I guess a compressed coil might hold heat longer than a spaced coil. The vapor finds its way out in both cases. I'd say it's a matter of trend, when something new comes out people want to try it, myself included, I use the compressed method. I feel like the compressed coils are just easier to keep uniform which makes for a more consistent ohm reading when trying to create the same build that you're replacing....
spaced vs compressed coils
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This is exactly what I was thinking as I was reading the thread Asbestos
I did contact micro coils for a long time, but lately I've been experimenting with bigger coils and with non-contact coils. Specially in higher power setups. I'm finding they all have their place and if done well they can all be very good in the right application. 'Done well' is turning out to be for me the important part.
I think as we get more into temperature protected setups this will develop more too.
Longgoblin, IMO if you like the vape, it was set up right. If you find a way to make it better then it will be a better vape for you. There are so many variables that play into this that simply thinking one is always better than the other is not productive.
Thrasher, I'm thinking back over the coils I've made and I can't think of one instance when a non-contact coil I've made had hot legs or shorted, unless it was a Genisis atty (and that's a whole other ballgame
). If you have experienced this what caused it? I use unequal leg lengths in a couple of attys (Trident and Mutation X ver 1 are two) and that does not seem to have any influence on it.
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Evolve recommends spaced coils on ni200 for a better temp reading. If you have trouble with them, you can twist with Kanthal. I twist 28 gauge ni200 with 30gauge Kanthal. 6/7 spaced wraps on 3mm rod gives .14-.16 ohms.
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I use spaced on everything now (mainly twisted, Origen V3) to help with keeping the top cap from heating up. The airflow gets in and around the wire and cools more effectively, so you can vape at a higher wattage without scorching your lips. Can't really say I've noticed any flavor difference between spaced and compressed - if anything the flavor is better since I can get the wattage up more comfortably.
I usually build spaced coil to prevent hotleg, because i use temperature control in SX Mini
When you place the Japanese cotton inside the coil, clip the wick so the ends are absolutely flush with the deck, do not tuck the wick...of course it also depends on the inner diameter coil which you used, for example, if you used a 1.5 mm IDC it may harder for newbies to wick the coil, but if you used a 2.5 or a 3.0 IDC it shouldn't be too much trouble. Main point is do not tuck in the cotton, cotton must sit flush with the sides of the deck, fan each end slightly and always always juice the cotton & coil before you place the juice in the main chamber. You should be good to go with this advice.
usually a short happens when an end of the coil is touching either the negative or positive post or is touching the metal part of the inner barrel. The coil build must always sit either over a flow inlet (if the rda has one like the Freakshow RDA) or sit a mm or so away from the post yet enough space between the barrel and the coil itself.
Reason for torching the wire. Most newbies don't do this because it don't make sense to them. But torching the wire(s) before it is jigged helps to wrap the coil around the jig, it is easier to work with especially 24 gauge and under. I have done a 18 gauge wire build for the El Cabron Slick rda and if I hadn't torched the wire there is no way in any world would I have had been able to work the wire around the jig. Plus torching the wire removes any dirt or loose metallic shavings unseen to the eye (unless worked under a very powerful microscope or magnifying glass). So take the time, just about 15 seconds for each wire, torch the wire and it's good to go.
Excellent point on the wicking. There is always so much discussion about the coil but very little debate on the cotton itself. Personally, the best part of builds is the cotton. To work the cotton just right is - to me - like sculpting. The cotton truly makes the build work. because you can have the best coil build in the world and if the cotton is not sitting well in the deck the air flow can be crimped severely. Cotton & air flow, two important components to any build. What's the point of a quad twisted 24 gauge wire build if the cotton is cutting off the air flow? Every time I build I look forward to placing the cotton into the build, it's an absolute joy.
The only reason that I like a compressed coil, uh huh... I will not hear the popping sound anymore and the vapor is warm.
See, all my builds (except in the Derringer) are verticals, with the cotton wrapped around the coil. That's why switched to a spaced coil: so the juice can more easily flow into the center, where the airflow is...
The same is true for horizontal coil: the juice can more easily flow to the outside, where the airflow is.
I use spaced coils on everything, but....it's only because I've always done it that way. I really have no logic to justify my method. Just the way I started out.
I've built many of both. After trying many types of builds I now only build spaced coils. I just prefer the vapor and flavor better from a spaced coil and find that it's harder to keep the center of a compressed coil wicked well.
I've build both, I find that spaced give better flavor but are much more louder than contact coils, for me disadvantage is greater than the advantage so I now run contact ones (my wife hated the sound of popcorn while I vaped
Recently, ever since I tried out spaced coils, I have stopped using micro coils. I now spaced my single 24-26 gauge coils, usually from 0.4 to .7 ohms (depending on RDA) about same diameter as the coil gauge, vaping from 20W onwards .
You can spaced them more to 2 or more times your coil diameter as long as you don't get hot spots, especially towards your terminal posts.
It really does not have to be evenly spaced, as long as there are enough gaps for the vapour to escape.
The vapour production are not necessarily more, but you'll definitely get much denser clouds.
Interestingly though, its not what which is apparent to the eye.
My observations are that Micro or tight coils appears 'Impressive' when you fire, shooting fast, massive clouds in more narrowly-focused direction which appear thick, whereas spaced coils appears less and tends to emits in all directions and evens makes slowly 'pops'.
However, vaping it is another another experience altogether. Bearing in mind that all these 'fireworks' are before you put the top cap on and goiing through the amount of airflow through inhalation.
One probable explanation I can think of is, that vapour from the tight micro coils is losing some steam and flavour as it has already being burnt into finer mist and higher temperature, before being accelerated further while you inhale.
Whereas the more sparsely emitted vapour from spaced coils ended up producing thicker clouds, when it passes through a narrower channel to the drip tip (relative to the same setup), while retaining more flavour at a cooler temperature, which I prefer.
That is the reason why stock sub-ohm RTA coils and RDA deck coils (that come stock with subtanks etc.) are spaced, I realized it offers many advantages such as thicker clouds, deeper flavour and able squeeze in more cotton while going to higher wattage without getting burnt taste. You get the best of both worlds.
Didn't realize what I've been losing after being a hardcore advocate of tight, 'tensioned' micro coils for so long, LOL.
Have fun and be amazed, just keep experimenting.
You can spaced them more to 2 or more times your coil diameter as long as you don't get hot spots, especially towards your terminal posts.
It really does not have to be evenly spaced, as long as there are enough gaps for the vapour to escape.
The vapour production are not necessarily more, but you'll definitely get much denser clouds.
Interestingly though, its not what which is apparent to the eye.
My observations are that Micro or tight coils appears 'Impressive' when you fire, shooting fast, massive clouds in more narrowly-focused direction which appear thick, whereas spaced coils appears less and tends to emits in all directions and evens makes slowly 'pops'.
However, vaping it is another another experience altogether. Bearing in mind that all these 'fireworks' are before you put the top cap on and goiing through the amount of airflow through inhalation.
One probable explanation I can think of is, that vapour from the tight micro coils is losing some steam and flavour as it has already being burnt into finer mist and higher temperature, before being accelerated further while you inhale.
Whereas the more sparsely emitted vapour from spaced coils ended up producing thicker clouds, when it passes through a narrower channel to the drip tip (relative to the same setup), while retaining more flavour at a cooler temperature, which I prefer.
That is the reason why stock sub-ohm RTA coils and RDA deck coils (that come stock with subtanks etc.) are spaced, I realized it offers many advantages such as thicker clouds, deeper flavour and able squeeze in more cotton while going to higher wattage without getting burnt taste. You get the best of both worlds.
Didn't realize what I've been losing after being a hardcore advocate of tight, 'tensioned' micro coils for so long, LOL.
Have fun and be amazed, just keep experimenting.
I test the built coil before compressing just to see if it is valid. BUT, when I compress it, it always goes up... 0.1 ohms. Not sure why, it just happens.
As to spacing, I assume that the spaced coil heats more juice-infused wick and, therefore, nmore flavor and vapor.
Just my experience. Is this normal for others?
Thrasher, I'm thinking back over the coils I've made and I can't think of one instance when a non-contact coil I've made had hot legs or shorted, unless it was a Genisis atty (and that's a whole other ballgame
Key word was sloppy. Ive seen some horrid coils, one wrap bigger then another an odd space somewhere. I will readily admit, ive only done micros a couple fimes and didnt see a benefit to the extra work, just a burned spot under the concentrated heating area.as this post has progressed though, you can see many seasoned builders are starting to realize the same.. I think it actually creates a dry spot faster as well.
Over all i found uneven tension to be the biggest enemy no matter what the coil or device.
As for different size legs, as long as the distance to the center of the coil is approximately the same on both sides hot legging shouldnt really be an issue, as even a straight piece of wire "should" in theory glow from the center out
I would add the vapor seems thicker and more consistant becuase the spaced wire is able to stay wet on all sides of the surface better as well. With a tight coil, i believe the very center is slightly dryer then the ends after a prolonged blast as the juce has to travel through a heated tunnel to reach the center, already having lost some moisture to vaporization along the way.
Just my guess. In my cloud videos you can see me chain vaping away and the vapor is just as thick first puff to last and thats approx 2 minutes of hard pulling,.and those are some wimpy 5 wrap 30g spiral coils on 3 mm silica
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