Number of coil wraps

[finepics]

I'm trying to get my head around this? I'm just learning to build my own coils and have several gauges of wire to play with. I've so far got 26g, 30 and 32g.

My question is this - assuming I want to aim at 1.5ohms - would you use a heavier gauge wire with less wraps, or a lighter gauge with more wraps? In other words is a 26g 2mm dia coil at 13 or so wraps more efficient at vaporising the juice than a 32g 2mm 4 wrap coil? Do you see what I mean? (these numbers are only approximate using the Steam Engine coil wrap calculator). I'm trying to decide which wire is best to use bearing in mind I couldn't get the more popular 28g Kanthal just now!!

 

[pwheeler]

The smaller wire will heat up faster and won't last as long. The heavy gauge wire is slower to heat, especially with that many wraps.

 

[David1975]

I see what you mean, I think to answer this I should give you some inside as to why I say this....The more surface area you have in contact with the wick (assuming your wicking well) the more vapor produced... so the more wraps you get the better vape. However!, it will take a bit longer to heat up and give you that vape. So it is a bit of a balancing act to find that sweet spot, and everyone's is slightly different. Steam and others are great tools, but you'll still need to experiment a bit to find your ideal combination of warps/coil size/wire.

 

[nyiddle]

If you're on a VW/VV device, I'd suggest going with as many wraps as possible. You can adjust the voltage/wattage afterwards to affect how quickly the coil heats up.

For example, I'm on a ~13 wrap dual coil at about .6 ohms right now. On a mech mod it takes way too long to heat up, even with a freshly charged battery. On a VV/VW mod, outputting a consistent 4.8V, it heats up in no time, and the surface area means I don't need to hold the button as long because it outputs so much vapor.

 

[ignotus]

Personally I wouldn't exceed 8 wraps with any gauge. I would do 6 wraps of 30 at 2mm.

Neither 26 nor 32 gauge are ideal for the specified resistance.

You can always get 28 gauge here:

http://www.temcoindustrialpower.com...1=kanthal+wire+28+gauge&submit.x=0&submit.y=0

 

[readeuler]

I find that more wraps will also retain heat pretty badly. Going from 10 to 8 wraps of 24ga recently made my vapor significantly cooler, despite the fact that it increased the power.

It's a balancing act. I'd stick with the 30ga, personally. You can experiment with the other gauges, but I bet you'll find the 30 performs well her (as would 28ga).

 

[jking17]

Nevermind, I see you found a calc tool already. Carry on.

 

[WoWwYnAtoR]

Googling steam engine will also provide an awesome tool. I've found lower ohm and/or thicker joose to work better with 2.4mm coils.

 

[finepics]

Many thanks for all the help guys. I have already found that the 30g is nice and easy to work with and 6 wraps at 2mm dia gives me 1.4ohms so while I'm on the learning curve so will stick with that for now. As for the 28g wire my local supplier (Healthcabin) are temporarily out of stock so will order some as soon as they restock (it's a quick 2 day delivery from them to HK). I'm using a Stingray MOD with Kayfun Lite V2 and 28g seems to be the default wire for that from what I've seen so far, but I'm waiting for my batteries to arrive so I can't really experiment until they do!!

 

[St0rm]

What batteries are you going to use? 26g does pretty well on a kayfun as well, just buy 30g or lower and you can always use it later (with parallel and twisted builds)

The more you build the more you'll be able to fine tune your vape. I have been rebuilding for a couple of months and I'm just starting to learn what KIND of vape I actually like. Also on steam-engine you can see how much heat it's putting out, very helpfull.

 

[finepics]

I've got Efest Purple button tops 3100ah 20A 18650's on the way!

 

[DaveP]

I use 28ga on my Kayfun and get 2 ohms with 8-9 wraps. 32ga heats faster, but pops sooner. I can get 6 or 8 weeks out of one 28ga coil if I don't break a leg reforming it during a re-wick. With Japanese Cotton I can go a week without a wick change ... much better than drugstore brand organic cotton balls.

 

[rurwin]

I have 0.20mm (32ga) and 0.25mm (30ga). I've just wound a 2mm coil at 1.3 ohms with the thicker wire and I'm loving it. I've generally used the thinner stuff for a 1.8 ohm coil around two or three stands of silica. This one is maybe the first time I've bitten the bullet and put cotton in an RBA. (I've played with it in an RDA a few times.) 32ga tends not to hold its shape too well; it needs more delicate handling. 30ga seems to be around my sweet spot. Any thicker and I'd need too much wire.

 

[finepics]

Guys that's awesome advice, thanks a bunch. Japanese cotton - need to get me some of that!

 

[ignotus]

Many thanks for all the help guys. I have already found that the 30g is nice and easy to work with and 6 wraps at 2mm dia gives me 1.4ohms so while I'm on the learning curve so will stick with that for now. As for the 28g wire my local supplier (Healthcabin) are temporarily out of stock so will order some as soon as they restock (it's a quick 2 day delivery from them to HK). I'm using a Stingray MOD with Kayfun Lite V2 and 28g seems to be the default wire for that from what I've seen so far, but I'm waiting for my batteries to arrive so I can't really experiment until they do!!

It's a good idea to stick with one gauge in the beginning, get used to it, and then start changing one variable at a time to refine your build. One of the most important variables IMO is internal diameter. Increasing it will give you more surface area AND allow you to use a thicker wick to supply more juice. Kayfuns can have trouble keeping up at higher wattages, and a thicker wick helps. I believe the greater diameter also prevents the heat of the coil from becoming overly concentrated and scorching the wick. Since I started rebuilding my internal diameter has only gone in one direction: up.

 

[Wolfenstark]

For me i try to not do more than 10 wraps at most I find it takes a while to cool down.

Currently i have a dual coil 26gauge 2.5mm 7 wraps each at 0.5Ω and a single coil 29 gauge 2.5mm 7 wraps at 1.7Ω.

The 26 gauge any more than well 9-10 wraps and takes a while to cool down which has caused some niggles if the wicking is not the best.

The dual coil I use on a dripper has been good for me and the single coil currently on a lemo is going great.

Mostly I like well have built 0.5Ω-1.8Ω with 26 & 29 gauge.
I just looked at the steam coil site and went through an ohm range I'd like with different gauges and diameters and such - Though at the time most people were using 2mm and 28 gauge so I based it around that - store had no 28 so I got 29 , then the 26 for some difference.

 

[Jun Andaakabaa]

Coil Toy - Online calculator for e-cigarette resistance coil building you can give it a go at this since its much simpler to read.

 

[Reisse]

If you have an android phone or tab steam engine has a great app

 

[finepics]

Thanks again guys. Sadly I'm an Apple fanboy so got ohm calculators is all!!

 

[finepics]

Oh! Cloud box are releasing an iPhone app soon, so I'm going to be catered for!!