TC Precision within Steam Engine is an attempt to describe how easily a device can sense the temperature of a coil (according to the developer)
It is a factor of TCR value of the metal x Resistance of the modeled coil x 1000000. The 1000000 has no value other than a filler to give a readable result.
The developer feels that lower resistance
coils are more difficult to control via TC due to device limitations. Hence why T1
coils have a higher TC Precision score than Ni200 despite having a lower TCR value. I do not fully agree with this concept as the OP has demonstrated no problems with a Ni200 coil but problems with a SS316 coil. If using the same geometries, SS316 will always have a higher TC Precision score than Ni200 given it is naturally much higher in resistance. If your device has troubles reading low resistance
coils that is a deficiency of the device, not the coil.
Truth is, the greater the increase in live resistance, the more your device has to work with. Live resistance also must fall within your set parameters under a typical vape environment (while you are taking a draw with saturated wick). If you have a 0.5 ohm SS316 coil at 25°C room temp, using a TCR value 0.00088 and a goal temp of 220°C – you need to ensure your resistance increases by +0.09 ohms or greater under a typical vape (draw with saturated wick) in order to meet that goal of 220°C. If your coil is influenced too greatly by air flow/saturation or you are not applying enough power, you may not be increasing that resistance by its needed amount and TC will not be function as it should resulting in dry burns.
This is where I personally feel programs such as Escribe and NFE Tools offer great benefits. You can view the live resistance and if that 0.5 ohm SS316 coil is only increasing by 0.08 ohms under a typical vape environment, then you can attempt at making adjustments to achieve that 220°C goal or adjust your final temperature accordingly.
