for posting that.

 

[B2L]

Scientific enough for me! I prefer round wire builds but not really due to battery life. I like the performance better. I've been using round wire single coils in rda's for a very long time. Every couple of weeks, I get bored and I make fused clapton wire. Sometimes it's fun....but the coils usually get pulled out within a day. I just don't like how they vape as much. They're good...but I think I like my vape a little mellower.

The results of your test are interesting....I would've expected a bigger difference as well. Thanks for posting that.

Agreed

Using (almost) exclusively single battery mechs I find simpler is much better in all aspects .

 

[Asbestos4004]

Agreed

Using (almost) exclusively single battery mechs I find simpler is much better in all aspects .

Me too...but occasionally I use a regulated mod with a tank. Lately, it's been the Intake. I still don't like fancy coils.

 

[Zaryk]

I transferred the round wire coil over to my mech and will run it until it starts loosing flavor. I have always been on the fence on which to use. I go back and forth all the time. Probably always will, keeps things interesting.

 

[Zakillah]

Its not exactly round vs claptons, but its interesting regardless. He did test a fused clapton, but almost nobody uses 32G wrap anymore.
You may also find his test method interesting.

Wire/coil gauge efficiency testing

 

[ScottP]

Honestly I don't notice a huge flavor difference using Clapton vs single strand round wire, there is one but not enough for me to hassle with making them or paying extra for prebuilt. What I don't like bout Claptons in tanks is that they are slower to cool down because they have both a higher thermal mass and an insulating layer of wire. This extra heat tends to cook juice in tanks and wear the wick out faster. In a dripper juice cooking would not be an issue though.

I should add that I only use DIY single flavor juices, and Claptons may make a bigger difference with complex flavor juices by bringing out hidden notes and subtleties of those juices. Single flavor, not so much.

 

[Zaryk]

Honestly I don't notice a huge flavor difference using Clapton vs single strand round wire, there is one but not enough for me to hassle with making them or paying extra for prebuilt. What I don't like bout Claptons in tanks is that they are slower to cool down because they have both a higher thermal mass and an insulating layer of wire. This extra heat tends to cook juice in tanks and wear the wick out faster. In a dripper juice cooking would not be an issue though.

I should add that I only use DIY single flavor juices, and Claptons may make a bigger difference with complex flavor juices by bringing out hidden notes and subtleties of those juices. Single flavor, not so much.

I did this in an RDA, and used a DIY flavor (Pumpkin roll) so that may have been why my results were the way they turned out.

I am also thinking the clapton was efficient because the thin outer wire (40g) requires very little to heat up and does not hold heat like a thicker wire would. I would say if I used 36 or 38 on the outside, it would make a noticeable difference.

 

[Canadian_Vaper]

I run 28x3+40 Definitely drains batteries more than a standard clapton at the same ohm's, I haven't done a roundwire build in a long time.

Flavor with the fused blows the rest out of the water in my opinion but I do like a warm vape so that's probably why since the fused should retain the heat a bit better.

 

[r055co]

All depends on wire mass, my wrapping wire is 38g - 44g so it doesn't take anymore power than if I was running bare wire

Sent from my HTC 10 using Tapatalk

 

[Zaryk]

All depends on wire mass, my wrapping wire is 38g - 44g so it doesn't take anymore power than if I was running bare wire

Sent from my HTC 10 using Tapatalk

May I ask where you get 42-44g wire? I have been looking for some recently but didn't find any yet.

 

[r055co]

May I ask where you get 42-44g wire? I have been looking for some recently but didn't find any yet.

Kidney Puncher and Atomizer Wick

Sent from my HTC 10 using Tapatalk

 

[untar]

I always hear that claptons use a lot more power than round wire

Don't forget most prebuilt and spool claptons have quite a thick outer wire so they're bound to waste a lot of energy, no wonder people are being vocal about it.

Flavor wise, I think a fused clapton has a wider range of temperatures in the coil itself, allowing for different flavor profiles to shine at the same time (my personal unconfirmed hypothesis). For single flavors that doesn't make a big difference, for custard/biscuit or other complex flavors it can be like night and day.
I use plain round, flat and clapton wires, each for different juices, to me there's not one generally better for everything.

Careful with the 42-44g wires, they tear quicker than fairy pubes

 

[Zaryk]

Kidney Puncher and Atomizer Wick

Sent from my HTC 10 using Tapatalk

Thanks!

 

[Zaryk]

Don't forget most prebuilt and spool claptons have quite a thick outer wire so they're bound to waste a lot of energy, no wonder people are being vocal about it.

Agreed

Flavor wise, I think a fused clapton has a wider range of temperatures in the coil itself, allowing for different flavor profiles to shine at the same time (my personal unconfirmed hypothesis). For single flavors that doesn't make a big difference, for custard/biscuit or other complex flavors it can be like night and day.
I use plain round, flat and clapton wires, each for different juices, to me there's not one generally better for everything.

Very good point. I don't use single flavor juices, so that would explain a lot.

Careful with the 42-44g wires, they tear quicker than fairy pubes

I am up for the challenge and am expecting it. (Love the analogy by the way).

 

[r055co]

Don't forget most prebuilt and spool claptons have quite a thick outer wire so they're bound to waste a lot of energy, no wonder people are being vocal about it.

<snip>

Not to mention longer ramp up time and heat retention, fattest wrapping wire I will use is 36g and even that is only on rare occasions. You do have to be more careful with 38g+ (especially 44g) but I've found it easy to wrap since you must use a light touch so it wraps very easy. A headloop with built in light is a must.

 

[Fidola13]

Honestly I don't notice a huge flavor difference using Clapton vs single strand round wire, there is one but not enough for me to hassle with making them or paying extra for prebuilt. What I don't like bout Claptons in tanks is that they are slower to cool down because they have both a higher thermal mass and an insulating layer of wire. This extra heat tends to cook juice in tanks and wear the wick out faster. In a dripper juice cooking would not be an issue though.

I should add that I only use DIY single flavor juices, and Claptons may make a bigger difference with complex flavor juices by bringing out hidden notes and subtleties of those juices. Single flavor, not so much.

I’m so glad I’m not the only one who doesn’t notice a difference in those coils! And also find ramp up times annoying to say the least with exotic coils.

 

[Don29palms]

Excellent report! Thank you. I use 24g ss 316L round wire builds for tc mode. For power mode I use nichrome 80 rectangle wire core claptons. Obviously there is a difference in performance. I really haven't ever been concerned with battery life. I always carry a spare set.

 

[suprtrkr]

Interesting. Thank you for the try, and the post. The real purpose of Clapton wires is to increase the ratio of surface area to volume; the additional heated wire mass is the penalty one must pay for the increase. FWIW, I tend to agree: I can't tell enough of a difference between a Clapton build and round wires to make to worth while to wrap a Clapton wire. I often, however, wrap twists. That gains, topologically, about 85% of the surface area boost of a Clapton (two wire 30ga twists vs 28ga single core wrapped with 40ga) in about 2/3rds of the wire mass. It also stiffens the coil a good bit-- that's why I do it-- so the coils last longer in use. I have one set that are over a year old. Just a thought...

 

[Punk In Drublic]

@Zaryk – Great post, thanks for sharing.

Flavor wise, I think a fused clapton has a wider range of temperatures in the coil itself, allowing for different flavor profiles to shine at the same time (my personal unconfirmed hypothesis). For single flavors that doesn't make a big difference, for custard/biscuit or other complex flavors it can be like night and day.
I use plain round, flat and clapton wires, each for different juices, to me there's not one generally better for everything.

Interesting. I can’t prove this, but I have a somewhat of a opinion that different flavour notes have their own ideal temperature as to when they are most prominent. With a Clapton, or similar builds, given the longer ramp up time, this allows for longer intervals between when each flavour hits its ideal temperature - making them more noticeable and not drowning each other out. So in a nut shell, when you take a hit with a higher mass coil, each flavour is hitting your taste buds at a different time due to it’s more gradual ramp up