Ohm meters

[JBrentonK]

So like I was going to get an ohm meter. I was going to get one, eventually anyway, but I'm posting because idk if I should REALLY get one this month, or not. Like, do I need one? Why do ppl use them? Is it just to prevent the mod from reading the ohms are too low or what? Like I said I was going to get one this month but idwant to spend the snh cost at yet another online store already buying enough this month.

So can you folks please fill us new builders in on what we need to know? Thanks.

 

[Leo Bak]

You can get them for well under $10, just don't screw your tank or base on too tight and they'll last. I use them as a reference, if the mod reads a value that's close to the value of the Ohm-meter i know the coil is good. Sometimes you can cause shortage with a coil, reading Ohms is a precaution indeed.

 

[JBrentonK]

Like can u plz tell me more about shorting and ohm meters? I really appericiate the wisdom. Thanks.

 

[JBrentonK]

My 0.13 coil I built like 3mm ... First time building that big, had no good size screwdriver n dad only had that. It shorted said atomizer short on a laisimo l1. Like 10 to 15 times at least! So like I thought u should know that way ud have some clue as to wat to help with.

 

[retired1]

If you're into building your own coils, some type of tester is a must. While you don't need to get one that you can screw your atty into, you should have some method of testing your coils before placing them in use.

I use a standard voltage tester myself, and can be picked up at your local hardware store fairly cheaply.

 

[JBrentonK]

Yes, but what does it help with? I need an in depth answer thanks.

 

[JBrentonK]

Oh yes and one more thing. What is "shorting?"

 

[retired1]

Testing the resistance of your coil ensures your build is within limits of your battery's ability to power it safely.

Shorting is what happens when the coil grounds out improperly. This can lead to thermal runaway with your batteries in an unregulated mod.

 

[JBrentonK]

U mean a mechanical mod right? I am interested though... What's grounding out?

I still don't get the just of it, but I'm trying.

 

[JBrentonK]

What does unregulated even mean?

 

[JBrentonK]

Do you see? I need to know why ohm meters r necessary, the reason I'm asking has already been stated above.

 

[Baditude]

What does unregulated even mean?

Unregulated means a mechanical mod. No processor, no protection circuitry, no regulation of the voltage (variable voltage/variable wattage).

You can get a short with a regulated (electronic) mod, but the protection circuitry will recognize it and refuse to fire it, protecting the circuit board and therefore the battery.

If you get a short in a mech or unregulated mod, there is no protection circuitry to protect you and if severe enough could cause the battery to hard short, or go into thermal runaway. This is when the battery becomes extremely hot, and releasing a lot of hot gas. If the mod doesn't have adequate ventilation to allow the escape of these gases, the mod in effect becomes a pipe bomb.

 

[Baditude]

Yes, but what does it help with? I need an in depth answer thanks.

Ohm meters measure the resistance of your coil, in "ohms". You need to know the ohms, especially in a mechanical mod, to figure out if your battery has enough amps (current) available to fire the coil safely with an ohm's law calculator. If the coil draws more amps than the battery has to provide, the battery will probably go into thermal runaway.

They can also detect if your coil is shorted out. The coil will read out either as 0.0 ohms (known as a dead short) or will bounce between two different values.

IMHO, an ohm reader is an essential tool for all vapers to be able to vape safely.

Explain it to the Dumb Noob: Ohm's Law Calculations

Ohm's Law Explained for Vapers



A Beginner's Guide to Your First Mechanical Mod

 

[roxynoodle]

1. A short means no or very low resistance, which causes the battery great stress. Too much current is released at once, and the battery will fail. It may fail in a very dangerous way that could injure you or others.

2. I always check my build resistance before I put the atty on a mod. I want to know the resistance so I chose the correct mod and batteries. I also want to make sure the resistance I see is what I expected. If its not, then something is wrong with my build or the electrical connection on my atty.

3. Unregulated mods are either mechanical or do not use a chip that regulates power. Some mods are not mechanical because they use wires, but are also not regulated by a chip either.

4. I do a second resistance check with my chimney (RTA) or top cap (RDA) on to be sure my coil(s) or cut leads are not touching anything either. If the resistance changes, something is.