went from 30 to 32g kanthal, need some help or advice!

[element9633]

Okay so im currently using a nimbus rda with a vamo v3 (I know Its not exactly the best mod for a rda but its what I have right now...). Anyway I started building my own coils about 2 weeks ago using some 30g kanthal I bought from a local b&m. I was using coil I wrapped around a drill bit with about 9 wraps I believe. I went to go buy some more kanthal today and they were out of 30 and I had to buy 32g. I had a hard time building a coil, seeing as this stuff is a heck of a lot more spring to it than the 30g did. I finally got a coil wrapped with about 9 wraps or so and when I got everything set up with my cotton wick, it seemed to bubble the liquid and not make a lot of vapor, im assuming it just wasn't getting hot enough. now I know im using a weak mod, but how much more resistance is this kanthal than the 30 I was using before? I made another coil with only 4 wraps this time, and it seems to be doing heck a lot better than the 8 or so wraps I was doing before. how many wraps would be best for my setup with the kanthal im using?

ALSO I cant seem to get my coils wrapped really tight together with the 32g. I can get them close but I know the closer the better, so any advice for my scenario would be awesome!!! sorry for the wall of text

 

[retired1]

Moved to Rebuildable Atomizer Systems

 

[AttyPops]

1) Dude (or dudette)...if you're building your own coils you need to check the ohms!!!!!!!! Counting wraps is only handy for your own builds (it's all relative....depends on coil diameter, wire, setup, etc.)

2) Yeah, that's why. It's only getting warm, not hot. Much more resistance. But...you don't need 9 wraps either. That's why the 4 worked. And you have VV so not just dial it in to the sweet spot.

Doesn't the e-cig tell the ohms? If not, get an ohm checker or multimeter. (I'd get a multimeter anyway, but that's me).

Watts = voltage x voltage / ohms

 

[element9633]

hey atty pops, thanks for that response!

I have a meter to check my ohms, but seeing as im using a vv mod and not a mech, ive been a bit lazy about checking my coils ohm, since I know it wont fire if its not safe.

Makes sense that it was just getting warm and not hot enough. you said I don't need 9 wraps and that makes sense to me, but say I only did 2 or 3 wraps, surely this isn't going to cover enough area to produce a good vapor?

 

[AttyPops]

OK, well....NOW you're getting complicated.

I pay attention to "the three W's" of vaping: Wind, Watts, Wicking.

You need good airflow, good wicking so the juice flows to the coil, and the proper watts OVER THE RIGHT AREA. So yeah, it matters. Hence microcoils 'n stuff.

But experimentation is the better part of description. What works for one person may not work well for you. That said, many coils work just fine at 4 wraps or whatever. Diameter matters too. Because wider loops = longer wire = more resistance.

So do some ohms' law math on your APV's max and min voltages and different ohms. Break out that multimeter and check the resistance or use the VAMO to tell you (VW units tell you the ohms since they have to read them anyway). You should be able to work within a fairly decent range of ohms.

As the wire gets thinner...the wattage required generally goes down. The guys (gals) using SLR setups often end up with 30 watts or more because they are trying to heat coat-hanger wire (jk) for coils. But the 32 ga is thin enough to respond decently.

Just adjust from there.

 

[AttyPops]

BTW...one reputable source estimates many stock coils at around 34 ga. So 32 is a bit thicker and more robust than stock but still a good performer.

I'm using 30 ga right now myself, but 32 is OK too. Both work. 28 ga and 26 ga is moving into SLR coil type territory. Not bad, but needs more watts too. To each their own. But for the record, you can get a good vape using 32 ga wire.

 

[element9633]

wow okay that is one heap of information that sure does help! thanks so much! also I stated I had a vamo v3 but I lied D: I have an itaste v3, don't know what I was thinking when I wrote that. so im thinking moving to a bigger mod or a mech once I get the process down better would def help with me increase the power

 

[JD1]

.......Makes sense that it was just getting warm and not hot enough. you said I don't need 9 wraps and that makes sense to me, but say I only did 2 or 3 wraps, surely this isn't going to cover enough area to produce a good vapor?

Again it depends on the person but I'm one of those that like several wraps because I think that gives better flavor. The diameter of your coils makes a lot of difference also. I tend to like 1.5mm to 1/16th in.(~1.6mm) for the inner diameter.

I used to use 32ga kanthal all the time and it's a good in between gauge that does well on 2.4 to 3.0 ohm single wrapped coils on a vv device, and when twisted or parallel wrapped does well on coils in the 1.0 to 1.8 ohm range for vv or mechs.

A 1.5mm or 1/16 in. allen key is a little easier to wrap on than a drill bit or nail so if you have one, give that a try. I'd suggest trying a parallel wrapped coil on something about 1/16th inch. Try 7 wraps (14 coils) to start and adjust from there. Wrap as tight as you can, then once you have it mounted, pulse the coil then gently pinch it together and hold it for 3 or 4 seconds while it cools. Do that 2 or 3 times. The coils don't have to be touching but they can be, but they should heat from the center out.

For a parallel wire coil, cut a 5 and 1/2 inch piece of 32 and fold it in the middle. Start wrapping both ends side by side as if they were one wire. Resistance will be like a duel coil, that is 1/2 of what a single coil would be with that many wraps.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

 

[element9633]

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

thanks JD1, will do

 

[spawnsharks]

And... to answer your primary question... Torch your wire first, you'll take a lot of the springiness out of it.

The rest of the info was really helpful! Thanks guys! I have been wrapping my own coils for maybe two months, and I learned things from this thread... Huzzah!

Now to go re-coil one of my Kanger heads with 32, I have been using 28/30.. I have 32 and 34 here... I like the responsiveness, and my new Zmax peaks out at 15w, so I can bring the resistance back up! Yay!!!