Help with wire, wicks, etc

[buklao]

Hi, so im here again to ask some questions

Making my step to VV/VW mods and RBA/rda's to serve as my practice before i go dive into mech mod world lol.

Im confused about wires / wicks / terminology and making coils.

Please explain " Kanthal Wire 32 Gauge 0.25oz Series A-1 Resistance AWG "

What is the gauge for?
Why do people say 2mm or 3mm?
What is .25oz?

Also what is the difference between kanthal and nichrome?

Second is the wick, lots of people are suggesting ekowool silica wick for beginners and cotton wicks for experienced people.

What i dont get about wicks is why do people use 2mm or 3mm? Or what is it for?

Lastly, making coils, when people say 4/3 what does it mean?

Also some terminology but cant remember them, i get confused when im reading stuff.

Thanks for the help in advance

 

[buklao]

Im also going to add a question about batteries.

Difference between protected and unprotected? Well i know that its the wrap at the bottom/negative part but which one is used for mech mod and which one is used for VV/VW mod?

Also what is 18350, 18500, 18650 etc?

 

[Thrasher]

Please explain " Kanthal Wire 32 Gauge 0.25oz Series A-1 Resistance AWG "

Kanthal Wire - the wire type

32 Gauge - the size of the wire usually we use 28 to 32 g for our resistance needs.

0.25oz - the weight of the spool (or the weight of what your ordering)

Series A-1 - the blend of kanthal, it comes in several versions A,A1,D

AWG - Averange Wire Guage. the standard we use to size the wire.

Also what is the difference between kanthal and nichrome?

the blend of metal used some people dont like the taste of nichrome and kanthal will take more heat before failure.

What i dont get about wicks is why do people use 2mm or 3mm? Or what is it for?

size is your preference - most soft wick comes in ropes. and is sized from 1 to 3mm any bigger and it would be hard to wrap the coil and get it in the atomizers

astly, making coils, when people say 4/3 what does it mean?

this is a standard term so we all know what we are talking about. when you wrap a coil the first and last wrap dont go all the way around the wick. looking at the coil from one side will look like 4 wraps flip it over it will look like 3 wraps, it is to help us under stand what others are doing, if i say i did a 4 wrap coil others think is this a 4/3 or 5/4? the amount of wire will change the resistance.

Also what is 18350, 18500, 18650 etc?

these are the battery sizes.
18 is the diameter
35, 50, 65 is the length
the last 0 means it is a cylinder

Difference between protected and unprotected? Well i know that its the wrap at the bottom/negative part but which one is used for mech mod and which one is used for VV/VW mod?

protected batteries actually add a fuse to the battery, and is for shutting off the battery in the case of a short or failure, we should not use protected batteries in any mods as they are mostly designed for flashlights. if you need protection they sell fuses specifically designed for vaping. VV/VW mods need no protection, it is built in.

 

[buklao]

Kanthal Wire - the wire type

32 Gauge - the size of the wire usually we use 28 to 32 g for our resistance needs.

0.25oz - the weight of the spool (or the weight of what your ordering)

Series A-1 - the blend of kanthal, it comes in several versions A,A1,D

AWG - Averange Wire Guage. the standard we use to size the wire.



the blend of metal used some people dont like the taste of nichrome and kanthal will take more heat before failure.




size is your preference - most soft wick comes in ropes. and is sized from 1 to 3mm any bigger and it would be hard to wrap the coil and get it in the atomizers




this is a standard term so we all know what we are talking about. when you wrap a coil the first and last wrap dont go all the way around the wick. looking at the coil from one side will look like 4 wraps flip it over it will look like 3 wraps, it is to help us under stand what others are doing, if i say i did a 4 wrap coil others think is this a 4/3 or 5/4? the amount of wire will change the resistance.


these are the battery sizes.
18 is the diameter
35, 50, 65 is the length
the last 0 means it is a cylinder



protected batteries actually add a fuse to the battery, and is for shutting off the battery in the case of a short or failure, we should not use protected batteries in any mods as they are mostly designed for flashlights. if you need protection they sell fuses specifically designed for vaping. VV/VW mods need no protection, it is built in.

Thank you for this very well detailed explanation

Now time to search which ones are recommended for newbies like me

 

[Dakota Jim]

Kudo's to Thrasher for excellent answers

RDA's (Rebuildable Dripping Atomizers) seem to be easier to work with (in my opinion) I have several cheap (emphasis on cheap) knockoffs I got from Fasttech for sampling DIY eliquid

now for Rebuildable Tanks, that's a completely different story - I have an AGA-T+ that is the bane of my existence - nothing but issue's trying to get a coil to work for more than 1 day (Ok, OK, I have no patience and require instant gratification) so with that being said I would recommend a Smoktech RSST Genesis Atomizer - Here is review by Pbusardo (one of my hero's, kinda like Robin, with Dimitri (the VapinGreek) being Batman - HAH - psych, Pheel - oh, and Vape Girl would be Batgirl - http://www.youtube.com/user/jeneefowler/videos - OH, OH and Jamie (ProTreX) would be Alfred)

 

[vjdossey]

Thank you so much buklao for this thread-great questions. Thrasher-super big thanks for explanations!!!

Kanthal Wire - the wire type

32 Gauge - the size of the wire usually we use 28 to 32 g for our resistance needs.

0.25oz - the weight of the spool (or the weight of what your ordering)

Series A-1 - the blend of kanthal, it comes in several versions A,A1,D

AWG - Averange Wire Guage. the standard we use to size the wire.



the blend of metal used some people dont like the taste of nichrome and kanthal will take more heat before failure.




size is your preference - most soft wick comes in ropes. and is sized from 1 to 3mm any bigger and it would be hard to wrap the coil and get it in the atomizers




this is a standard term so we all know what we are talking about. when you wrap a coil the first and last wrap dont go all the way around the wick. looking at the coil from one side will look like 4 wraps flip it over it will look like 3 wraps, it is to help us under stand what others are doing, if i say i did a 4 wrap coil others think is this a 4/3 or 5/4? the amount of wire will change the resistance.


these are the battery sizes.
18 is the diameter
35, 50, 65 is the length
the last 0 means it is a cylinder



protected batteries actually add a fuse to the battery, and is for shutting off the battery in the case of a short or failure, we should not use protected batteries in any mods as they are mostly designed for flashlights. if you need protection they sell fuses specifically designed for vaping. VV/VW mods need no protection, it is built in.

 

[buklao]

Thank you so much buklao for this thread-great questions. Thrasher-super big thanks for explanations!!!

No problem, we all need some help anyway goodluck doing your research and vape on!

 

[Bunnykiller]

wow lots of questions
Kanthal/nichrome basically a hi melt temp wire great for heating elements
wire gage is the thickness of the wire, the lower the number the thicker it is e.g.#2 as big as your finger. #36 as thick as a hair
MM designates to the dia. of the Wicking material ( normally Silica Wick pretty much a burn resistant string)
4/3 etc is the turns of wire to make a coil depends on the view from top or bottom
the 5 digit number is a code for battery dia and length e.g. 18 65 0 18 mm dia 65mm length 0 type ( round)
battery protected ( fuzed/chip controlled) unprotected no chip/fuze use unprotected in non mechanical version mods

 

[jarreddizzle]

Great info for the new people guys!