new to building coils. recommendaions?

[Susan~S]

If you are new to mech mods and/or rebuildables I highly recommend you spend some time with Baditude (one of our resident battery experts) and visit his blogs. You are now 100% in control of your own safety (and others around you). Make sure you purchase an ohm reader and a voltmeter or DMM so you can measure your builds, check for shorts and measure the remaining charge on your batteries.

Baditudes Blogs. The blogs regarding mods and rebuildables are listed below:

BATTERIES

9. Battery Basics for Mods: IMR or Protected ICR?
* Another essential read to understand which batteries are safe to use in mechanical and regulated mods. Includes a frequently updated list of recommended safe-chemistry, high-drain batteries with their specifications.

17. Purple Efest Batteries Not As Advertised
* A cautionary blog that reveals that the purple Efest batteries may not have the specifications advertised. Also includes a commentary on "continuous discharge ratings" vs "pulse discharge ratings" of battery specs.

OHM'S LAW

14. Ohm's Law for Dummies (Vapers)
* My attempt at explaining Ohm's Law in layman terms and how it relates to vaping.

16. Explain it to the Dumb Noob: Ohm's Law Calculations
* As simple as it is to use, some people have a tough time grasping the concept. Warning: Includes graphic photos of mod explosions.

MECHANICAL MODS & REBUILDABLES

7. Information Resources for Your First RBA
* An essential read and reference guide for someone new to rebuilding coils. Includes a multitude of useful links on battery safety, mod safety, coil meters, coil building, and the differences in the three types of RBA's.

15. Inexpensive Mechanical Mod and RDA Setup
* A response to the frequently asked question on how to get into rebuildable atomizers with a mechanical mod inexpensively. Includes a list of commonly used tools and supplies for rebuilding and where to find them.

BATTERIES - WHERE TO BUY

Only buy batteries from a reputable supplier (not ebay or Amazon) as there are many counterfeit batteries being sold. Here are several reputable battery suppliers in the US.

* RTD Vapor
* Illumination Supply
* Lighthound
* Orbtronics

 

[matholland618]

I've gathered a lot of information over the past few days. I am dumbfounded about the wire thickness, the diameter to wrap, and stuff.

For example. You take a .5 ohm build. Why does it matter what size wire you use? I cannot seem to grasp this. Thicker wire is going to take longer to heat up, but if you have a .5 ohm build, whats different other than the amount of wraps? Where does the diameter come into play? Again, take a 28awg wire, and wrap it to .5 ohm's. Bigger and smaller diameter...One has less wraps, but what role does that play? I made a micro coil with 28 awg at .4 ohms. 1.6mm diameter... I wasn't impressed as opposed to the one my buddy made me.

 

[Msand]

I've gathered a lot of information over the past few days. I am dumbfounded about the wire thickness, the diameter to wrap, and stuff.

For example. You take a .5 ohm build. Why does it matter what size wire you use? I cannot seem to grasp this. Thicker wire is going to take longer to heat up, but if you have a .5 ohm build, whats different other than the amount of wraps? Where does the diameter come into play? Again, take a 28awg wire, and wrap it to .5 ohm's. Bigger and smaller diameter...One has less wraps, but what role does that play? I made a micro coil with 28 awg at .4 ohms. 1.6mm diameter... I wasn't impressed as opposed to the one my buddy made me.

The thicker the wire. The more surface area in contact with the wick. Which will produce more vapor. you want to get your coil building down. Before you start going super sub ohm. So make a bunch of coils until you can do it constantly. You should be able to do a .8ohm coil in your sleep. Before going lower. Not to mention getting your wicking down. Wicking is a art form. This is probably more important than the actual coil build.

 

[bearwen]

Checkout rip trippers on youtube has some good info on coils and what not

 

[matholland618]

So I guess I was totally wrong on my memory on my coil my buddy had built me. I made one Identical to it (I put his back in my RDA and put it on my meter to double check) 5 wraps with 20 awg brings it to .18 ohms. I made an identical coil just not to his that looks great and measures perfect. .18 ohms, wicked it up and man. I have built 8 coils. I built the following out of 28awg....1ohm, .8 ohm, .5 ohm, .45 ohm, .4ohm, and .25 ohm. I made a 6 wrap 20 awg and made the 5 wrap just like my buddy built.

Hands down, I like the .18 ohm build the best. Heats up very quick, produces a lot of vapor, and I believe the flavor is pretty dang good.

I am a network admin, and I am very mechanically inclined along with wiring. There really is nothing much to building the actual coil, its really easy in fact. I guess it is just finding out what is the best for me with a lot of experimenting. I have watched several hours on youtube, rip trippers is who my buddy recommended. I actually assisted the other day in making a twisted 20 awg that he liked, but it did take a little longer to heat up.

Maybe I am completely wrong on the .18 ohm build, but definately my favorite one out of all of them.

 

[Sunburst]

I think you're mixing up your gauges here. For five wraps of 20 gauge to be 1.5 ohms, it needs a 32mm inside diameter.

Coil wrapping | Steam Engine | free vaping calculators

For 30 gauge, a 1.5 is 5 wraps on a 3/32. That makes way more sense.

And 20 gauge at 1.5 ohms would need a ton of power. It'd be like vaping your toaster.

I'm glad you're having a good time and getting a good vape. Be safe and be well.

 

[matholland618]

Looks like I had another epic fail and read my ohm meter wrong. Try this again, I have pictures this time!

It is .18 ohm's with 20 gauge wrapped around a 2.7mm shaft.

Doi! Why the heck I put 1.5 I will never know! Stupid autocorrect I will go with lol. Meant to put .15 ohms, but I read it wrong, should have been .18

http://postimg.org/image/3tbbtoczh/
http://s24.postimg.org/6wag1r29h/20150128_072157.jpg
http://s23.postimg.org/j4dx79nrf/20150128_072207.jpg

I prefer VaporsToolbox on my phone rather than Steam-Engine, but same thing. lol.

 

[itskohler]

Links aren't working...

 

[matholland618]

Links should be fixed....Picasa is a pain anymore....I forgot that they changed it where you cannot share with just the link anymore.

 

[Susan~S]

Looks like I had another epic fail and read my ohm meter wrong. Try this again, I have pictures this time!

It is .18 ohm's with 20 gauge wrapped around a 2.7mm shaft.

Doi! Why the heck I put 1.5 I will never know! Stupid autocorrect I will go with lol. Meant to put .15 ohms, but I read it wrong, should have been .18

You need to get some 30A batteries if you are going to build that low!

You are exceeding the CDR of your 20A battery. (see post #21 above)

17. Purple Efest Batteries Not As Advertised
* A cautionary blog that reveals that the purple Efest batteries may not have the specifications advertised. Also includes a commentary on "continuous discharge ratings" vs "pulse discharge ratings" of battery specs.

 

[matholland618]

What batteries are the best to go with? I was linked to 4 different websites, but not sure which is better over the other.

 

[GretaGarbo]

Eyes glaze over... lol..not even there yet

 

[itskohler]

I use the LG HE2 batteries since I cant find Sony VTC5 anymore.

 

[JCB79]

Hey guys. Currently I have a dark horse rda and a Manhattan clone. I have efset purple batteries. My current build is 20 Guage kenthal wire 5 wraps and am at .55 ohms. My friend built it for me and I would like to learn. I have an ohm meter wire and cotton. I don't know what's best for flavor and clouds.

You really just need to play in order to find what you are looking for. What I like really cant translate to your preferences. FWIW, i enjoy 28ga wrapped 7/6 on a 2mm screwdriver. using in a dual coil install on a tugboat clone it yields on average .88 ohms. I quit wrapping the coils perfectly and seem to get more flavor. It seems the faster and more careless I wrap the coils, the longer they last too. When carefully crafting my coils, no gaps between wraps, really pretty bends to mate to the posts, they seemed to fail at alarmingly high rates. Then I went back to just throwing them together and all is great again...

Have fun, mess around, takes others advice, but note it is thier advice regarding what makes them happy - so use it in your quest to find what makes you happy. Good Luck!

 

[Susan~S]

What batteries are the best to go with? I was linked to 4 different websites, but not sure which is better over the other.

If you are looking for 30A batteries look for one of these:

1. Orbtronic SX30 2100mah 30A
2. Sony VTC4 2100mah 30A
3. Xtar 2100mah 30A (re-wrapped Sony VTC4

All of this information is included in this link (post #21) above

9. Battery Basics for Mods: IMR or Protected ICR?
* Another essential read to understand which batteries are safe to use in mechanical and regulated mods. Includes a frequently updated list of recommended safe-chemistry, high-drain batteries with their specifications.

All 4 suppliers are VERY GOOD. RTD Vapor usually has the Sony VTC4 in stock.

 

[Susan~S]

I use the LG HE2 batteries since I cant find Sony VTC5 anymore.

Great batteries if you only need 20A.

 

[matholland618]

I have a curious question. Lets say I picked up some 22awg rather than 20awg, did a similar wrap to get the same ohms. It would produce a little less vapor, but heat up a little quicker correct? Sorry for all of the questions and stuff. I have took into account of everyone's advice. Just trying to make sure I have grasped the concept correctly.

 

[Kevin littell]

Dude....



Set the 20 gauge off to the side and go buy some 28 gauge Kanthal. Learn to build predictable coils on 28 ga with your builds above .4 ohms because of your batteries.



Then, learn about batteries. Your good and safe too .4 but truth be known my best flavor build is a .8 ohm single coil. (I dont cloud chase.)


Once you can build predictable coils and get your battery savy to par, go get some 26 gauge wire, build for .8 ohms and you'll get your clouds from the atomizer and not the mod.


By then you'll be a savy builder and you can try some of that 20 gauge.


I like Nichrome as it is a cooler firing wire and is easier to work with.


Most engine builders start with single cylinder motors and work their way UP to top fuelers.....Not vice versa.

 

[itskohler]

I dont go below .3 ohms so HE2 is perfectly fine.

 

[Pushbutton]

- Ditch the 20gauge wire and reassess if the person that left you with it is actually your friend.

- Like others already said, get some 28 gauge wire and start with something like 8 wraps around a 2.5mm drillbit in single coil. Once you are able to comfortable making decent coils, experiment with 6,7 and 9 wraps and observe their different behavior.
From there, pick your favorite and install 2 coils.

- Learn Ohms law and battery safety. Understand the difference between pulse rating and continuous discharge.

- Advance to 27, or 26 gauge and master your builds

- Try out 24 gauge

- After trying 24 gauge, decide if you are going to actually vape on the 20gauge or use it for bundling flowers ;-)